Hey, I'm Denisa. Together with my partner Amaury, we are two solo travelers who met because of their love for the mountains – a year later, we traded solo traveling for traveling side by side. Denisa, who sometimes spends more time in her tent than in her bed. Amaury, whose whole life is bikes: riding them, building them, working with them.

In June, we took our bikes for a month-long adventure. We started at home in Annecy, in the French Alps. First, we cycled across Switzerland, Alsace, visited our families in Belgium and the Czech Republic. Then we headed south across Austria, to the highlight of the trip: the Dolomites. The story doesn't end there, although, there was still a good part of the Alps standing between us and our home.

My cycling journey began last year when I bought a gravel bike and rode 3,200 km from the Basque Country to the Czech Republic to visit my mom. During this trip, my bike became my best friend, who guided me on a journey of self discovery. It gave me a sense of freedom like nothing ever did: suddenly, everything was just a bike ride away. Now, with three bikes and thousands of kilometers in my legs, cycling has shifted from a means of transport to a great passion, and a tool for exploring both the world outside and within. Oh, and most importantly, it's really fun.

One of the most special moments of our trip was crossing from Germany into the Czech Republic. Following a little stream and the songs of birds, we entered the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, greeted by smooth gravel paths and steep hills, surrounded by wilderness and deep forest. At that moment, I felt a profound, simple joy – a sense of security in being “home” and the thrill of adventure all at once. There was this beautiful mix of emotions, feeling happy to be back in my native country, seeing it anew from the saddle, and sharing the experience with my favorite person. That time felt truly special. Amaury's breath was taken too, not only because of all the beauty and all the steep climbs, but because of the incredibly low prices of beer!

The greatest advantage of bike packing is the independence it offers. With a bit of planning and preparation, you're self-sufficient, free to explore the world on your terms and by your own power. We didn't map out every detail of our route, just a wish list of places to see. Each day, we connect the dots, letting the journey unfold naturally without the restrictions of reservations or schedules. People often ask where we'll sleep that night, but we rarely know. It's okay not to know. The route shows us the right place for our tent, or our fatigue tells us when it is time to stop. And over time, I've learned that when I trust in my way, it always takes care of me.