There is something about having the wind blowing in your face and the sounds of nature guiding you through rugged or paved terrain.  Bike riding has long been the mode of travel for that visceral, ground-level experience — spiritual, physical and freeing — that no car, plane or boat could ever provide.

So grab your bike and strap on your helmet while you blaze a trail through these 10 world-class bike tracks ideal for the true adventurist.

Western Australia: Munda Biddi Trail

This 1,000 kilometer track from Mundaring to Albany is all the rage for mountain bikers.  Munda Biddi, Aboriginal for “path through the forest”, stays true to its name with lush trees lining the rugged trail, which echo the calls of the wild from deep within their dense bushes.

Whether you prefer a vigorous or soothing ride, the Munda Biddi appeals to every biker and provides stunning scenery for riders to take in the beauty while pedaling up rolling hills and bobbing along the trail’s rustic terrain.  This route is completely off-road, allowing cyclists to explore this biographical location in stride.

Word to the wise: this trail is best ridden in autumn, spring and winter to escape dehydration and bushfires in the summer.

New Haven, CT: Farmington Canal Heritage Trail

A bit of history and impeccable natural beauty lure the most enthusiastic bikers to pedal in the direction of Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. 

Emerging out of Thomas Jefferson’s era, its ecological environment offers a trip to the past that only nature can provide as  cyclers whip along its green woodlands. Serving 130 years as a railroad after abandoning its roots as a waterway, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trails offers more than 80 miles of paved track spans from New Haven, Connecticut to Northampton, Massachusetts, combining a rich heritage where bike riders can feel the wind in their hair while zooming past America’s profound legacy.

North Sea Cycle Route

Eight countries (Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland and England) are all waiting for the cycling tourist to hop on their bikes and take in their beautiful scenery at 14 miles an hour.  These impeccable destinations will instantly make you fall in love as you trail the North Sea coast leaving  tracks across villages, farmlands, beaches and cliffs that will all simply take your breath away with each pedal.

Travelers unable to complete the entire 6,000 kilometer ride can just complete a section of the tour and head back through the countries’ extensive ferry transportation.

Canada: Great Divide Mountain Bike Route

As spiritual as it is breathtaking, this 250-mile off-road adventure dazzleds with stunning panoramas and exotic wildlife.  Each leg of this tour offers something different, as road and weather conditions change with each mile  through the wilderness of the Elk Lakes Provincial Park or along the beautfil Flathead River. 

For miles you will be up close to wild mountain lions, moose and bears in their territory amid mountains appearing like ghosts standing over your shoulder.  This chain of unforgettable experiences is not for the weak hearted, but your tireless determination through rugged terrain will be rewarded once you behold the natural beauty that lies ahead.

South Africa: Cape Argus Pick ’n Pay Cycle Tour

Every avid cyclist longs to be on this tour. For 68 miles, over 30,000 bikers from all over the world gravitate here to excitingly compete in this massive open race held every March.  However, it will not matter if you come in first or last place, because cyclers are completely content with just crossing the finish line.  Although it is not one of the lengthier bike tours, Cape Argus Pick’ n Play is one of the world’s greatest races, offering twists and turns to keep travelers enthralled along with gorgeous views of South Africa’s exotic coast as well as the Table Mountain National Park.

Australia: Bicentennial National Trail

Cool breezes, old mountain charm, stunning valleys as well as lush flora and fauna make the Bicentennial National trail a cycler’s delight.  Painted along 5,330 kilometers of Australia’s landscape, this passageway offers the perfect escape for bikers just wanting to head to the hills and be one with nature.  Affectionately known as the National Trail, it was originally mapped out for trekkers, but it wasn’t long before cyclists caught on to the route, making it one of Australia’s beloved treasures.

It is also divided in 12 routes and requires plenty of experience, protective gear and preparation to master its grueling slopes. 

Chile: Carretera Austral

With 1,240 miles of remote Chilean landscape at your feet, the Carretera Austral is every biker’s paradise.  What’s  not to love about the wind in your hair, glorious mountainsides standing at attention, the dense Magellanic and Valdivian forests preserving Chile’s wild species, icy blue lakes like the Lago General Carrera twinkling in the sun, and glaciers showcasing their immaculate beauty?

From camping to relaxing your muscles in the hot spring, this bike tour comes jam-packed with surprises and nature all around suitable for the pioneering adventurist.

China: Karakoram Highway

If you are looking for dramatic scenery amid the highest cemented border in the world, we’ve found it.  On Karakoram Highway (KKH), you will be greeted by diverse biological landscapes as this route from China to Pakistan guides you through deep gorges and villages planted at the foothills of the Karakoram Mountains.  If you become tired during this exciting ride, stop at any of the quaint shops dotted along this trail for a sip of chai tea. 

Alabama: The Underground Railroad Bike Tour

Take a ride through American history on this classic tour. Starting in Mobile, Alabama —a pivotal point in the history of the underground railroad — and ending in Canada, the Underground Railroad Bike Tour retraces the remarkable journey to freedom.  Along the way, you will learn something new as each town offers an important key to their escape, highlighting the people and significant roads that led them to break free from their chains. From museums and churches to rivers and markets, you will be steering your way through one of the most capitvating eras of the past.

Like most biking tours, this route to discovery will capture your heart, mind and soul with history, beauty and culture.

France: Route des Grand Crus

What’s a tour without cheese and wine, especially in one of the richest wine-producing destinations in the world?

Your heart will be racing as you nosedive to the bottom of Burgundy’s hills while scrumptious temptations of food and liquor call your name.  But there is much more to this experience then just filling you appetite.  The tour also lures cycling tourists through Beaune and offers lush beauty presented in vineyards and green hills. Don't let the libations distract you; this trail requires a sober state of mind to truly capture its magnificence.