Vacationing in a luxury resort, and laying down under the sun while sipping chilled juice… sounds like a good idea, right? Now try making that vacation slightly longer and, most importantly, with a purpose to it. One way of experiencing this is, going on a bike vacation!
Taking a bike vacation is about the feeling of total freedom, about that cool breeze blowing through your hair, about the sun warming your face, and different people you meet along the way. It is one of the best ways to explore a place, and everyone should at least give it a try. Here is why:
1 You Become Part of The Landscape
As this quote rightly goes- “The difference between bike travel and all other forms is that you are actually in the scene, rather than being a passive spectator through a frame (window).”
When you are on your vacation travelling by bus, jeep or van, you are confined to a little space, almost like in a cage. However, when you take a bike vacation, you are right there in the middle of nature. You are not only passing by, but you become part of the whole landscape.
2. You Have Full Freedom and Flexibility
The Freedom of travelling by bike is unmatched. You are not confined to anyone’s schedule but your own time. You can just stop at an interesting side road or have a cup of tea at that unique road stop or stop to say hello to small kids who have been happily waving at you.
You can eat where and when you need; you can stop as frequently as you need. When you arrive at your stop, you can without much of a stretch check and compare various guesthouses before picking one. You have the freedom to simply go and investigate a new town and its surroundings all alone. Who knows what you may discover?
3. You Are in For Some Stunning Views
The vantage point from your bike gives a 180-degree view wherever you go. You can see the street before you as well as the magnificent landscape to your right and left. The view through the window of a train or bus simply doesn’t come close to this.
4. You Meet Locals on the Way
Vacationing by motorbike allows you to interact with local people. You can request directions, talk with individuals at a nearby street stop, or you may even get stranded at a neighbourhood repair shop due to a punctured tire.
You will likewise be able to watch how individuals go about their everyday lives, like farmers cultivating their fields or drying their produce on one side of the street. Going by bike will allow you to truly drench yourself into the neighbourhood cultures.
5. You Can Click Amazing Travel Pictures
Think of the numerous lost opportunities to click pictures, just because you were inside a bus or a car. Think how you missed capturing a perfectly clear lake, a spouting river or a fantastic view at the top of high road pass. However, when you are on a bike, you can simply stop, get off, take out your camera and click that perfect view.
6. You can Explore and Discover New locations
Tour buses mostly visit stick to their itinerary and only visit well-established sites. Bike vacationing enables you to discover places which you most probably would have missed otherwise. With a bike, you can visit those lesser known places that no travel company will head for.
A Word About Risks
Although bike vacation is adventurous, it can become dangerous, especially if you are ignorant and inexperienced. But if you act smart, and use common sense, then you are good to go. People have gone for bike vacations, covering several thousand kilometres and never had any issue more than just a busted tire. But each one of you must be well-prepared before taking a bike vacation. Here’s how:
- Get some practice before heading out on that big bike vacation
- If you don’t know the area, use maps
- Be it a rental or your own bike, thoroughly check it before going on a vacation
- A decent helmet can save your life, so make sure to get one of high quality
- Don’t speed in risky passing manoeuvres
- And last but not the least, have your bike insurance in place
During your vacation, if there is any damage caused to third-party, comprehensive insurance will come to your rescue (as it offers protection to third-party against damages to property). At the same time, it also covers for injuries suffered by the third party or even his/her death.
On the other hand, if you suffer any injury in an accident, your medical expenses will be covered by a comprehensive bike insurance policy. Moreover, restoring a bike after an accident and its maintenance could also be an expensive task and can burn a hole through your vacation budget. You can be assured of reimbursement of the expenses for repair with bike insurance if your bike is partially damaged in an accident. So, get yourself bike insurance before heading to distant locations on your bike. You can get such two-wheeler insurance online. Yes, purchasing bike insurance online is now a hassle-free task.
Conclusion:
Hopping on your bike and riding through new and exotic landscapes will always beat travelling by bus or car. So, do make it an addition to your bucket list. Pack your bike and ride far away to embark on a once in a lifetime bike vacation. But do not forget to pack bike insurance as well!
