Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The free day trip to Capri. Having travelled solo and meeting with four other solo ladies we quickly struck up a fantastic rapport from the beginning. We had many great times throughout the week however the day trip to Capri exceeded my expectations. Another special time was on the day of departure when the five of us ventured into Bomerano and found Agriturismo Il Pettirosso. An absolute gem! A little out of the way from the main town so not good in the sense of safe footpaths however the meal served was the most authentic and delicious meal of the week along with local wine. Perfecto!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Veriano is a very capable and knowledgeable group leader with a necessary quick sense of humour. The walks were relatively short compared to other holidays I have done so my only piece of constructive criticism would be to have more time spent enjoying the walk and less time in the extremely busy destinations of Amalfi and Positano. Both of these destinations are interesting and picturesque however the sheer volume of people takes away some of the beauty. Personally I would have preferred to have time to enjoy the views along the way than endure the chaos. The day we walked to Amalfi there was a cruise ship in the port and subsequently there was an overwhelming number of people. Veriano was quick to act of my request to escape by offering an alternative cove of Atrani. That made all the difference and we had a lovely little afternoon on the beach.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip notes are clear about the number of steps down. I would recommend taking at least one pole to relieve the stress on your knees. I don't normally have issue with steps however I was struggling on the second day, even with a pole. I wish I'd used it from the start and it would have made life more comfortable although it's always surprising how quickly the body is able to recover and by day three I was feeling stronger.

Most Inspirational Moment

Ravello is the highlight of this tour. First it is the quietest place on the programme. It is elegant and sophisticated; an absolute delight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was a facilitator rather than a leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Amalfi Coast should be on everyone's Bucket List. The pace of the holiday is leisurely however the places you visit (with the exception of Ravello) are manic. If you are looking forward to good Italian food and wine I'd suggest you eat out.

Most Inspirational Moment

Istanbul and Ephesus and Kus

Thoughts on Group Leader

Great...Good sense of humour and knowledgeable

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go!

Most Inspirational Moment

The ride from Zabljak to Pluzine through the Durmitor National Park. The limestone scenery was spectacular and round each corner there was an amazing view. It was a tough uphill climb but worth it for the views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Julien was very good with a great sense of humour He was well organised and knew the route well. He suggested nice restaurants for lunch and dinner and we all ate together. He was great at meal times sorting out the bill for each person/ couple. The support drivers were friendly and really helpful. He did set a fast pace and there were long stretches between regrouping.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take layers to wear - it was cold in the mountains so gloves and a buff/ hood were needed. Take a head torch/ front bike lights for cycling through the tunnels which were unlit and the lights on the bikes didn’t really light your way. Do a few long climbs to get fit beforehand! Although the bikes were good your upright position on long uphills meant the saddles weren’t that comfortable! Gel saddle or extra padding! Take snacks for refuelling.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sand dunes on the ocean edge were awesome.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very professional , funny and ensured we had a great trip

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make the most of each day, as it’s a fast paced trip through different environments.

Most Inspirational Moment

Wildlife spotting and in particular the early morning start to track wolves in Yellowstone Park, with our expert wolf guide, Evan. Dawn broke and with the light breaking we saw the wolf pack awakening from their slumber, and the younger wolves play-fight with each other, before being joined by the elders. An amazing sight. We moved on before they did, to continue our wild life search. Terrific.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Some 6 years previous we did an Exodus Trip to different Parks and the inspirational Leader of that trip, commented that his favourite Park was Glacier Park. That sowed the seeds should we return to the US. Exodus produced a trip combining Glacier Park with Yellowstone and the Trip was booked. At the Pre Tour Group Meeting, to our surprise and delight that same inspirational Group Leader Mike Harding ,was to be our Guide once again. Nothing is too much trouble for Mike and his knowledge and passion for his Country and guests is outstanding. He goes above and beyond what could be expected, for example making himself available for guests to be ferried into and back from the centre of the towns, for sightseeing and shopping. One guest had left something in their case and Mike was happy to unload the cases for the item to be retrieved. Restaurant and eating places were recommended, and commentary was often provided during the travel between the different Parks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect the weather to be changeable and dress accordingly. We travelled Sept/Oct and had unseasonable warm weather, with t-shirts on some days and woolly hats and gloves on other days.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our CEO and the whole garden route

Thoughts on Group Leader

We could not ask for a better leader the Petro.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the whale watching from the hotel as I never thought we would see them so clearly from the shore. Visiting the penguin colony was also great fun, although it’s possible to see the penguins from the boardwalk it was definitely worth paying to see them closer up on the beach.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Adonia and Ernest were amazing. They worked incredibly hard for us in what turned out to be tricky circumstances due to some heavy rain. They kept us safe on the roads, always had a plan B, kept us informed when things needed to change or provided options for us to choose as a group if there were choices available. Their local knowledge was fantastic and they seemed to enjoy sharing it with us. Nothing was too much trouble and they definitely made this trip special.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for changing conditions as sun in the morning could be wind in the afternoon and can make the cycling quite challenging. This also means the itinerary may need to change due to the conditions so best to come with an open mind and be prepared to go with the flow. I bought a 3 pin plug for South Africa at the airport and it turned out to be a great purchase so would recommend bringing one. I also brought quite a bit of cash which wasn’t necessary as card payments were taken everywhere and a very small number of places (penguin colony is the one that sticks in my mind) only took cards. A couple of extra days on to the trip to explore more of Cape Town is worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Its not a place or a moment, Central Europe is too beautiful and complex for that, it was the learnings. It was cycling with little concern right beside the remanets of the Iron Curtain. Waking up in a country that was recently freed, and going to sleep in a country that has been relatively unrestricted for many years. Nothing is more inspirational than stopping for morning tea at the memorial to the hundreds who lost their lives trying to cross a boarder, no matter why, which direction or what your beliefs are that is sobering… To spend 11 days, as a 50 something year old, in Central Europe, on a bike, is a privilege of our time, and that inspired me!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We struck gold! Jan is a compassionate, capable, incredibly knowledgeable, gentleman! Teamed with Lubos, our big gentle bear of a support driver - no need nor necessity was left unaddressed! Jan and Lubos are not only fantastic: bus drivers, gear haulers, tour guides, bike mechanics, historians, foodies, medics…. They are funny, warm and perceptive! Even though Lubos had limited English, he took us on side tours, when we chose to take the bus, conveyed instructions, lead us to points of interest, tried his hand at English and never stopped smiling! Jan assessed our group and altered the tour to meet our ability and quirks. We did off trail routes, had the option to take the bus when the elevation and heat made it less than fun, chose a picnic instead of a restaurant, found place we could swim or forage for fruit, stopped so we could work out what the crop growing actually was, or to try a Sugar Beet – because that was our group… He took us to the touristy places, but he also took us to the local hidden treasures, and when the rain hit… he gave his own raincoat to one of us to wear….

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you want to truly enjoy this tour… Get out and do the kms: ride the hills, ride off road! This is 480kms plus of variable terrain, heat, hills (at times), cobbles, gravel and even mud! The bikes are ‘Gravel Bikes’ – not suspended, not wide tyred, mountain bikes. The wheels are skinny, you have disk brakes, and these are opposite (right back / left front) for anyone from the southern hemisphere… But they are perfectly adequate if!... You have done some training off road. It’s not mountainous, but its definitely not flat, and after the uphills there are some glorious down hills – train for this! We rode downhill gravel sections that required a modicum of ability. We carried our, very lightweight, bikes up stairs – so prepare for this, it not hard at all, but carry your bike so the technique is not foreign. We navigated city traffic and tractors in villages. We had a heatwave and a downpour. And we had fun! Lots and lots of fun! Consider a Multicurrency Debit card - you ride through 4 Countries, and the currency can change twice on one day! Most places took a card, but a few notes in the local currency helped – your guide will advise, take note of what they say.