Cycle Rwanda - 11 Days

Murakaza neza! Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, followed by a bike fitting. If you arrive early, you might like to visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, which offers walking tours of the Nyamirambo district and cooking and weaving workshops, or head to the Nyandungu Eco-Park to see an array of flora and fauna including more than 100 species of birds. The Inema Arts Centre and Niyo Arts Centre are great if you want to see the city’s creative side, or you could get to know the local flavours by seeking out a cup of renowned Rwandan coffee or dishes like grilled tilapia or mandazi (fried doughnuts). After your meeting tonight, consider heading out for a group dinner to get to know your fellow travellers.

Rise and shine! Hop on your bike for the first time this morning and set out to ride a section of the UCI Road World Championship route. This ride makes for a great introduction to Rwanda’s hilly terrain, giving you a chance to acclimatise to the riding conditions and altitude. Today’s ride is relatively challenging, with steep climbs and descents. Kigali’s roads are car-free every first and third Sunday of the month, meaning you’ll get to enjoy smooth, open roads today. Rwanda was the first African country to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2025, so your ride today is a little slice of history. After, you’ll stop for an authentic Rwandan lunch at Elikapeka Restaurant, then ride back to your accommodation. Freshen up before heading to the Genocide Memorial to learn about a troubling but important part of Rwandan history. The memorial does important work including public education about genocide prevention, remembrance for those who were murdered and support for survivors and the community.

It’s an early start today for your transfer to Muhanga – the views of the rolling hills and sweeping valleys along the way will make the early wake-up call worth it. When you arrive, you’ll visit Azizi Life, an artisan collective providing local artists with fair wages and a platform to sell their wares, which generates additional income for the artists. After your visit and maybe a coffee break at the cafe, venture off road for a ride through the countryside, headed for the ancient capital of Nyanza. Pass villagers on their bikes transporting milk, potatoes, charcoal, banana beer and other produce across town. Along the way, you’ll see the artificial lakes and reservoirs that provide the local farms with water for irrigation. Your route finishes up at the King’s Palace – a reconstruction of the former royal residence, built in a traditional thatched beehive shape. This is said to have been the site of historic battles. Today, the palace is still home to 15 long-horned Inyambo cattle who are descended from the king’s herd and are treated as such – the cows wear jewellery and ribbons, and are serenaded by their keepers, who live on site. You have the option to visit before proceeding to your hotel

Saddle up again this morning as your cycling adventure continues into the Nyamagabe district. Ride along a gravel road into the countryside, cutting through Butare, the capital of the Huye district. You’ll make a river crossing and, depending on the day, your leader might take you on a scenic route that follows the river. Today’s ride ends in the heart of Nyamagabe. Have lunch at a local hotel, then board your support vehicle for the drive to your next stop – UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nyungwe National Park. This high-altitude montane rainforest is one of the oldest in Africa and is the largest of its kind in east and central Africa. Join a ranger to explore the forest on foot, keeping an eye out for the 75 mammals (including 13 primates), more than 300 bird species and 120 butterfly species that reside here. Perhaps see the forest from a fresh perspective with an optional walk across the 160-m-long Canopy Walkway that’s suspended 70 m above the forest floor. Later, you’ll be transferred to your guesthouse where you can enjoy a hearty meal and relax after an active day.

Get ready to veer off road again today on a ride along dirt forest trails from Uwinka to Kumbya. Today’s ride will be moderately challenging, but the rewards will be plentiful – riding predominantly downhill, you’ll pass through tea plantations and remote villages where you can see locals going about their daily routines. The forest itself is host to plenty of vibrant flora and fauna, so keep your eyes peeled. You’ll stop for a packed lunch, then continue towards Lake Kivu, watching the landscape transform from dense rainforest to open farmland. At the lake, you’ll take a sunset boat ride that will take you to your lodge where you can rest up after a thrilling day on the saddle.

Today’s ride takes you along the Congo Nile Trail, which covers a section of the Congo–Nile Divide, where rainfall flows either west towards the Congo River basin and onwards to the Atlantic Ocean or east toward the Nile basin and the Mediterranean Sea. As you trace this ecologically significant zone on two wheels, you’ll take in views over Lake Kivu. Today’s route includes three main climbs, mostly on tarmac roads. Take your time and soak up the epic views along the way. With your local leader guiding the way and the camaraderie of your new travel friends to keep your spirits up, you’re in for a challenging but rewarding day on the bike. The route will occasionally take you inland, where you’ll see local traders carrying goods from the market and kids on their way to or from school. Make one final climb and descent, including a short section on a busy tarmac road, then cross the final stretch to reach your lodge on the lakeshore. Tuck into some dinner and rest up this evening.

Make sure you have a good book, your favourite playlist or some car games ready for the travel day ahead. Leave Lake Kivu and make the scenic drive to Rwanda’s volcanic northern highlands. Make a stop at a coffee plantation in Rubengera for a guided tour where you’ll see the entire process of harvesting, washing, roasting, grinding and brewing coffee. Learn how coffee has transformed many lives in the community by creating a sustainable income for local families. Taste a freshly brewed cup for yourself before continuing your drive north to Musanze, where you’ll spend the night.

This morning is free for you to choose your own adventure. Speak to your leader about the range of optional activities on offer – you could embark on a gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park for the chance to see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat, with an expert guide leading you through the bamboo-covered slopes. You could also seek out the golden monkeys instead – these endangered primates inhabit the bamboo forests in the lower Virunga Mountains, which can be reached on an easier trek compared to the gorilla trek. The monkeys can often be seen grooming each other, playing or foraging for bamboo shoots. If you’re looking for something a little more relaxed, you could take a canoe trip along the Mukungwa River or take a guided walk along Lake Ruhondo’s north shore – this option includes a motorboat trip to a small island where you can take in views of the Virunga volcanoes. In the early afternoon, you’ll leave Musanze and drive to the Eastern Province, trading the volcanic highlands for open savanna. When you arrive, pay a visit to the Bashana Companies & Imigongo Art Centre, where you’ll learn about the tradition of Imigongo painting.

Seize the day with the final ride of your adventure this morning. Cycle east from the guesthouse towards Akagera National Park. Today’s route is dotted with small, rural villages and an abundance of birdlife. When you arrive, check into your lodge, have lunch and freshen up. Then, it’s time to explore the national park. Take a boat trip on Lake Ihema, headed to a nearby island. A knowledgeable local guide who will help you spot an array of birds flittering around the forest-fringed shores – you might see the African fish eagle, crowned cranes or colonies of cormorants. Hippos and crocodiles are also common sights here. If you're lucky, you might see elephants, antelope and other herbivores. Return to the lodge tonight for dinner and some time to kick back and debrief with your group after a jam-packed day.

Embark on an early morning safari in Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only protected savanna environment. This is one of central Africa’s largest protected wetlands and is the last remaining refuge in the country for many savanna-adapted species. You might see zebras, giraffes, buffalo, impala, topi, elephants, rhino, lions, leopards, jackals and many more incredible creatures. Compared to the more well-known national parks in Africa, Akagera receives far fewer foreign tourists – almost half of all visitors are Rwandan, meaning you’ll have a more relaxed experience of the wildlife and landscapes here. Have lunch next to Lake Mihindi, then begin the drive back to Kigali. When you arrive, consider joining your group for an optional farewell dinner. Here’s to the memories you’ve made and the incredible achievements you’ve surmounted here in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’!

With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to extend your stay in Kigali, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.