I kept going off on these one or two week long adventures with my bike, some bike bags and a credit card, half planned / half “I’m knackered now, I better find somewhere to sleep”, and I thought to myself… you really should set up a tour company and bring people to these places.

So I did. I have a partner in this escapade, Mike McCreesh (who also runs the mighty Taiwan Outdoors and the new and exciting Ride Taiwan Ride ventures), as well as our very first KOJO Collective Ambassador – Kev Merry of Skyride Productions – and together we have crafted some cracking routes in Vietnam, Western Australia, central Japan and Bali (yes, Bali!).

We have more in the pipeline, in Thailand, northern and southern Japan, as well as another in southern Vietnam – and we are considering Scotland too.

We are just starting out and if you are reading this, thank you. If you can keep us in mind whenever the desire to escape the ordinary and … Ride The Extraordinary (everyone needs a motto, and this is ours!)… please get in touch.

What does kojo mean?

It’s an old, almost forgotten Japanese word which means to seek continuous improvement, to progress, to elevate.

The bike has helped us with our kojo, as have our friends who love the life on two wheels too, so it seemed a fitting name.

Without further ado, here’s what we have on offer for the first half of the year – but wait… we are offering decent discounts on all tours that we run with others for the first time, FYI, we’ve named them Recce Tours – ok, no more ado…

1. Ha Giang Loop / North Vietnam

Dates: April 5th to 14th, 2025
Duration: 10 Days
Distance: 865km
Elevation Gain: 17,700m
Price: $2,700 (Recon Price)

Discover the raw beauty of northern Vietnam as you tackle the Ha Giang Loop, renowned for its towering limestone karsts, verdant rice terraces, and winding climbs that really do feel near-endless… we know cos we’ve ridden them! This tour is a perfect blend of challenging climbs and cultural immersion, aided by our incredible guide, Mihn Ha.

2. The SEVEN Gravel World Series / Perth, Western Australia

Dates: May 15th to 21st, 2025
Duration: 7 Days
Distance: 424km
Elevation Gain: 6,186m
Price: $2,550 (Recon Price)

Woof – this event is amazing – the SEVEN Gravel World Series. We rode it last year and it was one of the best rides we have ever, ever done. Add rides before and after the race, plus some great food, and a winery or two… .you get the idea! Enjoy a week of camaraderie with fellow cyclists, stunning vistas, and exhilarating competition.

3. Tokyo – Fuji – Kyoto /Japan

Dates: June 4th to 15th, 2025
Duration: 12 Days
Distance: 797km
Elevation Gain: 10,120m
Price: $4,700 (Recon Price)

This really offers an extraordinary journey through Japan, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the majestic Mount Fuji and the historic charm of Kyoto. Added to that is a visit to Kiso, the winner (perpetually, it seems) of ‘Japan’s Prettiest Village’, and then to the World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go, home to the hamlet of A-frame houses that have become iconic. If you’ve never been to Japan or only visited the big cities, this trip will show you a completely different side to this fascinating nation.

In conclusion…

Yes, this is a company, and yes it’s a business, everyone has to make some cash – that’s one fact – and another is – we’d love to show people these amazing places, on really good tours where everything is taken care of (apart from the pedalling), in locations we know, where our long years of experience come into play, where we have really good, solid local partners aiding and guiding us along our adventures.

If that sounds right up your street (jungle street, outback street, rice field street, you name it), let us know, and let’s go have some fun.

Ride the Extraordinary with KOJO Collective.