Itinerary Expand all Ubud to Canggu Depart London Depart London Day 1 Start Ubud Those making their own way to Bali can arrive at any time on the first day. Those on the scheduled group flights normally arrive in Ubud during the afternoon. The bustling town of Ubud is Bali’s cultural heartland set amongst the hills and rice paddies of the island’s interior. This afternoon there will be time to relax and explore the town's temples, shops and cafes though we will go through the bike fitting to make sure all is in order before we start riding tomorrow. There will be a briefing this evening with your leader about the trip. Sri Ratih Cottages / Ananda Cottages or similar Arrive in Bali, transfer to Ubud Those making their own way to Bali can arrive at any time on the first day. Those on the scheduled group flights normally arrive in Ubud in the afternoon. The bustling town of Ubud is Bali’s cultural heartland set amongst the hills and rice paddies of the island’s interior. This afternoon there will be time to relax and explore the town's temples, shops and cafes though we will go through the bike fitting to make sure all is in order before we start riding tomorrow. There will be a briefing this evening about the trip with your tour leader.Sri Ratih Cottages / Ananda Cottages or similar Day 2 Cycle through rice paddies, villages and temples We have our first ride today as we explore the area north of Ubud across rice fields, villages and temples. After arriving to the Tampaksiring Village area, we explore Tirta Empul, a temple known for its sacred waters where Balinese come to bathe at least once a year in a ritual of cleansing dedicated to Vishnu. The final leg will take us along back roads to the lesser-known temple of Pengukur-Ukur where we can enjoy a refreshment before returning to Ubud. Sri Ratih Cottages / Ananda Cottages or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 3 Cycle to Batur Volcano; afternoon mountain bike descent Starting with a ride along the rice terraces we continue by slowly climbing up the road to the Kintamani Plantations area and beyond to the crater rim of Batur Volcano. This is a tough climb so after about 20kms we regroup for an extra briefing about the steep climb. If the steep climb is too challenging this is a good place to jump in the support vehicle up to the restaurant where we have lunch. Weather permitting we get stunning views of one of Bali’s bigger volcanic lakes. After lunch we have a short, sharp descent to the base of the volcano where our hotel is located. From here you have the option to relax at the hotel or spend the afternoon cycling off road on narrow, sandy trails. The final part of the trail crosses the most recent lava field and there is ample opportunity to get up close to the volcano and the strange moonscapes it has created. Segara Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Ride to Ponjok Batu Temple and Lovina coast After a short transfer to the western rim of Batur’s caldera we start our day’s cycling up and down hills along small roads, crossing villages and plantations towards Bali’s northwest coast. As we cycle through the villages of Bondalem, Tianyar and Kubu we observe the everyday life of local people. From here we enjoy a refreshment on the beach before continuing along flat roads to Ponjok Batu, a temple complex built of black stone, facing the ocean. We finally pass through Singaraja town before reaching our destination in the Lovina. From here it’s a short transfer to our hotel in Bedugul. Strawberry Hill Hotel / CLV Hotel & Villa or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 5 A day cycling, monkey forests, twin lakes, Buddhist monasteries and hot springs Our day starts with a short ride up to ‘Monkey Forest’ (it is possible to have a transfer to the top of the hill). From here we enjoy the view of the twin lake before continuing downhill for the rest of the day with stunning views across Bali’s north coast. We visit Bali’s only Buddhist monastery, Bhrama Arama Vihara and the nearby Banjar Hot Springs where we can spend some time relaxing in the open air pools. After lunch we cycle along the coast to our beach-front hotel in Pemuteran. The rest of the day is free. Adi Assri Beach Cottage / Naya Gawana Resort or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 6 Pedal to the harbour; snorkel around Menjangan Island; transfer to Java After an optional cycle or short transfer to Labuan Luang harbour we board a local boat and head for Menjangan Island. Meaning ‘Deer Island’, Pulau Menjangan is within the marine reserve of Bali Barat National Park and is renowned for its coral gardens and tropical fish. There is the opportunity to go snorkelling as well as the option to go diving (at an extra cost). After lunch we can freshen up before transferring to Gilimanuk Harbour where we catch the ferry across to Ketapang Harbour in Java. From here it’s about a 3 hour drive to Bondowoso. Ijen View hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 7 Cycle up the slopes of Ijen Volcano; optional sunset hike Today is definitely the most challenging day as we cycle up the slopes of Ijen Volcano gaining around 1,500m in elevation. Our route starts gently along flat asphalt until we reach the base of the volcano and start climbing through coffee plantations along some steep sections on partially-broken asphalt roads. We will take our time on this climb, enjoying the scenery and will be having a light lunch en route. We will regroup after about 20kms before the steepest part of the climb. Those who feel this next section may be too strenuous may want to jump in the support vehicle for this section as it is definitely harder than normal for a moderately graded trip. Of course it is possible to attempt the climb and still join the support vehicle a little way further up if needed. The support vehicle will be available at any time if the cycling becomes too strenuous. On the way we stop to visit one of Indonesia’s largest coffee plantations before eventually ending our ride in the remote village of Jampit Catimor. Here we will be spending the night in a local homestay with basic amenities located within a colonial building on a coffee plantation. Jampit Catimor Homestay Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Early morning trek to the crater rim; later cycle off the volcano to Ketapang Getting up very early, whilst still dark, we trek to the top of Ijen crater along a wide, packed-dirt 3kms long path. At the top is a large crater lake surrounded by sulphur mines and, as we hike in the dark, we should be able to see the blue fire created by the hot sulphur seeping out of the crater. After sunrise we have time to enjoy views of the lake which is 200m deep and is filled with steaming, acidic water. We should also witness local miners as they collect and carry sulphur blocks weighing up to 70kgs out of the crater. Please note that poor trail conditions and toxic fumes means that it is too dangerous to climb down into the crater. After returning to camp we get back on the bikes and ride down to our hotel in Ketapang in time for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax after the very early start this morning. Ketapang Indah Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 9 Cycle through jungle and plantations to the fishing village at Meru Betiri National Park Following a transfer to the start of today’s bike ride we get on the saddle and head into the jungle. Our trail through the rainforest is about 10km long and eventually gives way to an asphalt/broken surface through coffee, cacao and rubber plantations. We continue to Rajewesi Beach, the gateway to Meru Betiri National Park. The beach is a fisherman village where we can see locals disembarking the day’s catch. Tonight we camp on the beach, camping equipment (tents, mats, sleeping bags) is included and there is a basic block with toilets and cold showers. Camping Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Ride along jungle trails to the beach at Pulau Merah; free time to relax on the beach; transfer to Ketapang On our final day of cycling we continue along jungle trails following the coast towards Pulau Merah. Along the way we visit Green Bay with views of another hidden beach in east Java. Today's final ride is mostly on flat elevation with few rolling hills. We should arrive at Pulau Merah around lunch time where the early afternoon is free to explore the village, go for a swim or just relax before transferring (approx. 2 hours) to our hotel in Ketapang where we will spend our last night on Java. Ketapang Indah Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Transfer by ferry and bus back to Bali to Canggu After a relaxed start to the morning, we drive 15 minutes back to Ketapang Harbour in time for our ferry (30-45 minutes) to Gilimanuk on the island of Bali. From here it is about a 4 hours drive (with a stop for lunch along the way) to Canggu where we spend the next two nights. Grand Balisani Suites or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 12 Free day to relax on the beach or explore the area around Canggu and Seminyak Canggu is a popular stretch of beach along the south coast of Bali and a great place to relax after 10 days cycling up and down volcanoes and through jungles and plantations. The day is free to relax or explore the area around Canggu and Seminyak, take part in optional activities or go out on the water. Grand Balisani Suites or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 End Canggu Trip ends this morning after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport in Denpasar in time for their flight home. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London. Arrive London
Gili Extension Extend your adventure with our perfectly designed Gili extension. Only a short boat ride away the Gili islands epitomise tropical paradise with white sand, palm trees and warm waters teeming with rays, sharks and all kinds of marine life. Spend a couple days snorkelling, diving or just relaxing by the turquoise sea and taking in the atmosphere on Gili Trawangan. This is a 4 day extension; you will spend 3 nights in a resort right by the beach with 2 full days at leisure. The best place to jump out of bed and into the sea in the morning. Please ask your sales consultant for more details. Extension Day 1 - Early morning pick up from hotel (where your tour ends), transfer to Serangan/Padang Bai Harbour; ferry to Gili Trawangan You will be picked up early in the morning from your hotel and transferred to the harbour in time to check in for the ferry. Upon your arrival by ferry at Gili Trawangan (usually mid-morning), you will be transferred to your resort and then the rest of the day is free to explore or simply relax and soak up the sun! Desa Dunia Beda Resort or similar Extension Day 2 - Free day- Gili Trawangan Free day at the beach/leisure Desa Dunia Beda Resort or similar Meals included: Breakfast Extension Day 3 - Free day- Gili Trawangan Your second full free day at the beach/leisure Desa Dunia Beda Resort or similar Meals included: Breakfast Extension Day 4 - Transfer back to Bali; end Denpasar Airport This morning enjoy breakfast at the hotel before being picked up and transferred to the ferry back to Bali. The ferry usually departs Gili Trawangan around 11:15 and arrives back to Serangan/Padang Bai Harbour in Bali at 14:00. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by private transfer to Denpasar Airport (approx. 30 minutes) where your Gili Trawangan beach extension ends. Meals included: Breakfast Important: If you have booked this Gili island (Gili Tranwangan) extension after the MOI or WOZ trip and intend to depart Bali on the day the extension ends, the boat back to Bali is scheduled to arrive in Bali at around 14:00. However there can be delays depending on currents. Therefore, if booking your own flight and flying out of Bali (Denpasar Airport) on the same day we recommend you book a flight no earlier than 20:00 in the evening.
Indonesia Many nationalities, including British, can now get a visa free of charge upon arrival at Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Batam, Bali and Yogyakarta. Where a free visa is not available the cost is generally US$35. The Indonesian government may change the visa policy on short notice and start charging for the visas so be prepared to pay for a visa in case this happens.
Indonesia There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis should be considered if your trip goes to Flores, Komodo, parts of Sumatra, Kalimatan or Sulawesi but not for Java, Bali or Lombok. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels, guesthouse, homestay and camping 10 nights hotels, 1 night homestay and 1 night camping. We stay in a range of accommodation on this trip from comfortable hotels to a homestay and one night camping. The hotel in Kintamani is basic and the hot water supply can be unreliable but we use this hotel because it is best located for our exploration of Mount Batur. When camping on Rajewesi Beach we stay in 2-person tents and mats and sleeping bags are provided and there are basic toilets and showers with cold water. The homestay on Mt. Ijen is run by a coffee cooperative and is basic but clean. Whilst some rooms have western toilets we cannot guarantee these. There is no hot water at the campsite or at the homestay. The hotels generally are all en suite and all have air conditioning apart from the hotel in Bedugul which, being at altitude and having cooler night-time temperatures, does not normally require it. The more basic accommodations are balanced by staying in some comfortable hotels on other nights. Please be advised that the accommodation listed in each location on the day to day itinerary are the standard hotels used. However, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality.
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Reviewed September 2019 Janet Young Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Great memories of a fascinating country Cycling Indonesia was a brilliantly organised trip which offered a glimpse into a good cross section of Indonesian, from the quiet East Javanese beaches to the bustling cultural centre of Ubud. The countryside was wonderful and the traffic did not pose a problem as they seemed to navigate around us. The terrain was hilly but none of the climbs were extreme and all in our group made it up both volcanoes in their own time. The local people were so welcoming and friendly and our guide and his crew were equally outstanding. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The best moment for me was camping on the beach in East Java - so quiet and remote considering we were on one of the most populous Islands in the world. I also loved the quiet achievement of cycling up the volcanoes. What did you think of your group leader? Wira, our guide was exceptional. He was patient, looked after all our needs and was always keen to answer any questions we had. He was a good cyclist and encouraged us to ride at our own pace which made for an enjoyable cycling experience. We could go as fast or as slow as we wanted. The rest of the Exodus team were equally efficient, making sure we always had refreshments, a hearty lunch and a well stoked supply of my favourite Beng Beng chocolate bars. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It is the engagement with the people and the culture that is the standout and produce the strongest memories. Take time to look around and learn as much as possible. I would also advise to do some cycle training beforehand as there are quite a few hills. Is there anything else you would like to add? The only negative of the trip was a very challenging participant whose negative and disruptive attitude made the experience less than ideal for the remainder of the people in the group. It would be good if guests could be rated by the guide and if certain people are seen to be substantially impacting the tour and other guests then they should be discouraged from future travel with you.
Reviewed May 2019 Mojgan N.A. Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Beautiful trip I really enjoyed this trip. Wira (our guide) and the support team worked very hard and ensured it all went smoothly. I had little knowledge about Indonesia and I feel that this trip has opened a new world to me. I learned a lot about the culture, history and customs of this beautiful country and Wira contributed a lot to this. Bali is covered with temples and statues and for me it felt like an open museum. Another interesting point that caught my eyes were the architecture of the mosques in East Java. It has influences of temples and shows that the two cultures have been integrated which was very interesting to see. Everywhere we went people were very friendly and smiling and greeting us. There were some tough rides, a few nasty uphills, some very steep and rough downhills and off roads which made this trip even more interesting. Wira explained the detail of the route and what to look out for which was very helpful. The hiking up the Ijen volcano and watching how the sulphur miners work was the highlight of the trip for me. The other activities such as hot spring, snorkelling and swimming (pool and the sea) were all very enjoyable. Most hotels had a swimming pool so swimming after a hard cycling day under a hot humid condition felt like heaven! :) What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing the Ijen volcano. The landscape was beautiful and the view of the lake from the top was simply stunning. Seeing the sulphur mine workers carrying such heavy loads on their shoulders up that steep route was simply an eye opener. Riding on the old lava field (very rough off-road) was quite amazing too. What did you think of your group leader? Wira was an excellent leader. He was always calm, friendly and carried a beautiful smile. He was very knowledgeable and explained to us about people/farmer's lifestyle and customs. Every day he explained to us how the route would be in terms of points of interests as well as the challenging parts. The support teams also contributed to the success of the trip. They were very helpful and every little detail was taken care of, eg every time we had a break, they would fill up our water bottles without us even noticing it which was a nice touch. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you do your homework ie training! :) There are some tough uphills as well as very steep downhills with sharp corners and also some quite rough off-roads. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would recommend this trip.
Reviewed October 2018 Alexandrina Duncan Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Unique An amazing and varied cycling adventure spent with a really lovely group and a fantastic local support team. This trip is filled with cycling challenges while riding both up and downhill on various terrain, cultural stops at temples and through villages as well as well deserved downtime by beautiful beaches. Wholeheartedly recommended to the adventurous curious minded cyclist. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Making it to the top of Mt Ijen, camping under the starry skies What did you think of your group leader? Wira is calm, knowledgeable, organised, always motivating and giving us notice before treacherous or difficult stretches. His team were perfect, worked very well together, cooking delicious lunches, preparing refreshments, fixing bikes and catering for our needs. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Train before this trip and expect to cycle in temperatures of 30-35C on a daily basis. The accommodation was very good standard, however be prepared for very basic facilities at camping and homestay sites. Is there anything else you would like to add? Go for it!
Reviewed October 2018 Kay Rutherford Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands One of my favourite trips This cycling trip is up there as one of my favourites. There are some challenging sections of cycling but you are rewarded by great views as you cycle up volcanoes, through coffee plantations, past rice fields, and watch farmers harvest spices with the pungent smell of cloves as they are dried on the roadside. The mix of other activities makes the trip a real holiday adventure. Snorkelling off Mengangan Island was fantastic, with the colours and variety of fish breathtaking. We even were lucky enough to see a turtle. The.camping on the beach at Rajewesi Beach was a highlight, watching the sun set and rise over the beach was magical. Wira and his team were extremely well organised, cooked lovely food, very encouraging on the tougher sections and nothing’s too much trouble for them. Their love of their country is very evident. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Sun rise over Rajewesi beach What did you think of your group leader? Wira is an excellent leader. Organised, knowledgeable, handles whatever incidents thrown at him with expertise and sensitivity. He also makes the trip great fun.be Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for basic facilities at the beach and coffee plantation home stay but their locations more than make up for it. Is there anything else you would like to add? Just go on the trip.
Reviewed August 2018 Jo Griffiths Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Beautiful Bali .. I loved this trip, Bali and Java are fabulous destinations and although cycling doesn’t always lend itself to achieving a full appreciation of local cultures, this trip certainly whet my appetite for a return visit. The accommodation was excellent, even those classed as basic had a certain charm and I enjoyed the coffee plantation ‘homestay’, it was in a great location, if a little lacking in amenities. The trip allowed for some welcome downtime sat around the pool or on the beach, but each day was packed full of great food, awesome scenery, fun and laughter, cultural insights and physical activity. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Snorkelling off the Coast of Menjangan Island, it was fabulous! Also camping on Rajewesi Beach and the lovely dinner we enjoyed under moonlight was special, looking out onto the horizon with the soft lights of the lobster boats twinkling in the distance. Magical. What did you think of your group leader? Wira is an absolute gem. Organised, knowledgeable, smiley, patient, great fun, unflappable, fit, and an excellent cook! The way he handled the earthquake we experienced on our first day and subsequent aftershocks demonstrated exceptional leadership. Ably assisted by Wayan who single-handedly kept me alive when cycling through busy city streets, anticipating all dangers and guiding me safely to our final destination. The whole crew were brilliant, sorting out our luggage, repairing the bikes when required, preparing snack breaks and picnic lunches, filling water bottles. A great team! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I found the cycling hard; some days were fast paced and I felt that the group I travelled with were quite competitive. This was my first cycling holiday and I wasn't prepared for the culture of cycling compared to my usual hiking holidays. Some sections of the countryside, including fabulous photo opportunities simply passed by in a blur. I sat out of 4 or 5 sections over the length of the trip. Not just up hills, but very steep downhills and some off-road sections. Wira was very supportive of my decisions, however in hindsight I was far too ambitious choosing to do a ‘moderate’ graded trip for my first outing on a bike. I consider myself to be fit, however my fitness level did not compare favourably with some other members of the group. This in no way affected my overall enjoyment of the trip, but it is worth considering before booking. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you enjoy souvenir shopping, especially clothing and textiles, don’t leave it until Canggu, the road leading up to Banjar Hot Springs had a far better selection of goodies.
Reviewed July 2018 Martin Thomson Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands A Little Gem This is an absolute gem of a cycling trip. There is something for every cyclist; from undulating and flat roads to tough climbs up two volcanoes (particularly the 2nd climb up Mt Ijen); plus a little off-road riding thrown in, most interestingly through an old lava field (from the 1963 eruption of Mt Batur). Every day was something different and interesting. Outside the South East corner (Denpasar area), Bali is a beautiful island, lush and vibrant, with flowers and tropical plants abundant everywhere. Some of the hotels we stayed in were incredible. I particularly liked the ones in Ubud and Menjangan (quiet location, infinity pool, hot tub, great food, etc), but all the accommodation was very good quality bar a couple of exceptions that could not be avoided. Plenty of opportunities to swim in volcanic hot pools, swimming pools and the sea. We went in May and experienced a couple of rain showers. Fortunately, most days were cloudy and ideal for cycling, as the sun near the equator is very strong. Indonesia is a lovely country to visit and quite a revelation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The challenging climb up to the crater rim of Mt Ijen was rewarding, and inside the volcano the acid lake and steam were impressive as was the sulphur mining by some exhausted locals. The Snorkelling was great and I was amazed they provided a mask for short sighted people like me so I could actually see all the various tropical fish. Overall it was the people of Bali and Java that stood out, very friendly, always smiling, so kind. What did you think of your group leader? Wira was outstanding. An excellent communicator, extremely informative about all the flora and fauna, politics, etc; and a great sense of humour. This was my 8th Exodus cycle trip and Wira is the best Tour leader I have met Indeed, the whole Indonesia team were faultless, as though they had done it hundreds of times (even though it was quite a new trip). Everything ran very smoothly. They were the A-Team. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The climb up Mt Ijen is tough so get in some hill miles unless you want to take the bus. Snorkels and masks are provided (even for short sighted people) so you don't need to bring them. Take some toilet paper. Also, swimming gear, as there are numerous places to take a dip. You will sweat a lot as it is very hot & humid. Is there anything else you would like to add? This is one of the best Exodus trips I have been on and one of the few that I would happily do again
Reviewed June 2018 Richard Hopkins Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands ? The trip was slightly different from previous Exodus cycling trips I've been on in that the distances travelled were shorter than usual. As a result, there were plenty of opportunities to stop off at local shrines, hot springs, cottage industries, climb craters, cycling the many downhills, cycling across a river etc. as well as regular welcome breaks from the heat. There was more off road cycling than usual. I don't usually like off road cycling but I coped with it OK, especially with the advice and encouragement I got from the cycling team. The group was smaller than usual (6 only) which meant that we all had a lot of time to get to know each other and enjoy the uphill challenges together! The overnight hotels varied from the luxurious to the very basic.. The Dutch homestead in East Java had a toilet but no toilet paper or towel. It was situated quite close to a mosque which celebrated Ramadan using loud speakers to summon the faithful for hours on end, including during the night. There was one very long day in a bus (over 9 hours) which was unavoidable given the itinerary but which was not the most pleasant experience in my life. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing up the Ijen Volcano to see the blue acidic lake and the sulphur miners at work. The glorious beaches in Java and the sunsets over rhe beach at Kuta (after the trip was over) What did you think of your group leader? Wira was an excellent leader fitting in well with the various personalities on the trip. He was cheerful throughout with a sense of humour which we could all appreciate. He had an exceptional knowledge of the route we cycled each day. His local knowledge about Bali/East Java, both current and the past, was extensive. He managed the other members of the team with skill to provide a seamless trip for us without any hitches or unforeseen circumstances. Wayan, his no 2, was a superb, gentle giant of a man with an astonishing grasp of Balinese legends as well as infinite patience in dealing with me when, from time to time, I was bringing up the rear of the " peleton" Wira and all his team contributed significantly to the enjoyment of the trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for some fairly hard (for me) cycling both uphill and on the extended, quite technical downhills. Is there anything else you would like to add? I appreciated the opportunity to visit East Java. It provided an excellent cultural contrast to Bali. We did, however, seem to be zig zagging all over the place. This resulted in a very long last day in the bus travelling from deep in East Java to southern Bali. The constant loudspeaker activity celebrating Ramadan was intrusive. A trip to Java outside Ramadan would have made it much more enjoyable.
Reviewed May 2018 Debbie Crich Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands The best cycling trip I've done! Although this is a relatively new trip, its extremely well organised and the tour leader and support team were incredibly friendly. The cycle grading is accurate and although two days have some challenging hills included, the team were always there for anyone who did not want to continue. I had never really ridden a mountain bike before off road, but I felt like I had achieved something by the end of the two weeks. There are some roads with broken tarmac but the leader always lets you know when these sections are coming up. The rest of the roads were in really good condition. Most of the hotels were a really good standard compared to other trips I have done and Indonesia is a beautiful country to cycle through. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Making it to the top of the Ijen cycle climb!
Reviewed May 2018 Karin Barter Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Fabulous! This was a fantastic trip, one of the best that I've done. I'd always (wrongly) been a bit dismissive of Bali, thinking it was a place of resorts. How wrong was I?! We went to some beautiful places in both Bali and Java. The scenery was incredible, the people lovely, the food great. It is quite hilly with some very demanding climbs on the 2nd and 7th day but the support vehicle is always there. I've done a number of cycling trips and would say that this is more moderate/challenging. Even the trek up Ijen was a toughie but with spectacular views and the most toxic lake in the world at the top. On the second day there was an optional cycle around Batur which was off road. I think this needed to be explained how difficult it was, as unfortunately one of the group had an accident. Maybe an optional activity could be arranged, such as boating on the lake. I'd been diagnosed with a condition before leaving which has caused some mobility issues but the team couldn't have been more considerate or caring, from lowering the saddle when I stopped so I could swing my leg over, to helping me on and off the bus and down steps - all without asking; even giving me a push up the hills when it was too uncomfortable! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many. Each day had inspirational moments, as the scenery was so spectacular. We visited a number of temples which were beautiful and interesting. Really enjoyed the Holy Hot springs. The Ijen trek was incredible at the top. We stayed in some lovely hotels and the beach camping with BBQ was lovely. I've never seen such a beautiful beach - deserted! The Homestay with the walk to the waterfall and hot springs was fun. What did you think of your group leader? Wira was fantastic. Very knowledge about his country, very approachable, very caring. He couldn't do enough. The whole team were a well-oiled machine. Wayun, the sweeper, was incredible too, helping whenever I got uncomfortable. The drivers and support produced fantastic lunches in the middle of nowhere! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I'd strongly recommend this trip. Just be aware that there were hills in the heat and quite a lot of off-roading. The last day had a very long transfer. Is there anything else you would like to add? Put it at the top of your list of next trips!
Reviewed May 2018 Franziska Marcheselli Trip: Cycling Indonesia's Islands Fantastic trip! This is a fantastic cycling trip around Bali and Java - two beautiful islands in Indonesia. The Exodus team of guides/driver were brilliant and ensured that everything ran very smoothly. They often went above and beyond. The cycling is great - each ride different but equally stunning. Be prepared for a lot of uphill climbing, but this also means a lot of very fun down hill rides! Some of which are very steep. Because of how many climbs there are on this trip (especially day 2 and day 7 that are very difficult), I would argue this trip should be graded as Moderate/Challenging. There are also a few off-road rides (mostly on the last day). There is an optional ride in the afternoon of day 2 around Batur volcano; our expectations of the challenging terrain on this ride were not quite set accurately enough. Although beautiful, it is incredibly challenging and was harder than expected. It should be made clear that this is definitely optional and should only really be done if you are an advanced cyclist. Cycling 9 days in a row without a rest break is quite tiring, but each day brings a new highlight. The itinerary, overall, is very good. Trekking up to the top of Ijen volcano is amazing, as is snorkelling in northern Bali. Every accommodation is amazing in its own way - camping on the beach was absolutely incredible! An experience I won't forget. This was one of my favourite cycling trips and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Trekking up to Ijen crater (and down again) was more difficult than expected (being very steep), but a real highlight of the trip. Snorkelling from the boat in Bali was beautiful, I even saw a turtle! In general the islands are absolutely stunning and seeing the culture, temples, people and natural beauty was great. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader (Wira) was fantastic - his knowledge is extensive and he is very friendly and approachable. There were 5 people part of the team and all of them were very caring and made the trip brilliant.
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