Inspired by the classic American Youth Hostels bike touring tradition, Teen Treks gives teens a safe, life-changing way to explore the world by bicycle. Our independently operated trips help young riders discover the thrill of the open road, build confidence, and form lasting friendships along the way.
Long before modern summer camps, the international hosteling movement introduced a different way for young people to travel, one built on independence, curiosity, and exploration.
American Youth Hostels, often known as AYH, helped make bicycle travel part of that tradition for generations of young people.
Teen Treks draws from that history through independently operated teen bike trips. Instead of highly structured camp programs, teens experience self-supported adventure by bicycle. They travel together, share responsibilities, solve problems as a group, and discover new places along the way.
It’s a style of travel that has inspired generations of young explorers, and it continues to give teens a meaningful way to experience the world today.
Embark on a multi-day biking adventure that utilizes dirt roads and off-road trails to explore remote areas. You'll use your bike to carry your supplies with the help of frame-mounted bags. Bikepacking gives you the freedom to get deeper into nature than hiking can give you and allows you to cover more ground while carrying everything you need.
Our guides will show you the must-see sights in countless areas across the United States, Canada, and Europe, such as San Francisco, Toronto, and Paris. Enjoy your days biking on safe, paved roads, while making stops throughout your trek. Your nights will be spent at either a campground, hotel, or hostel, ensuring you get a good night's sleep.
The idea of youth hostels was first conceived in 1909 by a German elementary school teacher who took students on weekend field trips to get out in nature and camp in school houses. These trips were based on the concept that students could learn best outside and through travel, known as the “wandering school.”
Teen Treks is an independently operated teen bike touring organization based in Buffalo, New York. For more than 25 years, Teen Treks has offered self-supported bike trips across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Our trips draw from the historic AYH bike touring tradition, where young travelers experienced the world by bicycle, carried their own gear, and traveled from place to place with a spirit of independence and discovery.
On a Teen Treks trip, riders carry their own gear, learn basic bike maintenance, help cook meals for the group, and camp at campgrounds or stay in hostels along the way. This self-supported style helps teens build confidence, develop practical skills, and take on leadership roles within a collaborative group setting.
In many ways, a summer spent outdoors, traveling by bicycle, and seeing the world up close becomes its own kind of “wandering school”. Teens learn through movement, responsibility, teamwork, and direct experience. The same values that made early youth-hostel travel so meaningful.
A Teen Treks bike trip gives teens more than memories. It gives them real-world skills they can carry into school, relationships, work, and life beyond high school.
Over the course of the trip, teens practice decision-making, communication, budgeting, problem-solving, and teamwork in a real travel environment. They learn how to manage daily responsibilities, support others in the group, and adapt when plans change.
Each rider has opportunities to lead in small but meaningful ways, helping navigate a route, keeping group morale high, organizing gear, preparing meals, or contributing to daily safety routines.
Because the experience is active, social, and hands-on, growth happens naturally. Teens become more confident because they have done hard things. They become more independent because they have taken real responsibility. And they return home with a stronger sense of what they’re capable of.
Don’t take our word for it. Hear directly from teens who have experienced our summer bike camps and how it’s changed their lives.
“The leaders were super friendly and I felt like they weren’t as much leaders and more just new friends.”
“A memorable adventure that I was lucky to have the opportunity to go on. Had fun biking, relaxing and camping!”
“The biking was really fun on this trip! I really enjoyed the scenery, small towns, and other cool places and people that I saw along the way.”
“Crossing America by bike was a great experience. I met so many nice and cool people, I saw beautiful scenery, and I learned so much about myself and the areas I was pedaling through.”
“This trek was unique and meaningful to me, full of hilarity and hard work; I accomplished feats each day and became a really strong biker.”
“I loved Teen Treks! It was a great experience that got me out of my comfort zone and let me meet new people, see new places, and discover a new side of me that’s obsessed with bikepacking.”
“I wanted an experience that would require a lot independence and responsibility and so while some parts were really challenging this is what was kind of hoping for and grateful I got a chance to prove myself.”
“I had never really biked long distances before this trip or bikepacked, but the leaders made it super easy to get into. They would give us helpful tips on bike safety and packing, which definitely made this new experience easier.”
“ It was life changing and also taught me to be a lot less uptight and more adventurous and was really what I think every teen should experience. Also an amazing bonding experience with the other people.”
Teen Treks continues to carry forward the spirit of AYH bike travel through independently operated teen bike trips designed for today’s young explorers.
Help your teen spend the summer outside, traveling by bicycle, building confidence, learning practical life skills, and forming friendships that can last long after the trip ends.
