Testimonials

Volker Düring, Berlin, Germany

One of the best cycling tours I took part ever, excellent balance between cycling and visiting cultural highligts, very good accomodation, helpfull and flexible guides, interesting and sometimes surprising visits and also food.

Inbetween three mostly challenging days in terms of climbing, but the roads are good to cycle an the team is looking to be helpfull in any case.

Annette Meier, London, England, UK

I enjoyed this trip very much. It was great to cycle through the country and to experience the hospitality of the Sri Lankan people. Stopping off in small street cafes for a cup of tea was fun and all the better for having just cycled through the lush green plantations where the tea is grown. Kasun our guide and the two drivers looked after us very well and made sure all our needs were met.

All the other cyclists were great company and I was sad to leave everyone at the end of the tour.

Alastair Locke, Leeds, England, UK

Really enjoyed the Burma trip and the people on the tour. The food was much better than I was expecting, with every day providing a new foodie experience. The support crew were full of fun and enthusiasm. Whilst the riding at times was quite tough due to the heat and road conditions, the MTB bikes coped very well. The lovely Burmese people and the incredible variety of landscapes, plus of course one or two Pagodas!! were simply the icing on the cake. Many Thanks to redspokes

Diane Tenbuuren, , Hope Valley, England, UK

We are back from a wonderful holiday with redspokes in Vietnam and Cambodia. We had the best guides we could wish for, Le Trung Keen in Vietnam and Art Ourn & Phea (Sim) Ousaphea in Cambodia and fabulous drivers/back up support - a lot of knowledges, very kind, everything you asked they arranged, nothing was too much or impossible. We loved it! Despite the weather, rain at the first three days, we enjoyed the Vietnam N.E. tour.

Magnificent scenery when the clouds were gone and not much traffic on most of the tour – it felt like we did get to see unspoiled Vietnam. And the culture tour in and around Siem Reap was great! We did get to see Angkor Wat and other nice temples, seen how the mushrooms are grown, visited the village on stilts and were moved by the personal account of our guide at the war museum. And this all with the most beautiful tracks to cycle on!

Jack Clode, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong

redspokes looked after us really well. Our team was pushed hard, but not too hard, and so we ended the trip very fit and happy.

Mark Glaisher, Gillingham, England, UK

There were plenty of contrasts during our trip through Uzbekistan! The carefully chosen route passed into the mountains and across plains, and often there was hardly a building in sight, let alone a village. Coming to remote settlements we were made really welcome – cyclists are not common. Once we reached the bigger towns there was the bustle of buses, motorbikes, donkey carts and so on, whilst the travel for the classic tourism sites (Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent) was by High Speed Train. This was my fourth redspokes trip, and as on previous ones the support was really good. Our local guide filled in gaps in our knowledge, and the crew was on hand for the food stops during the day and to give any mechanical help. After a day’s riding, arriving at the camping place with the facilities set up and the afternoon tea on the go, was great. Such a variety of food, too; freshly prepared with little repetition, and there was always provision for me, a vegetarian. A memorable tour for all the right reasons.

Dawn Horsburgh, Kilninver, Scotland, UK

Thanks redspokes for an inspirational trip.  I’ve been keen to visit Thailand for several years - the cycling, views, culture, food and company did not disappoint. 

A jam packed fortnight of amazing experiences, memories gained and I am already wishing I was on another trip :)

Karen / Geoff, London, England, UK

Another great trip with redspokes, lots of interaction with the local people whilst cycling through some stunning Colombian Highland scenery. We feel that we saw the "real Colombia", the side that most tourists don't see, we would do it all over again! A big thanks to our fellow travellers, what a great bunch of people to travel with!

Roger Troughton, Surrey, UK

Everything I expected of a redspokes trip to Burma combining "must-sees" and cycling off the beaten track to observe another side of the country. Backed up by a really good local crew. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip to others who like the way redspokes does things.

Richard Mann, North Yorkshire, England, UK

This was a great winter holiday and a brilliant way to explore and see the real Cambodia , but with great service, good quality, clean hotels and an enjoyable variety of local food. Our two guides Phea and Sekhom and our day support van driver really just made the holiday. They were fun, informative and attentive. Our bikes re appeared cleaned and lubed every morning, our overnight bags would be waiting for us in our hotel rooms and every day they arranged an interesting sight seeing visit or informal visits and briefings at nearly every regular rest stop.

They carefully selected a variety of cycling routes for us to experience all aspects of Cambodia, connecting by coach transfers. Their company and exceptional service and support really made the trip so informative and enjoyable.

Marcella Loehr, Minnesota, United States

I signed up for a 3 country, Asian bike tour because I wanted to see this part of the world! What a wonderful way to see it! We saw every aspect of the areas we traveled through Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Since the guides were divided into one group from each country and were from these areas we learned first hand from their knowledge about their country. They took us to local spots that we would never had seen on any other tour. The biking was challenging but the guides and van drivers made sure we were all safe and were very well organized. 

Marcella Loehr, Minnesota, United States

I signed up for a 3 country, Asian bike tour because I wanted to see this part of the world! What a wonderful way to see it! We saw every aspect of the areas we traveled through Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Since the guides were divided into one group from each country and were from these areas we learned first hand from their knowledge about their country. They took us to local spots that we would never had seen on any other tour. The biking was challenging but the guides and van drivers made sure we were all safe and were very well organized. 

Louise Farley, London, UK

A fantastic blend of culture, local gastronomy and exercise - what better way to explore a country than by bike!

Michael & Christine Lawton, Rhyl, Wales, UK

Our fourth tour with redspokes and it will not be the last. The information supplied before the tour was really very good. The guide Mr Elle (Al) and his wonderful team of drivers/assistants were excellent and always ready to deal with any issues quickly. We were provided with a constant supply of cold drinks, fresh fruit, biscuits and crisps on the regular stops en route. 

A pleasant cycle down the coast of Thailand passing through some beautiful scenery, riding through traditional fishing villages and plantations producing latex from rubber trees and some growing bananas and coconuts. Regular stops to meet the local Thai people, often at work in the fields or processing coconuts.

Nigel & Ceri, Christchurch, New Zealand

The Sri Lanka Classic tour did truly allow us to experience classic Sri Lanka. We cycled through an incredible variety of landscapes, from immaculately groomed tea gardens to wild jungles, teeming with wildlife, and visited the incredible monument of Sigiriya - a must-see in Sri lanka. There were some challenging climbs on the bike for those that wanted that (others gratefully jumped on the bus), and some gentle cruising days with more focus on the sights and sounds. The Sri Lankan people were a highlight, always returning our smiles and waves with their own, and the children were especially excited to see us cycling their rural lanes. Getting up very close to wild elephants going about their daily life was another highlight.

Our guide Kasun and his team looked after us exceptionally well, and introduced us to true Sri Lankan life that you might not experience on other tours. Highly recommended.

Eli Baron, Texas, United States

The 3 countries was an outstanding and varied experience. Every day different from the previous one and with exceptionally beautiful scenery.

Susan Pritchard, Manchester, UK

redspokes provided a trip of a lifetime. The guides were very helpful and friendly making sure we all had everything we needed, especially coffee and food at the rest stops! The organisation was first class with clear itineraries each day. The route was beautiful. There were a few tough days but the scenery made the hard work worth it, especially staying in the refugio on Osorno volcano and the views from there. Some of the group even fitted in a few hours skiing on the volcano! The boat rides provided chill out time and awesome scenery as did a visit to a thermal spa. The group we had was great, we were from 7 different countries but we had shared interests of adventure and fun! I highly recommend this trip!

Eli Baron, Texas, United States

The 3 countries was an outstanding and varied experience. Every day different from the previous one and with exceptionally beautiful scenery.

Ross Prielipp & Annette Meier, High Halstow, England, United Kingdom

This was our 4th tour with redspokes and having thoroughly enjoyed the previous 3, this trip did not disappoint. The cycling is stunning, well surfaced roads, very little traffic, beautiful scenery and plenty of challenging climbs followed, of course, by exhilarating descents. The small towns and villages through which you pass are fascinating. The rest day in Chiang Kham is a particular treat, we were absolutely spoilt by the resort owner Rico and would love to go back there sometime.

The real highlight of this trip however is the guide Preecha, he epitomizes the friendly open nature of the northern Thai people and is someone you will not forget. This was as much a gastronomic tour as it was a cycling tour. During the day we stopped at roadside cafes for delicious pad Thai or noodle soup and had snacks of sticky rice flavoured with coconut. In the evenings Preecha took us to restaurants, night markets and riverside stalls for amazing dishes of grilled fish, firery curries and even deep fried bamboo worms (absolutely yummy). Thanks to Preecha, Rico and the redspokes team for a memorable trip.

Roger Hill, Crawley, United Kingdom

The trip included more than other tour companies did and yet the price was still very competitive. The trip included the amazing internal flight and cycling up to Muktinath which none of the others did, so that's why I chose it.

The trip was made so enjoyable by Ox. He had a great sense of humour and worked so hard to help all of us with any problems we had. He helped get my suitcase when it arrived a day late on my arrival. He arranged to get an sd card for my go- pro. Ox helped make it the best adventure holiday ever.

Joanna Reaves, Edinburgh, Scotland

Another great redspokes tour. A smaller group but just as much fun, experiencing the colorful, friendly culture of Kerala and Tamil Nadu together.

Sarah Howes, Tonbridge, England, United Kingdom

This was my first time travelling with Redspokes and the cycle tour in Uzbekistan did not disappoint – it was a fantastic experience. Although a regular cyclist, mountaineer and camper, I’d never done a cycling trip like this before or visited this part of the world so for me it was such an adventure! Riding through the arid and desolate landscape, dotted with colourful oases and villages that seemed straight out of the Old Testament (albeit now with electricity, cars and mobile phones!) meant we truly saw the real Uzbekistan. Riding over the vast high plateaux was exhilarating and great fun! There was also some very challenging terrain at times.  The support crew were absolutely fantastic and looked after us really well. They provided plenty of food & drink, and a huge variety, three times a day. Camp was always tidy, well organised, bikes checked and fixed/adjusted and even hot water for the shower tent. Sightseeing in Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva was absolutely fascinating and a great complement to the ‘wild’ part of the trip.

Adrian Sankey, Ambleside, England, UK

This was an excellent trip through the most beautiful countryside of Thailand. The cycling was great. A carefully chosen route with lots of interest and variety. Some of it was challenging, but the rewards were spectacular.

Our splendid guide Preecha looked after us admirably and found us imaginative places to eat both at lunchtime and in the evening and we stayed in some very comfortable hotels. I would happily do it again tomorrow!

Karina Lehrner, Santa Cruz, USA

redspokes, you did it again! Trip three with you and once again, the result is an environment where we become a "family" cycling around a new country, with a local guide and a support team that join in the spirit of family as well.

There are so many good memories, in all, the trip was a remarkable experience. Highlights include climbing the famed highway up and over a mountain pass. Stopping and learning about a family in the countryside growing rice, thanks to Phong's dedication to connecting us to Vietnamese culture, was another of many highlights.

Thank you, redspokes! Now, will it be Tibet, Peru, or Kyrgyzstan... See you soon.

Wendy Holland, Whangarei, New Zealand

This was my 4th trip with redspokes and again I have been blown away. The trip design was excellent (as usual)- the back roads, small villages, cultural experiences, and amazing vistas of rice fields and agrarian life was so fantastic and so interesting. I would never be able to organise this trip outside of redspokes because of the critical use of local knowledge and researched planning and cycle routes away for any usual tourist routes. Outside of the two cities we saw no other foreign travellers.

Forrest our guide was excellent. He could not do enough for us, he looked after us in every way, always wanting to do more. I loved his kindness, humour, and integrity. The food was excellent, Forrest got to know what we all liked and each meal was delicious. Mr Bi our driver was also great. Our coffee stops were great and Mr Bi is an exception cycling mechanic, he is also very funny - the bikes we used were put together by Mr Bi and were excellent. My fellow cyclists also made this trip very special, thank you, I loved being with you. So thank you, thank you, thank you redspokes, Forrest and Mr Bi, hmm where shall I go next!

Andrew Vittery, Guildford, UK

Claire, Guildford, UK

Marie Sadler, Luton, England

This trip was a wonderful surprise. Albania is a hidden gem. The cycle route takes you through beautiful countryside, mountains, rivers and lakes, the scenery is breathtaking. We had a great group and very well looked after by Arjan and our driver. The food and accommodation was to a very high standard and the Albanian people very warm and friendly. 

Thank you redspokes once again for a well organised trip giving a true feel of Albania

Joseph Steel, Rosenheim, Germany

This cycling trip was truly amazing. The cycling was hard, with many long, high climbs although most came with long, fast descents. The scenery was outstanding and something of a surprise. I wasn't really expecting it to be so good! 

The accommodation throughout the trip, although it varied in standard, was always good - hot water in the shower, plenty of electric points for charging, and wifi in nearly all our rooms. In particular, the hotel in Shaxi was excellent.

Our guide was a great help - very knowledgeable and keen to share information about the places we were in and give his views about China. He took us to many different restaurants for some very good food. 

Ged Browne, London, United Kingdom

Another great redspokes trip in a remote, hard-to travel-to Asian location. Deserving of its 10/10 rating due to altitude, repeated camping and Nepali roads, although it should be noted that the majority of this route is now good-quality surfaced road.

Kathrin Wieczorek, Rosenheim, Germany

This was probably the most scenic cycling tour I have ever done. Yunnan is simply stunning. I wish more people would go.

The trip is tough with very little flat roads, but the climbs are really rewarding with spectacular views. We were a very small group and together with Jia and Ken it felt like 5 friends on the road together. What a lovely team they are. Everything was planned perfectly, from the arrival to the hotels, luggage transfer, food ordered, the daily cycling and the few but well deserved rests. I highly recommend this trip!

Couldn't have a better guide than Jia who also provides valuable insight into the local culture. Bikes provided are good, and food is plenty and (for Chinese standards) quite varied. 

Ian Kirkland, Australia

Would highly recommend this trip into the heart of the Indian Himalayas. Manali and Leh are both very picturesque towns and the route between them takes you through some stunning scenery. Very well organised. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for Ragu and his team. The two cycling guides, Naveen and Vee, both spoke near perfect English and were great company on the road. The camp meals were tasty and varied and the food plentiful ( which was fortunate as everyone seemed continually hungry).

There is a lot of climbing on the trip and the road surface is pretty rough in some places but some great downhill sections as well. A very enjoyable trip all in.

Brian Ingle , Davos, Switzerland

This is a challenging tour with hard earned but ultimately hugely satisfying rewards and stunning scenery. The altitude demands that the pace is slow but the sense of achievement on reaching such dizzying heights arrives, eventually. 

The support of the crew as always was first class. The quality of the food on this trip surpassed what I would expect from a good restaurant and yet it is all prepared in the confines of a tent, extremely impressive. You have to work hard during the day to produce an appetite worthy of the cuisine. The trip was particularly special for us as having met my now fiancee on a redspokes tour in Kyrgyzstan it seemed fitting to propose on this tour at the top of the (claimed) highest pass in the world (she said yes). It left our tour leader with the surprisingly difficult task of finding champagne in Leh, he rose to the challenge and procured some on the black market down a dark alley, thanks again Ragu, good effort. Thanks redspokes for another memorable tour!

David Mercer, Middlesbrough, England

It was great to ride with redspokes again, this was a potentially tricky tour with quite a few ferries to catch, variable Scottish weather, not too many alternative choices of food or accommodation if timings went wrong, Demot made it all look effortless, modifying the rides if necessary to ensure we stayed on track. He is a very motivating and enthusiastic tour leader, always being there when some encouragement is needed to get to the top of a hill.

The group rode well together, no one really ahead or behind, again with Dermot watching out to make sure we could all cope with the route, and providing a much needed stop with a cake and cup of tea at the critical moments.

A really enjoyable tour, with the hills and the weather providing a nice challenge and sense of achievement at the end of each day

David Mercer, Middlesbrough, England

It was great to ride with redspokes again, this was a potentially tricky tour with quite a few ferries to catch, variable Scottish weather, not too many alternative choices of food or accommodation if timings went wrong, Demot made it all look effortless, modifying the rides if necessary to ensure we stayed on track. He is a very motivating and enthusiastic tour leader, always being there when some encouragement is needed to get to the top of a hill.
The group rode well together, no one really ahead or behind, again with Dermot watching out to make sure we could all cope with the route, and providing a much needed stop with a cake and cup of tea at the critical moments.
A really enjoyable tour, with the hills and the weather providing a nice challenge and sense of achievement at the end of each day

Emma and David Smart, Bristol, UK

This was a great trip. The first trip with redspokes for my wife and I. Despite a flight delay, we were welcomed to the group meal and our first taste of healthy Albanian food. Meals were all arranged with communal food to take as much or little as you wanted. While it was hot cycling weather (it was summer, so expected to be hot), we were a fast and friendly group so able to get off the bikes in early afternoon to rest in the midday sun.

Armand and Arjan were very welcoming and were excellent tour leaders. The bikes were very well maintained with almost no mechanicals for any riders during the week. All the riders were great fun with lots of fun enjoyed over the odd drink in the evenings.

We are now working on which redspokes tour to do next.

Andrew Wiggans, Rochdale, England, UK

How best to sum up my experience in just a few words? Flawless organisation and support throughout; fabulous Albanian hospitality, food and accommodation; a glimpse of a country yet to be "infested" by our takeaway culture - not one McDonalds or Starbucks in sight; fabulous snow-capped mountains and fields full of poppies; and a chance to learn all about the culture and history of this land and its people. 

I was a month short of 70 when I did the trip and worried about a slightly dodgy knee. No need to have been too concerned, not least because of the friendly and supportive group with whom I rode. If I can make it so can you. Go soon before it gets too busy.

Mike & Berta Glodowski, Wisconsin, USA

Our tour through Scotland was wonderful! The beautiful landscapes and colorful character and warmth of the Scottish people made for a truly unforgettable experience. The accommodation included interesting historic hotels and expansive rural estates and warm comfortable Bed and Breakfasts. Last but certainly not least our tour guide Dermot with his amazing logistic skills and entertaining personality made for another fantastic redspokes adventure!

Andrew Richards, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

It was great to see parts of Scotland which I hadn't seen before, and I will definitely be going back to some of the places again.  Keeping away from the tourist areas and speaking to locals was also nice, rather than being caught up with the masses all the time.

Andrew Richards, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

It was great to see parts of Scotland which I hadn't seen before, and I will definitely be going back to some of the places again.  Keeping away from the tourist areas and speaking to locals was also nice, rather than being caught up with the masses all the time.

Sandra Groenewold, Wijk bij Duurstede, Netherlands

Great trip. Heavy because of the altitude. Great views. Perfect crew. Fantastic tour. I am redspokes addicted. After a fourth wonderful trip with you (Peru, Pakistan, Colombia and Manali Leh), I will not choose any other. Always good organized, good staff, guides that know well, good food, tents etc.

Julian Parkinson, Hamilton, New Zealand

One of the greatest experiences of my life! The whole thing was brilliant, A fantastic way to see life on the ground ,to really feel part of it and not just another tourist passing through. The challenge of the tour is undoubtedly the goal of getting to the destination, generally over extreme passes and at some serious altitudes .

Is it a tough challenge, yes! but it's completely doable just seems to happen as theres so much to see and take in along the way. Loved it!

Victoria Seymour, La Rippe, Switzerland

This is a tour of pure emotion. Be prepared to pit yourself against the wind, the sun, the altitude and most especially yourself, to dig deep to support your team mates up and down the scenic trade roads. As always, this is a well prepared and executed non-technical route.

redspokes, .

redspokes, UK

redspokes, .

New for 2020!

respokes, .

Sorry! this is a new tour, we do not have any testimonials just yet.

We recommend that you view our customer testimonials for our other cycling holidays to get a general feel for what this Scotland tour will entail.

redspokes, .

This is a new tour for 2020, we do not have any testimonials just yet.

We recommend that you view our customer testimonials for our other cycling holidays to get a general feel for what this Scotland tour will entail.

Gary Cohn, Portland, Oregon, USA

Cycling the redspokes Loch Ness and the Great Glen Way was a dream come true. The stunning scenery, from the serene Loch Ness to the lush Great Glen, made every pedal stroke a joy. The well-maintained paths and friendly locals added to the magic. An unforgettable cycling adventure in the Scottish Highlands!

Michael Litchfield, Emerald, Australia

A unique combination of great cycling, great accommodation and amazing food the best of any tour I have been on !

Arjan's passion for his country shone through by providing great insight into Albania's dark past.. Both he and Juli worked tirelessly to ensure we had a fantastic trip. Highly recommend.

redspokes, .

Sorry! this is a new tour, we do not have any testimonials just yet.

We recommend that you view our customer testimonials for our other cycling holidays to get a general feel for what this Scotland tour will entail.

Keith Aungiers, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK

This was my first ever organised and fully supported cycling holiday. It was also the best cycling holiday that I have ever had. The wild and wonderful scenery, mile after mile of great roads, the quality of accommodation, the picnic lunches and other food and wine, and the camaraderie that the group developed were what made the trip memorable. It was the personal attention and friendship of your 2 extraordinary and dedicated guides - Yal Croce and Ale Moreiras - that made the trip so special.

Bob Travers, Maryland, United States

"It was a bicycling trip in Northern Argentina that took us into rainforest through extreamly high 13,700 passes and then into desert and salt plains. We rode through dramatic ravines, the Andean puna and dazzling white salt flats under cobalt blue skies. 

redspokes Northern Argentina tour is rich in Andean culture, clement weather and challenging cycling". See Bob's Travel Blog for more details of this trip! 

Bryan Pooley, Auckland, New Zealand

The Spiti to Ladakh ride is a physically demanding challenge but Raju and his team have, in my experience, assisted and encouraged each rider to achieve their objectives. This is my second trip with Raju and his team and I have thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. The whole team (guides, cook, drivers & camp attendants) have always make every effort to provide for the requirements of the rides with well timed energy stops, bike repairs, arranged camp facilities and tasty meals.

The landscape along the entire route is stunning but the isolation of the Spiti Valley was particularly attractive to me although road conditions were often challenging on both riders and bikes. Being prepared for the long, high climbs make the challenges achievable, even for an aging rider such as myself!

Michael Heath, Nuneaton, England, UK

Absolutely superb trip and my eyes were really opened to this stunning country. I took a lot of convincing to travel here, but I'm so glad I did make the effort. Friendly people, great food, great cycling on safe roads and a good standard of hotel all around. Put this country on your bucket list before it becomes discovered properly by the tourists.

Simon Barrett, Edinburgh, Scotland

This was a great trip. The cycling was physically tough due to combination of heat, altitude, climbs, head winds and some terrible roads but the incredible scenery was a great reward. We were lucky with our large group who all got on well and we had fantastic support from the redspokes leaders and the local team. Stuart was particularly efficient: I found it very helpful to have accurate information about distances, climbs and rest stops and it was very reassuring to know he has superb bike mechanic skills. The local guide, Daniyar, and his team (Kokon, Kuban, Aiym, Adil, Muna and Rachman) really made it special. All of them were fun, kind, welcoming and obliging, and seemed to be enjoying themselves too. Some of Aiym's cooking was delicious with some great soups and pulses; healthy too. I have returned home feeling that I had a holiday as well as having explored a fascinating and remote corner of the world. In addition I think we all had fun. Thank you redspokes!

Kenneth Fant, Sweden

I went on this tour because I wanted to go on my bicycle in the Himalayas, with the security of support. But I wasn't really prepared for the impact the scenery and the mountains would have on me. For me this was a fantastic trip with everything into it. Amazing mountains and challenging cycling, a true adventure with a great support from the local crew. Still looking back to this tour and feeling very lucky that I had the possibility to go on this tour. Will never forget it.

Mark & Jill Moran, Exeter, UK

Another brilliant trip to beautiful Cambodia with the great company of Phea, Sokhom and Mr. Nal. So well looked after by our guides who were the main reason we booked up to repeat this trip that we first did 2 years ago. The boys love Cambodia and are so keen to share their country with their guests. Nothing is too much for them. It's hot in Cambodia, but if you're OK with that then you can't fail to have a great time on this trip.

Peter Dilks, Christchurch, New Zealand

The Tajikistan trip was different to other redspokes trips I’d done - a country not commonly visited by tourists and with little tourism infrastructure. The cycling while hard is rewarding, the scenery stunning and the Tajik people were the friendliest and most welcoming of any country I have visited.

Joanna Reaves , Edinburgh Scotland

Another memorable Red Spokes trip. This time to Albania. Lots of fun and laughs with some lovely people, a few of which we’ve met on RS tours before and have now formed a firm friendship. Albania is a beautiful country, with spectacular scenery which is constantly changing.

On the whole quiet country roads, with a bit of everything from steep ascents and descents to soft (and not so soft) undulating hills.

Arjan our guide and Rimi our driver could not do enough for us. They never stopped even during meal times, attending to our every need. I enjoyed Arjans sense of humor, his professionalism and organizational skills leaves one in no doubt that you’re in safe hands.

Greg Challis, Sheffield, England, UK

This was a great trip with thoughtful support from our guides Arjan and Julian. Albania is wonderful place to cycle. The mountains are remote and beautiful, the people incredibly friendly and the history and heritage fascinating.

Ms Alison Osborne, NSW, Australia

redspokes' Sri Lankan Classic tour was fantastic - great routes, accommodation and food. Our route guide was amazing with his knowledge of the back roads and our tour guide always giving us interesting and knowledgable information on the cultural aspect of the country and the places we visited.

redspokes, london

Colm Faherty, Dublin, Ireland

A fascinating country at the cusp of great change. One of the best redspokes trips I have been on with an excellent local support team who cannot do enough to support the trip. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough!

Douglas Pulleyblank, Vancouver, Canada

This was not an easy trip but it was a great trip. Before signing up, I had no idea what it would be like to go over multiple 5,000m passes. Now I know. I now know what it's like (answer = hard: effects of elevation, effects of long climbs (at elevation), wind, snow, sun, etc.), and I also know that I can do it. I did it!

The country is beautiful. Everything is so big. Sometimes vistas were similar to other places I've been, but always on a bigger scale. Whenever things got tough in terms of the biking, I would find myself at the back of the group, which meant that I would be with Ox (who was riding sweep). He saw everything that happened in the group, how people were riding, who was having problems. This was not my first trip with Ox -- I hope that it is not my last!!

Jeremy Bird, Managing Director, Wickes, Middlesex, England UK

Although it's now four months since we returned from the Himalayas, it's never too late to say 'thank you'. As you know, I organise and lead a different group of work colleagues on an expedition to raise money for charity each year and we have been to some extreme places and done some great things - so think I'm pretty well qualified to comment on the skills of the different organisations we've worked with over the years.

redspokes turned out to be the best we've worked with yet and the next time we go cycling it will be you we come to first. In particular I would like to single out Giles and Ox who made a great team and dealt with the uncertainties of life in Nepal and Tibet with all the flexibility and great humour you could hope for - not everything went to plan and not everything was perfect, it never is on trips to places like that, but every challenge was met and overcome without unnecessary fuss and minimum disruption. We had a brilliant time with redspokes and will recommend you to every cyclist we meet.

Gregor McPherson, Glasgow, Scotland

The guys did a tremendous job and were endlessly patient. The cultural insights were an added bonus.

Tom Gardner, Edinburgh, Scotland

As an experienced cycletourist used to self-planned and supported trips, and who had never been on an organised trip before, this was a new experience for me. I was very impressed by the organisation and staff- everything went very smoothly, the support for the riders was good, and the camps were great, with good food and plenty of it. The weather was fantastic for our May trip, which allowed us great views of the mountains, and especially Everest. We also had plenty of time for acclimatisation- very important not to rush this. I'd definitely recommend redspokes to anyone wanting to do this sort of trip without the hassles of researching, planning and carrying everything yourself- not even an option for Tibet these days anyway. 

As one of 3 riders on traditional touring bikes I can confirm that this was perfectly fine, with good strong handbuilt wheels and 35c or fatter tyres. Slightly slower than the mountainbikes on the rough sections, especially descending (and no doubt harder on the arms without suspension!), but faster on the majority of the roads which were excellent tarmac. "This was a really fantastic trip, not to be missed!"

Gerard Dunford, Hewelsfield, England, UK

Tibet was absolutely amazing! Our local guides made sure that we were comfortable and safe and the Nepalese support team couldn't have been better: hard working, caring, and an amazing chef (the word cook wouldn't do him justice!). Thank you for taking us on an epic journey!

John Sweeney, Seattle, USA

Ross Prielipp , High Halstow, England, UK

This trip is extremely well organised and confidently led by the tour leader Kasun. You will not find a guide who knows the roads as well as he does. The scenery and sights are stunning, particularly in the high country and the safari in Udawalwa National Park is an experience not to be missed.

The cycling can be tough in the heat and when the hills rise up, but the constantly smiling Sri Lankans give you that lift needed to keep turning the pedals. Many thanks to Kasun, Karlinga and Lasantha for looking after us so well.

Jo & Tim Johnson, Burley in Wharfedale, UK

From day 1, Ox confidently led us through the chaotic Kathmandu streets and continued to thoroughly plan an excellent adventure. Ox and Rocca took it in turns to lead the group and ensure we cycled as a close knit team. We all became firm friends over the two weeks and grew to love the friendliness of Nepal - even the ‘Nepali flat’!

Whilst this is a challenging cycling holiday, those who are mtb beginners should not be put off. Ox and Rocca were both patient and encouraging.

Nepal is a lovely and diverse country. This 2 week adventure gives the opportunity for many different experiences and as ever, cycling is a great way to see it.

Marie Clune, Raworth, Australia

I enjoyed this tour because of the challenge of the hills especially at altitude, the scenery and our group. The accommodation and food was good throughout the trip and Tony our guide did a great job at selecting the foods to suit different dietery needs. The picnic lunches in quiet little spots off the main roads were also a nice change from Chinese food and eating in restaurants. The support crew were always there to help out if anyone needed a ride or drink as well as prepare the lunches. Tony also had great knowledge of the different minority groups their foods, culture and history.

The bikes were brand new and had all the gears needed for the hills. On Day 2 it was amazing to have snow falling as we rode across all 3 passes.

Cameron Ainslie, Lane Cove, Australia

The highlight of the trip was the service provided by the local teams in both Tibet and Nepal; nothing was too much trouble and they made the trip extra special!

Sam Cheesman, Crawley, England, UK

Ox and his crew could really have not done any more for us, great food and plenty of it (We are like kings!) whilst camping in amazing locations. They comfortably sorted out any issues that arrised and took us to see the real Tibet and Nepal in all their beauty away from the commercialised centres.

Jo Reaves, Edinburgh, Scotland

Another excellent redspokes trip with a lovely group of people and the usual belly laughs. Didn't want to chuck any of them off a cliff! The trip was well run with a varied itinerary and some challenging terrain not to mention accommodation (experience enhancing)! Myanmar beauty and serenity can be seen not only in its landscape but also its people and culture. Thanks again Dermot for a fun holiday.

Paul Mansfield, Poole, England, UK

I'm an avid cyclist and lead many local groups on MTB and road rides although i have never been on a cycle tour before. Our team lead by Ox were exceptional at managing and satisfying the needs of the whole group which inevitably have different requirements and abilities.

The balance between being a cycling challenge and a cultural inside to an extraordinary country where also planned and managed exceptionally well.

Gill Hay, Durham

A fantastic trip, which as well as the cycling offered so much more in terms of exploring this lovely country and its friendly people. The cycling was excellent, mainly on minor roads and tracks and so well supported by the team - Sampath is a brilliant guide answering questions and introducing everyone to Sri Lanka's flora & fauna, culture, history and food & drink. Gayan and Prasad were great too, providing support with the minibus and jeep, topping up water and providing snacks and sorting out the bikes.

This was a great way to see the country and experience its culture and wildlife, the activities which are included as part of the package are wide ranging and include all of the 'must sees' in Sri Lanka. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the trip and have to say a big thank you to Sampath, Gayan and Prasad for all their help and support in making it such a great trip.

Robert Cameron, Pincher Creek, Canada

Hard to ride fast because there was always something interesting to look at. Friendly people. Excellent "pit crew"!

Marius Krikstopaitis, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Amazing tour with beautiful views, tasty food and great guides, very much recommended.

Shirley and Trevor Acreman, Stratford-upon-avon

Fabulous routes and scenery with quiet, many singletrack, roads. The weather was Scottish, with sun most days and rain most days - but nearly always with a wind behind! Mull and Jura were highlights for cycling and the ferries were fun. With the unpredictability of the ferries and the weather I'd recommend this supported trip as the best way to get a flavour of the Highlands and Islands.

Cheryl Hyslop, Ottawa, Canada

The redspokes Classic tour is a great way to experience some of the historic sites of Sri Lanka as well as having a chance to see some of the more rural life. If you are planning a visit to Sri Lanka this is the way to do it. Lots of wildlife: elephants, egrets, kingfishers, and monkeys guaranteed! A zoom lens is recommended for the keener photographers. Maybe not to carry on the bike but you will have lots of opportunities to put it to good use!

The riding took us through a variety of terrain and scenery. Usually "undulating", "sometimes steeply", and often "mostly up". The tea plantations are really lovely. The support team was excellent. Our guide, Kasun, was always informative and was constantly finding interesting wildlife for us to observe. He also made a point of regularly checking in with us to make sure that the accommodations and tour in general were not lacking in any way. Sangeen, our driver and chief water-carrier, was always ready with a smile. Thanks to redspokes for organizing yet another wonderful tour.

Karen Allworthy & Geoff Messenger, London, UK

Our Thailand trip was excellent, we were a very small group so was very pleased that redspokes ran the trip.

Amazing food and scenery, both Tom & Pangupong were very good at looking after us.

Kate Hunter, Vermont, United States

As always, redspokes exceeded expectations. Beautiful scenery. Millions of birds. Great food. Friendly people. Fascinating and rich culture with an undercurrent of sadness which made it an educational and thought-provoking trip.

Katja Stille, London, UK

I have had yet another great experience on this red spokes trip!!! This tour through Nepal gives a very good insight into the varied landscape this beautiful country has to offer, from rainforest to majestic mountain terrain of the Himalayas - we saw it all.

Ox made this trip even more special through many little treats, such as random stops to learn about local craft, impromptu meditation lessons in a temple and opportunities to taste the local food cooked by Ox himself. Ox’s flexibility ensured that we saw a lot. Our group was amazing and very supportive of each other as we tackled some challenging terrain.

Thank you Redspokes and everyone in the group !

Joanne Johnson, Burley in Wharfedale, UK

This was another excellent trip with redspokes. The tour leaders were enthusiastic, supportive and professional. The route was particularly scenic with some challenging climbs which generally suited everyone.

There was a nice mixture of road and off-road to the point that those nervous of off-road had overcome their fears by the end of the trip. The hotels were all consistently good with some stunning locations. Even better, the group was particularly sociable and a pleasure to be with.

Dr Heather Ross, Toronto, Canada

Wow - truly awesome trip that i would recommend to anyone!!! Ox was incredible - flexible, organized, responsive - met our every need and tailored the trip to be exactly what we wanted. i hope it was clear from the blog that we were thrilled with the gruelling nature, stunning scenery and what we believe was quite the accomplishment. We couldn't have achieved it without the amazing team. Dorje was exceptionally knowledgeable about Tibet and Tibetan history. He provided incredible information, modified our tours so we could be present for prayers. Thanks!

Dr Heather's blog - what an inspiring lady

Danny Hill, Northampton, England, UK

I had a superb time. A truly memorable trip with outstanding sites, cycling and culture. The local team are so superb, you have to do everything possible to ensure they maintain their high standards. I was deeply touched by the care they took of us all. The experiences I have had will remain as fond memories for a long time.

Marjorie Leighton, Campbeltown, Scotland, UK

This was the second redspokes trip I have done and once again it lived up to expectations. It was well organised, the cycle leaders Sampath and Chamara took us alongside canals teeming with all manner of natural beauty, over roads under construction, and of course the ‘undulating’ countryside. Our driver Ishfan was always at hand to provide water, to help with the bikes and in my case when I was riding in the van, slowing down when I wanted to take photos.

The food was wonderful and abundant, even having lunch served by a Tamil lady at a lookout stop at 1302m (4,270ft). There was always the choice of local, spicy food or the less spicy western and for most days both breakfast and evening meals were buffet style. The accommodation was of a very high standard, with some hotels having swimming pools which were very welcome after cycling in the 36 deg heat and humidity. Probably one of the nicest overnight stops (as far as character) was at Sir John’s Bungalow (John Kotelawala an ex Prime Minister of Ceylon) up in the cool of the hills. It certainly didn’t have WiFi, it only just had electricity-luckily it had cold beer!

Apart from the countryside, the ‘add ons’ to the cycling included temples, UNESCO world heritage sites, a rock fortress, spice gardens, tea factory, botanical gardens, and white water rafting.

There was wonderful natural beauty, with the mating call of peacocks a daily occurrence, monkeys, egrets, herons, land and water monitors, elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, and more kingfishers than you could wish for. The country was lush, green, with an abundance of water and magnificent tea plantations. The people were friendly, always smiling and the children shouted ‘hello’ and ‘bye’ as we passed. We were blessed with good weather (perhaps a wee bit hot for cycling) with only a couple of late afternoon showers in Kandy. I would thoroughly recommend the trip to anyone.

Barbara Shane, Washington, United States

This was my first organized cycling tour and I was not sure what to expect - either of redspokes or myself! I was so pleased to find this tour extremely well organized.

Mr. Sampath did an excellent job of evaluating our group's cycling abilities and speeds and adjusting our pace accordingly. He is an excellent bike tour leader, who effortlessly led us through side streets, canal-side paths and through busy towns! The tour would have not been such a success without Mr. Waruna! His patience in answering client questions was endless, and his passion for and knowledge of the history, culture and wildlife of Sri Lanka were infectious. I learned so much more about the country than I ever expected I would on a cycling tour. The rest of the crew were always helpful, professional, and friendly. Kasoon is an excellent driver in often very difficult, tight conditions! Nuwan always had the truck where it was needed, and Kumar was ready to help in an instant. We loved being pampered with fresh fruit, local sweets and water at every stop! What a great team!

My mountain bike was excellent! I was not sure what to expect, but brought my own cage pedals, which the team installed for me. I also brought a gel seat cover, which I think helped save my butt! Loved the disc brakes on my bike! They gave me confidence on the downhills!

Karen Karnuta, Colorado,United States

I want to rave about the guide Waruna. He was one of the best guides I have ever met -- quality all the way through. the bike guide, Sampath, was very good too. as well as excellent drivers and support staff.

Nicky Crosby, Liverpool, England, UK

This holiday was a wonderful introduction to India for me (first time aged 62), enabling me to see people, countryside and places in the unique way that cycling offers. It took a lot of persuading me that I'd cope with the cycling, and in the end I found it every bit (and more) as hard as I'd anticipated, but facilities and staff cater very well for strugglers like me, so I ended up with a decent sense of achievement and had a totally wonderful holiday.

Anne & Peter Latham, Askwith, England, United Kingdom

Really felt as though we were part of the culture , thanks to the team guiding us .

Felt the cultural input of Mr Waruna made the holiday special. His enthusiasm for his native country was palpable.

John Gates, Virginia, United States

I had an excellent experience. The tour was well organized and executed. Our group got along wonderfully and we still exchange photos and greetings via WhatsApp. Would recommend redspokes to anyone looking for this type of tour. Kudos to Alejandro , Tolke & Marcelo for their patience, good humor, and attention to detail.

John Roche, Leeds, UK

Our first experience of Burma was extremely positive. The support team were excellent they anticipated our every need always willing to help but not in the way. Nothing was too much trouble. The guide Mellow was very informative about the history and culture of Burma, we liked the extra trips e.g. Inle Lake, sunset boat trip at Bagan and visits to the many temples. The school visit was interesting so impressed by the enthusiastic pupils and their teachers.

Muriel Thomson, Aberdeen, Scotland

A lovely country with very friendly people. A good cycle route with varied countryside. Everything very well organised. Ngapali beach was super. Nice quiet beach and lots to do. Full day jungle trek we did was excellent.

Myanmar is certainly worth a visit before it gets too touristy.

Paul Goulding, Birkenhead, England, UK

The team were fantastic and treated us to gifts and a great insight into a country which is going through great changes, at the time the riding was hard going (rough surface). Food was plentiful, you will not go hungry on this tour, weather in February was warm with a nice breeze to keep you going. Schwadagon pagoda was amazing in Yangon. In short visit Burma while you can before it changes into Thailand!!! a land of great warmth and smiles you have to go NOW!!

Sten Thunberg, Gothenburg, Sweden

This was our first trip, both with redspokes and to Thailand, so we didn´t know what to expect when we arrived to Chiang Rai where we were met by our guide at the airport.

It was a pleasure to cycle as the roads turned out to be in excellent condition and with surprisingly little traffic. Also, the drivers were very considerate of us cyclists. The cycling route was beautiful and challenging, with  several mountain passes to cross. There were several days with long climbs of more than 1000m, partly on steeper roads than we were used to, but the reward came when reaching the top, with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, and of course in the long downhill stretches. 

The temperature during our tour in January was agreeable, with a maximum of 26-28 degrees at mid-day and cooler at night, especially when we stayed over-night in high located villages, where a sweater was needed in evenings and mornings. Throughout the tour we got to try a lot of different delicious Thai food, introduced by our guide. All in all, we had a fantastic cycle tour and we will definitely consider travelling with redspokes again on a challenging tour.

Ross Prielipp and Annette Meier, Gravesend, Kent, UK

We have come back to England with wonderful memories of Cambodia, its food, its landscape, its people, culture and history. All these things were brought alive by our fantastic guide Art and driver Det. On the hot and dusty roads the cycling was sometimes hard but the reward of being immersed in the real Cambodia more than compensated for this.The whole trip ran like clockwork but we never felt as if we were constrained within an over organised tour. The hire bikes were perfect for the job, the hotels of a good standard and the balance of cycling, sightseeing and resting just right. Thanks to redspokes and particularly thanks to Art and Det for their enthusiastic portrayal of Cambodia and an unforgettable experience.

Minaxi Patel, London, UK

Another trip with redspokes, where I couldn't fault the organisation, care and attention to detail. The cycling was slightly tougher that the other trips I have been on but the hills are what make this part of Columbia so beautiful. There was plenty of time to explore the towns we stayed in and the excursions arranged by the guides added to the cultural experience.

Javier and his team were fabulous at looking after the group.