Big Sur
Classic Plus Tour

Unspoiled Paradise, Craggy Coastlines

Conde Nast Traveler calls it 'America's most breathtaking coast.' Author Henry Miller: "It was here in Big Sur I first learned to say 'Amen!'" Our tour of this celebrated region follows the ruggedly scenic California Coast—sculpted by earthquakes, wind and ocean—to Monterey's dazzling peninsula. From there we'll head inland to tackle some of the hillier routes this spectacular area can dish up. Since it's a Classic Plus tour, there are miles for the riding - many of them challenging - to be taken at your own pace and with our top-notch van and guide support.

Famed 17-Mile Drive Begins Journey

We'll pick you up in San Jose, California. After an optional visit to the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, we'll head out to bicycle one of the most famous roads in the region: iconic 17-Mile Drive. Stunning coastal vistas unspool as we ride past Pebble Beach's fabled mansions and golf course, through pine forest and along the oceanfront, passing the reefs and tidepools of Bird Rock, the white sands of breathtaking Fanshell Beach and the famed Lone Cypress tree. You'll see plenty of wildlife, from deer to black cormorants and brown pelicans, and possibly catch a glimpse of the California sea lions which frequent the area. We'll spend tonight at the elegant Tradewinds Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a town known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history - and the fact that Clint Eastwood once reigned as its mayor.

Rocky Coastline offers Fantastic Views

Monday we'll ride Big Sur's weathered coastline, following the dramatic knolls and tumbled rock headlands of the Cabrillo Highway. Enormous live oaks canopy rolling green and gold hillsides; pale sand dunes shimmer beside the blue Pacific Ocean.  We'll ride across Bixby Bridge, a historic open-spandrel arch bridge that introduced automobile travel to Big Sur by connecting it with other remote coastal towns. Today's route offers 65 incredibly scenic miles, should you choose to do all of them. We'll spend tonight and tomorrow night at the unique Treebones Resort, which Conde Nast Traveler calls 'a cushy Mongolian yurt camp.' You'll enjoy the spectacular views from the resort's ocean view pool and hot tub!

Choices, Choices, Choices

Day Three offers options for cycling, hiking or simply relaxing. Today's ride inland on the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road rolls over several rather steep hills (2,600 feet of climbing over seven miles) to one of the oldest missions in California. Popular among cyclists, this route has been called 'tough but inspiring' and 'soul-purging.' We'll have lunch at the Mission San Antonio de Padua, whose restored adobe buildings and garden remain virtually unchanged for more than two centuries. Founded in 1771 by Spanish missionaries, it's older than the United States itself and boasts a deed signed by Abraham Lincoln. Following lunch, our homeward descent to the coast is described by a local cycling group as 'one of the most breathtaking road rides in California.'

Our guided hike, should you choose that option, is the Cone Peak Trail - a moderate trek to a historic lookout tower atop the second highest mountain in the Santa Lucia Range. Perched at the lofty elevation of 5,155 feet, the tower looks down the west side of Cone Peak almost a vertical mile to the ocean, and on a clear day the breathtaking 360-degree views of coastal Big Sur reach as far as 100 miles away.

Cliffs and Castles

Wednesday we'll ride south into picturesque Cambria. This section of the coast is quite spectacular, with the road carved into the seaside cliffs.  It’s virtually uninhabited, and in the spring and fall has very little traffic.  We enjoy the stunning seascapes as we cycle down to the coastal plain, pausing to visit one of only two beaches in California where elephant seals come ashore to mate and teach their young to swim.

In the afternoon, we'll visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon and take you on a guided tour of journalism baron William Randolph Hearst’s opulent home.  Lodging for tonight is at Cambria's Burton Inn, an elegant Old-World style property that is a favorite with Bicycle Adventures' guests.

One of Bicycling's Favorite Rides - Into Central California Wine Country

On Thursday, we'll cycle to one of our favorite wineries in the farmland east of Santa Maria.  We follow Foxen Canyon Road, a quiet farm road, past fields of row crops, ranchland, and vineyards, through canyons and past wineries as we enter the Santa Ynez Valley.  The Editor-in-Chief of Bicycling magazine described a bicycle ride through this area as: “The perfect ride.  It happened on March 2, 2005 in California’s Santa Ynez Valley while testing road bikes for our annual Editor’s Choice Awards story.  We rode down Foxen Canyon Road.  The bikes were amazing, the scenery idyllic.  The winter’s epic rainfalls had left the hills and vineyards an almost tropical green.  At one point, riding five-up on a road with no traffic, I dared to bring it up.  ‘Is this really happening?’  I asked the group.  ‘This is almost like another world.’ ” 

We spend the next two nights at Fess Parker's elegant Wine Country Inn & Spa in sunny Los Olivos. Nestled in the very heart of Santa Barbara's wine region, Los Olivos is home to several boutique tasting rooms, which you'll have time to visit. You'll also savor the area's succulent dining.

Pedal Where Lance Armstrong Trained, Enjoy a Massage

Friday offers the challenge of completing Lance Armstrong ’s favorite rides in the Central Coast area—Figueroa Mountain. Though challenging, it's also rewarding: a local newspaper, The Southern California Bicyclist, hails the region as “our very favorite riding area.”  It's also home to the Solvang Century, the most popular century ride in southern California.  The movie “Sideways” features many of the wineries and winding roads you’ll see.  Whether you do all of the Figueroa climb or part of it, we'll return to the inn in time to enjoy its full service spa before dinner.

Secret Road to the Beach and Santa Ynez Valley

On Saturday we offer a scenic, one-way ride west from our inn to the Pacific Ocean.  We cycle along a lightly traveled country road past fields of vineyards and wineries, then experience a final spectacular ride as we follow a splendid road to the beach.  This is the only paved road to the ocean for 20 miles in either direction, and is blissfully peaceful. Along the way we cross ranchland that is largely untouched by man, cycle through canopies of huge California live oak trees, and climb two hills that offer majestic views up and down the coast.  At the end, a park on the beach boasts views of sandstone cliffs and breaking surf as far as the eye can see.  After enjoying a final celebratory lunch, we'll load up and take everyone to Santa Barbara for their homeward journeys.

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