A normal day goes like this: breakfast at the hotel, then a few hours of riding with the guide in front and the support jeepney nearby. You stop to swim, see a cave, a church or a waterfall, and have lunch somewhere along the route. Afternoons often end at the beach. Some days include a ferry or boat crossing. Those vary from about an hour to two and a half hours, and on day 12 you take two ferries back to back, starting at 5:00 a.m.

The route is what sets this tour apart from most Southeast Asia bike trips. Instead of crossing one landmass, you hop between islands, so the scenery keeps changing. On the Camotes you'll see fishing villages and Lake Danao. Bohol has the Chocolate Hills, jungle, rice terraces and the old coral-stone church at Baclayon. Siquijor is known for folk-healing traditions; Lazi there has a well-preserved Spanish-era convent, and Salagdoong Beach has bright turquoise water. On Cebu's west coast you can snorkel at Moalboal.

The tour is rated moderate to challenging. Some days are short (20 to 30 km). The long days are the 70 km loop on Poro, the 80 km ride from Carmen over the Sierra Bullones to Anda, and the 75 km Siquijor loop. The organisers plan transfers to skip busy roads and steep climbs that aren't worth the effort. On Siquijor, for example, a jeepney drives you up Mount Bandilaan and you ride down. About 90% of the riding is on paved roads.

The guides are local cyclists who speak fluent English and know the history, culture and food of the area. They handle navigation, so there are no GPX files to follow. They set up your bike on the first morning: saddle height and position, bar reach, pedals, plus a short test ride. They'll adjust it again during the trip if needed. Mountain bikes (Marin or similar) and helmets are included, and e-bikes are available for an extra fee.

The best time to go is November to February, when daytime highs are around 29°C and there's little rain. April and May are very hot, and the monsoon arrives in June. You stay in casual 3-4 star inns and beach resorts, and you get airport pickup on the start day and drop-off on the last day.

What's included

- 13 nights in casual 3-4 star inns and beach resorts (or similar) - Meals as per itinerary (13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners) - Welcome dinner and farewell dinner - Expert local English-speaking trip leader(s) - Marin mountain bike or similar, with helmet - Support vehicle (jeepneys and vans) carrying luggage, water, snacks and spares - Bike fitting at the start of the tour - Refreshments and mineral water while riding - Ferry and boat crossings between islands as per itinerary - Entrance fees to most monuments and sites - Group airport pickup on the start date - Group airport drop-off on the end date

What's not included

- International flights - Travel and medical insurance (medical cover is mandatory) - Alcohol, tea, coffee and juice at hotels and restaurants - Meals not listed in the itinerary - Gratuities for the guide team - E-bike upgrade (surcharge) - Snorkelling gear rental at Moalboal - Optional activities on the Anda rest day (diving, boat tours) - Pre- and post-tour hotel nights - Airport transfers outside the start and end dates - Visas and vaccinations