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Tour description

Hokkaido Cycling - Great Nature Ride (GNR)

» Furano-Biei-Daisetsuzan Asahidake

SGD3390

7 Days

300km

Description

Hokkaido Great Nature Ride (GNR) is a 7-day guided & fully-supported cycling tour that takes you to the central region of including, Asahikawa,Furano, Biei & Daisetsuzan National Park.
This cycling tour offers superb cycling on quiet countryside roads, suitable for those who prefer to have variety of activities with different sceneries.
It is especially recommended for those who are joining us to cycle in Hokkaido for the 1st time.

You start from Tomamu with a cable-car ride up to the unkai terraces, an observation deck to see the stunning vista of sea of clouds & mountains. We designed the cycling route using quiet countryside roads whenever possible, towards the central region of Furano, noted for its lavender fields, poppies, lilies & sunflowers, Farm Tomita with views of Mount Tokachi.
You will spend some time to cycle around beautiful Biei, known as one of the most charming towns in Japan.
Main attractions include Biei Patchwork Road, including Shikisai no-oka, a flower garden featuring patterned rows of colourful blossoms. We use the special bike pathways along the Biei river to the famous Shirogane Blue Pond & Shirahige Waterfalls.

The finale takes you up to the foothills of Asahidake, the highest mountain in Hokkaido at 2291m in the Daisetsuzan National Park. Here, you will spend one night up in the mountains in a nice resort hotel with onsen, before descending to Asahikawa via scenic bike pathways along the Chubetsu river.

As with all our cycling tours, Hokkaido GNR comes fully-supported with our SSV (Support Sweeper Vehicle), following 100% behind the group. Daily accommodation is a balanced mix of hotels and Japanese-style ryokans for that traditional cultural experience, almost all the time with hot-spring onsens.
Our itineraries are meticulously planned and crafted with years of experience operating cycling tours directly.
Sufficient time has been taken into consideration for photos stops, lunch break, one morning & afternoon coffee breaks.

Highlights

+ Mt Tomamu cable ride to unkai terrace for sea of clouds

+ Furano cheese/wine factory, Farm Tomita (Jul-Aug), Shikisai no-oka (4 seasons flowers farm)

+ Biei Shirogane Blue pond, Shirahige waterfalls, scenic birch trees lane

+ Cycle up to the foothills of Asahidake 2291m, highest peak of Hokkaido in Daisetsuzan

+ Quiet countryside roads around Biei patchworks

+ Scenic bike paths along rivers in Biei & Asahiawa

+ Taste local sweets such as Furano melon & lavender soft-serve icecream

+ Good quality onsen accommodation on the mountain & by the waterfall

Information

Hokkaido Great Nature Ride (GNR)

Event Grade: 3 (Intermediate)

Discipline: Road tarmac / undulating / 1 main climb

No. of Cycle Days: 4 or 5

Cycle Distance: est. 280 or 330km (ave 75km/day)

Ascent: 2900m (full-support with van for luggage transfers & a seat for everyone)

Terrain: 100% road tarmac

7D Land Cost: S$/3390pax (twin-share)

Single sup: S$690

(average price for 7-8D full-support cycling tours in Japan is SGD4500-5000)

Includes:

1) 6 nights accommodation (mix of hotels/ryokans with onsens)

2) Almost Full-board: 6 breakfasts + 4 lunches + 3 dinners

3) water/isotonic drinks & snacks during cycling

4) 2-way airport transfers (main group arrival/departure)

5) All land / luggage transfer

6) Very Experienced Cycling guide & Bike Mechanic Support

7) SSV (Support Sweeper Vehicle) during rides

8) Detailed Pre-Departure Briefing & Trip Preparation

* Excludes International airfares & other meals & bike rental (GIANT road/hybrid/E-bikes available)

We will advise you on the recommended international flight (for main group) to Sapporo

Further queries, pls email: sct@shangrila-adventure.com

Closing Date: 1 month before departure OR seats fill up

>>> HOW TO SIGN UP <<<

1. Registration form:
https://tinyurl.com/2p9dvsrj

2. We will contact you to follow up & you will be added to the event Whatsapp group for further comms thereafter.

? PM/Email us for more details
ShangrilaCyclingTours@gmail.com

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Detailed itinerary

Day01 Arrival to Sapporo / Transfer to Mt Tomamu

Pick up from the airport and transfer (with your bikes) to Tomamu. Rest and prepare your bike. If time permits, we may go for a short warm-up ride (15km) around the area. In the evening, gather for welcome group dinner with briefing on the next day ride.

Day02 Tomamu / Furano (cycle 92km) (B)

Wake up at 4am for your transfer to the cable car station (at Hoshino Tomamu Towers) to the unkai terrace. Catch the beautiful sunrise from among the sea of clouds (weather permitting), moving in from among the mountains to create a mystical scene that is breathtaking.

We start cycling mostly on countryside roads to arrive at Furano. Visit cheese/wine factory, as well as the popular Farm Tomita, located in Nakafurano. It is one of the many farms in the areas showcasing giant fields of lavender and other colorful crops such as tulips from late June to early August.

Do taste the lavender/melon ice-cream, compliments from us!

We continue cycling on the Panaromic Road alongside Mount Furano & Tokachi to arrive to our hotel.

Day03 Furano / Biei Shirogane / Shirahige (cycle 60km) (B,D)

As we set out today from Kamifurano towards Biei, we designed a scenic cycling route to loop around the patchwork farms, taking in sights such as Roller Coastal Road, Mild Seven Hill, Shikisai no-oka, Hokusei no-oka Observatory Park. Make a stop at a local dessert shop on top of a hill for some tasty Biei milk soft-serve.

We use a hidden but scenic bike pathway to arrive at the famous Shirogane blue pond. Its turquoise-blue colour is believe to be the result from colloidal aluminium hydroxide presence in the water. Continue cycling through rows of scenic birch trees, before ending our ride at Shirahige Falls, meaning white beard, is a spectacular waterfall with white curtains of water cascading through the gaps in the cliff.

Rest & relax at our resort onsen hotel, which is located just next to the waterwall.

Day04 Biei / Mt Daisetsuzan / Asahidake (cycle 75km) (B,D)

At the foothills of Asahidake is the Daisetsuzan Gensui Park just outside of Higashikawa Town. It is a well-known spot locally, but many tourists would not have known about this.

It is a fantastic stop for our cyclists to drink & refill our water bottles with the natural spring water from Asahidake.

We start our 12km ascent leading up towards Daizetsuzan National Park. Daisetsuzan means Big Snowy Mountain, is known for her serene alpine landscapes and towering mountains. It is also the roof of Hokkaido, being home to the highest peak, Asahidake at 2291m

Enjoy a night stay up in the mountains in good hotels with sumptuous dinner and breakfast provided.

Day05 Asahidake / Asahikawa (cycle 47km) (B)

Enjoy the fresh mountain air as you wake to the sounds of nature. You can either take a leisure walk on the footpaths around the hotel, or optionally, take the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway up to the 1500m Sugatami station. There, you can 1-2hrs hike on designated footpaths to see geysers and lakes (those with good fitness can attempt the 3-4hrs hike up to the summit of Asahidake). After lunch, descent down as we use quiet & scenic bicycle paths along the river to cycle to Asahikawa, the 2nd largest city of Hokkaido.

Day06 Asahikawa / transfer back to Sapporo / (Optional) Cycle to Ishikari (cycle 72km) (B)

Transfer back to Sapporo. (Optional_ Additional cycling in Sapporo along Toyohira river to Ishikari/Makomanai OR own free time to explore the city.

Day07 Departure (B)

Send-off to airport for your departure (optional: own extension)

Video