Touring holidays have it all –the chance to see the world, lots of bike riding, and a great excuse to indulge in the culinary delights of your chosen region.

Your cycle tour can be as long and arduous, or as lighthearted and easy, as you’d like it to be – there is nothing more freeing that closing the door to your home, and setting off with everything you need upon your bike.

The amount of kit you’ll need to carry depends upon your holiday of choice.  If you plan to camp, your kit will include a fair amount of gear, but a small tent and poles is perfectly manageable between two people.  You’ll probably need to find campsites, so make sure you research the area before you go so you’ve got an idea where you can stay.

If you opt to stay at B&Bs and hostels, you can greatly reduce the load, though you may find you are more limited in stopping points and the overall cost will be higher.

Sites such as Expedia (provided you have a smartphone + signal) are really helpful for finding last minute places to stay at a bargain, which gives you the freedom to lengthen or shorten your route, but it’s worth checking they can accommodate bikes before selecting your resting place each day.

Seasoned campers, or bikepackers, may opt for a bivvy bag only – a very warm sleeping bag that removes the need for a tent and this gives you more options and a lighter load.