As a capable adult, how often does someone actually take care of you for no reason other than for you to have a good time? Coming off of a recent string of bikepacking trips, it felt unnatural for me to let someone else do all the work. I was used to not wasting time and using every second of every day to be ready to do it all over again the next day. On this trip, I could waste all the time I wanted as long as I showed up for meals. Beyond feeding me and schlepping gear, Beth and her cohort Dave Bagley were rays of sunshine that brightened every day. No matter what they were doing, they were positive, helpful, and had a good story to tell at just the right time. !Evening views during Grand Canyon North Rim guided tour

Every morning the smell of freshly brewed coffee found its way into our tents and lured us out into the crisp mornings. While breakfast was cooking, usually batter-based things and greasy meats on the griddle, we savored gulps of the dreamy brown hot liquid from the Rim Tours proprietary "American Press". Basically, a handmade steel tubed version of the more typical French press, the "American" was 2.5 feet tall, containing more than enough "go juice" for an excellent day of riding. But enough about the coffee, let's talk more about the food. Beth and Dave cooked meals that some characterized as "better than a restaurant meal". I totally agree. It sure beats the bikepacking routine, where you are limited to stuffing sustenance into small spaces, that may or may not look or taste good by the time you arrive to camp. With Rim Tours, we were guaranteed three squares a day, always with a catered lunch AND some sort of homemade, baked dessert after dinner. !World's biggest french press coffee maker

Stress-Free Navigation

There's nothing more heartbreaking on a bikepacking trip than to realize you have gone hours in the wrong direction, only to have to retrace your steps back to the last known point on the correct route. Even with the best folded maps and phone-based navigation apps, there is a constant need to be checking yourself with the route. On a guided trip you can just get on your bike and ride. Dave or Beth would give us the plan for the day, usually reviewing a map, and then we were off blissfully pedaling the trail. Having spent a lot of time staring at my phone, multiple times a day while bikepacking, following a guide was a dream. And while we did not always have to follow Beth and Dave, they were conscientious about giving good directions with appropriate landmarks. Thankfully, they were never too far behind in case we found ourselves cruising along with no one else in sight. !Fence Point rest stop during Grand Canyon North Rim guided tour

When packing for the guided trip it was hard to remember that I could take anything I wanted, compared to bikepacking, which requires careful thought since everything is on your back or on your bike. For the guided trip, I was happy to pack extra clothes, both for riding and camp, a full sleeping bag and the book I had been trying to finish for months. Obviously, there is a limit to what I might actually use or wear during a five-day trip, but I still took advantage of someone else is schlepping my gear. !The cargo trailer carries all the gear on the North Rim tour

Perhaps the most exciting part of a guided trip is knowing that you'll have the best camp spots and the inside track the most beautiful viewpoints. While bikepacking, this often times happens serendipitously, if at all. On the guided trip, it is almost guaranteed and an important part of the experience. On my excursion, even the groover location was carefully selected to make our (post-coffee) morning routine unforgettable. While there is an undeniable sense of pride that comes with bikepacking, it's also nice to have someone else take care of the hard parts on a two-wheel outdoor adventure. It creates space for us to enjoy the pure joy of pedaling. END ORIGINAL CONTENT -->

If You Think Bikepacking Sucks, Try A Guided Trip

A guided multi-day mountain bike tour solves every problem that makes bikepacking miserable: someone else carries your gear, cooks gourmet meals, navigates the route, and selects the best camp spots, leaving you free to ride all day with nothing but a daypack and a smile. This is not just our opinion. Dirtrag.com journalist Leslie Kehmeier wrote about her experience on a Rim Tours Grand Canyon North Rim 5-day tour, and her conclusion was unequivocal: after years of hardcore bikepacking, the guided trip format was a revelation. Here is why guided trips outclass bikepacking for pure riding enjoyment.

This article is adapted from Leslie Kehmeier’s original piece on Dirtrag.com, August 2018.

The Guides Make It Special

On a bikepacking trip, you are the cook, the navigator, the mechanic, the campsite scout, and the pack mule. On a guided trip, experienced professionals handle all of that, and their job is to ensure you have the best possible time.

On Leslie’s North Rim trip, guides Beth Roberts and Dave Bagley were the highlight. They set the pace, told stories at exactly the right moments, prepared every meal, and managed every logistical detail so guests could focus entirely on riding and relaxation. As Leslie noted, “Coming off of a recent string of bikepacking trips, it felt unnatural to let someone else do all the work.” By day two, it felt like the only way to travel by bike.

Rim Tours guides bring decades of local knowledge. They know which camp spots have the best sunset views, where to find water, which trail sections to ride in the morning versus afternoon light, and how to adjust plans when weather changes. This institutional knowledge is impossible to replicate with a bikepacking app and a YouTube video.

The Food Is Incomparable

Bikepacking food is functional at best: freeze-dried meals, energy bars, and whatever fits in a stuff sack. On a Rim Tours guided trip, you eat like you are at a restaurant. Every single day.

Mornings start with fresh-brewed coffee from our proprietary “American Press” (essentially a 2.5-foot-tall French press that makes enough coffee for a small army). Breakfast is cooked on a griddle: pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit. Lunch is packed and brought to a scenic midpoint on the trail. Dinner is a full multi-course meal, and our guides bake homemade dessert on the campfire.

Leslie described the meals as “better than a restaurant meal.” After days of dehydrated mystery-flavor pouches on bikepacking trips, the contrast is almost absurd. You eat well, you ride better, and you recover faster.

Anyone who has bikepacked knows the heartbreak of realizing you have ridden two hours in the wrong direction. Even with GPS apps and offline maps, navigation on unfamiliar backcountry routes requires constant attention. You stop, pull out your phone, squint at the screen, second-guess yourself, and lose the rhythm of the ride.

On a guided trip, you get a morning briefing with the day’s plan, and then you ride. Your guide leads the way, points out turns, and provides landmarks for sections where you might ride ahead. The mental energy you save by not worrying about navigation is enormous. You can actually look at the scenery instead of staring at your phone.

On the Grand Canyon North Rim tour, this is especially valuable. The Arizona Trail and Rainbow Rim Trail traverse remote terrain with limited signage and zero cell service. A guide who has ridden these routes dozens of times is the difference between a blissful ride and a stressful navigation exercise.

Guilt-Free Packing

Bikepacking is an exercise in painful minimalism. Every ounce matters. You agonize over whether to bring a second pair of socks. You leave behind the book you wanted to read. You shiver in a sleeping bag that is one temperature rating too cold because it was 200 grams lighter.

On a guided trip, all your gear rides in the support vehicle. Bring a full sleeping bag, extra clothes for camp, a real pillow, that book you have been trying to finish. On a Rim Tours multi-day tour, the only thing you carry on the bike is a daypack with water, snacks, and a rain layer. Everything else goes in the truck or trailer.

This is not just about comfort (though it is very comfortable). It changes how you ride. Without 30-40 pounds of gear on your bike, the singletrack is faster, the climbs are easier, and the descents are more fun. You ride a trail bike instead of a loaded mule.

Secret Camp Spots and Insider Access

Rim Tours has been running multi-day tours since the late 1980s. Over those decades, our guides have identified the best camp spots, the most stunning sunset viewpoints, and the hidden gems that no bikepacking app will ever show you. These locations are chosen specifically for the experience they provide, not just because they are flat and have water.

On the North Rim tour, the camp near the rim of the Grand Canyon, with sunset views just steps away, was the unanimous highlight of the trip. On our White Rim tours, guests camp at permits-only sites inside Canyonlands National Park that are reserved months in advance. On Maze tours, camps are selected in the most remote and spectacular locations in the lower 48 states.

Even the groover (portable toilet) location is carefully chosen on Rim Tours trips. As Leslie noted, “Even the groover location was carefully selected to make our morning routine unforgettable.” That level of attention to detail is what separates a guided tour from self-supported travel.

Who Guided Trips Are Best For

Guided multi-day tours are ideal for:

Riders who love riding but hate logistics — You want to pedal all day and show up at camp to a hot meal and a cold drink
Groups with mixed experience levels — Guides adapt the route and pace to the group, ensuring everyone has a great time
First-time backcountry riders — The support system removes the intimidation of multi-day desert travel
Experienced bikepackers who want a vacation — Sometimes the hardest-working riders need someone else to take the wheel

Rim Tours offers multi-day guided tours ranging from 3 to 6 days across Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and beyond. Our most popular options include:

White Rim (3-4 days) — The classic Canyonlands loop
The Maze (5-6 days) — Ultimate remote backcountry adventure
Grand Canyon North Rim (4-5 days) — Cool forest singletrack and rim riding
Kokopelli Trail (4-5 days) — Point-to-point singletrack from Colorado to Utah
Needles to Moab — Canyonlands backcountry traverse

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a guided multi-day mountain bike tour cost?

Prices vary by tour length and destination. Generally expect $300-500+ per day per person, which includes guiding, all meals, camping equipment (tent, sleeping pad), support vehicle, permits, and local transportation. You bring your own bike (or rent one from us) and sleeping bag. Check individual tour pages for current pricing.

Do I need my own bike for a guided tour?

You can bring your own bike or rent one from Rim Tours. Our rental fleet includes high-quality full-suspension mountain bikes and e-bikes in all sizes. If you ride your own bike, make sure it is in good mechanical condition and appropriate for the terrain (full suspension recommended for most tours).

How fit do I need to be for a multi-day guided tour?

Fitness requirements vary by tour. The White Rim is moderate, suitable for riders who can pedal 20-30 miles on moderate terrain. The Whole Enchilada and Maze require solid intermediate fitness. Our tour descriptions include detailed fitness recommendations, and our team is happy to help you choose the right trip for your level.

Is bikepacking still worth doing?

Absolutely. Bikepacking develops self-reliance, navigation skills, and a deep connection to the terrain that guided tours cannot replicate. But they serve different purposes. Bikepacking is an achievement. A guided trip is a vacation. Both are valuable, and most riders who try both appreciate each for different reasons.