Lonely Planet has published two new books that features cycling routes in 30 countries, and food and experiences of great value.

 

Lonely Planet has published two new books – “Epic Bike Rides of the World” and “The Best Things in Life are Free”.

The illustrated book on two-wheeled travel features tales of 50 cycling routes in 30 countries from Australia to Bhutan, as well as 200 ideas for bike rides – ranging from family-friendly jaunts to backcountry expeditions, via city tours, classic circuits and meandering adventures. Asia is represented by eight cycling routes in the book chapters “Mai Chau Cycle Ride (Vietnam)”, “Bikepacking in Mongolia”, “Cycling the Seto Inland Sea (Japan)”, “High in the Himalaya (India)”, “Bhutanese Dragon Ride”, “Mae Hong Son Circuit (Thailand)”, “Sri Lankan Sightseeing”, and “China’s Wild West”.

The main stories in each regional chapter feature first-hand accounts of fantastic bike rides in that continent. Each includes a toolkit to enable the planning of a trip – when is the best time of year, how to get there, where to stay. But beyond that, these stories should spark other ideas. We’ve started that process with the ‘more like this’ section following each story, which offers other ideas along a similar theme, not necessarily on the same continent. Many of these ideas are well-established routes or trails.

The other book on “The Best Things in Life are Free” is packed with money-saving tips, tricks and recommendations for the best-value sights and experiences in more than 60 cities worldwide. From parks, museums and exercise classes that are free, to insider ideas on food and experiences offered at great value, the book promises to help any traveller on a budget to make the most of his or her trip.

“The monetary value implied in the term free can misrepresent what’s on offer within these pages,” Lonely Planet’s editorial director Tom Hall writes in his introduction to the book. “The quality of an experience, after all, is not attached to a price tag. Many of the suggestions here involve unearthing the world’s secret wonders, whether that’s swimming around Sydney’s ocean pools or strolling the tombs and monuments of Delhi’s Lodi Gardens. Walkers tackling the great tracks of New Zealand will find themselves close to the soul of those beautiful islands.”

He adds: “It’s an exaggeration to say that everything good is free, so you’ll find plenty of excellent value cheap things to experience throughout this book. Dip into your spare change for classy street food like a choripán (chorizo sandwich) in Buenos Aires, the best views of Hong Kong’s skyline from the Star Ferry and a Boston brewery tour. Great memories, a happier you and a grateful wallet; one glance through these pages and you may never aspire to the indulgences of top-end travel again.”

The bike rides book costs US$35 (S$47.23), while the best things book is US$22.99 (S$31.02). They are available locally at MPH, Kinokuniya and Times bookstores.

 

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