Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra was simply awe inspiring. You could walk four hours and still not be tired of the amazing sights. Make sure you bring you camera. I found the best time to take pictures of the treasury was at the end of the day when the light which richer and fewer tourists around. Close runners up: star gazing in the wadi rum by night and floating on the Dead Sea, a surreal but fun experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader was Danny. He was very passionate and knowledgeable about his country and was a wonderful host. He got the right balance between organising us, encouraging us on the longer rides, and having a laugh. Best bit was him dancing by the ride soda along with hour mechanic!

Advice for Potential Travellers

For female cyclists, definitely bring a gel saddle cover! And if you're going in the winter having cycling sleeves is an easy way to adjust your temperature but make sure you take your thermals for at night, especially if you feel the cold easily. And buy the kohl in Petra (for your eyes); it's nothing like the stuff you get back here. Oh an no duty free on Royal Jordania airline, so make sure you use up all you Jordan money at the airport before you leave.

Most Inspirational Moment

This trip was just as described.  There was so much packed in in just one week, so we saw all the best bits of Jordan.  The cycling isnt that onerous, really just an add on to the other sightseeing, although Jordan can be quite hilly!  Often the bus took us to high points so that most of the cycling was downhill.  On our tirp (dec - Jan) it was pretty cold at the higher places, so do make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes and some decent gloves.  These were needed at Wadi Rum as well.   No-body had their own bike - the rental bikes were OK but it may be worth checking that they definitely have one assigned to you before departing, as in my case they thought I was bringing my own!Petra and Jerash are fabulous - be prepared for quite a bit of walking in Petra, its a big place!Hotels were variable in quality, but to be fair that was made clear in the trip details.  Food was generally great, with plenty of snacks on the cycling days.  You wont loose any weight!In summary, a great trip.  Jordan is a wonderfully scenic place and you will see lots of it in just one week.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pretty good!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just pack according to the season

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking out into the silent desert as the sun was rising, watching it light up all rocky outcrops and sandy plains, bathing them in a golden orange glow.  The later, riding through the desert on camels.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Full of passion for his country, with a great depth of knowledge on its history and culture, all of which he was very eager to share with us. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring Jordanian money with you - if you bring sterling or dollars you have to keep changing it through the guide - good rate, but more convenient to have your own money ready.  The desert in November wasn't all that cold at night, but bring jumpers anyway.If you go to the Turkish Bath "Bring your personal things" means "Bring your swimming things"!!Do NOT open your eyes in the Dead Sea!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra was above expectation, and we needed the 2 days to explore it. Wadi Rum was a wonderful desert experience - I recommend sleeping under the stars and getting up for sunrise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was knowledgeable; the cycling leaders (members of the Jordanian Triathlon team) were fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother taking cycling snacks from the UK. We were asked to contribute to a group kitty for purchasing snacks (which were very good). The kitty also covered purchase of bottled water for the entire trip.It's worth taking a gel seat cover in case your saddle isn't comfortable.  

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the walking up, down and all over Petra, the cycling was great with the roads mainly in very good condition, getting chased by camels down the highway. But my top moment was camping in wadi rum and sleeping in the desert.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zahir was a fantastic guide showing us the best of his country, with humour, patience with a real pride in his country and his job. Also cannot praise the cycling team high enough Firas and Abeed were absolutely brilliant, really good fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The nights can be a little bit colder than I was expecting so a jumper is worth taking. Also this trip is very busy without much time to just sit about which I like but some people may prefer a little more down time. But book this trip I thought it was amazing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to list - the unexpected ones were very special - camels racing the bikes along the road, seeing eagles soaring over the valley, a group singing on the top of Mount Nebo ..... but also sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum, floating in the Dead Sea (and the great cycling down from Mt Nebo to get there), Jerash, Petra and cycling in the desert.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair went out of his way to ensure we had the best time possible, his organisation made the trip run smoothly so we could relax and enjoy it. The bike team inspired, supported, occsionally pushed us up the hills and led the dancing during breaks!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Although getting fit for cycling helps you enjoy the more challenging hills, it was good to be able to leave your bike when you had cycled as far as you could and, having walked up the hill, be reunited with it at the top. The cycling really is organised so that everyone can go at their own pace.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many it is hard to believe so much was squeezed into one week.  On the 2nd day we descended from Mount Nebo towards the Jordan valley.   The sight of the ‘promised land’ rising up from in front of us was spectacular and gave me goose pimples.During a descent on the 4th day our cycle guides started dancing to music in the truck.  They were shortly joined by the bus driver, the mechanic and a few cyclists.   Great fun and a magical pit stop.The stars in Wadi rum are phenomenal.    

Thoughts on Group Leader

We all loved Zuhair!  He was a non stop story book.   He had many forthright views on the middle east and I’m not sure his explanation of the Sunni/Shi'a divide was entirely objective but he spoke with unadulterated passion for Jordan.   He was immensely proud of his country and rightly so.   Petra by night was cancelled because of issues with people from the local town however he used his contacts in the Bedouin village to give us ‘Bedouin by night’.    He arranged for the coach driver to drive us into the desert where we had dinner in a cave cooked by a local Bedouin woman, her nephew and various friends.   It didn’t feel as if it was a show to keep the tourists happy instead it felt the most authentic moment of our trip. He made the entire week the success that it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I booked my own flights and this can be a considerable saving and what is more the flight times were preferable.  Admittedly you have to purchase your own Visa but this only costs £20 and was a simple process. Do not worry too much about clothing.  Our cycling guides wore lycra and were topless from within 3 minutes of a ride beginning. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Floating in the Dead Sea , something I have wanted to do since childhood. At 58 It lived up to all expectations

Thoughts on Group Leader

Friendly well organised informative and great at preparing snacks. I am confident his facts were 99% accurate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I trained hard for the cycling part of the trip . The first 2 days were relatively easy there was only one day that I found anywhere near challenging. I did enjoy cycling through the countryside and stopping for our snacks. We saw all the major sights but if sight seeing is your main concern other trips would take in even more such as Castle Karak. If you like your cycling challenging there are other options. For me the this trip was about right but I came home less fit than I went,

Most Inspirational Moment

Freewheeling down to the Dead Sea in the warm breeze followed by a float! The spectacular views from The Monastery over the Rift Valley below Night under the stars in Wadi Rum

Thoughts on Group Leader

Most informative. Cycle leaders were the best, reassuring, entertaining and thoughtful, taking good care of us all the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy every moment, go at your own pace and have a gel seat!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sami is playful, intelligent, highly committed, proud of his country and his culture. He consistently exceeded what one would have expected from a group leader.  It was a privilege to spend time with him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I generally felt safer in Jordan than I do in Canada or America. Jordan demonstrates a level of hospitality and generosity we rarely encounter in the West. If you have any doubts about this trip, but feel like it might be something you’d like to experience, GO!There were more than enough blankets at the Wadi Rum camp, so if you’re tight for packing space you can ditch the sleeping bag, particularly at this time of year. I hadn’t realized just how toasty it can get in the South; Aqaba was 45 C due to a little heat wave. Drink lots, before you get thirsty. The heat and my asthma conspired to make some of the cycling in the desert difficult and I ended up riding the bus more than I would have liked, but the bus was always available and riding it was a positive experience in its own way. I arrived a week early to acclimatize and explore Amman. Despite what some guide books suggest, Amman is incredible and you can easily spend a week on foot in the downtown core just experiencing local culture, a mosaic of Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians, and Iraqis.  I stayed at the Amman Pasha Hotel, which was cheap and wonderful and across the street from the Roman Amphitheater. The Exodus starting hotel is nice (with helpful staff, a pool and a gym), but in a somewhat isolated area. It’s ideal for the night before the start of the trip, but if you arrive early, you’ll find staying downtown a much richer experience.