Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The descent into Kotor Bay takes a lot of beating. Montenegro mountains, Prizren and Peje in Kosova, and Lake Orhid were also great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Leader and assistant both excellent and hard working! Interaction with clients was good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It got quite cold in the mountains - pack a few warm layers. And water proofs. Consider bringing decent bike lights for the tunnels. A couple of the tunnels were very dark the provided lights were feeble. Infrastructure in these countries is good. We used Euros - In Albania and Macedonia you get change in local currently. Card payment common. ATMs common. Food was good - we may have been lucky that there was lots of seasonal produce. Some wonderful cheeses. Vegetarian options possibly a little repetitious. Vegans would find it a challenge.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing at the top of a challenging climb looking at the sparkling sea and gazing at the beautiful Positano on Amalfi coast in the warm Autumn sunshine! There is a huge sense of achievement and camaraderie when you bond together with new friends while taking on new challenges together.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paolo was a fantastic leader - his warm calm demeanour was just what was required and he was friendly, organised and inspired confidence. Throughout the tour he was able to give lots of information about the local area and history. He kept control of 17 cyclists on some difficult roads and was although allowed cyclists of different abilities to challenge themselves, he took safety seriously and made sure everyone obeyed the sensible rules he set to keep us all safe.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are a nervous cyclist this is not the trip for you - particularly on the Amalfi coast there is a narrow coastal road with lots of traffic and coaches and you have to keep your wits about you. Also if you like lounging about and being solitary, like many of these cycling trips the itinerary is quite "full on" with lots of activities, socialising, moving to different areas with not too much down time. But we has so much fun, saw so much of this beautiful area and the lesser known spectacular Cilento National Park and had the chance to really explore a beautiful part of Italy.

Most Inspirational Moment

20km downhill cruises!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take the trip notes with a pinch of salt and ask for some accurate calibrations of distance and elevation gain before booking!

Most Inspirational Moment

Wouldn’t describe it as inspirational as such but highlights were: - marvellous scenery on every ride - cycling into Siena and Florence then enjoying the best of each city - off the bikes - gelato at the end of most rides - we earned them! - amazing weather for early October

Thoughts on Group Leader

- good - Cesare was pleasant friendly and helpful. Made a couple of mistakes when a couple of the group were lost off - should have waited or left one of the group to wait and direct them. Wasn’t a mistake he made again. Chose good places for us to eat together each day. Had only done a couple of Exodus trips previously so didn’t. Follow the Exodus way in relation to issues such as kitty for tips etc but maybe good to be different

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely need to be prepared for the hills - it was a genuine moderate to challenging route, with regular climbs, some lengthy and more challenging in the afternoons when hot. Do some training on hills in advance. Take snacks for a sugar boost when needed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dimitri our guide was excellent, as was our support driver.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I personally would not recommend this trip if you are vegetarian (as I am) and certainly not if you are vegan. Vegetarian options were limited and vegan options generally non-existent. It is not mentioned within the trip notes, but I would recommend bringing a set of good quality bike lights as you cycle through a number of unlit tunnels and the lights provided were poor quality. I would also recommend bringing along a GPS cycle computer if you have one to allow you to better judge distances, road gradients etc. and a set of SPD pedals if you usually ride clipless. It is also worth noting that it can get very cold up in the mountains where it was two degree Celsius the morning we set off from Zabljak. I would therefore recommend packing a pair of leggings and warm hat and gloves.

Most Inspirational Moment

Every walk was as good as the others so they all stood out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good leader, could of talked a bit more when out on trips but a friendly guide. Very helpful if needed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The only thing I would check is when you get the flight times. We had to be out the chalet at 08-30 on the last day and we was dropped at the airport. Our flight was not until 17-40 so had to come up with something or would have been sitting waiting for hours. If we had known in advance then could of planned what to see in Geneva but as last minute kinda winged it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The mokoros and camping in the Okavango delta was magical. Seeing rhino in Matopos was humbling. The dinner cruise on the Zambesi is a agreat end of tour dinner- especially as you get to see wildlife too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Onary lacked confidence to begin with. I understand he hadn't done this tour before but had done elements of it. After the first 3 days he became more confident. It helped having Sophiso to support Onary to begin with. Onary was extremely knowledgeable about wildlife,plants etc. He was a great chef in the Delta. He was kind and solicitous and ensured solo travellers were supported. He was open and honest and answered all questions- even political ones.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is only one long travel day. However need to be agile enough to get in and out of safari vehicles. The heat adds extra physical stress so travellers will want to consider this if you have underlying health issues.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Verdon gorge walk was beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Isabelle was an exceptional leader and able to improvise when a few things went wrong. She was extremely knowledgeable and kind.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Petra (the treasury) for the first time, stargazing in the desert, the cooking class, learning a Jordanian dance in Wadi Rum, hopping all over the discarded trains in the desert, zooming through the desert on Jeeps.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was absolutely brilliant. Very good sense of humour and it was very important to him for us to get a good sense and understanding of Jordanian culture. He was always contactable if anybody had a question/problem (I.e in moments when he wasn’t physically with us). I felt like he genuinely enjoyed spending time with us and wanted us to get the most out of our trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I definitely overpacked warm clothes thinking that the desert would be colder at night than it was (October). Apart from that I would just say go with an open mind and say yes to all opportunities.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, as a regular cyclist, cycling days 4 & 5 were the best as it involved some hill climbing with spectacular ridge rides, views and descents, especially between Vicenza and Nanto. Unfortunately after Nanto it’s pan flat for 35km with very little of interest until you arrive in Padova.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We’ve been on a trip with Michele before, so we knew what to expect from him. Very friendly and lots of useful stories to tell. Remember to play “buzzword bingo” and listen out for ‘Fidel Castro’, ‘Mussolini’, ‘Romans’, ‘George Clooney’, then shout “house” (or maybe it’s “villa”). Mark was also extremely helpful when my wife came off her bike and had to go to hospital for treatment, staying with her and acting as interpreter.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you can’t or don’t want to climb a 5km hill under your own pedal power (there are at least 2) then you’ll want an e-bike.