“One of the most memorable rides I've ever done” – Pete Muir, Cyclist magazine

• Tadele Travel launches eight-day cycling trips with three levels of challenge
• June tour prices start from £1,975 per person, including £100 launch discount 

Brighton, 7 March 2017: Today sees the launch of the first-ever organised road cycling holidays to Ethiopia from the UK. The holidays, by Brighton-based, Ethiopia specialist Tadele Travel, will take advantage of unique landscapes, newly-built tarmac roads and Ethiopia's rich tradition of road cycling to offer three different levels of experience, all designed to suit cyclists looking for a new challenge.

The holidays are set in the country's northernmost province of Tigray, passing through the ancient city of Axum and the scenic Gheralta Mountains. Thanks to warm sunshine and undulating, almost car-free roads, the surrounding area has long been established as the country's cycling hub and is the birthplace of current UCI World Tour rider Tsgabu Grmay of the Bahrain-Merida team. Home to some of the Ethiopia's iconic sights such as the rock-hewn churches of Tigray that date back to the 4th century, it also has excellent tourism infrastructure and a network of international-standard hotels.

The three eight-day itineraries are:

• Ethiopian Highland Explorer Tour – this tour features four days of cycling over a total distance of some 200km starting and finishing at Gheralta Lodge, with cultural excursions to rock-hewn churches and the ancient capital of Departures: Friday 29 September, 2017 and Monday 27 November, 2018. Prices start from £2,175 per person.
• Ethiopian Highland Challenge Tour – with five days of cycling over 395 km, this tour is aimed at more serious cyclists covering a similar route but with longer rides and one less rest day. As a highlight, there is a 130km ride into Axum itself. Departures Saturday 17 June, 2017 and Monday 15 January, 2018. Prices start from £1,975 for the June tour, which includes a £100 launch discount off the official £2,075 price.
• Ethiopian Highland Endurance Tour – for those looking for a more extreme challenge, there are 587km of cycling over six days on this journey that covers a loop to both the north and south of Mekele. Departures: Saturday 21 October, 2017 and Monday 29 January, 2018. Prices start from £1,975 per person.

Prices include accommodation in three- and four-star hotels and lodges, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, airport transfers in Ethiopia, all ground transport (including the option to travel by car for part of the cycle route), all luggage transfers, expert cycling guides, support vehicles, mechanics, and tour guides for any sightseeing. International flights are extra.

Tours will be led by Tadele Travel co-owner Richard Nerurkar. Richard, a former GB Olympic marathon runner and ex-race director of the Great Ethiopian Run, will be joined by Alemayehu Sitotaw, who has a 35-year history as a competitive cyclist in Ethiopia.

Richard said: “With the completion of many new tarmac roads and the opening of a number of quality lodges and hotels, now is the perfect time to introduce cycling tourists to Ethiopia. I'm really excited about offering these holidays to adventurous cyclists who are looking for a unique cycling experience in a stunning location.”

Ethiopia's UCI World Tour rider Tsgabu Grmay said: “For me Ethiopia is the perfect place to train and prepare for my big races. The new roads are excellent, the people here love cycling and the guys at Tadele Travel really understand the country and its cycling history. I love training here. I'm sure tourists will too.”

Pete Muir, Editor of Cyclist magazine, was one of the first to experience a cycling holiday with Tadele Travel. He said: “Ethiopia is a truly unique and beautiful place to ride a bike, with excellent roads, friendly people and incredible scenery. Richard was the perfect host for our trip, thanks to his intimate knowledge of the country and language, and I can't fault the quality of the ride support. It has to be one of the most memorable rides I've ever done.”

For more on Tadele Travel, contact James Ellis (07956 499 043, james@allaboutthestory.co.uk) at All About The Story. 

Notes to Editors:

Tadele Travel is the UK's first Ethiopia specialist tour operator, launching in late 2016. The company is owned by former Ethiopian tour guide Girma Moges Tadele and British Olympic marathon runner Richard Nerurkar, who lived and worked in Ethiopia for more than a decade. Based in Brighton, Tadele Travel offers bespoke tours to Ethiopia that utilise Girma and Richard's vast network of contacts, from local tour guides to government officials to ensure once-in-a-lifetime experiences for their clients. See tadeletravel.com