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Start at the dramatic Landmannalauger (The People’s Pools) — a stunning confluence of trails and hot springs about four hours from Reykjavik. Iceland’s most popular hiking trail starts here and goes through an ever-changing landscape to Thórsmörk, a mythical valley near the south coast. Along the way, take advantage of the excellent hut system and spend a few nights deep in the Icelandic mountains as you move through the hills and enjoy the trail at your own pace. The Laugarvegur captures a kaleidoscope of Iceland’s unique geology – from vibrant green moss and jet-black sand deserts, snow and steamy springs, pink flowers emerging from the seemingly barren land to turquoise lakes and lava fields. The Laugarvegur is a unique trail and a testimony of a true adventure. Enjoy the natural hot springs and bring a good raincoat; you will need it!

Located on the sunny side of the Mont Blanc massif, the Aosta Valley has always been known for its food, wine, coffee, ritzy ski resorts, and relaxed lifestyle. In more recent times, it is also celebrated as one of the globe’s finest destinations for mountain biking. In particular, the high alpine trail riding is some of the best, with endless opportunities. We recommend basing your adventure in Aosta, the region’s capital and an old Roman city. You can easily reach countless trails from there via self-powered pedalling or van shuttles. The town has excellent restaurants, wine bars, shops, and Roman monuments to enjoy after the rides. Book a few days with the local guide company, Aosta Valley Freeride, for a complete experience with local guides who know the secret gems hidden in the massive trail network.

Car-free Zermatt is one of the Swiss Alps’ oldest and most traditional villages, with its heart in modern alpinism. Zermatt’s trajectory toward becoming one of the most well-known mountain destinations in the world started in 1865, after Edward Whymper, a young British climber and artist, summited the Matterhorn, one of the last peaks in the Alps to be reached in the modern era of mountaineering. After that, the allure of the “Mountain of Mountains” grew steadily. Zermatt became “the” place for British aristocrats to hike and climb, which laid the foundation for today’s impeccable focus on meeting the needs of European visitors and beyond.

In modern times, it’s one of the most popular ski resorts globally, and even when the snow melts, the tourists never stop coming, thanks to the Matterhorn. Nowadays, they also come for mountain biking, and it’s well worth it; few places in the Alps can offer such a good and diverse bike product.

Located close to the Colorado-Utah state border, mountain biking in the Grand Valley combines styles from the two states — the rock of the Utah desert and the elevation of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. There is wide-open public land for 100 miles in every direction and hundreds of epic trails with easy, winding ups and high-speed, flowing descents plunging from ridge to valley bottom. Fruita deserves its reputation as the mountain biking mecca of western Colorado and one of the first places that come to mind when the definition of flowy singletracks comes up. Mention trails like Kessel Run, Joe’s Ridge, Horsethief Bench, Zippity Do Dah, and mountain bikers worldwide will smile. If you’re into distance — you can easily ride a mountain bike from Fruita to Moab, Crested Butte, Durango, and much further without encountering an inch of concrete. And, if the legendary trails at 18 Road are the foundation of Fruita’s extensive trail network, the bike shop Over the Edge Sports is the heart and soul of the town’s incredibly dedicated bike community.

There is no cell service, plenty of wildlife, a few huts, and ever-changing weather. Hence, we recommend you connect with Tyax Adventures — the (only) local experts and the pioneers of float plane-assisted mountain biking in the Chilcotins. Tyax is based on the shore of Tyaughton Lake. You can stay in their charming, rustic lodge, start pedalling from the door, or opt for a short, exciting (and highly efficient) float plane drop. From the drop-off point, you can ride for days before you return to civilization – an experience for a lifetime — but make sure you’re well prepared!

The dramatic landscape was carved through the ice ages as ancient mountain ranges were eroded to sea level and later lifted again by tectonic forces. Further exposed to centuries of harsh winds and water flows, Mother Nature has crafted a natural bike park in a simply stunning location.

About one hour south of Narvik, a small town in northern Norway, Reinnesfjellet is a 45-kilometre (28-mile) polished granite rock ridge of rolling terrain — it’s two kilometres wide (!) – so your route options are endless. Surrounding this unique natural phenomenon are rugged mountain peaks, fjords, and small glaciers. The views are stunning no matter which way you turn. The locals call it Scandinavia’s Moab, and the analogy is bang on. Reinnesfjellet is simply an extraordinary place to ride a bike, and unless you go there on a busy summer day, you can almost be sure to have the site for yourself.