Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Full moon in Wadi Rum. The light, the mountains, the group. Amazing.The mud at the Dead Sea. The photos are great. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny was brilliant. Full of knowledge and passion for Jordan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The first two days of cycling are mainly downhill. The fourth day cycling has five climbs which are a challenge. It was also very windy so bring warm layers if going in Winter. The views are worth the effort.Petra is big! You will need the two days to get around it all. For those who want a beer at the end of the day remember Jordan is a Mulim country. Alcohol is available at hotel bars but not at most of the restaurants. It is also very expensive (£5 for a beer or glass of wine) There can be tax and service added, 26%. 

Most Inspirational Moment

The day spent out on the Red Sea (and to think I almost didn't go), followed by a beautiful ride through Wadi Rum, followed by a 4x4 ride till sunset, the traditional Bedouin meal at our camp, star gazing for hours, and sleeping under the stars was by far THE. BEST. DAY. EVER.Notable runners up are the hike up to the monastery at Petra and an afternoon bathing in the Dead Sea.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Danny was absolutely terrific.  I felt bad that I could not remember 10% of what he told us, hence I'll have to buy a book on Jordan and read up on all the history and culture after the fact.  He also made great recommendations for restaurants where the food was excellent and not all that expensive.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely go with an open mind and a relatively good level of fitness (ie not for couch potatoes) for full enjoyment.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra exceeded already high expectations. I had a vision in my mind of winding my way through the siq and arriving at the Treasury. It was everything I thought it would be. The unexpected bonus came when we climbed the "800 steps" to the Monastery. I was blown away by the Monastery and the vistas from the view points.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was one of the very best tour guides I've ever had. He was extremely knowledgable of all of the sites we visited and very enthusiastic about sharing that knowledge with us. I would like to add that we also had a driver, two cycling guides and a mechanic with us. They all did a great job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We were travelling in October and still experienced temperatures up to 45C. If you have difficulty with heat, travel in the winter.Many are put off traveling in Jordan due to security concerns. It is in a tough neighbourhood but Jordanians have managed to avoid most of the problems that plague their neighbours. The people were extremely friendly and we felt safe at all times.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sleeping out in Wadi Rum- brilliant star-gazing and a real feeling of peace (after all the camp-fire singing had stopped that is!)Cycling through the desert, tackling the ascents and descents successfully and celebrating with a dance (and a biscuit!) at the top of the most difficult hill!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgable and tried hard to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. He was a little too quietly spoken though making hearing him difficult on the bus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

That any chaffing from the cycling will hurt when you get into the Dead Sea!Be careful what you eat - 9 out of 16 of us got stomach upsets.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved that you saw so may different things on this trip like the Dead Sea, Red Sea, a night in the dessert, amazing Petra and other historical sites. I honestly cannot think of a better way to see Jordan and being on the bike in this remote country was also an experience in itself. Petra was truely amazing and a very unique experience for me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader was very knowledgeable about his country and very interested in telling you his stories. He was also part of making Petra really special when he took us walking for 9 hours and most of the days outside the normal touristy routes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared that Jordan can be extremely hot even outside the high season - so you need a lot of water while exercising on the bike. Otherwise just enjoy every moment of this trip - it is truely special.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking above Petra and seeing the treasury for the first time in day light from above in the clear sunshine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was lovely, friendly efficient open and funny. We learnt so much about Jordanian life history and politics but a bit too much about his personal life! A few more moments of quiet and direction to find meals at night our selves some of the time would have been appreciated. Some people may well want to be lead all of the time but some independence is what most are after.

Most Inspirational Moment

too many to say.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was magical.  He really brought Jerash and Petra to life for us with his wonderful stories and frank open nature.  We felt truly looked after and loved having him as our host and guide to this wonderful country.  I would visit Jordan again, and would specifically search out Zuhair to be my guide.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was worried about clothing but, I shouldn't have.  Take a light pashmina, which you can wrap around your head in the hot sun, or, in the evening if you want to go un-noticed in the street.  However, Jordanians are very hospitable people and, they will not comment on your clothing or make you feel uncomfortable. It is you who will want to blend into the surroundings so that you can observe these kind people without being invited in for tea!

Most Inspirational Moment

Definitely, Petra. It's not just the Treasury (as we know it from Indiana Jones 3), but the whole area. Two days are not enough to explore it. Then it was a night in Wadi Rum desert. The third most inspirational moment - Jordanians. Very nice and warm people with a great sense of humour.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ali is a perfect tour leader. Looking after us and feeding us during cycling, educating us during sightseeings. Very patient with us, specially with our late arrivals :) Thanks a lot, Ali!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother with your own bike. Their mountain bikes are good quality and well maintained. Good road quality. The cycling was quite demanding, but with frequent stops to regroup and refresh. Up and downs, steep or slow, almost no flats.  You can go with your own speed, or if tired just hop on the accompanying vehicle. Weather was quite hot during the day, but while cycling it didn't feel hot, because is very dry. It is worth to bring a helmet cam. The hilly moon country in a speed can look very impresive and you do not have to stop for an interesting shot while riding down the hill. Every hotel had a free wifi, so worth to take even a tablet. I had feeling that Jordan is more expensive than UK (food, drinks and alcohol). Don't forget to try lime and mint juice.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were a few memorable moments. Sleeping under the stars in the wadi rum desert was amazing and very tranquil. You really are in the middle of nowhere and it's a real experience to spend the night gazing up at the stars. The dead sea was great, its a very strange feeling to float in water without a lilo underneath you! Petra by night was lovely and the cycle into wadi rum was just stunning scenery and that was the case for quite a lot of the cycling. I also developed a passion for hummus and would now consider myself something of an expert.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nice guy, very knowledgable and helpful but I did think it was a shame he didn't join in the cycling, especially as this is marketed as a cycling holiday. He was a lot more interested in the cultural and historical side to Jordan and was excellent in this respect but I kind of got the feeling the cycling was a slight distraction that got in the way of a cultural tour of Jordan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect too much down time, you pack a lot in. It's also very hot, more so than I was expecting. It's pretty expensive as well, especially if you like a beer or glass of wine, certainly London prices plus a bit more. Take an eye mask; some of the hotels have very thin curtains and it gets light very early.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to single out, however trip to the Dead Sea was amazing, seeing Petra by Night was fabulous too!  Meeting all those other like-minded people was good too!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good, however did not cycle with us which was a shame.   Also think at other times he had his own agenda.  He had been out 12/13 weeks on the trot and I basically think he was too tired for all of us!

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is very hot, just be aware of that.  However you will see all of Jordan and it is a fantastic place.  A camelback is a good thing to have too.