We visited in Jan-Feb 2026. The trip includes interesting visits to a number of major palaces, forts and temples, and of course the fantastic Taj Mahal, but our key memory will be the chaos and cacophony of the traffic and the enthusiastic waving of the villagers as we passed along the country lanes. Our leaders took excellent care of us, enabling us to navigate our way around safely, whether on foot or by bike. Expect appalling road surfaces, litter strewn verges, and constant hooting, but expect also wide smiles, vibrant saris and a glimpse into a very different way of life to our own. I was worried about getting ill, but only one person in our group of 10 got a tummy bug (lasted 24 hours). One person came off their bicycle in a low speed collision in a village centre, with no harm done.
Jordan Cycling Tour
Our Best Jordan Cycling Tours
Best Ancient Sites to Visit on Jordan Cycling Tours
Petra: The Red Rose City of Petra is one of the most significant UNESCO World Heritage sites you’ll see when cycling Jordan. Undiscovered for centuries, Petra was eventually found by the Nabatean tribe in the 6th-century BCE. When you arrive at Petra you’ll be in total awe of this architectural wonder where elaborate buildings have been carved into the red and yellow sandstone rock. Walk along the Siq, a narrow walkway where a sandstone chasm soars above, which opens to reveal the magnificent Treasury, El Khazneh. As you wander through the houses, tombs and amphitheatre, you’ll learn about how the wealthy citizens once lived in the city. Head up to the High Place of Worship for uninterrupted views over Petra and climb the 800 steps to the religious site of the El Deir monastery.
Jerash: Lying to the north of Amamm, the ancient city of Jerash dates back to the Bronze Age and is famous for its walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa. The well-preserved ruins let you step back to the 2nd-century, and as you walk around the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis and Hadrian’s Arch you can almost hear the sounds of a past Roman civilisation coursing through the ancient ruins. Also known as the Triumphal Arch, Hadrian’s Arch was constructed in AD 129 to commemorate the visit of Emperor Hadrian. To learn more about Jerash and its rich history, visit the Archaeological Museum where you’ll find interesting artefacts that have been recovered from the site over the years.
Madaba: Often overlooked on cycling holidays in Jordan, Madaba is a market town best known as the ‘City of Mosaics’. As the name would suggest, a collection of stunning Byzantine mosaics can be found throughout the city but arguably the most famous is the detailed map that lies on the floor of the Greek Orthodox church of St George. It’s believed the mosaic dates back to the 6th century and its colourful detail depicts a scene from Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Madaba has one of the largest Christian communities in Jordan and the locals gather every Friday before dawn to pray at the church.
Little Petra: Known locally in Jordan as Siq Al Barid (meaning Cold Canyon owing to the tall buildings which block out the sunlight), Little Petra has a rich agricultural past and was once a place for travellers who were visiting Petra with their caravans and camels to replenish their supplies. Within the ancient site there are beautiful buildings carved into the pale rock and just outside the miniature siq stands a classical Nabatean temple. Much quieter and calmer than its bigger sister, Petra, Little Petra is always worth exploring on your Jordan itinerary.
Pippa Dickinson Cycling Through Rajasthan
Claire Wood Cycle the Back Roads of Sri LankaFrom start to finish, the trip felt thoughtfully curated rather than just ‘planned’. Routes flowed naturally through coastal roads, lush tea country, and quiet village back roads, giving a real sense of Sri Lanka’s contrasts in a relatively short time. There was a balance between time on the bike and cultural stops. Suresh chose routes that avoided the worst of the traffic and heat, favouring early starts, stops in small towns you’d never find on your own, favouring up-to-date routes. One day your riding past rice paddies and temples, the next you’re winding through ‘undulating’ tea plantations with cooler air and big views, constantly changing scenery, friendly faces at every tea stop and what incredibly tasting tea it was.
Suresh our guide set a clear standard of safety:maintained bikes, clear hand signals, calm, confident road positioning around buses, tuktuks, and the dogs. Hydration and breaks were planned at sensible pauses.
Suresh gave depth of local knowledge wherever we were and each stop became a mini-lesson in history, religion, food, wildlife: you never felt rushed away from a conversation with a local or from a viewpoint. His love for his country shone through as we too fell in love with their country.
Jacqueline Rose Cycle the Coast of KeralaThis cycle tour was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Exodus were a great company and as a solo traveller I was very impressed with the support, nothing was too much trouble. It was a great itinerary, our tour leader was informative, flexible to all members of the group and did his best to accommodate everyone, despite there being some challenging members in the group.
All accommodations were great and of a good standard.
I would highly recommend the tour
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