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Biking Ancient Pathways |
(seasonal - cooler months only)
If you are looking for a biking tour that features not only the great scenery of Arizona, but the rich, cultural history, here is an adventure and culturally oriented program for you. Enjoy a week's fun-filled ride and experience, starting in Phoenix. All the meals come with the tour as well as accommodations, ground support, transportation, and entry fees. The tour is hosted by knowledgeable, friendly guides, and all are expert bikers. In addition to the geology, natural, and people history that comes with the tour, the guides will even pass along some essential information about mountain and general biking maintenance and safety tips.
Here is what we have in store for you in this cultural riding experience in the Phoenix region.
Day 1:
Over dinner we will discuss the details of the tour. Our meet and greet gatherings
are designed to bond the group and make our guests feel comfortable, not only
among themselves, but with us and all that we have to offer on our tours. As
in most of our tours, equipment, in this case, the bikes, can be supplied by
our guests or rented through us. We will supply the group with a list of essential
things each participant needs to have prior to coming on the tour. This important
list will also discuss the health and safety factors we feel are necessary for
any biking tour that we offer. In the usual places we will be staying at, swimming
and hot tubing are available, which we feel is the ride medicine to soothe those
tired, or aching, muscles, especially after cycling.
Day 2:
We will bike to and visit the famous Heard Museum, where the focus is
on the Native American culture that paved the way for Arizona's people
and history. We will delight in a picnic lunch (which we usually try to do every
day of the tour so as to enjoy as much of the outdoors as possible). Early in
the afternoon the group will mount their steeds, in this case the mountain (fat-tired)
bikes we feel are preferable for this kind of a biking tour, and begin to bike
the ancient pathways in the afternoon. Following the ride, and after dinner
(usually a barbecue style feast) we will enjoy a lecture by one of our finest
Native American staff members, who will entertain as well as inform the group
as to what his culture is really all about.
Day 3:
Today is a ride to Pueblo Grande and the tour is almost a repeat of day
2, except the scenery will change and the group will no doubt be even more enthralled
with the setting as well as captivated by the speaking engagements along the
way. We will ride back to the hotel by way of a tour of the canals, with the
evening ancient pathways discussion once again given by a Native American.
Day 4:
We will bike to South Mountain, where the group will also visit petroglyphs
(aka rock art) and learn some of the interpretation of these ancient
symbols written or inscribed into the rocks. Of course, other Native American
cultural history, including some mysteries, will also be explained throughout
the tour, incorporating various great stories we know the speakers have in store
for you, most of which will directly relate to ancient people who once made
their home and culture in this region. From there we will bike back to hotel.
You will have plenty of time to enjoy the pool or hot tub before another excellent
dinner, followed by still more stories shared by the staff.
Day 5:
We will give the group another great and scenic ride in this cyclist paradise
region where nearly perfect weather is usually the norm. In the morning we will
go to the New Phoenix Central Library and hear a discussion on the future
of local tribes. After a great lunch, including genuine Indian fry bread
(a staple in the Native American diet), there will be a free afternoon or optional
Walking the Ancient Pathways of the Desert hike with one of the staff.
Later, the group will have a farewell ceremony with the evening on their own.
Lodging is also included in the last night of the tour and we can recommend
plenty of exciting things for you to do during the evening. Phoenix is just
that kind of a city and place.
KINDLY NOTE: We offer this tour only on the following dates:
April 7 - 11, 21 - 25 ... May 5 - 9, 19- 23
This educational bike tour-de-force is very popular with folks, so if you are planning as a group to take the tour, please book this tour early, because in this case the early cyclist gets an educational ride, a cultural experience, and an adventure of riding of his or her life.
Bon voyage and happy trails. But come tour with us first!
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