Testimonials

Jonathan Pearce, Marrickville, NSW

This was a challenging tour as accurately described by redspokes. The cycling both on and off- road was hard but rewarding.

The guide Ox was tremendous, often in quite difficult situations - strikes, etc. He was able to manage the differing abilities within the group excellently and coped with any emergencies that arose with calmness, patience and humour.

If you're bringing your own bike, make sure it's up to the task- it'll take a hammering. White water rafting was awesome, great shopping, too. We had a fantastic group- Brits, Kiwis and an Aussie

Phil Hurcom, London, England, UK

Another unforgettable trip with Red Spokes - hard but rewarding cycling through stunning scenery on barely used roads.

The people of Kyrgyzstan helped make the trip with their friendliness, humour and hospitality, and the support from both Craig and the local guides was brilliant.

Katherine OpieSmith , London, England, UK

Great trip! One of the best I've been on.

Deborah Hammond, Washington, United States.

This trip had absolutely no glitches, amazing for two weeks in a poor country, I am incredibly impressed by your logistical genius.

Excellent local guides especially in Bagan.

Matthew Conduit, Toronto, Canada

"This was my third redspokes tour and it won't be my last! Everybody should run to see Burma now before it changes forever. As always redspokes got me to places away from the main tourist draws, off the beaten path, which made me feel like I was the only foreigner for hundreds of miles. And with the wonderful local guides I was always made to feel at home even though I was only a visitor."

Claire Bugler, Abergavenny, Wales

Dermot was a fabulous guide full of enthusiasm and constantly making an effort to ensure everyone was having a great trip. The local team really were lovely too and their strength is certainly their warmth and friendliness. Burma is a beautiful country with some fabulous cycling. It is definitely a country on the move though so I feel privileged to have experienced it now at such an interesting point in its development. I loved the relaxed style with which Dermot ran this trip. As someone who has travelled independently in the past I was concerned about joining a tour and losing the sense of adventure and exploration but wanted to join a tour for some company whilst travelling. Despite having a larger group I still felt there was a nice sense of independence and that things weren't too prescriptive.

Some plans were flexible and we were included in the decision making when possible which I really liked. Therefore it was perfect for me. I know that there was discussion regarding cutting the Nepali beach section of the trip, I guess it is difficult to please everyone but I thought this was one of the best sections of the trip, the beach was fabulous and I enjoyed the riding here most too. I think it would be a real shame not to visit the area. I hope that the Burma trip goes from strength to strength and lots more people get to see what a great country it is, good luck with future trips. Thank you redspokes!

Casey Thomas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

This was our first bike tour, and while we were a little hesitant to book it at first, it turned out to be an amazing trip. Everything about the tour was great, especially the guides. Marcelo, Diego, and Jeronimo did an excellent job leading and supporting us. They were great company too. My only reservations about doing another bike tour is that the guides won't be as good as Marcelo's team.

Sara Blyth, Shipley, England, UK

We have just had another amazing holiday with redspokes. Chile & Argentina is a must do cycling holiday for anyone who loves their bike, breathtaking scenery, friendly people & crossing the Andes on a bike - brilliant. This was the first time we had met Dermot & what a fantastic person he is, highly entertaining whilst always ensuring that the groups needs are being met in every way. Thank-you so much for another great adventure. I can't wait to book our next redspokes trip!!!! ...but where in the world do we go???

Violando and Richard Percival, Watlington, England, UK

A really special holiday! Stunning scenery, challenging but rewarding cycle routes, a fantastic team taking care of us, and a great group of fellow travelers from the UK and the USA. Really couldn't find fault with any aspect of this beautifully organized trip. Highly recommended.

Annette Meier, London, England, UK

I enjoyed the experience of cycling through the breathtaking scenery of Kerala and Tamil Nadu very much, the tea plantations were spectacular and we were always greeted with warm smiles from young and old. I found the cycling quite tough but very rewarding and the team were always on hand to encourage or help me. Thanks to Raju, Ravi, Sabu and our driver Jamal for a great trip, it was our second tour with redspokes and will not be our last.

Chris Cammidge, Leigh on Sea, Essex

Had a fantastic holiday one of my best ever. Excellent leaders, guides and helpers. Had fun throughout the day and saw wonderful sights in Cambodia. Phea was superb and showed us many sights and things we would not have seen on our own. All the team was very attentive. Had a fantastic holiday and really enjoyed it. The team were superb and went well beyond the call of duty. The cycle around the temples was terrific.

Janet Clark, Richmond, Canada

Our ride with redspokes on the Chile & Argentina, Patagonia and Lake District trip was simply wonderful. We shared the trip with a great group of fellow cyclists together with our thoughtful  redspokes leader and support driver Jerónimo and Gustavo. We rode mostly on quiet roads with little car traffic though beautiful landscapes - normally with one or more volcanoes on the horizon. The accommodation was always comfortable and ranged from locally flavoured homestyle inns to incredible rustic lodges perched on the side of a volcano.  Everything was well organized from the booking, to the airport transfers, bike rentals, and of course the daily logistics. This is a trip I definitely recommend offering interesting cycling routes, good company, and beautiful vistas. 

Binon André, Beloeil, Belgium

Thank you Dermott …for the adventure with the group and yourself. Third trip with Redspokes and still appreciate it.

Binon André, Beloeil, Belgium

Thank you Dermot …for the adventure with the group and yourself. Third trip with redspokes and still appreciate it

Binon André, Beloeil, Belgium

Thank you Dermot …for the adventure with the group and yourself. Third trip with redspokes and still appreciate it.

Dave Clemmett, Manchester, England, UK

This is my 4th redspokes trip and I have loved every one. Great organisation and attention to individuals. Lovely people and fantastic scenery. It is the way to see a country and learn both about abroad but also about home. Would recommend and do recommend to people. The support from Bryony and the office is second to none.

THANK YOU I LOVE RED SPOKES

Victoria Lomax, Edinburgh, Scotland

A great trip! If you're looking to travel beyond the guide books and get a real insight into remote village life in Vietnam, then this is the ideal tour.The informality of a redspokes tour is one of its greatest aspects, giving the opportunity to stop and meet locals, share a cup of tea and cycle along with groups of children, all of which gives a snapshot of the way of life in some of the villages we pass through.

The cycling did have some challenging climbs but these were broken up into manageable chunks and for every uphill, there was always a great downhill ride just around the corner!I'm just trying to decide which trip to do next now.

Karen Macauley, Woodford, England, UK

This was our first real cycling trip and what an amazing experience. I don't cycle a lot at home but I do excercise regularly - daily. Before I was concerned about the cycling each day but it was fine and felt relaxed and certainly enjoyable. I wore a constant smile on my face. The people were lovely and our tour Guide Khen was just amazing. He provided clear information about the cycling each day and events on route. He was a relaxed but extremely competent tour guide. It was a truly memorable trip and I would thoroughly recommend.

Louis Rosenthal, Colorado, USA

The redspokes Chile/Argentina tour was fantastic. Everything was well organized and several nice small touches were added in that enhanced our experience. Our two Argentinian guides were wonderful and knew the landscape and area history. Their support was consistently great throughout the two week tour. The couple of things that could have gone better were not the fault of the guides or organizers of the trip. We felt the price of the trip was very fair for all that was included. We had friends who did this tour last year and recommended it highly. We were fortunate to have the same guides they did as they were very pleased and for good reason. Since last year some changes were made to the itinerary to make this trip even better. The mark of a good organization is to try to always improve and we certainly got this impression about redspokes and this tour.

William Laufs, Ratingen, Germany

Well planned and organized every step of the way. An unforgettable trip.

John Roche & Judy Bedford , Leeds, England, UK

John - We has a fantastic time in Albania,great people, amazing food, good hotels and beautiful views. Dhino our guide was delightful, a good sense of humour and excellent communication skills. He knows the history of his country and passionate about it's future. We visited a number of historical sites and discovered more about Albania.

Judy - We had a wonderful trip. Dhino our guide was fantastic he was so organised and had so much knowledge about the history of Albania which made the trip so much more interesting. The cycling, food, scenery and company was outstanding I would definitely recomend this trip to others (and have done)

Ruth and Phil Dunnell, Surrey, England, UK

This is a great trip and we would heartily recommend it. The crew really looked after us very well. Highlights for us were arriving in Palani, in the middle of festival, to find it packed out with thousands and thousands of pilgrims and Kodaikanal which was super chilled. But the route was the real star: coast, jungle, tea plantations and plenty of hills. We “stumbled upon” so much – temple celebrations, wedding processions, groups of pilgrims …. everyone smiling, waving and calling out. And to top it all the food was fantastic. We are already planning our next trip with redspokes.

Andy Pitts, Manchester, England, UK

I had a tremendous time. Tough cycling, great views, wild moped rides in Hanoi, great sense of achievement, great company, lots of laughs, beer, chopsticks. My brain is in overdrive mode. Memories to last a lifetime. Possibly the friendliest people in the world live in Vietnam. Phong brought his family on the trip and this made it even better. They made us feel very welcome and seemed to enjoy themselves too even though they were working. Have come back fitter in mind, body and soul and need to buy smaller clothes. I just had the best time! Back to work tomorrow. Accommodation was better than I was expecting but this was very welcome after a long day. Organisation and ease of getting replies to information from London end was also really well done! Thanks very much!

Kay Haarsma, Adelaide, Australia

Just did the Christmas - New Year Burma cycling trip and was pleasantly surprised by the little extras that redspokes provided. 12 years between trips with redspokes and their standard and value for money is still excellent.

Brian and Lesley Corbett, Cambridge, England, UK

We can't think of a better way to experience the "real" Cambodia than riding on dust roads through tiny villages and meeting locals in their homes. But the icing on the cake was the superb support of Phea and Mr Nal - they couldn't have done more to look after us. This was our first experience of riding with an organised tour - and we're converts.

Andre Schmid, Gattikon, Switzerland

Brillant trip, as the weather and the views couldn't be any better. Ox as a tour leader did very well, he's very well connected everywhere. Nice combination of the cycling with the safari in chitwan.

Trip is definitely tougher than other "6" ratings, technically as well as physically.

Renea Jaeger, California, USA

Sri Lanka is a wonderful country and a must see for all it has to offer! The variety of terrain from beach views to incredible tea fields was a feast for the eye. Beauty at every turn.

Peter Dilks, Christchurch, New Zealand

Another great redspokes trip. Very different scenery/environment to any other I'd been on.

The outstanding local guide was extremely informative and knowledgeable about Kyrgyzstan, it's people and history!

Richard Matheson, Leeds, England, UK

As good as any of the 7 tours I've done, one of the best! Ox and his crew were superb, good humoured and worked tirelessly to make the trip enjoyable. A great group of people/ fellow cyclists who were a pleasure to ride with.

Food was local and tasty, the mountains as I'd always dreamed they'd be, dramatic and striking. The terrain is challenging but never dull. And finally the Nepali people are kind and welcoming. A highly recommended trip.

Bob Harrison, Weymouth, England, UK

It was a superb trip. It was well organised with a UK tour leader who has an infectious friendly enthusiasm and was well supported by local guides and an effective local support organisation. All responded appropriately when the need to amend itineraries and adapt to local circumstances arose. The group was the best that I have ever travelled with. The mountain scenery is probably the best that I have seen anywhere. The biking was never less than very good and often excellent.

The trip was also fantastic value for money.

Manisha and Guido Szamocki, Bristol, UK

Colombia deserves to be known for it's good side, the magnificent landscape, the really friendly, polite and gracious people we met everywhere we went. Don't let the negative cover about drugs and violence put you off. Riding in a group with redspokes is very safe and a great way to see the countryside.

Adrian and Javier took really good care of us all, with Adrian whipping out delicious fresh fruit and guava jelly bars just as everyone was starting to flag going up the interminable hills! The only thing about riding in Colombia is that there's no avoiding hills! Even the flat bits seem to be at least undulating! You just have to grit your teeth and face up to them! We had a great group of riders who were all about the same level, and we had a lot of laughs!

Justin Pearce, Dunbar, Scotland, UK

We had a very small group but that allowed us to greatly experience the culture of Nepal and Ox was a great catalyst in making this happen. The rides were often quite technical, but nothing that we couldn't overcome...eventually.

Ox ensured that the balance between sampling village life in Nepal and time in the saddle worked perfectly. If I were to repeat this trip, I would spend time practising cycling over rocks and I would definitely take a GoPro - the crazy descents would be worth experiencing again.

John Lingford, , London, England, UK

Want to see inside a Yurt, eat fresh warm bread and drink warm Yak milk? Perhaps even the chance to herd some calves? Then join the redspokes Tajikistan tour, spectacular scenery, rushing rivers, views of Afghanistan all thrown in as well. Fascinating country, and the chance to find out more from your local guide and drivers. Another redspokes special.

Alistair , York, England

An excellent and memorable trip. As many others have commented Phong our guide is just great. Friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable and rightly proud of his country. We all really enjoyed the whole trip, great views, lovely people, enough of a challenge without being impossible and a feeling of really being in Vietnam and not viewing it from within a tourist bubble. We loved it.

Andrew Clark, Richmond, England, UK

This was my first cycling tour, but any concerns I had were dispelled in the first few minutes of meeting the tour organisers and my fellow riders. The country is beautiful, and largely undeveloped with generally quiet roads that make for peaceful cycling. The rides are supported by a 5 person team who typically wait an hour ahead of the start point of each ride, with refreshments and water top-ups. After couple of days, I started referring to their transport as Ken's magic bus, after our Lao tour guide, due to the apparent ability of its crew to rejuvenate my cycling each hour.The riding was generally comfortable, with a couple of harder days in the hills, though the spectacular views on these rides were the highlight of the trip for me. There is no off-road biking (save the odd few metres of washed out tarmac), but there are a few rest days to enjoy the main cities and nightly opportunities to try out the cultural institution that is Beer Lau.If you ever been somewhere and thought "I wished I'd come here 10 years ago", you should pack your bag quickly and visit Laos before the rest of the world does.

Marc Shakinovsky, St Albans, UK

A Truly Magnificent Tour. Phenomenal Local guide and Incredible support team."Kawp Jai"redspokes leaves only positive footsteps in Laos. redspokes investment back into the communities is admirable. I was very proud to receive such a warm welcome from the Homestay Hmong village and the School which you and your clients helped to build and continue to support. You are a credit to tourism. I will definitely be getting involved in supporting the families and children we met on our big Laos adventure.

Robert Burford, Luton, England, UK

Overall a fantastic trip in an stunningly beautiful part of this world, all days were well organised with being able to stop and take pictures, ride at your pace and enjoy each day. This is my 4th trip organised by redspokes and it truly does what is says on the tin!

Chile and Argentina are beautiful and cant think of any other way to see such beautiful places and hideaway's in this world. The team helping us on our way were always approachable and served with a smile. Food excellent, drink excellent, cycling a pleasure. The group we cycled with became friends immediately and had a hilarious time on route and at our resorts. A fantastic way to celebrate my 50th birthday, the team, the cycling group and the hotel really made a memorable day and evening. Really looking forward in meeting up with them on another redspokes trip in the future.

Sandra Groenewold, Wijk bij Duurstede, The Netherlands

Pakistan was wonderful. We read so many negative things about Pakistan in the news, but nothing is true about that in the Hunza valley. People are really nice and always willing to talk or take a picture, men and women. We visited the school redspokes supports and it was nice to see that with a little help so many beautiful things happen. Out guides were lovely. China was different, the people were different, but enjoyed it. In Kyrgyzstan we had a wonderful support group. We only had a few days there, I would like to stay much longer, but everything comes to an end. I want to thank our great guide Aiden for his flexibility with the tour changes and the fun we had as a group.

Mina Patel, London, England, UK

I had a fantastic time, the landscapes were amazing, the cycling was varied and at times challenging. The places we stayed had character and I liked being away from the usual touristy places. German, Marcello and Diego are lovely guys, they looked after us well without imposing on us at all. I only have to decide where to go next with redspokes!

Patricia Handley, London, England, UK

My first long awaited redspokes tour. Had a wonderful time. Our guides German, Diego and Marcello were a great team who at times looked as if they were on holiday themselves as they got on so well with everyone, and appeared to make it look so easy. A peek outside very early morning or after we'd dump our bikes at end of day and see them taking care of bikes and baggage all sorted for another day told real story. Great cycling and so many beautiful sites from incredible volcanoes and emerald green lakes, thermal springs. Cycled across lava field and ate and drunk aplenty. Best steak ever in Bariloche! It was also a great group of people, singletons and couples and several redspokes tourists; of which I hope to be one. Looking forward to planning next tour. Many thanks.

Nigel Moore, Amersham, England, UK

We had a really enjoyable time and were very well looked after, in some of the world's most stunning scenery. Well done to redspokes for compiling such a fabulous trip; we'd certainly use them again.

Piero Tassinari, Meldola, Italy

Four days have passed since I left Nepal, nevertheless its stunning sceneries are hovering in my mind while driving my car or walking within the familiar surroundings. This trip has bewitched me!

Since the first finding the redspokes website I had the feeling the people involved in the trip organization knew their job pretty well; then I had a long talk on the phone with Dermot, and my enthusiasm grew up to the point of signing up. In Nepal I have experienced an unforgettable adventure, thanks also to our tour leader Ox. He proved not only very efficient, coping with all the needs related to the tour organization, but was also a pretty delightful person and we had great fun and so much laughing ... this helped a lot to elate our spirits when the road had worn us out!

I'm 61, I try to keep in shape cycling all the year round ... but guess what? I thought it would be easier, just a piece of cake. Well, some stages proved very demanding, especially the sections off road ... but I always could rely on our guide's assistance, always close, always helpful ... and in the evening, warming up our bodies and spirits around the bonfire, I could say:

"I did it, it was worth it, what a scenery!" Piero, the Italian of the Nepal tour crew

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. There were nearly no cars and it was one of those "pinch me, this can't be real moments in life". 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.

Olivia Slee, Perth, Australia

This trip was undoubtedly the best trip I have ever been on. I still find myself comparing other travels and nothing matches the amazing experience of the Laos trip. You step into a new world and interact with your surrounds to a far greater level when touring on your bike. Some of the experiences still seem very surreal. I cherrish a letter written to me by one of the schoolgirl wishing me "lucky when back to your home". I have met some amazing people and will have to organise another trip with some of the group (the two Andy's!!) in pursuit of winning a hill stage!

Edward Randolph, California, USA

This was an excellent trip. North East Vietnam was far more beautiful than I expected and offered some excellent riding.

The guide was great and the support crews were top notch.

Graeme Guilford, Matamata, New Zealand

In Colombia we got to experience cities, small towns and rural environments, meeting local people and getting to know the real Colombia. We had a really good group and Adrian and Javier did a great job.

This is my 6th trip with redspokes and they have all been awesome experiences. Definitely will be doing some more.

Heather McCulloch, Australia

I loved the opportunity to interact with locals in a meaningful way. I can't fault the organisation, it all went so smoothly, and I know there's always so much work behind the scenes. I had such a wonderful holiday, every day was like a new adventure.I really enjoyed the way Dermot was involved and how he (and the whole group) was into all the spontaneity, for example here's some crazed guy in a car yelling that he's a cyclist, and we all end up having a great time visiting his bike museum and pub.redspokes would always be first preference for me, I fully recommend them.

Moey Chen Lim, London, UK

It was an excellent and breathtaking trip! A star trip!! The country, scenery, the guides and support crew and the group makes this trip a memorable one!

Kyrgyzstan is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth and a fantastic cycle destination!

Brian Ingle, Southampton, England UK

A fantastic adventure in an amazing country. The tour took us through a varied environment of the dry rocky lowlands to the lush green of the higher mountains. It was a step back in time as we encountered the hospitality and welcome of traditional nomadic people in their yurts and shared the open plains with wild horses. The locals seemed as interested in us as we were in them as tourism in this area is truly in its infancy. We exchanged a ride on their horses for a ride on our bikes and although maybe didn't enjoy the taste, we certainly appreciated the kind offer of fermented mare's milk.

With long periods away from any villages or shops it is great to have the support of the excellent redspokes staff and vehicles to carry all the food, water and camping equipment. I look forward to my next trip!

John Beckley, London, UK

I fell in love with China on this trip. The scenery was stunning; lush and green with rice terraces spreading as far as you could see. Everywhere people were friendly; we were invited to eat with people and spent a wonderful evening watching a DVD of Beijing opera in a Dong village drum tower with all the old people of the village. The cycling was great; particularly along the river from Diman, through villages it felt few non-Chinese people had visited and up the road we were told no-one had ridden on a bike before.

Kiran Nimmagadda, California, USA

Many thanks to redspokes and for a fabulous cycling tour in the Indian Himalayas. The organization was excellent and the food on the tour was delicious. The terrain was tough, but the level of support provided by redspokes made this remote tour enjoyable and safe. In any adventure trip, unexpected events happen, and things did happen but Dermot and his team dealt with them professionally and efficiently. Much kudos to redspokes for offering such a unique cycle tour.

Wendy Holland, Whangarei, New Zealand

My second trip with redspokes and it didn't disappoint. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be absolutely blown away by northern Pakistan - I just loved it - for me it was a garden of eden ; I had no idea how bountiful and rich it was - not to mention the sky filled with mountains. Loved the people, their openness, friendliness and hospitality - loved the fact that we visited 2 amazing schools and a sewing centre supported by Redspokes - this is one of the big reasons why I love redspokes - NORTHERN PAKISTAN YOU MUST GO!!.

Relished the opportunity to step into China especially cycling over a mountain pass where I was very challenged by the altitude and an amazing authentic yurt experience and then Kyrgyzstan what a beautiful country - our time was too short there YOU MUST GO - I would go back to northern Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan in a heart beat!. We had a fantastic group and guides and UK cycle guide, the cheeky and humour-filled Aidan - alright guv - thank you everyone for your friendship, care and support. Till next time redspokes, Arohanui

Aniki and Henk, Utrecht, Netherlands

This was the first time with redspokes and was in every way a success. Especially my thanks to Kyrgyzstan guide Aikokul, who made our time even more interesting and enjoyable with her enthusiasm, knowledge and humour!

Thanks for a great trip!

Jean Mc Arthur and Andrew Credland, Wellington, New Zealand

Our trip to northwest Vietnam was a true adventure... biking up and down mountains offering spectacular scenery, winding our way through valleys where terraced paddy fields and tea plantations cling to seemingly impossible terrain, being invited into people's homes and experiencing their generosity and ingenuity, eating meals in local people's living rooms (cum cafes), laughing with children... laughing with each other.

Dermot and redspokes did a brilliant job... establishing the culture within the group, ensuring the organisation ticked over smoothly. I can't imagine any better way to experience the people and the countryside than biking it with a group of like-minded people. Well done Dermot: the fact that nine of us had travelled with redspokes before says it all. The big question is - where to next?

Jean Mc Arthur and Andrew Credland, Wellington, New Zealand

Our trip to northern Vietnam was a true adventure... biking up and down mountains offering spectacular scenery, winding our way through valleys where terraced paddy fields and tea plantations cling to seemingly impossible terrain, being invited into people's homes and experiencing their generosity and ingenuity, eating meals in local people's living rooms (cum cafes), laughing with children... laughing with each other.

Dermot and redspokes did a brilliant job... establishing the culture within the group, ensuring the organisation ticked over smoothly. I can't imagine any better way to experience the people and the countryside than biking it with a group of like-minded people. Well done Dermot: the fact that nine of us had travelled with redspokes before says it all. The big question is - where to next?

Bryan Pooley, New Zealand

There was not much that a cyclist could complain about on the ride. The organisation was really good with Raju always available to help out when those small incidences such as punctures occurred and the guides could not have done any more to assist us to achieve our goals and make the ride an enjoyable and fun trip. The food was excellent and the camp team were always as helpful as they could be. Overall, a really good team and thanks to my fellow riders for making a challenging trip so enjoyable. An experience to remember.

Neil Kelly, Sheffield, UK

What an adventure. Be under no illusions, it's tough but the rewards of this amazing country far outweigh any difficulties. There can be few more impressive roads in the world than the one from Luang Prabang to Kasi and we had a real sense of achievement looking back at the distance we'd travelled. The absence of bus transfers with only leisurely boat rides instead was a massive bonus.
We were so sad to have to say goodbye to Ken and his team after all their tireless work and endless enthusiasm. They gave us such an insight into the Laos psyche which, trust me, is something you want to have and keep!

Gillian Pastuch, Sheffield, UK

Where do I start...
The only word I can use to describe this trip is 'epic'.
I've been on three cycling trips before with another tour operator which, at the time, I thought were hard. I now realise that they were like a gentle Sunday afternoon pootle through the countryside compared to this one!
This trip is intense - but you will get out of it what you are prepared to put in and the rewards and sense of achievement that you will feel at the end of it are fantastic. You will be exhausted (physically and mentally) though, so be prepared for that!
You are travelling for a lot of the time in places that are totally off the beaten track (in a country that is quite 'off the beaten track' to start with). Expect conditions to accord with that fact - there is little tourist infrastructure so many hotels/guesthouses are far more basic than you might expect elsewhere in the world.
Many roads are in a terrible state of repair, but that makes for epic days in the saddle!
The support team is amazing - the most helpful, cheerful, kind, entertaining team that I have had on any trip. Always there with a Beng Beng and a cuppa at each rest stop. Ken is always there with an entertaining (or, at times, terrifying) story, too.
Many, many memories from this trip will live with me for a long time. The children literally jumping up and down with excitement, shouting 'Sa bai dee' at us crazy cyclists actually brought me to tears at times. The Buddhist ceremony at the homestay (with mobile phone interruption) was incredibly special (and slightly hilarious). The shower in a shed will live with me for longer than I would perhaps like.. The view from the hotel on the reservoir was probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Peanut butter and banana sandwiches as a pre-cycling breakfast will be firmly established in my training regime for life.
This is not an easy holiday. If you want an easy holiday, pack yourself off to a tourist resort for two weeks.
If, on the other hand, you want to see a beautiful country, meet wonderful people and challenge yourself in any number of ways, book this trip. You won't regret it.

Floyd Christofferson, California, USA

The Kyrgyzstan tour was a phenomenal way to see this very beautiful country. From the challenging climbs, exhilarating descents, and the many interactions with people along the route, it was a very satisfying tour. In particular, our tour organizer Aikokul was a constant source of information and context. She and her small team did a phenomenal job of managing to keep everything on track.

Michelle Tarvit, Australia

Omar & Elias were exceptional guides - super hard working, friendly, conscientious, helpful and fun! Fantastic group of people. Delicious picnic lunches everyday! Great bikes. Would definitely ride again with redspokes!

Alison Blattman, Australia

The guides put in 110%. They were extremely knowledgable, attentive to the needs of all, tireless workers, yet relaxed, friendly, and a lot of fun. Great mechanics too.The bus drivers were were skilled and you could relax in their hands. Each day the ride would be different, yet all were memorable, and many times, challenging. With the Andes as a backdrop sometimes it was difficult to concentrate on the road!

Gerard Veglio, London, England, UK

A once in a lifetime, must do trip. Rewarding, but do not under estimate. Super efficient and friendly crew looked after everyone. A small but friendly group of riders made it one of the best bike trips ever.

Phillip McNeill, New Zealand

Overall, the redspokes Peru/Bolivia trip was a fantastic experience with a variety of challenging cycling, both physically and mentally. Fantastic scenery, particularly at the high passes. Also a very social trip with opportunity to enjoy a drink and chat about the experience. Great support and company from Omar, Angel and Julio who were very friendly, professional and only too happy to go above and beyond. Had a ball!

Jerry Bolton, Jersey, UK

Superb trip and the only one I saw offering a trip through Peru to Bolivia and staying in guesthouses/hostels. The cycling is hard (but meant to be) and the views are unimaginable. Very good value for a very good trip. This is me at the top of the pass leading into Death Road. Top speed 42.7 mph. Total calories burned in tour 52,000. Longest descent 45 miles. Longest drop 3,500 metres

Ian Hadden, British Columbia, Canada

I really didn't know what to expect on a cycle trip in China, as I've never been on anything like this before. Well, it's safe to say, I'm hooked. Every day was a new adventure, you never have 2 days the same. We rode on everything from brand new paved roads to red clay trails, and everything in between. I loved the fact that we knew there were alternate routes on better (busier) roads or highways, but we always seemed to be taking the longer, more scenic, and quieter path. Our guide, was always there to answer any questions , but never once did he rush anyone like there was a time limit, we just got there when we got there. Our support driver was never too far away with water, treats, and of course the coffee stops. Riding thru dozens and dozens of villages, I learned real quick that you should have your camera ready at all times, as southern China really is a photographers dream. If you want to experience the real hidden China, I highly recommend the redspokes trip.

Bernie Sheehan, Killcare, Australia

This is an extraordinary trip with challenging uphill cycling but you are rewarded with stunning scenery, adventurous cycling, unbelievable terrain from mountains to rivers. An insight into how the people live in the countryside in north east Vietnam are so reliant on their annual crops and community.

Phong is an amazing guide and such good company. He makes everything seem effortless but you know there is a lot of work behind the scenes.

Halong Bay was a great addition. Very touristy but so beautiful and the overnighting on the junk was a great way to end the trip. Thanks very much.

Sandra Groenewold, The Netherlands

Excellent tour. Every evening it was made clear what was to be expected the next day. The cycling distances were as described and good to do. There is always a speed difference between people, some people want to go fast, others like to go slower and maybe take pictures. Therefore, our tour leader made it clear that there was no need to hurry and people could take their time.

I think the tour leader Eduardo did an excellent job, kind of a perfectionist. Sometimes it was difficult to find a guest house or breakfast but he was searching a whole evening for breakfast in a town and the next morning he found something. This is what I call real customer service. Also his crew, when something on the bike was not ok, it was fixed within minutes. And the guys on the truck and the bus were always friendly and helpful as well. Only compliments from my side.

Kerstin Sieben & Kolja Stille, Breman, Germany

Many thanks to the redspokes team and the local guides for making this holiday unforgettable! Cycling through beautiful hilly landscapes, lovely people, food to die for- best way to explore Kerala. It was amazing!

Kenneth Carden, Cape Town, South Africa

The trip has far exceeded my expectations - the sheer beauty and grandeur of the area has been awesome. Our support team led by Dermot from redspokes and their Indian partners have been amazing and made this whole thing possible.

Andy Wiggans, Littleborough, England, UK

I didn't really know what I was letting myself in for before I started, although Dermot (from redspokes) did a really good job in making sure that my head was ready to deal with the trip, even if my legs weren't. Each turn of the cranks got us one step nearer to completing the journey. I am really proud of myself for completing the trip, despite the fact that I had one bad day, when Dave was incredibly supportive in getting me to the finishing line.

You can't control the weather '“ though this was mercifully kind to us '“ but you can control the quality of leadership and back-up support provided and this far exceeded my expectations. It was absolutely superb and I would have no hesitation in recommending others to undertake this and similar trips with you.

Kirsty Anderson, Newcastle, England , UK

I can't thank you enough - the trip was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Suitably challenging but the great support from Lee, the Nepalese and Tibetan staff and other (rather more experienced) group members made it achievable and a truly remarkable experience. 

I was concerned that it was considerably cheaper than other trips, some corners may have been cut, but that certainly didn't seem to be the case. Looking forward to next years trip already although I haven't quite decided which one it will be. I will certainly be recommending redspokes to my cycling friends.

Tricia Handley, London, England, UK

Albania surpassed my expectations in every way. Beautiful scenery, including mountains and coast, challenging but manageable rides (I wasn’t as fit as I’d like to have been); wall to wall sunshine (wasn’t expecting that); an interesting mix of accommodation (including organic farm) ; food continuously of high standard (fresh always), a wonderful guide and the most hospitable friendly people.

This is my second trip with redspokes and I’ll be looking to my third.

Roger Troughton, Dorking, Surrey, UK

A great week - challenging yet with opportunities to relax - this was a real redspokes holiday! The route took us through some quite stunning mountain scenery over to the Ionian coast - and even that was far from flat! Well organised by very competent local crew, we enjoyed really good fresh food and a standard of accommodation that was much higher than I was expecting.

Stuart Malcolm, Ontario, Canada

Ox is a strong and caring team leader who leads an extremely supportive group of helpers that made the trip easier and more enjoyable. The food was enjoyable and plentiful. Patrick was always available to fix mechanical issues with the bikes while also dealing with camp setup and tear down. Our local Tibet guide was incredibly knowledgeable and humorous.

This is an extremely physical and mentally challenging tour, you will learn and test your limits within a group of very supportive cyclists and crew. Ox was a marvel at keeping track of our mental and physical well being and usually knew when someone was having an bad day before we did. This was my second visit to Nepal and the warmth and friendliness of the locals combined with the stunning scenery make it a must visit destination for world travels.

Paul Bridges, Birmingham, England

A superb trip, please send a special thank you to Phong and his team. Even after the trip had finished Phong was very helpful and arranged our train trip and attended it with us. Maybe it was the Fresh beer !!!!!. That we had promised him.....Once again thanks to all the team in London and Hanoi.

Chris Darke , Oxfordshire, UK

This is a tough trip with long cycling days and extreme attitudes and depending on the time of the year it can also be cold. But the compensation is wonderful vistas and the experience of very different cultures. From Mountains, to Everest base camp, to bustle of Lhasa and in particular Kathmandu, to the decent from 3,700m to just over 1,000m on the worlds longest cycle decent along a river valley which from a beauty perspective truly takes your breath away.

If you like extremes this is a trip not to be missed thanks to redspokes.

Corina Naughton, Dublin Ireland

The cycle group were really great, everyone got on well. Albania was interesting probably more developed than I was expecting. I loved that we had a chance to visit some of the ancient sites, even if a bit hot. Mountains were beautiful and swimming in the sea is a real bonus on a redspokes trip!

Family Mulligan-Bennett, Bellingen, Australia

Our tour of North West Vietnam with our 14 year old daughter was so much more than we were expecting. Every day was interesting to the degree that it was hard to know what to look at: mountain people in traditional dress, a couple ploughing with a buffalo on a scarily steep slope, the school children trying out their English and easily keeping up with us on their vintage bikes, and beautiful scenery of mountains and rice fields. Our daughter managed extremely well with the help of our tour team and we only used the van for around 40km on some of the steepest climbs. A totally brilliant trip.

Angela Thomas, Matamata, New Zealand

I cannot rate this tour highly enough. Arjan our guide was amazing. When my luggage didn't arrive in Tirana he followed up to see where it was and had it delivered to our hotel before the start of our tour the next morning. What a beautiful country and lovely people. There was quite a few undulations. 

Julie Watkinson, Edinburgh, Scotland

As usual, redspokes gets you to places that other tourists generally don't see, and that comes with its own challenges - the accommodation can be "rustic" at times! For me that just adds to the appeal... you can't beat a bit of reality once in a while. 

I can't praise the staff enough - I can honestly say I've never been so well looked after on a cycling trip! Kalayar is an angel and nothing is too much trouble for her and her team. The scenery on this trip is fantastic but what made it for me are the Burmese people - they're the most amazing smiley, friendly, gentle people I've ever encountered and cycling in their country was an absolute joy.

Jim Ball , Kidderminster, England, UK

This trip was made be Mr Chan and his crew. Nothing was to much trouble also all bikes were checked every night problem or not.

Ross Prielipp, Stroud, England, UK

This tour is fantastic. The cycling presents a good challenge in the heat with plenty of climbing but your reward is the breathtaking scenery. The villages, towns, food and culture of Kerala and Tamil Nadu make the trip so interesting and the team of Ravi, Sabu and Jamal led by Raju could not look after you any better. Thanks guys for a memorable tour, highly recommended.

Paula Roberts, Caernarfon, Wales

I had one of the best holidays ever thanks to a great route and a great bunch of fellow cyclists. This was a brilliant trip through a country that's changing before our eyes. It takes you to areas of China that are hardly ever visited by tourists and are still largely unchanged. They won't stay like this for long, do it before its too late.

Judy Bedford, Leeds, UK

"An excellent trip which was well organised and managed by Claire and her team who made our visit to Burma so memorable. Every care was made to ensure the cycling each day ran smoothly and safely, the bikes were good for the terrain and well serviced every day. The team were wonderful and very attentive I can't speak too highly of them all. The group size of 12 was about right. Loved the variation of the tour with so many places visited eg Bagan and Napali Beach. Visiting the school and meeting the children was a highlight of the trip for me."

Eduardo Limon De la Borbolla, Munich, Germany

I would definitely book another tour with redspokes, everything was very well organized, the way it was run was responsible, professional and at the same time flexible to all of us. The route was unbelievable, breathtaking sceneries we had and Aidan and Bobby (Our tour guides) guided us extremely well making us feel each day alive, active and with a huge ambition and doubt what to expect each day of the tour. My personal opinion in a cycling tour or any other tour depend in 60% or even more in the chemistry of the people you are sharing it getting along with each other, the rest would be how the tour is run and how well is organized, however, in this case, we had a great group, very friendly making us feel be part of it as a nice family for two weeks, moreover the organization was simply excellent. It was pretty challenging due to several hard uphills but at the same time riding with everyone made it more interesting, fun, and of course challenging.

Nicola Bridges, Birmingham, England, UK

Absolutely fantastic trip, staff couldn't do enough for you. Rides were nice and relaxed and there was plenty of time to stop and speak the locals while they worked.

Owen and Ellen Cooper, Manchester, UK

This is why we travel. The warmth and friendliness of the Cambodian people will stick with us for a long, long time. Fantastic coast, amazing history, gorgeous food, but more than anything, the people. Cycling through the villages and being greeted by enthusiastic, excited people is a great feeling, and the nearest we'll ever get to the Tour de France. If you need a reminder of what's really important in life, take a cycling holiday in Cambodia.

Charlotte Wheeler, London, England, UK

This was my first cycling holiday...and I'm hooked!

Great secenery and a lot of laughs; but it was David's research, consideration for the group and non-stop hard work that really made the trip. Thanks for such a great time.

Lyn Kirkaldy, Collingwood, Australia

I'm a 57 year old lady who has only been riding a bike for 12 months. I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this whole adventure. I was able to really challenge myself and always felt safe. Our guide was amazing as a bike guide and was so informative and had a great sense of humour. Then there was Mr Sim our van driver who always made sure we were fed, we called the van the party bus as we loved his music. Then our young mechanic Proc (who we called Bruce) who was at my side the entire time ensuring I was safe. I was like his mum and I just loved him. He couldn't do enough for us. 

The whole adventure was far better than I expected I just loved the whole experience with the rest of the group too. We just had sooo much fun. Thank you to my niece Laura for taking me on this incredible adventure and thank you to redspokes for an awesome team.

David Harrison, London, UK

Impressed with Mr Huang, everything well organised and able to vary itinerary if requested. Mr Leap, our driver was very supportive and safe. Having been on same tour last year, it was nice to see some variation to the itinerary e.g. Visiting different temples and different routes each day.The specialist guide at the Angkor temples was excellent.

All in all a great tour and one I would strongly recommend.

Karina Lehrner, California, USA

My redspokes tour in Laos was more than I could have imagined. The local team provided excellent support, delicious food, local knowledge, and a positive representation of ethical and culturally responsive tourism. The experience was a complete gift. The ability to visit villages that have a relationship with redspokes added to the magic of the trip, and afforded us the opportunity to contribute to supporting local needs (funding for a school recreational area).
Thank you, I will take another tour with redspokes!

Justin Lam, Los Angeles, California, USA

This was my first redspokes trip and it couldn't have gone better. The cycling was both challenging and fun, and I felt like I really got to experience Laos in a special way.
Ken and Choy were great guides - both very friendly and knowledgeable and also incredibly helpful for their bike mechanic knowledge. The visits to their homes along the way also added a personal touch to the trip that I haven't experienced before on any group tour.

Tracey Croke, Queenscliff, Australia

Once again, redspokes has given me indelible travel memories and plenty to write about.
On this trip, we saw how redspokes contribute directly to the communities they travel through making the journey through Northern Thailand and Laos much more than a bike tour. The buddhist ceremony, homestay school and COPE visit will touch your heart. Thanks for another great experience.

Becky Layton, California, United States

The Burma trip exceeded expectations! We are now loyal followers of redspokes. The pre-tour support was good and the local tour support in Myanmar was the best we've experienced. Our tour leader, Kalayar, was warm, lovely and knowledgeable. Her team were incredibly gracious and attentive to our every need. They sang, played guitar and danced for us on several occasions! Our on-road cyclist guides were strong, supportive and encouraging. The cycling was challenging and rewarding. redspokes is active in the communities where they do business and supports a school in the Rahkine State near the Bay of Bengal. We stopped there one day and were greeted by hundreds of kids for the "handover ceremony". It was amazing!

Jackie & Chris Bell, Rochdale, England, UK

A first for us as we have never been on a cycle tour before & are new to cycling.

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, the pace was just right and we found the guide and the drivers to be very friendly, helpful, and encouraging. We would definitely consider another tour.

Nigel Fielden, Sale, Cheshire, England, UK

A really interesting tour - relatively modest on mileage but some punishing surfaces to ride on, particularly in the latter stages. The country is fascinating, the people friendlier than anywhere I've been, and the tour provides a nice mix of different landscapes to cycle through.

Kay Thompson, Christchurch, New Zealand

The bike trip was fantastic and well organised. The food varied throughout the trip which was great, the snacks along the way brilliant. The locals were extremely friendly and always wanting to help. I felt very safe as the trip was well supported.

Emma Smart, Bristol, England, UK

An amazing holiday with the most excellent guides. The whole team could not be faulted and were always thinking of our every needs with informative and highly entertaining stories. The itinerary was well planned and varied from beautiful Temples at sunrise to crocodile farms and silk weaving. I would certainly recommend Cambodia cycling with redspokes.

Rory Morrison, London, England, UK

Thanks a lot redspokes and Colombia ground crew for an eye opening and relaxing break. From a cycling perspective the holiday builds up nicely over a few climbs towards a more challenging mountain pass at altitude in week two. The discovery of the holiday was the warm reception and seemingly inexhaustible hospitality we received from the Colombian people, especially those connected with the group (mis parceros), but also from those we met along the way. Special thanks to the Colombianas who patiently taught me how to muddle along with some of the latest rhythms. Coasting along mainly back roads we were reminded at every switchback of the grinding individual effort which goes into the raw material for each Starbucks or Costa skinny caramel machiato. In Colombia we had no such thing - just filtered coffee served immediately from an urn with optional warm milk - nice!

Lisa Hughes, Queensland, Australia

Both Phea and Sokhom allowed us into their lives and experiences in a way that made the tour very special. Without their generous sharing of their lives, the tour would not have been as rewarding. They are an absolute bonus to your organisation.