Testimonials

Julie Kitlowski, Sheffield, UK

Leaders/guides excellent nothing too much trouble went the extra mile.

Christine Versteegden, Amstelveen, Netherlands

Memorable, on this tour a lot of Nepal has been shown: mountains and 'hills', beautiful landscapes and nature, accompanied with the guide's interesting stories, the delicious variety of food. We cycled with good support and nothing to worry about. I have very good memories about this tour.

Paul Goulding, Birkenhead, England, UK

For me it was my third redspokes tour. I find the tours good value for money and go on the road less traveled.  The trip gives a taste of it all, from cycling in the high country and magical scenery with cyclist from far afield that soon become friends, to super downhills, and snacks enjoyed in the shade.

The tour has hills, and more hills, but it also has long stretches of flat passing though remote villages where people's lives can be seen and experienced, cooking, working, and even rice wine distillation in the back shed.

The tour is relaxed, but the attention to detail behind the scenes on this tour makes it all work like clockwork, just turn up, cycle, and have a fabulous time - "I would like to say a big thank you to Dermot, who was the glue that held this tour together, a person who irons out many wee bumps so we can just enjoy the cycling.

Paul Goulding, Birkenhead, England, UK

For me it was my third redspokes tour. I find the tours good value for money and go on the road less traveled.  The trip gives a taste of it all, from cycling in the high country and magical scenery with cyclist from far afield that soon become friends, to super downhills, and snacks enjoyed in the shade.

The tour has hills, and more hills, but it also has long stretches of flat passing though remote villages where people's lives can be seen and experienced, cooking, working, and even rice wine distillation in the back shed.

The tour is relaxed, but the attention to detail behind the scenes on this tour makes it all work like clockwork, just turn up, cycle, and have a fabulous time - "I would like to say a big thank you to Dermot, who was the glue that held this tour together, a person who irons out many wee bumps so we can just enjoy the cycling.

Paul Goulding, Birkenhead, England, UK

The redspokes inaugural 4 countries tour appealed to me as it was my 10th year cycling anniversary cycling through 4 distant lands, combining adventure and mystique. For me it was my third redspokes tour. I find the tours good value for money and go on the road less traveled by the other big travel companies. so different This tour gives a taste of it all..from cycling in the high country and magical scenery with cyclist from far afield that soon become friends..to super downhills, and snacks enjoyed in the shade.

The tour has hills, and more hills, but it also has long stretches of flat passing though remote villages where people's lives can be seen and experienced, cooking, working, and even rice wine distillation in the back shed. The tour is relaxed, but the attention to detail behind the scenes on this tour makes it all work like clockwork, just turn up, cycle, and have a fabulous time - "I would like to say a big thank you to Dermot, who was the glue that held this tour together, a person who irons out many wee bumps so we can just enjoy the cycling.

Quenon Claude, Nivelles, Belgium

Despite the difficulties to smoothly go through 3 borders crossing I have enjoyed being part of this inaugural tour for various reasons:

- the beauty and diversity of the regions visited 
- the warm welcome of local populations
- the true as close as possible contact with a village inhabitants in Laos
- the challenge represented by such demanding roads on the 1.400 Km long trip
- the very friendly spirit within the cyclos team including Dermot and the various agents teams in the 4 countries visited

Quenon Claude, Nivelles, Belgium

Despite the difficulties to smoothly go through borders crossing I have enjoyed being part of this inaugural tour for various reasons:

- the beauty and diversity of the regions visited 
- the warm welcome of local populations 
- the true as close as possible contact with a village inhabitants in Laos 
- the challenge represented by such demanding route
- the very friendly spirit within the cyclos team 

Quenon Claude, Nivelles, Belgium

Despite the difficulties to smoothly go through borders crossing I have enjoyed being part of this inaugural tour for various reasons:

- the beauty and diversity of the regions visited 
- the warm welcome of local populations 
- the true as close as possible contact with a village inhabitants in Laos 
- the challenge represented by such demanding route
- the very friendly spirit within the cyclos team 

Ken Baxter , Melbourne, Australia

I would recommend this tour to all riders, a cultural yet challenging ride through a beautiful country with a great ride leader and support crew.

Jenny Cowell , Buckhurst Hill, London, UK

Excellent food with so much choice in the buffets. Kasun's attention to detail was amazing, all the information about the day's ride was extremely clear his knowledge on the history and the places of interest that we visited was excellent. 

Mike Litchfield, Emerald, Australia

This is an iconic redspokes adventure trip that successfully "marries" the isolated splendor of the Spiti Valley with the high altitude challenge of the Manali - Leh route. For the serious cyclist this has it all from tough climbs to stunning downhills on every possible road surface !

This is my 2nd trip with Raj & the team and once again their support was fantastic while the food was some of the best I have had on any cycle tour. A must do adventure !

Ines Versteegden, Amstelveen, Netherlands

A 100% recommendation, my first tour via redspokes won’t be the last, I think. Before booking all my questions were promptly and fully answered. Also the information before departure was useful to prepare well for the tour. A tour to the Taj Mahal was also arranged, great. The local tour guide and crew were excellent: all the support during cycling, maintenance of the rented bike, the camp ready at arrival, a great variety of delicious food, bed tea, and friendliness all over. The mountains of Ladakh are beautiful, hard work rewarded.

Ian Hadden, Surrey, Canada

It was great to be on the inaugural 4 country trip, and with a terrific group of riders. Starting in Kunming and heading for the hills , the trip just got better and better as each day came and went.

It's amazing how the food, local people , and scenery change so much in each country. I know this trip was difficult to organize due to logistics, and maybe it was a one time thing, but if it ever goes again from China or Vietnam, I highly recommend it.

Ian Hadden, Surrey, Canada

It was great to be on tour with a terrific group of riders, the trip just got better and better as each day came and went.

It's amazing how the food, local people , and scenery change so much in each country. I highly recommend it.

Ian Hadden, Surrey, Canada

It was great to be on tour with a terrific group of riders, the trip just got better and better as each day came and went.

It's amazing how the food, local people , and scenery change so much in each country. I highly recommend it.

Peter and Geraldine McGill, Belfast, Northern Ireland

 This was the first redspokes cycle trip for us,we have in the past used other companies. However we were hugely impressed by the local redspokes team particularly Kalayar who nurtured and looked after everyone. She was amazing & a HUGE asset. Nothing was too much bother and both she & her team worked very hard to ensure that we all had a positive experience. One note of caution, this is not a cycling trip for 'softies'. The climbs are tough as is on occasions the terrain. This is a very challenging trip but worth the effort.

We were also impressed by redspokes commitment to the local communities, good to see that tourism can be used positively for the benefit of all.

Robert Burford, Luton, England

This is my fifth trip with redspokes and once again all our expectations have been repeated a relaxed friendly trip with our guide Arjan and our Driver who both passionately spoke about their country, it’s past present and future.

We were looked after in every possible way, Albania is a hidden gem and long may it stay that way. Thanks redspokes for another great cycle.

Ged Browne, London, England, UK

This was a brilliant trip from start to finish. One of the real pleasures was the contrast in scenery and cultures in the 3 countries along the way. The cycling was challenging, but never too much, and the backup from the support teams and our guide, Carl, contributed greatly to this. A special mention for Carl from me- after my MTB developed gear-shifter problems, he went out of his way to nurse it along and provide an ingenious work-around. Cycling apart, the group were a great bunch of well-travelled, interesting people and I am keen to repeat the experience.

Robert Latta, Fakenham, England, UK

Both of the guides were excellent and very supportive as we were a good deal slower than others. Some of the gravel hills were too hard for both my wife and I but everyone was very helpful and encouraging. This was the best thing I have done in a long time and look forward to doing more whilst I am still able. Thank you, my wife is now looking to go somewhere else in the future ! How things change.

Robert McGraw, Banchory, Scotland

Overall this was a wonderful trip, that will long be remembered as an outstanding experience.

The admin from redspokes was very good, with all queries dealt with efficiently. I also had a very helpful phone conversation with Dermot, who was able to give me some specific information about the trip. This was helpful, as it enabled me to decide to take my own bike, which proved to be a good choice for me.

All of Raju’s support team did an outstanding job. The food was excellent, varied, tasty and nutritious. How do you make quality lasagne in a camp kitchen? The hire bikes were looked after every day, the tents were pitched for us before we arrived each day, with hot water soon following. Raju was also very sensitive to our needs and wishes, and totally willing to help with anything. Not only was the service outstanding, the friendliness and good humour of all the team contributed mightily to the overall experience.

The route was very well planned to provide gradual acclimatisation, which enabled all of us to cope ok with the altitude, Raju had a good though unobtrusive eye on our safety. All in all, 6 stars for all the support team!

Steve & Anne , Harrogate, England, UK

We really enjoyed the Albania tour with its challenging climbs and exhilarating descents. The guides love of their own country was inspiring. They could not do enough for us. The route and scenery were outstanding. The accommodation was all of a very good standard, allowing us to recover in comfort from each day's efforts. We would highly recommend this trip.

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!

Peter Dilks, Christchurch, New Zealand

This was a really great trip, well organised and run. The scenery was stunning from begining to end and its a very different India compared with the densely populated lowlands - a lot more like Tibet.

Its not an easy trip; I'd rate it 10 out of 10 for organisation, the experience/scenery and also the effort required (due to the altitude). Highly recommended and a totally enjoyable 3 weeks that I won't forget.

Malcolm Thoms, Fife, Scotland

Albania: great holiday and people, excellent food and guide!

Claire Waddington, Crawley, Australia

Had another great redspokes holiday - thank you!

Karen and Rob Jones, Kenilworth, England

We chose this trip because it included some challenging cycling and is a new country to tourism. Most of the accommodation was better than expected, and a couple of places challenging, but this is to be expected. It was our first 2 week trip - full on and no real rest days because we wanted to make the most of Bagan etc. It was great to see the beach, but would have been good to have longer there - don't know how this would be possible. Would it be possible to do any sort of circular cycle for a day?

It was good to eat in the local restaurants and try new foods and be helped to do this by the Burmese guides. The local agent Kayalar was great and I would be confident to contact her if we wanted a future trip to Burma. Thanks for a great experience.

Zoe Balmforth, UK

Cambodia is a fabulous trip. Easy cycling and plenty of time to take in the exotic sights and sounds of a wonderful country that hasn't yet been overrun with tourists. Most of all it's the Cambodian people who made the tour for me. They are without doubt the most welcoming, happy and gracious people I've come across. Our group of 8 on this tour were all returning customers - all had been on at least one tour with redspokes before. This says everything about redspokes that anyone would need to know. People come back again and again because they provide the best value for money, the best service and the most carefully thought out trips of any operator out there.

Bryan Crosland, Swansea, Wales

A thoroughly enjoyable and well organised trip, with great company, excellent food, and brilliant guides Arjan and Juli. This is another great trip in the redspokes itinerary.

Reggie Johnston, Berkshire, UK

Well, what an incredible adventure! Extreme and adventure seem to equal "Exhilaration" and this trip has it is bucket loads.

It was well thought out and paced by Raju, the stops were well planned for effort and acclimatization, the scenery is breath-taking both figuratively and literally- the altitude takes some adjusting to, and you feel a sense of pride in doing it by bike rather than motor bike or bus!

The support team are simply superb and the food is plentiful and freshly prepared every evening.

Graham Crawford, Poznan, Poland

This trip is everything it shapes up to be and more. Truly something to give memories for a lifetime. It's hard, so the better you prepare, the more you enjoy it. I took six months making sure I was in the best condition of my life, and it really paid off. Raju and his team really look after you, the food is fantastic and plentiful.

This is a once in a lifetime holiday, a must on everyone's bucket list. I'm so glad I went.

Alf Glover, Chorley, England, UK

Well organised and very helpful attentive guide. redspokes seem to find excellent guides.

George Porter, Waverley, NSW, Australia

I was expecting a post-communist underdeveloped country but discovered that Albania is an outward-looking and very welcoming place with good infrastructure, fabulous mountain scenery and few tourists.

Richard Evemy, Hythe, Kent, England, UK

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Dermot (specifically) for getting the balance right on this trip. The independence we are given as riders on this trip is just right, and I was glad to not find to rigid a timetable each day. I lost my dad a couple of weeks before this tour started and naturally debated as to whether or not it would be a wise move to go - but I found I could ride on my own for most days if I wanted to, or ride as part of a larger group - it was ideal 'thinking' time for me, and for that I thank the ethic on which redspokes is clearly founded.

The whole experience was just glorious and I truly think Dermot has a lot to be proud of in the 'redspokes' company. I'd like to wish both him and all of the team a fruitful future. Really hope to be in touch again at some point in the New Year to book up Peru! Best get writing to Santa...

Andy Green, Isle of Wight, UK

Amazing Albania. What a wonderful country. You are certainly well looked after on this tour.

The food is excellent, the roads are quiet and the scenery is stunning!

Katja Stille, Hackney, London, UK

Yet, again a fantastic holiday with redspokes. I didn't know much about Albania before booking the holiday and I have come home with a much better idea of the country and its history. On top of that the cycling was fantastic, beautiful climbs and exhilarating descents.

At the end of the day we were rewarded with a selection of tasty and fresh food that set us up for the next day. The days cycling along the coast held a the special treat of being able to cool down in the sea.

Jason Cooper, Samut Prakhan, Thailand

Cycling the Manali-Leh highway with my 15 year old son is an experience that we will never forget. The redspokes team took very good care of us and ensured that all we had to focus on was riding our bikes. The food was plentiful and very good quality, and all the guides and support staff were very friendly and went above and beyond to ensure the trip was enjoyable for us.

Tobi Grimminger , Stuttgart, Germany

Superlatives are not my cup of tea.. But this trip just was epic, awesome, amazing, exhilarating, stunning, rewarding, tough, challenging, wonderful, fun and fantastic. Superbe organization by the whole team of guides and cooks, beautiful landscapes and lovely passes made it an experience of a lifetime. I'll be back.

Stephen Barnes, Bristol, United Kingdom

A truly memorable trip. Such a beguiling country, from its people, philosophy, history and landscape. Every day had something new to offer, and you feel you are seeing the real Sri Lanka.

Tracy Sodeau, Benfleet, England, UK

This trip was awesome - scenery, people, food & accommodation really of a good standard (much better than Laos). Great to meet Damien & Stephen who were real "Flag Bearers" for Dermot.

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

Andrew Lindsay, Otford, England, UK

Very enjoyable trip combining cycling through some lovely and ever changing countryside and a good level of sightseeing / learning about the country.

Local guides were excellent and very knowledgable.

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.

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.

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.