Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking out over the vast expanse of the site at Petra and imagining the multitude of people over many thousands of years who had walked the same path.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent and provided a wealth of knowledge of the history of Jordan and of the whole of the middle east. In addition we had a great cycling guide - himself an international cyclist, able to make sure that the various needs and abilities of the group members were all catered for.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! Even if you have not done a cycling trip before, providing you have basic bike handling skills and a reasonable level of fitness you will be fine. The trip combines a good mix of up and down hill and exhilarating stretches of fast flat road.

Suggestions

If you are interested in exploring new countries but need a reasonable level of exercise and activity when on holiday then this could be the trip for you.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 25-mile downhill cycle ride in Panama was a white-knuckle adrenalin rush, with breathtaking scenery to boot.Cycling around Lake Fortuna, moving from high altitude rain showers to scorching sunshine, looking out over the picturesque lake.Drinking pina coladas in the hot springs in Fortuna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was excellent, he was a highly-effective shock absorber, making the border crossings and other potential difficulties seem effortless. He even let us have his room at the last hotel when we had a problem with our room.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cycling is tough, so make sure you're fit enough, or be prepared to sit out some rides in the bus as the hill climbs go on a long way.  I thought I was really fit after months of cycling and spinning classes, but still found the going was tough, in the heat and humidity.Toilet facilities are non-existent on some rides, so be prepared to slum it.

Suggestions

Panama was the biggest surprise - the countryside was beautiful and the cycling was the best on the whole trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the spectacular scenery of Wadi rum.

Thoughts on Group Leader

It was Amer's first trekking group with Exodus, a very friendly and easy-going leader. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of the area and it's history & traditions.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't see running water for 4 days and the toilet facilities are, um, primitive. Take wet-wipes, anti-bacterial hand gel and a good sense of humour.

Suggestions

The trekking, scenery and oppertunity to sleep out under the stars are fantastic but it's not really a "wilderness camping" experience. Camping is in very small two-man tents (We were able to sleep out) and there's a fair amount of 4x4 traffic around. If a more traditional "Bedouin" type experience is what you're after you should look at the "Sahara desert trek" (TMU): kit goes on camels, bread is baked in an open fire every day and you sleep in a traditional Bedouin open tent.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was no one inspirational moment but many. The scenery is simply stunning taking in tropical rainforest, dry tropical forest and vast plains (sometimes even in the same day). We visited a few of the many volcanoes in the area and enjoyed their natural hot springs. But the truly inspirational moments came after the longer bike rides, some of which are quite difficult, as the sense of achievement overrides the tired legs!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was a good leader and very organised. I really liked his approach as he would listen to the group suggestions and adapt the itinerary where needed. The group meetings in the morning before each riding stage were particularly helpful and he was very encouraging to the less able cyclists. His only let down was that he didn't always have the background information to the countries to hand - though he had internet access on his iPhone for some answers!  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a challenging holiday. The brochure does describe it as moderate/challenging and this is accurate but don't think as I did that 'it can't be that challenging, it's a holiday after all!' Some of the climbs are steep and long, some of the roads are rough dirt tracks, it can be very windy (those head winds are a killer) and we did cycle in 36+ degree heat. The long, fast downhills are a well-earned bonus!

Suggestions

Go for it! You'll not regret it and you'll come back with an SD card full of pics!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking down the Siq and seeing the Treasury of Petra before us was just wonderful - better than in the guide books. Or walking out the Bedouin camp in the desert so we could gaze at the stars in total darkness - just magical. Or maybe jumping off the boat into the Red Sea to snorkel and see colourful fish dart around in the blue water. All memorable and inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raid was a good guide and knew his stuff but the group was great too and we all got on well and had a fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Remember to take a beach bag/overnight bag to take into the desert with you as you won't want to take your suitcase there and get everything sandy. It can be cold in Jordan in Feb too so have a few jumpers to hand for warmth.

Suggestions

Go! You won't regret it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The people of morrocco very friendly and welcoming.Scenery in ther anti atlas mountains was stunning.Best of all was the amazing down hill runs and the routes taken across the mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

What can i say about the trip leader except fantastic.Always had a smile on her face except at the top of the climbs when nobody was smiling,until the pain in your legs subsided.Despite having a total of over forty punctures for the week,there was never a grumble and liz just got on with job in hand.Every morning the bikes were checked over thoroughly,very reassuring considering the terrain we cycled over.Anyone who gets liz as a group leader will have a super holiday.Nuff said

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm,windproof layers for the early morning mountain top starts.We had three very cold starts and it takes maybe half an hour to get bikes set up for the day so you can be standing around for a while.

Most Inspirational Moment

Many memorable moments, including the evening stroll along the High Street at Tiznit, the High Atlas Views and some challenging rocky descents.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liz was very professional, hard working, friendly and helpful.  Everything we could have wanted in a group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I wish I had thought of taking a helmet cam!  Take some Euros.  The wind and evenings can be cool (In Feb) so take plenty of layers.

Suggestions

I would have preferred shorter lunch and breaks allowing an earlier finish and a chance to look round.  However I know that would not have suited everyone.

Most Inspirational Moment

All of the trip was fantastic. Everything was planned for us. Petra took my breath away, the Treasury by candle light will remain in my memory forever. Loved the desert trip to Wadi Rum, the  desert walk at day break, the camping, and our camp hosts were ace, it was a fabulous experience even in the rain.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In a word FANTASTIC ! He kept us all on task, rounding us up, no way would we have seen half of what we saw without him. He also took us to lovely local places to eat.  His pride and love of Jordan was obvious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take enough warm clothes, February was colder and wetter than we expected.

Suggestions

I thought everything about the trip was fantastic- I enjoyed it so much I have just booked an Exodus holiday to India, if it is half as good as my trip to Jordan I will be happy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Not sure about inspirational but there were memories that will stay with us:The never ending and wettest climb to the tea plantations at 6,000 feet with the most wonderful hotel at the end where we were greeted by friendly staff with cups of hot soup!The tea houses that we stopped off at each day - and their loos!Flooded paddy fields that we were ferried across on a make-shift raft by  locals on our final dayThe rain, the rain and the rainLovely routes through rural lanes and the warm welcome we recieved from locals everywhere

Thoughts on Group Leader

 We chose the trip because we had been on Peter's Kerala trip previously. We knew he would do a really good job and we were not disappointed. He prepared us for what to expect each day and at each hotel and used his excellent local knowledge to help us get the most out of our trip. He had warned us about the final beach hotel but it was truly awful and we could not stay there - he did his very best in helping us find an alternative hotel and never made us "Escapees" feel we were being difficult  or awkward.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother with waterproofs and if possible ride in all terrain sandals which dry much quicker than shoes. If you hit the kind of monsoon rain we did for most of the holiday waterproofs are useless and skin is pretty waterproof. The rain did not spoil our holiday and bizarrely contributed to some of the highlights for me. Take old cycle tops or t-shorts that can be dumped afterwards - if it is wet and muddy no end of washing  removes the marks.Remember the weather is something none of us can control - grin and bear it!We used ATM's to get cash - had no problems in finding them in any towns.Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and cycling is a wonderful way to get under the skin of it  - go for it!

Suggestions

As  mentioned above, we were booked into a truly awful hotel when we reached the beach - hugely disappointing as we were there for 2 nights and it was meant to be an  opportunity to relax and enjoy the beach.  Most of the group had to move to other rooms and  7 of us moved out altogether. All credit must go to Exodus, for their approach to our complaint - their quick response and willingness to make amends will certainly give us confidence to book again with them in future.I do hope they have now found the alternative in the Galle area they were looking for, as this could have spoiled what had otherwise been a great holiday.