For many years TDA Global Cycling had been considering a cycling tour that would link Europe and North Africa. With our Operations Manager, Miles, coming up with the inspiration for the route and the name, we decided to forge ahead, and in 2025 we ran the first edition of The Road of Empires. This brilliant trans-Mediterranean route allows cyclists to visit southern Spain and Sicily, as well as Algeria and Tunisia, while crossing the Mediterranean by ferry, twice. It was, and remains today, a daunting logistical challenge for our operations team. It is, however, well worth the extra effort, creating a one of a kind cycling adventure that explores places few get to visit by bike.

The first edition of the tour gave our cycling participants a chance to better understand the intertwined history of the region, including the empires that moved across those lands, and to see just how many similarities and contrasts exist culturally on both continents along the Mediterranean to this very day.

>>Related Post: Road Of Empires Rider Reviews: A Fascinating Journey Back Through The Earliest Stages Of Recorded History.

We sat down with our Operations Manager to discuss how he came up with the concept and what the riders can expect to experience along the way during the next Road of Empires adventure scheduled to start in Seville in March, 2027.

Exploring More of Spain and Italy

In Spain and Sicily, where TDA has already run tours, it was not difficult to research additional options. For Spain, we wanted to include the southern Spanish cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba with their Roman and Moorish history and grand architecture. In terms of cycling in Spain, we knew how incredible the roads are in Andalusia and how beautiful the Sierra Nevadas would be.

For Sicily, it was similar, in that we wanted to cycle new regions of the island, areas that we do not currently cover on our Viva Italia tour. So we included a visit to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the chance to visit the ancient mosaics nearby in Piazza Armerina. Finishing in Syracuse, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was a fitting way to conclude the trip.

Algeria and Tunisia & North Africa

Algeria and Tunisia were much more difficult to research. In Tunisia, there have been some local cycling tours, as well as more independent cyclists crossing the country, but in Algeria there had been no commercial cycling tours in recent decades and very little information from independent cyclists. This was a big part of the draw for us. We love to open new countries to cycle tourism and experience new lands and cultures ourselves.

We spent months researching roads with satellite viewing, searching out local contacts in both countries to communicate with, reading up on the historical and cultural highlights to visit, and planning a scouting trip to go and check all the details. This is where we were able to confirm the area’s suitability for cycling, in terms of safety, logistics, accommodations, government approvals, ancient ruins to visit and, most importantly, the potential for fun!

In North Africa, what will be remembered by the riders, without a doubt, is the hospitality and curiosity of the local people along the way. They will also be amazed by the lush, green environment of the North African coast, the abundance of Roman ruins, the cultural influence of previous French colonialism, and the incredible cycling. Many of our participants on the first Road of Empires noted that some of the days were the nicest routes they’d ever ridden.

Anyone who loves exploring new lands, cycling along coastlines and through mountains, experiencing and learning about different cultures, who has dreamed of being an archeologist (or at least are ready to be amazed by the ancient ruins along the route), and anyone who is up for an adventure, is going to love this cycling adventure!

Registration for the 2027 Road of Empires is now open.

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Road of Empires

Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...

This year we introduced our cyclists to the North African nations of Algeria and Tunisia with the inaugural Road of Empires Cycling Expedition. On all of our first ever tours, there is an added degree of anticipation, of being on a voyage of discovery, and this was certainly the case for the Road of Empires.

“It was so much fun to experience the unique culture of Tunisia and Algeria, especially Algeria. Loved the beautiful routes. Many times we were on very low-traffic roads, just us and the goats, sheep, and herders! Lots of climbing, but such gorgeous scenery made it all worthwhile. The staff was wonderful, as always, and we had great camaraderie with a wonderful group of riders.” – Eve Holland (USA)

“The Road of Empires is a fascinating journey back through the earliest stages of recorded history. To do that in places that see few travellers is truly an experience not to be missed. Seeing local Algerian families casually enjoying a picnic among centuries old Roman ruins made these ancient sites unbelievably accessible. There is no greater joy than to have local folks welcome you to their country, treat you like a friend and then ask you to come back again. People like that (and there were many, many, many) have no real vested interest in us as travellers so their kindness and gratitude were all the more special.” – Mike and Marg Perlette (Canada)

“Spectacular scenery, ridge tops, valleys, Mediterranean views, long climbs and exhilarating descents. Most of the roads were either deserted or had good shoulders. This is a great way to see the people and cultures of northern Africa, the moorish influence on Spain, the food of Sicily.” – W. Neal Fisher (USA)

“I thoroughly enjoyed this tour – a nice warm-up few days in magnificent Spain, then the exotic unknown delights of Algeria and Tunisia and a great finale in lovely Sicily.” – Trish Gaudet (Canada)

“A perfect mix between discovering new countries with the unique contact that cycling allows, the outdoors and the challenge of long distance cycling.” – Robert Charbonneau (Canada)

“If you are looking for a great spring cycling tour The Road of Empires has it all. Four countries, great roads, reasonable traffic, interesting sites to see and explore. TDA has come up with a winner here.” – Wayne Gaudet (Canada)

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Road of Empires

Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...

Nick Coe was the Content Creator on the 2025 Road of Empires Cycling Adventure.

Standing on the deck of the ferry in the Mediterranean with the sun rising over the southern horizon, we watched as the faint outline of land come into focus—Algeria. It suddenly felt real: we were about to cycle across North Africa.

Coming from the comforts of Spain, we weren’t hesitant about Algeria and Tunisia—just curious. With so little known about cycle touring in these North African countries, it was exciting to generate our own impressions, free from outside expectations. What we discovered left a deep impression. For everyone on the Road of Empires tour, the standout themes were: the kindness of local people, stunning roads, unexpected landscapes and an overwhelming feeling of ‘authentic’ travel.

Visually, one of the first differences we noticed was the absence of women in public spaces—at least compared to Spain. One of our cyclists, Trish, brought this up with Luna, our local guide at the Tipaza Ruins, and her response offered unexpected insight, “When we (women) are socializing, we’re typically doing it inside with each other—where it’s cooler! And the men are outside drinking coffee. That’s why you see them. It’s not the way Western media portrays our lives. Most of the doctors, engineers, and people with master’s degrees are women. The men are doing the trade jobs. And it’s in our constitution that we receive equal pay.”

When we crossed into Tunisia, even though it is also a Muslim country, we felt a noticeable cultural shift. Tunisia is far more accustomed to tourism than Algeria. As another rider,Wayne, noted, “On our first day in Tunisia, people saw us as normal—part of the economy. In Algeria, they were surprised to see us.”

Another unexpected highlight? Language. While Arabic and French are the dominant languages in both Algeria and Tunisia, we were surprised by how many locals spoke English and were eager to use it. In fact, we had more English-language interaction in North Africa than in Sicily. One Tunisian hotel host made a point of chatting with every table at dinner, clearly seizing the opportunity to practice his English.

The cultural and historical richness of Algeria and Tunisia was another standout. We toured Roman ruins that felt untouched by time and almost entirely unvisited by mass tourism. True to the tour’s name—Road of Empires—we explored ancient cities like Tipaza and Djemila. Canadian rider Bruce shared his thoughts on Djemila, “It really surprised me. An incredible site all to ourselves. And it was so lovely to see local families picnicking there.” It struck us repeatedly – if these ruins were in Europe, they’d be teeming with tourists. Here, we had them nearly to ourselves.

Reflecting back on our time in North Africa, the roads themselves stand out as a major highlight. Tour Leader Andreas summed it up well, “The vast majority of the days in Algeria were beautiful—it was shocking. Every day stood out from the others.” Algeria surprised us with its variety. From dramatic cliffs to rolling green hills, the scenery was far from the arid desert some of us had imagined. I think Wayne said it best, “I thought it would be like Egypt—dry, with green only near the Nile. But Algeria was lush everywhere.” Bruce agreed, “I was definitely surprised by the quality of the roads in Algeria. That with the combination of little traffic in the country. Also the wildflowers in Tunisia.”

Algeria and Tunisia offered not only stunning landscapes and roads but also a chance to engage with local people and cultures in an incredibly genuine way. These memories have become some of the most meaningful from our Road of Empires journey.

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Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...

There were many unknowns and potential challenges with our first Road of Empires tour, with the bulk of those concerns being around how our time in Algeria would go. As far as we, and the Algerian tourism contacts we’ve met, are aware, this is the first time a commercial cycling tour has crossed so much of Algeria. For this reason, no one could exactly say how it would go.

>>2027 Road of Empires tour details

Having reached the end of our time in Algeria, we can now say that the experience has far surpassed expectations and alleviated our pre-tour concerns. To give an idea of what kept us up at night in the months (year) before the tour…

The visa: This is one of the more demanding tourist visas to attain, with an often lengthy and bureaucratic process. However, by following specific instructions provided by consulates and our local support, the visa was processed much quicker than expected for most participants.

The ferry from Spain to Algeria: It was difficult to learn in advance any clear details on the ferry experience, as well as boarding procedures and disembarkation procedures. Even the schedule was not 100% released until after our tour dates were announced, and we had to have faith they would leave the schedule as it was. In the end the ferry experience worked very well, with friendly officials and relatively smooth sailing. Just a bit of patience required.

Hotels and food: Having seen the hotels on the scouting trip the previous year, we had a clear idea of the accommodations, yet still how all would work for a larger group, and whether the more remote hotels, as well as the one government run hostel, would allow us to stay with them was uncertain. How the hotels would cope with food preparation for a large group of cyclists was also not clear. The welcome we received from hotels and the quality and quantity of food the local chefs prepared was excellent.

The police and local officials: Algeria tightly controls how groups of tourists travel within the country, with it written in their constitution that foreign groups must be escorted by the police while moving across the country. With a cycling tour where the participants are spread out along the road, cycling at their own pace, there was no way to be fully sure the police would understand this concept, and not try to force the group together each day. In the end, with a lot of explaining by our local support company to all the officials, police and gendarme, we had very few challenges and were only held up for brief periods on a couple of occasions. Not only that, but all the police and gendarmes who escorted us during our time in Algeria were incredibly kind, and genuinely wanted our cyclists to be safe, and to have a positive experience along the way.

The experience as a cycle tourist: Fortunately, Algeria has a truly welcoming culture, with enormous appreciation for their land, their struggle against colonialism, and their independence. While tourism is an economic industry, the people we were fortunate enough to converse with continually expressed gratitude for visiting their nation and welcomed us with genuine hospitality, far beyond a monetary exchange.

For TDA it is great privilege to help start a trend towards further cycle tourism in Algeria, and to have the opportunity to work with the incredible local partners in Algeria who were essential to the success of our tour. We’re also privileged to have trusting alumni who understand that doing something the first time involves more unknowns, and more risks, and were willing to come along for the adventure, and the rewards.

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Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...

Nick Coe is the Content Creator on the 2025 Road of Empires Cycling Adventure.

At TDA Global Cycling, the slogan ‘Expect the unexpected’ is more than just a catchphrase – it’s a mindset…and the Road of Empires is no exception. This group is testing the waters on this brand new tour through Andalusia, Algeria, Tunisia and Sicily. True to form, the thrill of the unknown is why everyone is here. There’s a certain beauty in embracing the uncertainty and for many of the riders, it’s not about knowing what’s around the corner or having all the details neatly mapped out.

As one rider, Neil, put it, “It’s an adventure for sure. They told us to be patient, just wait, and see where it takes us. It’s a first time for you and for us, so we are all on the same boat – literally.” One of the first challenges of the trip was the ferry crossing the Mediterranean from Spain to Algeria. As always, there were some delays, and the group found themselves with a few hours to kill. Rather than letting the delay become frustrating, they embraced it. The riders grabbed snacks, chatted, and made the best of the situation, adding yet another story to this new adventure.

Algeria was a complete unknown for the entire group, and that’s exactly what made it so thrilling. Without preconceptions, the group could only rely on their own curiosity and willingness to embrace the unfamiliar. “The sense of adventure is sort of lost now, since everything is posted online with social media and expedition tours. You can see everything via street view on Google Maps,” said staff member Paula, “However, we gained that sense again on this tour. Algeria has little tourism and knowledge of what to expect. We have nothing to base it off of.”

As if the journey wasn’t already full of surprises, the group was met with something none of them expected upon entering Algeria – an official police escort. What started out as uncertainty quickly turned into a beautiful display of hospitality. “We quickly found out it was not to fear anything, but rather the police and government just wanted us to have a great experience in their country, and they wanted to help dictate that,” said Rider Barb. The police, far from being an obstacle, were there to ensure the cyclists had the best possible experience.

As we cycled through Algeria, the group was reminded of the novelty of this route. We do not know what to expect with the next city, the next turn, the road conditions, traffic congestion, or what’s over the mountains we see in the distance – since we are the ones making note of it!

The true magic of being part of a TDA ‘first’ is knowing that you are not only part of a new tour, but that you are also experiencing something completely unique that no one else has done before. Being the first TDA tour to cycle from Spain through Algeria and Tunisia means we are probably the first group in general to do this. “It’s the first time we’re doing this, so we’re learning as we go,” said Andreas, our Tour Leader. “You have to be prepared to be delayed, prepared for the unknown, but that’s what makes it exciting.” As Barb, one of the riders, put it, “I did this trip because it’s new. It’s not camping, and with Algeria being a new country for TDA, you know you’ll be staying in places like, like the apartments last night. Nice places that are unique. Nice hotels are lovely, but you can be anywhere. It’s the character and charm with these new, unique places, and you’re not sure what each place is going to be.”

As with any large tour, there are always a few hiccups along the way. Accommodation challenges arose when hotels weren’t completely prepared for the large number of cyclists but rather than letting these setbacks become roadblocks, the TDA team worked quickly to adapt, reshuffling the itinerary and finding new places to stay. There were days when this meant longer cycling stages. For example, a change in accommodations led to a long 150 km day, followed by a much shorter 40km day. For the riders, however, these changes weren’t a burden—they were just another part of the adventure. This particular change resulted in ride along a beautiful section of the Algerian coastline, described by one rider, Lars, as “Hawaii meets Sicily.”

Being on a TDA first means that the riders aren’t just participants in a tour, they are part of making it better. Everyone’s voices are heard about the route planning, best coffee stops and sightseeing options. All would highly recommend going on a TDA first tour if you’re looking for a unique adventure. Fortunately, there are a bunch of new TDA adventures coming up: The Tea Route (Kochi – Colombo), The Road to Valhalla (Helsinki – Trondheim), Island Hopping Japan (Osaka – Okinawa) & The Olive Route (Athens – Lisbon). Will one of these be your first, one to always remember!?

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Road of Empires

Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...

Road of Empires. This extraordinary cycling tour is most certainly that. Along the route cyclists will see the signs of distant empires come and gone, in the incredible ruins left on remote mountains and beautiful Mediterranean shores, but also in the present-day language, culture, cuisine, architectural styles, religion and local politics. The history of civilizations along the Road of Empires are highly interconnected and cyclists will come away with a feeling of wonder at how these past Empires have together left their marks, both for better and worse, upon the thriving societies of today.

>>Related: Click here for dates, prices and full details

Starting in Seville and cycling through southern Spain, with stops in Cordoba and Granada, the history and architecture of the people referred to as Moors are very clearly visible. From the Royal Palace of Seville to the Alhambra Castle of Granada, the many directions of cultural influence are apparent, with Muslim North Africans, themselves having been converted to Islam in the 7th century by Arab caliphates, establishing an Empire in the Iberian Peninsula and bringing their faith, cuisine and art with them.

Plaza de Espana, Seville

Of course, it is not only history but cycling that brings us to Spain. The semi-arid landscape and hilltops dotted with villages, as well as small secondary roads lined with oranges bursting from trees, make for wonderful cycling and perhaps a chance for some Iberian ham or Andalusian wines along the way. From Granada the tour skirts the southern edge of the  Sierra Nevada National Park with its snow-capped peak in full view. The tour soon reaches the Mediterranean coast and the city of Almeria, where the next leg of the adventure will begin.

Coastal road, Algeria

From Spain, we will voyage out across the Mediterranean Sea by ferry to Algeria, the largest country in Africa. It is a destination few tourists have the opportunity to discover, and yet it is incredibly rich in its history, culture and scenery. With its very hospitable people, it is a country that deserves exploring. In the spring time it is green and lush. This makes the contrast of the azure sea and white capped Atlas Mountains that much more striking. The vast Sahara Desert lies unseen to the south of our route, with almost all Algeria’s population and roads situated in the north.

If one word encapsulates the cycling terrain for our time in Algeria, it is undulating. Whether faced with switchback climbs and descents along the Mediterranean Sea on the way towards Algiers, the capital, or the constant ups and downs in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains after heading inland, the cyclists will certainly be challenged.

Djemla, Algeria

Along the route, the cyclists will have the opportunity for guided visits to some of the most striking historical ruins in North Africa. These include Tipaza with its sandy perch, and ancient olive trees, by the sea as well as Djemla, a UNESCO world heritage site – whose name translates to “beautiful” in Arabic – along with the ancient Roman City of Hippo Regius. There is also the lingering architecture of the French in Algiers and Annaba. The recent, in a historical context, colonization by the French in Algeria and ensuing decolonization is a history that is being worked through. Perhaps reading Frantz Fanon’s, The Wretched Of The Earth or the Algerian born, and Nobel Prize winner, Albert Camus’ book, who is very much still admired in Algeria, The Stranger, may give one an insight into local perspectives in 20th century Algeria.

Tunisia

Tunisia stands as a contrast to the feeling of remoteness from tourists and foreigners that one experiences in Algeria. The hilltop border along the Mediterranean between the two countries allows cyclists to descend, and barely pedal, their bicycles all the way down to the beach at the Tunisian city of Tabarka and its Genoese seaside castle. Mountains also await in Tunisia though, as do olive groves, as profuse as you will ever see, creating lush green landscapes to pedal through. The Dougga ruins will be visited where we’ll be guided through its layers of history, where Numidian, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantium, Vandal and Arab populations once lived.

Tunisian desert

The best cycling routes are in the north close to the Mediterranean, but no trip to North Africa would be complete without a desert experience. To allow for desert exploration after arriving to Tunis, the Tunisian capital and site of ancient Carthage, a 3-day, 2-night journey will be arranged by vehicle taking cyclists into the desert, where they will camp under the stars and explore dunes, desert oasis and Bedouin culture.

Hilltop village, Sicily

Sicily, our final destination along this historic journey, immediately reveals its connectedness to the rest of the Road of Empires: from the Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to Sicily’s Trinacria symbol with one of the three Gorgons of Greek mythology, Medusa, at its centre. In addition, the Arab influence in Sicily remains strong and is especially visible in Palermo, a legacy left from the Islamic Kingdom that ruled almost all of Sicily during the 10th and 11th centuries.

Mt Etna, Sicily

In Sicily, as with all Mediterranean coastal regions, the cycling isn’t easy. No shortage of steep climbs and descents and tiny, remote roads lie ahead. Views of Mt. Etna will amaze cyclists and the sleepy fishing village of Sciacca (pronounced “shocka”), as well as our other stops on the island, will provide many opportunities to dive into Sicilian cuisine and wines.

Syracuse, Sicily

Syracuse is a fitting end to our tour, with its grand Greek theatre, temple of Apollo and the beautiful island of Ortigia jutting out into the sea. Once one of the greatest cities of the ancient Greeks, it is built on overlapping civilizations, whose blend of styles and beliefs live on in the city today.

Extra note: The font for the Road of Empires logo was inspired by watching Raiders of the Lost Ark many times as a child when an inspiration for adventure, lost relics and far-flung places was born. A career as an archeologist did not pan out, but dreaming of distant sites to visit by bicycle has been a positive substitute. Thank you Indiana Jones…

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Road of Empires

Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans...