We have cycled the Congo Nile Trail in 4 days with Lava Bike Tours and we had an amazing experience! Yannick has been super helpful in his communication and has made a real effort in adapting the route according to our wishes and level of fitness. The bikes are of OK quality but they were suffering from the harsh conditions during the trail, with a lot of mud and washboard surface. (Imagine downhilling on African cobble stone sections for miles!) Luckily we had our guide Marcel, who could repair the bikes on the spot. He has a wealth of knowledge about everything you pass by along the trail and he is a lot of fun too! It was also very helpful he knew exactly where to get lunch, water or bananas (our favorite!) Also Marcel knows the trail by heart and will show the way along alternative detours or trails with less mud, nicer views or shortcuts from the original trail. We would definitely recommend Lava Bike Tours!

We had a great experience biking throughout the villages in Ruhengeri, seeing parts of rural Rwanda and the countryside that we otherwise never would have experienced. Def something to do if you're looking for adventure and a cultural immersion. We loved it!

We had such a fun afternoon riding around the villages with our guide Francis. Francis gave us lots of interesting information about the area and took lots of photos. We had a group of very interested and friendly children come and say hello, which was a highlight. The land of a thousand hills is truly beautiful.

We did a very pleasant bike ride around Musanze, the landscape is beautiful and our guide, Francis was very kind. Bikes are proper mountain bikes in excellent condition. I would highly recommend if you like cycling and wish to discover the villages of the region with a beautiful view on the volcanoes!

Great bikes in very good condition for such a great bike tour across villages and plantation, with a great view on the volcanos! I highly recommend Yannick and the bike lava tour. He is always available to answer your questions! The guide, Norbert, was so joyful, careful and gave us many details on the landscapes and culture! Thanks!

Yannick set us up with bikes and gear for a self-guided ride on the Congo Nile Trail and helped make for an amazing trip! The bikes and gear were high quality and he made sure everything was fitted for us and ready to go. Throughout the whole trip he was consistently available and always ready to make sure we had a smooth trip, even after we had a slight change in our plans. I couldn't recommend biking in Rwanda with Lava Bike Tours enough!! Thanks, Yannick!

"Lava Bike Tours" provides really unique bike ride experiences across Rwanda and its beautiful landscape. The communication with Yannick was easy and professional. He is super friendly, reliable, always open to help and open for a chat. The pick-up service in the morning with the van was highly appreciated. Highlight: The landscape around the Twin Lakes. I highly recommend the bike tours with Yannick- it's simply amazing. We hope to come back again and have another ride. All the best

Such a great cycle on the lake kivu coast. Yannick was the perfect tour guide and even helped my girlfriend on the last hill. Perfect day! The view was so beautiful. We couldn’t recommend Yannick enough! Plus he is a former Rwanda national team cyclist!

I had little time to do a guided ride, but thanks to Yannik and Anita I was able to rent a reliable bike to get weeks again and enjoy the paths around lakes Burera&Ruhondo.
I had already pickep my itinerary, but Yannik offered good info about the area.
Murakoze Cyane!

I just did a two-day bike tour around Musanze and Twin Lakes with bikes from Lava Bikes. Yannick is super friendly and helpful, the route he recommended was very nice with great scenery and view of the volcanoes and the lakes and the bikes were in top condition. To anyone who would like to explore one of Rwanda's most beautiful corners by bike and support its growing cycling scene (which Yannick helped establish btw), I can totally recommend Lava Bikes.

We went for a bike tour of the Ruhondo lake. Yannick’s service was fantastic and the bikes were in excellent condition. The tour and the views were fabulous!

We did the 20km ride from Masanze to the Twin Lakes -- through the villages along the route. Yannick and Olivier were great and helpful guides... helping us plan and prepare... setting up the bikes professionally -- even organising a high quality bike-seat/helmet for our 4 year old! Then they guided us patiently... advising where the rough spots were coming up. They were informative and responsive, helped us get a boat trip and a stream-cooled beer.
Finally they arranged a car to drive us back "up" to Masanze as well. Thanks Yannick for all your good will and efforts, and for a great experience.

In total we did three activitys with Yannick (Congo-Nile-Trail, Twin-Lake-Tour, Mt. Bisoke). We totally recommend him, because he is reliable, trustworthy and a very kind person. Next time we will see each other again. Thank you, Yannick.

Friendly staff and good Mountainbikes. It's been a fun experience cycling from Musanze to the twinlakes.

amazing bike ride, beautiful places in nature and without cars. Perfect organization and new quality bikes.

Unfortunately I was not able to fit a bike tour into my recent trip to Rwanda but I DID get to spend the afternoon with Lava Bike's Francis-and intelligent and lovely guide who knows EVERYTHING about birds (and more!). Definitely recommend hiring him for guiding and can't wait to go back for a camping or cycling trip!

Friendly and pro .. bikes type is perfect.. they provide you spare parts . Wheel tubes . Tire lever .. if you like to bike just start you journey early morning to the twins lake wonderful landscaping

Did the Musanze - Twin Lake ride with Yannick and Francis. We had a great ride. As an avid mountain biker, I enjoyed the ride with Lava, it was physically challenging and also a beautiful ride. We had to get back earlier than expected and Yannick was able to modify the route, while still making it a fun experience. Next time I am in Musanze, I plan on going out with them again and exploring this area more with Lava

I rented a bike from Lava bike to ride the Congo Nile Trail in Rwanda. Yannick and Anitha are very professional and always replied me on time and accurately. They delivered a good mountain bike to my location of departure with all necessary accessories and spares; then picked it up 3 days later at my final destination. All went very smoothly for a good price, and I can’t recommend them enough !

The lava bike tours (Yannick and Francis) made our day. It was a fun and tough ride.
I could do this again and again. Our ride was from Musanze town to the twin lakes and back.
When you visit Musanze and you feel in shape for a bike ride, check these guys out.
They are professional and also have great bikes.
They take care of you whether you are a good bike rider or not.
I have to say I learned some good biking techniques from them.

My 11 year old daughter and I had a wonderful bike ride through villages with great views of the volcanoes. Yannick ensured she had a good fitting helmet and safety on the road was a top priority keeping us safe from any traffic.

The bikes were really good quality and you can tell he maintains them well.

The pace was just perfect for my daughter and the perfectly timed pit stops to have a drink of water were the times with the greatest views of the volcanoes, so a great time for photos.

I would highly recommend Lava Bike Tours for an individual, couple, or family to spend a really nice afternoon checking out the beautiful views of the volcanoes and surrounding villages.

If you are a serious rider, Yannick can accommodate your speed as well. He is a previous member of the Rwanda National Cycling Team!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

We went on a sunny sunday to do the twin lakes tour. It was really awesome, the two guide were so kind and so the landscape.
Looking forward to have another tour like that.
Lava tour vote 10 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Highly recommend! Yannick dropped off the MTB to the Guesthouse I was staying at in Kibogora and picked it up from the lodge in Gisenyi. He was on time and I was happy with the price/quality of the bike. The Congo Nile Trail is absolutely beautiful but tough (hardly any flat sections).
Day 1: Start at Kibogora Hospital Guesthouse - Lunch at l'Esperance Guesthouse in Mugonero - Arrived at Home St. Jean in Kibuye (70km 99% on paved road)
Day 2: Kibuye - Lunch in Musasa Village (Jimmy Samson was closed so small lunch in a boutique) - Arrived at Kinunu Guesthouse (58km with paved road until 6,5km after Gisaze Village, then all off-road and single tracks)
Day 3: Kinunu - Lunch/Arrival at Inzu Lodge in Gisenyi, although Centre d'Accueil François-Xavier is cheaper (42km 95% off-road).
NOTE: with a guide it should be possible to go more off-road/single tracks

We did a tour from Musanze past Lake Kivu to the south seeing parts of the country you'll never experience in other ways. Saw many villages, beautiful views, challenging paths, and lots of people everywhere, and they saw us: weirdly clothed muddy Europeans. Sometimes they take the challenge and you find yourself in a uphill battle trying to beat a strong local on a heavy transport bike. Yannick and the drivers are great.

With a group of 10 people we did a 9-day tour with Yannick and the driver. We've been visiting Kigali, did a tailor-made 6 day bike tour, with some people hiking, and have been visiting Nyungwe NP. Yannick is very helpful and communicates well in French and English. Especially if you ask very specifically. Discuss in advance what to bring (and what not to bring) like first aid kit, pump + spare inner tubes + tools etc. The bikes were almost all in good condition, and if not, it was replaced/repaired (happed to one of us). The lodges and hostels we've visited with him were in general really good. And along the way we had a lot of fun and it was really relaxing, since almost all was arranged very well. If I would come back for a new cycling trip, I would go with Yannick again.

I did half of the Congo Nile Trail from Gisenyi to Kibuye and it was just amazing! Marcel, one of the guides working for Yannik, did a great job. If you like to be active and if you want a real Rwandan experience, go for it. Furthermore, it was very simple to organise my tour as Yannik replied to emails immediately. I did the tour alone and it was so much fun as you meet a lot of other tourists in the different accomodations.

It was a great experience cycling with Lava Bike Tours. Yannick was very helpful and easy to communicate with. I was provided with a very good mountain bike, with all the necessary equipments ready on-the-go. My guide carried my backpacks in his two panniers -- that really helped for me to be fully-focused on the cycling. During the nights, I was well rested at their accommodation of choice. Thanks Lava Bike Tours for the great experience!

Yannick did a great job. Shown us people and nature form bicycles perspective. Very nice routes and top quality bikes. Safe and secure. Good food at the lake. 100% recommendation!

A wonderful biking outing with Yannick. A great bike tour with spectacular views of the lakes and green highlands. Would highly recommend!

An amazing bike tour through the area surrounding Kisoro. You’re able to take the tour at your own pace whilst taking in the beautiful countryside. To top off the tour, you get to enjoy your lunch by the lake with a cold drink (if you desire).
Can not recommend this tour highly enough!

We did the intrepid gorillas and game park tour - and chose the lake bike tour as an optional activity in Kisoro. Yannick, our guide, was wonderful. We had a lovely ride and the bikes provided were extremely good. Yannick was friendly and informative... and a very good cyclist! The views were wonderful and we would highly recommend the tour.

Thanks Yannick for a great bike tour to the Twin Lakes. Family of six, some of them very tall, were all accommodated.
Yannick took us on a great ride through local villages and with some awesome views over the Lakes. Sadly the rain set in at midday (it’s the rainy season) but that didn’t dampen the wonderful excursion. The return trip was not nearly as much uphill as expected. Wonderful greetings and interaction all the way along the 37 kms.
Thanks Yannick, and good luck for your cycling business, you are doing a great job.
Congo Nile Trail next year!

Janic was an excellent guide! We even came to Kigali to pick us up ( for an extra cost of course). The experience is great for a day trip and the effort is medium, so do not worry too much and enjoy the people and views!

I booked a day tour with my partner who is fitter than me! Yannick made sure that we had an extra guide Anas to bike with me so that he and my partner could enjoy going at their own pace- that was very thoughtful!
For the steep climbs i decided to walk and Yannick didn't complain, he made us feel this was our tour and we had to enjoy it!

What we enjoyed the most was the journey to the lakes! Passing through the villages and fields to get to the lakes was splendid!

Both of the guides were very kind and we had nice conversations! They shared some stories about the area, the villages, it was a nice way to get to know more about their lives in Rwanda.

If you want to do somehting else than the gorilla trek we highly recommend this tour!

A big plus: Yannick speeks perfectly French and English and he is an ex-professional cyclist!

We had a wonderful bike trip with Yannick to the twin lakes close to Musanze. He is a very open and friendly person and knows a lot of facts and stories about the area. The ride was 34 km on tarmac and dirt roads through hilly landscapes and villages. We would absolutely recommend the tour to our friends.

Amazing day trip to the twin lakes with owner and former Rwandan team cyclist Yannick. First part of trip is uphill paved road. Then there is an amazingly fun downhill through smaller town on dirt road to the first lake, followed by a relatively short uphill to the second lake. The trip back is not the entire downhill to the lakes - a quicker uphill on dirt road and the paved road back into town.

I highly recommend this trip for anyone who wants to get a better “real feel” for the area. The trip we did requires physical fitness, was almost 30 miles and 4,200 feet of elevation gain. That said, Yannick can create a trip to suit the needs of his clients. I think a great trip for those not accustomed to biking as far would b to just start with the village downhill.

IMO a must do activity in the area and Yannick was such a nice and quality guide I decided to do a four day trip on the Nile-Congo trail with him.

I made many trips with Lava Bike tours and Yannick - I was one of his first client I think - He is such a nice guide and a nice guy / organizing everythings taking care of everything according to what I expected- and the Congo Nile trail is such an amazing place where you can ride - I spent there one of my best times on a bike !
Thank you Yannick - best wishes and one of my wish : go back in Rwanda and go from Gisenyi to Rubavi Last time we stopped in Kibuye because I had no time to go further

See you Yannick
Best wishes

Laurent
Marseille- France

The trip I did was a bespoke trip made for my liking. I love the places we cycled. The backlanes of the village and great views were amazing. Very professional and knowledgeable approach made it a highlight for me. What a lovely topography to cycle around. Hats off bro. Thanks again.

We had a great bike ride to Twin Lakes and back. The ride takes you through several villages and more remote areas on dirt/gravel roads. Lots of beautiful scenery to see and friendly people to meet along the way. Be warned though - it's a challenging ride and requires a good fitness level to to all the hills. The staff at Lava Bikes are great and we would recommend using them. Thank you for a great experience!

I had a weekend free on a recent trip to Rwanda and tried a number of tour operators to make arrangements well in advance of coming to the country. None was as responsive or as qualified as Yannick and his Lava Bike Tours. Beyond being a former member of the Rwanda national cycling team, Yannick has a deep knowledge and appreciation of the areas he guides you through. He is far more willing and able to customize your adventure. He can pitch the tour at any capability level. I had a great, unforgettable, 2 days around Musanze, but he runs tours all over the region. He has the mechanical and first-aid certifications in the unlikely event that something goes awry. I recommend Lava Bike Tours highly and suggest that anyone try here first before calling the bigger tour operators.

This trip was outstanding!!!. The Tour was GREAT!! Yannick was amazing. He took such good care of me. He was conscientious, diligent , fun, fit smart, funny and very service oriented. I just can't say enough about my trip to Rwanda with Yannick. 🙂 I highly recommend booking with Yannick. it is worth a trip to Rwanda to do this!!
I want to go do it again!!!

I had a splendid 2 days cycling part of the Congo-Nile trail from Kibuye to Gisenye. I was connected with Yannick and his Lava bike tours company through another Rwandan tour company. As I only had the 2 days available, Yannick made this bike adventure happen. I had travelled with my own bike ( a Ridley cyclocross with mud tires and Di2 )which proved well for me, but a mountain bike might be better for the average cyclist. Yannick had offered a bicycle for the journey, and also offered that he has professional mechanic skills and tools. Reassuring indeed. Talk during the drive to Lake Kivu covered many topics, and then in passing, Yannick revealed that he was a recent member of the Rwandan national cycling team highly ranked! His humbleness had me concerned for the next two days of the 'attacks' and getting 'dropped', however, he was kind with me and we cycled together at my pace singing the theme to the 'Lion King".
He and a driver he used drove from the northwest of the country to the south to collect me, then proceed to or first hotel in Kibuye Hotel St Jean. Nice, clean and basic accommodation with a spectacular view. The first day followed the convoluted east shore of Lake Kivu along the C-N trail consisting mainly of double track with sections of gorgeous single track in the green surrounds. The track is rough in parts, with many relatively steep climbs totaling about 1000m elevation and 50k. We went deep into the heart of Rwandan village life, encouraged on by locals waving and smiling, and chased by children eager to be apart of the muzungu spectacle.
The second night was spent at a tropical paradise, Kinunu guest house, perched above the shores of the Lake, surrounding by fruit trees and a working coffee farm. The host is a retired Rwandan senator, and his staff gentile and professional. A wonderful late afternoon and night. After a fine breakfast of fruits from the garden, eggs and bread with local honey, we set off for the last day of cycling adventure to Gisenyi. Breathtaking views, villagers and locals, not a tourist to be seen until close to the end of our tour. approximately 40k or so and 700m elevation.
There in Gisenyi, our driver met us and safely drove me back to Butare some 5h duration through stunning Rwandan landscapes.
Highly recommended rip for the cycling and culture enthusiast. Eager to ride the remaining sections of the trail next year.

We went on mountain bikes along the Congo Nile trail from 11 to 15 March 2019 with Yannick from Lava Bike Tours. We were able to adjust the standard tour in consultation with Yannick. We are a couple of around 60 years old. We have experienced the guidance of Yannick as very pleasant. The trip itself is tough for average trained people. The beautiful views, experiences and friendly population more than make up for the fatigue. We had good bikes from Yannick. The overnight stays are in basic guest rooms. A hot shower is not always available. Meals and lunches are usually local dishes and also at home with locals.
It was a beautiful experience that we will remember for a long time and this is due to the excellent guidance from Yannick.

We had a really good time on the 3 day Congo Nile trail. A beautiful trip with great accommodation, very good bikes and great service from Marcel and Yannick. Our best experience in Rwanda, thank you very much!

We had a wonderful time biking with Yannick for a few hours through some local villages that passed a lake with stunning views. The lunch stop was also delightful. It provided one of the highlights from our recent trip to Africa.

Thanks Yannick and maybe see you again one day for another tour.

I read about Yannick in reviews about the twin lakes and contacted him to see what kind of tours he offers. He was so responsive and everything was organized within one or two hours. Perfect!

My son and myself made a one day biking tour from Musanze to the Twin Lake with Yannick and Anastace (one of his guides). My 18 years old son is so much fitter than I am, but Yannick and Anastace managed this perfectly. Yannick speaks very good English and is an interesting conversation partner. The mountain bikes are good; same are the helmets.

Two weeks later my husband and my son made a tour organized by Yannick from Gisenyi to Musanze which was a great experience as well.

I strongly recommend to make tours around Musanze with Lava Bike Tours.

We did the 1-day-Tour with Yannik. Yannik really is a professional and he can quickly adapt to your capabilities. The way was really secure and Yannik was all the time nearby.

After a few kilometers in Kigali, we arrived in the villages. This was a completely new experience for us. And more importantly -- this type of travelling gives you a totally different perspective on the country and the people and it is so great! We loved it a lot.

The lunch at lake was fantastic! On the way back, we were picked up by a taxi that took us to our hotel in Kigali (where we were originally picked up for the tour).

Yannik does a great job by organizing everything, providing you with interesting information and giving you the opportunity to discover his country from another perspective.

A big thank you to Yannik and see you soon!

Fantastic tour with a brilliant tour leader.
Yannick guided us through a village to the twin lakes and was very knowledgeable about his country. The swim in the lake was a refreshing way to recover from a tough cycle.
Yannick also took us to a delicious spot for a bit of lunch. Was nothing fancy but the potatoes and goat skewers were really tasty. I thoroughly recommend this tour for anyone looking to get closer to the real Africa. Thanks Yannick