Aegean Coast and Lakes Ride

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 16 reviews.

Rita Bajusz

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written September 2012
It was a very nice trip, good group, enthusiastic leaders, nice views, diverse landscapes. Excellent food! Enjoyable not too stressful riding.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I loved to bike through the little villages, where everybody was waving to us..once we were driving across agricultural fields between two little villages. A Turkish man was working there with his tractor, and he suddenly jumped down from it, with a lovely honey sweet melon, and started to slice it and offer it to us...that was my most memorable and delicious energy booster:)
What did you think of your group leader?
The were cool. Helpful, energetic, funny guys... They were always paying attention to us. On the first day at the first climbing challenge they understood the limits of the group, and the coming days they organised the trip in a way, that was fitting our fitness. When the trip was too challenging they rather offered the mini bus,but if someone really wanted to ride it was possible for them. They always explained in details the itinerary of the route, in many details such us how big the hills were, how many km we did flat, when do we stop etc etc...that give me a lot of confidence for the ridings, andI knew how to use my energy.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring your pedals and shoes if you want, I liked it to have it on my bike. Baggy shorts are not necessarily needed.I was wearing tight padded shorts all the time and it was no problem, I was also wearing sleeveless top, and didn't get a sunburn. We didn't need energy bars, because meals were really good and enough quantity and we always stopped at tea houses where you could have a good sugary tea, or the leaders were giving out some chocolate or biscuits, or the locals were offering some fruits, or you could take a piece of fruit from the trees around you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip was really good, I thought there would be time and opportunity for swimming in the lakes...but this was not the focus of the trip. We swam on the last day only after the mud bath, or you could sometimes swim in the pools in some of our hotels.
Dewi Jones

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written August 2012
This was a brilliant holiday worth twice the price we paid. The weather,food,scenery,support and company were first class.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery in the mountains and the verdant nature of the countryside. The world heritage sites at Pamukkale and Euphesus were remarkable and just when we thought the trip couldn't be improved we had the optional mud bath after the last day of cycling and the trip downriver to Dalyan, on the boat, to our final hotel. Magic.

What did you think of your group leader?
Maho Arican was an authoritative,experienced,good humoured leader with great personal charm. He was sensitive to the needs of a mixed ability group and clearly safety conscious in his daily briefings and advice. Maho was well supported by his cycling partner and by the bus driver.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I had reservations about the potential effects of the heat in mid August but the cycling was surprisingly comfortable. The dry heat, allied to lots of chances to cool off at mountain springs etc, was fine. I have light, sensitive skin but Factor 50 sun cream avoided any sunburn. One of our group resorted to the support vehicle a couple of times but re-appeared quite happy to re-join the group later on on the route. There were a few "gradual climbs" and one needs to be reasonably "cycling fit" to gain the maximum enjoyment from the trip. The bikes provided were fine. Not as good as my Trek mountain bike at home but perfectly adequate for the terrain, which was mainly tarmac or light gravel tracks. If I was to do this trip again I would take my own pedals, with their clips, to stop my feet slipping occasionally - but a small point in the overall scheme of things.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Take it easy on the climbs - it's a holiday! There was always a chance for a breather when one thought it was getting tough and be prepared for some exhilarating downhills.
You have to explore Pamukkale and Euphesus. Both were fabulous and despite reading about them beforehand they both still had an element of surprise.
Do take advantage of the optional mudbath at the end of cycling on the penultimate day. Hugely enjoyable. We also, as a group, had a Turkish Bath on our final "free day"- arranged by our group leader, Maho. It was great fun and one of the trip's highlights. The "final surprise", arranged by Maho, was also magical and I won't spoil it by revealing what it was. Hopefully you will find it just as wonderful as our group did.
Denis Halpin

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written May 2012
From a cycling and a scenery point of view this was a very enjoyable trip but it would have been nice to have learned more about the country - e.g.-more time at Fethiye instead of Dalyan, a little more time at Ephesus.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery was impressive,the climbs challenging and the steep downhill zig-zags exhilirating but for me it was our interaction with the people in the rural areas and villages, particularly the welcoming,curious and genuinely interested children that provided the most inspirational and memorable moments of the trip.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader undoubtedly was a strong and competent cyclist who carried out most leadership functions effectively but I felt that during the bus transfers he could have given the group more information about the country being traversed.
He also had a tendency to ignore questions which perhaps were taxing his patience but were important to the questioner e.g.-How much further to go ?
The assistant leader was a likeable happy-go lucky young man and the driver was a very safe, efficient driver and a generally helpful sort of guy.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Learn a few words of Turkish. The adults in the more rural areas will appreciate it and the the children will really be impressed !
Is there anything else you would like to add?
More of a query really. Could the trip be undertaken in reverse ? - starting in Dalyan and finishing with the free day in Fethiye which, to me, seemed to be a more interesting and less commercialised sort of place ?
Sandra Glasgow

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written September 2011
What a fantastic holiday. Turkey is amazing- the people, scenery, accommodation and food.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
My son had been to Pamukkale and I had always wanted to see it. It was really special and Ephesus too.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ali was an excellent leader. He could explain things clearly and kept an eye on us all so we all felt secure, but he also had a good sense of humour so we had fun as well as good safe cycling.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Check temperatures/dates as it was rather hot for me early September. However we were always supplied with water on the rides.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I wish I had tried Exodus cycle trips sooner. At 72 I don't think I will manage to fit in all the trips I'd like to do.
Barbara MacMillan

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written September 2011
This was my first trip to Turkey and I know I want to return. The countryside was so beautiful and unspoilt, the food was perfect for me and I found the people charming. There were eleven of us on the trip, and although our physical prowess varied and some of us struggled a bit with the heat combined with some hill climbs, I never felt a failure for deciding to take advantage of the support van on a couple occasionsJ
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were several inspirational moments. I especially enjoyed the time spent in a little place which I think was called Kuanos. While there we sailed to a remote island with Ali and a local boat man, and stayed in quaint chalet type accommodation. The atmosphere ceated by that village was very special.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ali was an excellent leader who managed the motley crew so well. The fact that he was extremely handsome yet still modest was an added bonus!! In fact we were very well taken care of by all three lads - Ali. Yashid and Cammy whose camaraderie and sense of fun was infectious. Our safety was obviously high priority but this never upset the balance of enjoyment.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I would say that the trip was more challenging than I had expected but that was OK. Also I wish I had taken note of where we spent each night as the itinery was adapted in some places. Our time at Pamukkale was limited so it might have been useful to have the guide leaflets in advance.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would say that my 10 companions were also pretty great:-) All in all it was a fantastic week.
Julie Tidy

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written August 2011
A fabulous opportunity to see the 'real' Turkey away from the busy tourist areas. Amazing cycling but very, very hilly. Not for inexperienced cyclists as this trip is quite challenging and I would not recommend going during August unless you cope well with the heat!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The personal achievement when I made it up to the top of a hill and adrenaline rush cycling downhill for 7km. Also, visiting Ephesus which was incredible. I felt like I had been transported back 2000 years!
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was friendly and knowledgeable and was easy to get along with. He made sensible decisions eg visiting Pammukkale and Ephesus later in the day when it was less crowded and cooler.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I found energy bars/powdered drinks useful. Be prepared for long hill climbs and quite a bit of time spent on the bus tranferring to the start/hotel at the end.
John Chester

AEGEAN COAST AND LAKES RIDE

Written June 2011
A well organised trip using lots of local knowledge not readily available to the independent traveller
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The mountain rides
What did you think of your group leader?
Helpful and knowledgable guy
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't be put off by the reference to challenging climbs,the view from the top is well worth it