Petra & Wadi Rum By Bike

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 65 reviews.

Coral Hughes

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written December 2008
Had a great time, the group were a nice bunch, we were fed and watered well,scenery was fantastic!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Visit to Petra was fantastic and the trip back to the treasury at night was a wonderful experience, also sleeping under the stars at wadi rum Bedouin camp watching shooting stars was something I will never forget.
Completing the 60k stretch of the cycle was an achievement for me personally, infact the whole part of the cycling was as I wondered if I could do it and although I wasn't the fastest I did it.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our cycle leader was very pleasant, our tour leader also very nice, took us to some really good places to eat and knew his stuff on the history of the area.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This was a very different trip, Jordan is poor and some things are a bit rough around the edges, but the people were friendly enough and I had a good time.
If you haven't done any cycling or preparation this is not for you, we always had back up but you need to be prepared to be on your own a bit if you are a little slower than the rest of the group, I was nevered worried though.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cycling shorts are a must and gel seat, warm sleeping bag for the desert and warm clothes as it gets very cold at night, (all depends on when you are travelling).
If you don't like meze, lamb or pitta bread then you need to supplement your food somehow, I loved the food but others may not, energy bars and chocolate might be a good idea to bring.
You need at least £250 for food, tips and the daily lunch kitty, boat trip and night visit to Petra whilst away, its expensive but you don't need money for much else really unless you want camel rides etc.
I would like to have seen a cycle guide at the back of the group as well as at the front as one day we did have a bit of a mix up with directions and the support vehicle had to leave us to catch the other cyclists who had taken the wrong turn.
The support vehicles needed more repair kits on board as we had four punctures in one day and not enough repair kits this meant one of us had to finish the day on the support coach.
Would have liked a larger vehicle for the longer parts of the journey by coach as it was quite cramped with all our stuff and didn't make for a comfortable ride.
Quite a few of us had upset stomachs at some stage in the trip, nothing too bad but its worth a few supplies to help.
Alison Porter

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written November 2008
Not too challenging cycling, good bunch of people, and I never knew deserts came in so many varieties.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Riding a camel in Wadi Rum. It's a fiction that they are grumpy, though they do make some astonishing noises. As you ride along, they turn their long neck towards you and bat their eyelashes. Quite charming.
Petra is just astonishing. Completely bizarre, unbelievable place, with still functioning water supply system from 2000 years ago. It has the atmosphere of a festival, with kohl-eyed Bedouin trying to lure you into their tea-tents with bizarrely Cockney chat. It's worth going to the night time opening - a bit cheesy, but still beautiful, and we did see a shooting star over the Siq.
What did you think of your group leader?
Moayaad was lovely, intelligent and thoughtful. He's not very keen on discussing plans in advance though - which meant that on the first day, we ended up all traipsing round a Roman site in cycling shorts, and, later in the week, some of us missed out on a great hike, because it was done as a spur of the moment thing.
Paul the cycling guide was a laugh. His definition of 'flat' was very different from ours.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't expect much down-time on this trip! You pack a lot into the trip, which is great.
Avoid the touristy restaurants in Wadi Musa - grab a kebab by the roundabout in town instead.
Jordan is not particularly cheap, but a great country to visit.
Get there a day or two early if you can, and relax in Madaba, otherwise you have about 6 hours between arrival and being up for breakfast and cycling. From Madaba, you can take a day trip to the hot waterfalls at Hammamat Main, which are wonderful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The camping in the desert is a sort of Bedouin B and B - not quite the wilderness experience you might imagine! They even had a generator and fluorescent lights, which wrecked the atmosphere for a while. But a very jolly bunch of people, who soon turned things into a dance party.
Claire Holloway

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written November 2008
This was a month packed into a week - fantastic scenery, plenty of ruins (and a few wrecks by the end of the week), a really dedicated support team, good hotels and on balance more downhill than up. Rest of the Group weren't so bad either! Would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see the best of Jordan in a relatively short space of time.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Looking down on the Treasury in Petra after Moyiad's magical mystery tour to the high places of Petra. Don't miss it - not many of the millions of visitors to Petra get that view without the crowds.
What did you think of your group leader?
Moyiad knows everything there is to know about Jordan and looked after us all brilliantly - but if you prefer to know what is on the agenda for the day (or the menu in the evenings), you'll need to pump him for information. He can even tell you where the good bars are, which is the sort of inside knowledge you need in Jordan. As for Paul - excellent cycle guide and perfect English but did seem to get strangely confused between "big hill" and "little hill".
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
1. When Paul says don't go too fast downhill, especially round the hairpin bends - take note.
2. Try to book onto a trip alongside a couple of paramedics and a pharmacist. They come in very handy.
3. Take earplugs for that peaceful night sleeping under the stars in the middle of the desert. There are no walls to block out the snores of your fellow travellers.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you are vaguely considering this trip, don't - just get on and book it. Get in a bit of practice before you go to get up those "little hills" - and take a gel saddle cover.
Christopher Bond

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written October 2008
An excellent way to see the country, every day was something newa nd something exciting! Did a lot with a great bunch of people and had an excellent guide!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Its hard to beat seeing the Treasury for the first time but I think getting up for sunrise int he desert just about topped it!
What did you think of your group leader?
Very knowledgeable and really good with the group. Both the main leader and the cycle guide were excellent in explaining what we we doing and where we were going. A lot to see and a lot of information was given wherever we were, but without it becoming noring or toomuch!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just stop thinking about going on this holiday and book it! Oh and maybe wiat for it to get a bit cooler, cycling in 30+ was quite a challenge!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The only change I would make to the holiday would be to include more meals in the price - as it was we did a kitty which worked really well as we didn't have to bother with getting food for every day, but it would have been easier if all this was done up front. Other than that a very well organised holiday with plenty of happy memories!
Colin McIntosh

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written October 2008
I managed to pick off three items on my bucket list: swim/float in Dead Sea, visit Petra and see the terrain Lawrence and the arab army crossed to Aqaba.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many inspirational moments but the best has to seeing Petra's Treasury opening up as we walked through the gorge.
What did you think of your group leader?
Moayad was great. He took care of our every needs and had an in-depth knowledge of all the sites we visited.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a good camera to capture the fantastic scenery. In fact, learn how to use your camera beforehand so as not to be disapointed.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I love a holiday where someone else makes the decisions, leaving me to take in the holiday experience.
Pamela Jeans

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written October 2008
I had a fantastic holiday. Combining cycling and touring works really well. The leader and the fellow travellers were a great bunch. Everything combined really made a memorable trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Petra was truely amazing and everything I expected. Walking along the chasm into Petra was enchanting. The sun light on the rose stone tombs, and walking up to the sacrificial stone in the afternoon when the crowd were gone and enjoying wonderful views. Also, I really enjoyed floating in the Dead Sea.
What did you think of your group leader?
The guide was very knowledgable and personable. He made sure everyone had a fantastic time. We couldn't have had a better leader.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I took a gel seat. It was brillliant! ....Other people had bags that attached under the seat. A great idea. With the heat you really don't want a day pack. Head torch handy for Wadi Rum ... altho not necessary ... a little luxury.
Do some cycling before you go. The cycling was harder than I thought it would be ...although it was fine and no one headed for the van (except someone who was sick). Take lots of snacks. The breakfasts supplied are not good therefore bars/nuts/dried fruit come in very handy. We found glucose energy sweets worked well too.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
On the whole everyone had a wonderful trip. I would totally recommend it. We went in October and brochures mentioned weather would be 27degrees. It was a lot hotter, late 30's. So be prepared for that! The guide said March is best time to do the trip because spring flowers are out. We didn't take a book on Jordan. I wish we had because you get loads of information from the guide but there are no handouts, and it is very difficult to remember everything.
Jane Laughton

PETRA AND WADI RUM BY BIKE

Written April 2008
Great group, great guides and amazing places!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Where to begin...the dead sea...weird but strangely brilliant fun! Petra...amazing! Standing on the high place of sacrifice looking down the valleys to see the great expanse that this ancient civilisation carved out of rock is mind-blowing. Then came Wadi Rum...it's not just that Laurence of Arabia hid out here, it's the grandure of everything you lay your eyes on during the day and night. WOW, that was a big word!
Then we had the camels...now everyone has lead me to believe that camels are horrible creatures that bite and spit and everything in between. They're not! The camels that we rode in Wadi rum were very cool and it was a really enjoyable experience. Camels are FUN and don't let anyone tell you they're not!
What did you think of your group leader?
He paid me 1 dinar to say he was amazing so here it goes...Khalid was an amazing guide! He truely loves his country and this makes him an exceptional guide. He had an brilliant knowledge of Jordan's history and easily conveyed this to us. Every day was nicely planned and if we asked for something...he would easily and quietly do it, such as getting us to Wadi Rum in time for sunset.
We also had a cycling guide, Paul, who kept us on the straight and narrow (most of the time) when cycling. It was amazing the detail that he knew on the cycling parts of the trip!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As with any cycling trips, take padded shorts and/or saddle. This is a great trip that mixes cycling with some hiking. Wrap up warm for wadi rum. While it's hot in the sun it gets kinda cold in the canyon where the camp is...but then again, that was in March.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The one change that I'd make to the trip was we didn't get to see the ancient city of Jerash. On the first day we drove right through it but didn't stop. We all thought that we'd cycle back through it. Most people in the group agreed with this and we told Khalid and Paul when they asked for comments. They immediately discussed changing the itinerary to include Jerash!! YAY for the next groups...but just incase...give a little mention to the guides about it... ;)