Sweden

The area around Gothenburg on Sweden's West Coast is a singletrack mountain biker's paradise. Gothenburg is slowly gaining cult status as a trail destination thanks to the forest of Änggårdsbergen, where hundreds of kilometres of natural freeride and enduro trails lie just a stone's throw from the city.

What makes this part of Sweden so special is how quickly you reach true wilderness. Half an hour by bike from a downtown hotel you can be riding world class forest trails with rock gardens, roots and boardwalks that test the best technical riders. Further north lie Sweden's largest lake, Vänern, and the extraordinary pink granite slabs of Ramsvik, where you ride wide, grippy expanses of rock right beside the ocean.

The riding is a little easier than in Cappadocia or Morocco and there are no big climbs, which makes it a good choice for improving riders and weekend warriors alike, though there are still plenty of technical passages and slippery roots to keep you on your toes. Add pristine lakes for a swim, a good chance of spotting wildlife, a sauna by the jetty at sunset and some of the friendliest people anywhere, and it is hard to beat.

In spring and summer daytime temperatures are usually between 18 and 25°C, and rain is possible at any time of year. Gothenburg airport is very well connected, so it is easy to combine a trip here with time in Stockholm or a wider trip around Sweden and Norway.