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Solo Cycling Holidays in Asia: How Adventure Travel Transformed One Woman’s Life
As cycling holidays gain immense traction, one woman is sharing her deeply personal journey of undertaking three solo cycling expeditions across Asia. This bold decision, she reveals, has profoundly reshaped her life, offering healing and a renewed sense of self.
Finding Solace on Two Wheels: Caitlin’s Story
From Caregiver to Cyclist
Caitlin Limmer, 53, from Twickenham, London, stepped away from her career in 2021 to dedicate herself to the full-time care of her husband, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and was experiencing increasing cognitive decline.
The continuous emotional strain of caregiving left Caitlin feeling overwhelmed and depleted. Seeking a way to cope and reconnect with her own identity, she impulsively booked a cycling tour with Explore Worldwide.
The Rising Popularity of Cycling Adventures
Explore Worldwide, a travel company specializing in group tours, holidays for solo travellers, walking expeditions, and cycling trips spanning 100 countries, has observed a significant surge in interest in two-wheeled adventures in recent years.
Notably, in February alone, website views for cycling holidays soared by 50%. Passenger numbers for 2025 are already projected to increase by another 25% compared to the previous year, indicating the escalating demand for such experiences.
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More Than Just a Ride: Freedom and Healing
For individuals like Caitlin, these journeys provide more than just physical activity. They offer a sense of liberation, emotional restoration, and community.
What began as a spontaneous act rapidly evolved into a passion and something far more profound: a path to rediscover herself and reclaim her sense of identity.
Caitlin has now successfully completed three cycling tours with Explore: Sri Lanka in 2021, Vietnam in 2022, and most recently, a two-week excursion through southern India in 2024.
Caitlin Limmer, 53, from Twickenham, gave up her career in 2021 to care full-time for her husband, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and began showing signs of cognitive decline
Embracing Challenges, Finding Peace
Each journey presented unique challenges, ranging from intense heat to demanding terrain, but also provided a sense of tranquility, purpose, and connection that had been absent in her daily routine.
Caitlin embarked on her inaugural Explore trip to Sri Lanka in 2021, acting on a friend’s recommendation.
She recounts: ‘I simply knew I needed a completely new experience in my life. When life at home feels chaotic, you just have to book it and commit. It opened up a whole world of possibilities for me and revitalized my life.’
‘The Sri Lanka trip was exceptional, truly fantastic and perfectly suited to my needs. Following that solo Sri Lanka trip, I sought a more physically active adventure and signed up for the cycling Vietnam tour.’
Vietnam and India: Immersive Experiences
In Vietnam, Caitlin’s days were filled with extensive cycling, punctuated by regular breaks, hydration stops, and enriching cultural experiences along the route.
Her most recent adventure took her through southern India, where she cycled from the coast through mountainous regions and remote villages. She stopped at waterfalls, savoured local cuisine, and stayed in a diverse range of accommodations, including riverside campsites, hotels, and guesthouses.
The Camaraderie of Group Cycling
Each tour placed her within close-knit groups of ten to twelve individuals. She describes these groups as ‘outstanding’ and highlights the enduring friendships forged through these shared experiences.
She explains: ‘The ability to holiday independently and share these moments with like-minded individuals, when I am unable to share them with my husband, is invaluable.’
For people like Caitlin, cycling trips with Explore offered more than just physical activity – they offer freedom, healing, and a sense of community
Her most recent adventure took her through southern India, where she cycled from the coast through mountains and remote villages, stopping at waterfalls and enjoying local food
‘Sharing and connecting over these experiences is truly remarkable. I’ve found that cycling together fosters rapid bonding; you’re collectively navigating challenges, and that creates a strong connection.’
Accessibility for All Fitness Levels
Caitlin emphasizes that she hasn’t always been an avid cyclist, and reassures prospective adventurers that a high level of fitness is not a prerequisite for embarking on a cycling trip.
She notes: ‘I regularly attend spinning classes and exercise frequently, but I am not primarily an outdoor cyclist. I probably only cycle outdoors around six times a year.’
‘You don’t need to be exceptionally fit for cycling. There was a mix of ages and fitness levels on my tours. There’s also the option to use an e-bike, or you can utilize the support minibus that accompanies the group.’
Embracing New Horizons
Caitlin acknowledges that her destination choices, such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka, were partly influenced by her husband’s fear of flying, which had previously limited long-distance travel.
Now, drawn to the rich cultures of East and South Asia, she is embracing new travel possibilities.
She states: ‘I chose these locations specifically because they were far removed, places where I couldn’t be easily contacted or feel the need to constantly help. The time difference also created a necessary distance, allowing me to step away from my caregiving role and reconnect with the person I remember being.’
Each tour brought her into close-knit groups of ten to twelve people. Caitlin describes them as ‘fantastic,’ and says she’s made lifelong friends through the experience
Caitlin hasn’t always been a cyclist, and she insisted first-time adventurers do not necessarily need to be super-fit to embark on a cycling trip
A Recipe for Moving Forward
For Caitlin, these cycling adventures have been more than just a break from her everyday life; they have been crucial for her mental wellbeing and sense of self in the wake of her husband’s diagnosis.
She reflects: ‘These journeys have enabled me to recognize what I had been missing and what I desired more of in my life.’
‘Would I be the person I am today if I hadn’t taken these trips? I wouldn’t claim they have entirely transformed my life, but they have undoubtedly been a vital ingredient in helping me progress forward.’
‘Whether you are a caregiver, a solo female, or male traveller, these trips offer opportunities to have remarkable experiences and share them, while also allowing for personal reflection and solitude.’
Explore Worldwide’s Perspective
Alison Butler, Explore Worldwide Product Manager, comments: ‘Explore group cycling holidays offer an ideal combination of physical challenge and mental escape.’
‘They provide a genuine sense of freedom and accomplishment as you discover new landscapes at your own pace. Often, these adventures take place in sunnier, warmer climates than back home.’
‘The fresh air, time spent outdoors, and respite from your regular routine are incredibly beneficial for mental wellbeing. The physical exertion of cycling leaves you feeling pleasantly tired, promoting restful sleep.’
‘It’s a guilt-free way to indulge in local food and drink – knowing you’ve earned it through your physical efforts on the bike – and the shared journey often fosters new friendships and plenty of shared laughter.’
For first-time solo travellers or those looking to take on an exciting new two-wheeled adventure, Caitlin advises to ‘just do it, you won’t regret it’
A Piece of Advice for Aspiring Cyclists
For first-time solo travellers or those considering an exciting two-wheeled adventure, Caitlin’s advice is simple: ‘Just do it; you won’t regret it.’
She adds: ‘You experience your surroundings in a profoundly different way when travelling by bike. You absorb the scents of the country, interact with locals as you cycle through their villages. It’s more than just sightseeing; you’re moving through palm groves, crossing rivers – fully immersed and experiencing everything.’
More Than Miles: A Journey Back to Self
As cycling tourism continues its upward trajectory, stories like Caitlin’s illustrate that it’s not solely about the distance covered. Often, it’s about the personal journey of self-rediscovery.
This comes after another female traveller shared with a travel news outlet how solo travel has positively transformed her life.
Gerda Lejasmeiere, 32, based in Leeds, recounted her experiences hitchhiking around Europe before settling in the UK, where hiking trips ‘proved to be life-changing’.
Originally from Latvia, Gerda explored her home country by hitchhiking during her college years to economize on travel expenses.