Trip Summary8 Days / 7 Nights |
Discover Michigan’s most scenic cycling: sandy dunes, turquoise lakes, vineyard-dotted peninsulas, and charming harbor towns. This tour offers 30–50 miles of riding per day and keeps you in each hotel at least two nights, so you can truly settle in and enjoy.
Credit: Bryan Casteel
| Day 1 |  We meet up in Glen Arbor at The Homestead hotel right on Lake Michigan. We will offer a short ride to take in the first taste of Michigan’s spectacular scenery. We will enjoy a group dinner. |
| Day 2 |
 Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, September 2015. Credit: NOAA Today you have the option to pedal the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, winding through forests, dunes, and lakeshore vistas. Extend your ride around Glen Lake or stop at the village of Empire for breathtaking dune overlooks. Return to Glen Arbor for free time to explore local shops or relax at the resort. We end the day with another group dinner. |
| Day 3 |
 Fishing shanties on the north side of the Leland River in the late 1930s, with a glimpse of the road behind the shanties. Erhardt Peters Collection, LHS Follow the famous M-22, ranked among the most beautiful coastal drives in America — even better by bike. Stop at historic farmsteads and scenic lookouts before rolling into Leland, home to the working fishing shanties of Fishtown. Unwind tonight at the welcoming Leland Lodge. We will enjoy a group dinner. |
| Day 4 |  Ride through cherry orchards and vineyard-dotted hills to the charming village of Northport, perched at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. Along the way, stop at Tandem Ciders for a refreshing tasting of their handcrafted Michigan ciders — the perfect mid-ride treat! Continue your loop along Lake Leelanau’s sparkling shoreline before returning to Leland Lodge. Dinner is on your own at one of the many restaurants that are within walking distance of the lodge. |
| Day 5 |  Today’s ride rolls through Suttons Bay, then picks up the Leelanau Trail, a peaceful paved bike path that delivers you straight into Traverse City. Check into the Alexandra Inn, perched above East Grand Traverse Bay, with stunning sunset views. We will enjoy a group dinner in Traverse City. |
| Day 6 |  Cycle the narrow finger of land that stretches into Grand Traverse Bay — water glistening on both sides of the road. Stops might include the historic Old Mission Lighthouse, a roadside fruit stand, or a tasting at one of the peninsula’s world-class wineries. If you drove to the start, we will transport you back to your cars. Dinner is on your own tonight. |
| Day 7 |  Ride north along the bay to the charming harbor town of Elk Rapids. Continue on to legendary Torch Lake, famous for its jewel-toned turquoise water, before looping back through quiet countryside. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell dinner overlooking the bay. |
| Day 8 |  Our tour concludes after breakfast.
If you have a car, we recommend that you extend your trip and explore the lovely city of Petoskey and then head to Mackinaw City. From Mackinaw City you can take a ferry to nearby Mackinac Island where you can ride the eight mile, car and e-bike free route around the island. |
This is an seven night trip. The cost is $TBD per couple ($TBD per person). We limit the size of our tours to be no more than ten couples. We only accept couples on tandem bikes. Come join us!
What is included?
- Seven nights lodging (see the hotels/country inns below)
- Seven breakfasts
- Five dinners
- Routes
- Luggage transport
- Transport to pick up your car (if you drove to the start)
- SAG support (although we do expect you to ride the full routes, we are there to help with mechanical issues)
Note that we do not provide any bicycles. We expect that you have a tandem that is in good working order and that you are able to assemble your bike. If you do not have your own tandem, you can rent a coupled tandem from Mel at Tandems East. Mel sells tandems, so if you end up renting from them, you might get a discount if you purchase a bike from them. If you have a tandem that is not coupled it is possible to bring it, but you should make sure that all of your flights could handle the larger box. Shipping your bike using ShipBikes.com or BikeFlights.com is another option.
What is not included?
- Airfare
- Transportation to the Homestead in Glen Arbor (start point)
- Meals, other than those mentioned above
- Alcoholic beverages
- Admissions to points of interest
What is the average mileage per day? Required rides range from 20 to 50 miles with the average mileage being 35. We believe that there is enough to see so that more miles may prevent you from fully enjoying the culture and beauty of the area. That said, we can work with you if you would like to ride more miles. Bear in mind, though, that we will not be providing SAG support for these extra miles, except in an emergency, if you are off the main route.
Route summaries will be available at a later time.
Where will we be staying?
While this could change, here are the inns and hotels that we plan to stay in.
How do you get to the tour?
If you are not driving, the nearest airport is in Traverse City. You can take a car service for about 30 miles to Glen Arbor.