The Slow Cyclist celebrates 10 years of transformational travel on two wheels

The Slow Cyclist, an award-winning travel company renowned for curating immersive, human-powered journeys through some of the world’s most captivating landscapes, proudly marks its 10-year anniversary in May 2025. Since its foundation in 2015, The Slow Cyclist has been on a decade of exploration, meeting wonderful people, creating authentic local experiences, visiting breathtaking landscapes and occasionally feeling sore legs. The company has redefined the art of slow travel, building meaningful holidays that prioritise connection — to place, to people, and to self.

Photo credits: The Slow Cyclist

In 2015, the company’s Founder, Oli Broom, hosted the first ever Slow Cyclist trip in Transylvania.  There were 10 guests, a few borrowed bikes and a lot of hope.  Ever since, The Slow Cyclist has taken discerning travellers far off the beaten path, from the red-earth roads of Rwanda to the sun-drenched corners of Spain, Italy, Armenia, South Africa, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Portugal, Poland and India and there are a number of new destinations now in the pipeline. All journeys are guided by the philosophy that “how we travel matters,” and is thoughtfully designed to foster genuine encounters, cultural understanding, and a deeper appreciation of the natural world.

Broom reflects on this milestone in his recent piece, ‘Slow Reflection’ in which he focuses on 10 highlights from his ten years, ‘In 2015, The Slow Cyclist was born…The Slow Cyclist has come to define something quietly radical: a way of travelling that values depth over speed, connection over convenience, and the joyful rhythm of moving through landscapes under your own steam… To mark our 10th Anniversary, I spent an afternoon digging through our newsletter archives. What I found surprised me – not because so much has changed, but because so much hasn’t.  We’re still guided by the same principles: that great travel takes time; that food, people and history are the soul of a place; and that the best adventures are those that leave you feeling more connected – to yourself, to others, and to the world around you. Ten years ago, we set out to create something different. We believed travel could be slower, more soulful, and infinitely more enriching. We’re incredibly proud of the community we’ve built—guests, guides, hosts and friends around the world—who’ve shared in our vision and made every journey unforgettable."

Across 10 years, The Slow Cyclist has achieved:

• Leading over 4,000  guests on small group cycling and walking adventures across 11 different countries.

• Partnering with local communities to deliver sustainable, low-impact tourism that directly supports rural economies. For example, in Transylvania, they work with Fundatia ADEPT, an organisation that conserves biodiverse farmland in Transylvania as well as creating, and maintaining, local cycle trails.

• Being recognised by industry leaders including being named as one of Conde Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialists for 2025.

• Launching innovative routes in lesser-known regions, championing off-grid exploration over mass tourism.

  
  

To commemorate the first decade, The Slow Cyclist is celebrating in various ways, first with a special one-off anniversary trip to Transylvania, from 12 – 17 October 2025, led by Broom himself.  The trip will return to the region where it all started, guiding guests through his favourite parts, with some surprises along the way. This is a reimagined version of the company’s most beloved itinerary, enhanced with exclusive experiences, guest storytellers, and deeper cultural engagements.

The Slow Cyclist offers the Anniversary Trip to Transylvania from 12 – 17 October 2025. This five-night journey starts from £2,985 per person and includes airport transfers for recommended flights and a support vehicle, Slow Cyclist host and English-speaking guides, all accommodation, meals, snacks and drinks, all activities, bicycle and helmet hire. International flights are not included.  

Most importantly, while The Slow Cyclist always donates 1% of its earnings to causes aligned with its core values, this year the team is committed to raising a sum of £100,000 for 10 charities, all of which are conducting impactful work in the UK or countries The Slow Cyclist operates in. You can find out much more about these charities here: https://www.theslowcyclist.com/ten-years/