Testimonials

Ros Lawson, Edinburgh, Scotland

I have now been on 6 biking trips abroad (2 with redspokes) & the North Thailand/Laos trip is definitely up there with Nepal (RS) & Peru. Laos is a stunningly beautiful country with beautiful, friendly people.

The cycling was really enjoyable & undulating with some challenging climbs in the (hotter than average) heat & incredible scenery to soak up. I will never forget the humbling home-stay experience & hugely enjoyable integration with the villagers. Visiting the schools was a fantastic experience too; hearing the children sing & hearing how the charity money is spent.

The food was delicious & all the guides so happy & helpful. Sign up for this trip!

Kevin Thomasson, Poole, England, UK

This excellent trip started in NE Thailand, followed by a boat trip down the Mekong into Laos, where the cycling started in earnest. The next 11 days of cycling ,superbly guided by Dermot and supported by Ken and his wife May and the rest of his team who fed and watered us magnificently was an amazing experience.

Laos is beautiful, great scenery, jungles, interesting towns ,temples, mountains, limestone peaks and best of all the friendliest people I have ever met.

Finally I will never forget the end of each day sitting around with a great bunch of people refueling over a couple of bottles of BeerLao.

Sarah Cutts, Perth, Australia

This was my third redspokes trip, and as always, was fantastic.

Great people, and just the right combination of challenge and comfort.

Charlie & Annie Waring, West Sussex, England, UK

We were very lucky with the group that were on this trip. They were great fun and there were plenty of laughs.
The trip, as described, was one of RS's most popular and you can see why. Beautiful country, very friendly people and with various extra curricular activities, like the boat trip and kayaking, it was a very well planned trip. It was great that there were no bus transfers, that is always a bonus.
A wonderful country and this trip made the most of enjoying it's beauty and its people. Most enjoyable holiday

Minetta Koomstra & Jan Ronken, Houten, The Netherlands

It was a great experience and a marvelous trip through the best scenery ever! The support team was great; all nice guys! Teamleader Ox was very attentive and careful. Our Tibettan guide Migma was a great addition to the team because of his knowledge of culture and history and his drive to share it with us. The cook did his utmost to feed and please us. Hear, hear ! In a way we were lucky that the tour couldn't go as far as Kathmandu, because the Nepal/Chinese border was closed. Because of that, our tour consisted of 25 % unpaved road through a great and desolated countryside. A second advantage was that there were less heavy trucks on the road. We think it is important that your potential clients are aware of the fact that a regular tour is 98 % tarmac with sometimes heavy traffic.

Michael and Breda Keating, Leixlip, Ireland

Now that the kids are grown, our dream of getting away on a redspokes tour has finally been realised. We worried that at 54 and 60 we might have left it too late to enjoy 600 kms up and down the Cardamon Hills. Not so, 60 is the new 40 and endurance, stamina and climbing ability comes with age!

We enjoyed our Indian odyssey through Kerala and Tamil Nadu so much that we are already planning our next redspokes trip.

David Harris, Luz-Lagos, Portugal

I can hardly imagine a better local team: Omniscient omnipotent Ox - shepherding us (mostly) Nepal neophytes through a diverse voyage of discovery. The ever grinning, ever encouraging Turek - ready for any eventuality. And Lama, always there with great snacks & water, water, water. And, check out his 'stealth'� mode: filling our bike bottles without anyone noticing - amazing. 3 of the hardest working guys I have ever seen!

This tour has some of the most spectacular bicycling on the planet interwoven with a broad range of rich cultural experiences. Spent with a great group of open-minded, inquisitive and enthusiastic fellow cyclists, this became a truly life-affirming adventure.

And the Nepalese? The poverty of these people will break your heart but their nobility will lift it up again!

So many thanks redspokes.

David Wintersgill, London, UK

Southern China is a fantastic trip. We went through modern cities and under superhighways but spent most of our time in rural backwaters where life has changed little. There is so much to see: paddy fields stretching up the mountains; bamboo forests; wooden villages; and amazing street markets. Everywhere we went the people were welcoming. The food is fantastic, particularly if you like chilli, and quite unlike anything you are likley to get back home. I cannot wait to go back to China!

Helen Francis, Lively, Canada

This was the first organized trip that both my partner and I have made that involved biking in a part of the world we had never been to. Going into the vacation we were excited and also nervous - would we be able to keep up, were we ready, would we enjoy the group and the locations we visited? I am happy to say that we loved every moment of it. The preparation materials and the quick response to our questions and concerns ahead of the trip were tremendously helpful and reassuring. The hotel transfer was perfectly on time and again built our confidence that the trip we were about to embark upon would be well organised and it certainly was. We received able but not intrusive assistance from our 3 fine guides, German, Diego and Marcello. They were able to identify what we required and helped us with what ever our need was. Even when the support bus broke down their plan B plan was executed quickly and well. And of course the scenery and culture we experienced in Chile and Argentina was superb...

JP CHARON, Troon, Scotland

A great journey with stunning scenery and sometimes challenging cycling over varied 'undulating' terrain. 

Our leader, Ox, dealt very well with the logistical difficulties thrown up by the late monsoon; flights were rearranged, landslides were bypassed and beer was supplied. I had been to Nepal twice before trekking in the high mountains, but this tour was no less enjoyable for it, staying away from the main tourist areas for days at a time and showing a different side to the country.

Pierre Gaspard, Beirut, Lebanon

As usual, redspokes have designed a great tour with unbeatable price/quality ratio. David has been an excellent guide.

Sarah Meldrum, Edinburgh, Scotland

I had an amazing time cycling through spectacular scenery with a great group of people.

Dave Mooney, California, USA

We had a wonderful trip in Kyrgyzstan with redspokes. The country is beautiful of course, but the cultural experience was the best part of the trip.

The people are wonderful and happy to see tourists on bikes. The homestays made the experience even better.

Corina Naughton, Dublin, Ireland

"This is one of the few trips that deserve the title a '˜trip of a life time'. Prepare to be challenged mentally and physically and to have preconceived views on culture and society turned on its head. It is one of the few tours I have taken that allows you to interact with local communities in a positive way for both them and you and not just in the usual '˜buy a coca-cola' way."

Dave Griffiths, Nottingham, UK

The KKH trip was everything, and more, that I'd hoped for - although the roads were worse than I'd expected!! The added bonus of traveling with Red Spokes, certainly on this tour, is the opportunity to see first hand some of the work in the local community which is sponsored by Red Spokes' charitable trust. This made the trip so much more than just a cycle tour.

Hannah Sammut, Liverpool, UK

"The trip was an adventure of a life time. Wonderful memories and met some wonderful people. Thank you Red Spokes for all the organisation and preparation that allowed me to get to these places.Thank you also for giving us the opportunity to visit the communities that you have helped and be greeted with the warmth, generosity, pride and love of the people of the GilGet-Balkistan area, a very humbling experience. I hope I will at some point be able to go on another trip, but if not I wish you all the very best for your future adventures. "

Donald and Mary, Edinburgh, Scotland

This is our sixth trip with redspokes. For exciting adventure travel, in out of the way places and few other tourists we haven't found any other company offering such diversity of experience. Yes it can be challenging and difficult at times but that is all part of the journey. As ever the opportunity to meet local people and gain some understanding of their lives was inspiring. To see three very different countries in one trip was amazing. The back up of Dermot and his local teams is always excellent and this time was no exception. The birds are singing and the flowers are dancing when we think about this trip!!

Rob Eagle , Somerset, England

A wonderful trip with excellent organisation, in a fascinating part of the world. The biking days were quite doable for an average cyclist, and the occasional rest days were interesting and usually energetic.The leader and the group members were very diverse and great company. VERY VERY many thanks.

Sanjiv Chadha , Ipswich, England

Being "lost in time" was of the most amazing experiences of my life. The cycling was nearly as amazing as the people I shared it with and the team that led us.

It was challenging at times being the wet season but to anyone who is considering this tour, stop considering and just do it! You won't regret it; I am so pleased I took the leap. Ken and the crew will take fantastic care of you and you will have the time of your life! The people of Laos are some of the nicest you will ever meet and your fellow cyclists will become friends for life.

A truly enriching and life-affirming experience.

Stuart Williams, Worcestershire, UK

ANOTHER trip of a lifetime with redspokes! A great group of people and travelling a route I have wanted to ride for years. I found the whole experience unique and rewarding.

Simon Barrett, Edinburgh, UK

"Groups can be hit or miss but I think we all hit it off on our 2 day bus journey between Islamabad and Gilgit. In fact this was a great start to the adventure and made me feel that we were truly travelling the Karakorum Highway. Flying this part of it would have felt like cheating. The scenery throughout was incredible and although I have seen many photos of the region the landscape exceeded all my expectations. I particularly remember stopping for some time just south of Passu to take photos of the group with the Passu Cathedrals as a back drop. The view was stunning. After a while we remounted our bikes and set off again, only to be forced to stop again within 100m as we swung round the next bend in the road and the immense Passu Glacier came into view. We were all gobsmacked and whooped with joy and amazement. Another memorable feature of the trip was the wonderful hospitality of the people in Pakistan. Twice we were feted in villages that we visited and even the most hardened of us were moved by the speeches and gestures of welcome. In both Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan our guides were very special people; filled with warmth, energy and a desire to make our trip a success. "

Keith & Pat Green , Dudley, West Midlands, England

This is the third redspokes trip we have been on and we were not disappointed. Our redspokes guide Felipe and local guide shusheel and his helpers looked after us really well. The locals were friendly and the scenery was awesome. The camp beds were comfortable and the breakfast and evening meals were delicious.

Laura McDougall, Melbourne, Australia

I just wanted to say what a fantastic time I had on the recent Thailand - Laos trip!

From the beginning and booking with Elisabeth and Bryony through to the actual tour itself has been brilliant.

The team in Laos are fantastic! Ken, Mae (and Manniwan), Lid and Ton really made the trip. It was so special travelling with the local team and I wouldn't change a thing about the organization of it. I trusted Ken and Lid 100% when it came to making decisions on roads and when to ride/not to ride. They are true professionals. Lid was also fantastic when it came to the bike maitenance and I know as I had a few dramas! Nothing major, just all the mud etc taking its toll, but every time something did happen I knew Lid was there to fix. Ken and his fabulous sense of humour always kept us laughing! Mae, what a fabulous cook she was and such a delight to have around. Manniwan (their daughter) was also a delight and I thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to spend time with her as well. Ton was so patient and always happy! He did a great job driving the bus and was always there waving "sabaidee" as we got to the bus.

I loved every minute and every kilometre of the journey. Overall, the organization was perfect. The length we rode each day and the towns we stopped in (including the rest day in Luang Prabang) was spot on. Having the local team and their knowledge made the trip!

Thank you to yourself and all of the team involved at redspokes for making this the best trip of my life. I will certainly be doing more redspokes tours in the past and I have (and will continue to) spread the word over here in Melbourne!

Brian and Paul Thompson, Middlesbrough, England

Considering that we went in the wet season, were able to see everything we expected and hoped to see. We both felt that it was actually a good time to visit Laos. Everything is really green and lush and it was really good to see people working in the rice fields and to get a good feel for what their lives are really like, much better than just looking at empty scenery.

The home stay was a real highlight and we were both really moved by the sincerity of the villages towards us.

Ken and all of the rest of the support team were absolutely excellent, it definitely wouldn't have been the same without his good humour, he made all the right decisions about when to ride and when not to, his experience on the route is invaluable. We both thought that his obvious love of his wonderful country and its people shone through.

I'd also like to mention Alan too who looked after us in Thailand. He was an excellent bloke, I was staggered by his achievements and modesty. I really hope that all goes well for him with the Northern Thailand tours. I'm sure that all who meet him will be impressed, how couldn't you with a Guinness world record under his belt!

For my son and I this was a wonderful and at times quite magical trip and just so glad that we were able to make it. We are now considering where to go next, we both want more.

Thanks again to you all and we both look forward to many more happy cycling miles.

Cath Breckell, Essex, England, UK

Another fabulous redspokes tour! The key to their success I think is the involvement of such excellent local people - Ken and his team were fantastic; lots of humour and they offer such an insight into their country that you just wouldn't get with any other tour company.

Laos was an exceptional country and the group was wonderfully diverse and supportive - a great experiece and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to get off the beaken tourist track, give themselves a challenge and experience something a bit different.

Becca Davis, London, England, United Kingdom

A wonderful experience in Kyrgyzstan! The cycling was tough but the beautiful scenery made it worth it. Aikokul was the most amazing guide, a veritable fountain of knowledge/ resourcefulness/ kindness and wit! The people, food and landscape of Kyrgyzstan surpassed all expectations and we all fell in love with the country. Thank you redspokes for an unforgettable trip!

Helen King, London, UK

I really enjoyed the tour, Eduardo was a fantastic caring guide,the accommodation was much better than I had been expecting.
Thanks for a wonderful trip!

Michael Yeo, London, UK

redspokes seems to attract a group of people who are like minded, and while my whole Peru adventure was just great, the people with whom I shared the trip made it that more enjoyable

Phil Hurcom, London, England, UK

Another fantastic trip with redspokes, expertly led by Eduardo and his team.

Some fantastic scenery, some hard but rewarding riding and the magnificent Salkantay trek to Machu Pichu to round things out.

Siobhan Macauley, Belfast, Ireland

For many years i had wanted to cycle across the Karakorum Highway and this trip exceeded all my expectations! I thought reaching the Khunjarab Pass (which was amazing) would be the highlight of my trip, but my everlasting memories will be of the warmth and friendliness of the people in Chira and the camaraderie and support of the others on the tour especially when cycling/facilities were challenging!

Cheryl Hyslop, Ottawa, Canada

Another excellent redspokes tour! The Colombian people were incredibly warm and welcoming. The scenery and cycling terrain were amazing. We do not have that many shades of green where we live! 

Adrian, Julian, Javier, and Geovanny Jr went above and beyond to make sure that everything went smoothly and that we had opportunities to experience the best of the area. Many thanks for a great trip.

Mark and Julia Swindall, West Sussex, England

A great opportunity to experience the beauty of rural Columbia and encounter the refreshing unrestrained hospitality and warmth of the local people. Outstanding support from Geovanny as generous hearted guide, Alex as indefatigable cycle leader and Eduardo as irrepressible driver.

Andrew & Yvonne Lindsay, Otford, England, UK

Really enjoyed trip. Excellent group. Great tour staff. We enjoyed Colombia.

Nicola Hardie , Singapore

I finally found a side of China I liked. Away from the glitzy commercial, polluted cities, back into medieval times. The scenery is stunning with spectacular Dong bridges crossing rivers in every valley, 100m of rice terraces, minority tribes still in traditional dress and the karst cliffs. A fascinating insight into how China used to be, and still is in many areas. Farmer Tang will look after your every need with a ready smile.'

Gary Maynard, Karrinyup, Western Australia

I am back home in Australia now and it's like I have never been away, which is a feeling I am sure everyone suffers from. I would just like to compliment you all on the London to Brighton ride. I found it a most enjoyable day and I am glad the sun came out for all of us. The route taken was fantastic as you would probably never see the beautiful countryside from the inside of a car. It was also nice to get a bunch of like-minded people together from all walks of life, to have a ride as well as a chat. While talking to a group of ladies at the finish about your Laos trip they sold me on the overall experience, I have earmarked some time for next year so I look forward to possibly seeing you all again in the near future.

Mel Herdon, South London

I can thoroughly recommend the redspokes one-day ride from London to Brighton. Really good fun, stunning route, great backup support and plenty of refreshments. I really enjoyed meeting people - everyone was hugely friendly - and I am now considering a longer ride with redspokes. It's a brilliant way to get up to a bit of distance riding if you are not so used to it. Be prepared for a couple of tough hills. But the rides back down are always worth the effort. And what could be better than a seafront drink at the end of a day. Perfect.

Andy Harriman, Wolverhampton, England, UK

I had the greatest time and made some new friends. Vietnam was lovely, people so friendly.. Not a day went by without being inundated by hello/goodbyes from the locals especially the children. With an occasional high five for good measure. Certainly put a smile on my face on some of the more difficult days. A brilliant way to see the country. Definitely recommended.

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.

David Smith, Manchester, England

Quite a challenging trip, but overall it was excellent. I wasn't fully aware of the effects of the altitude but I was confident in the staff should there have been a problem! 

Great views and an excellent in site into another culture. Would definitely recommend it...

Timothy Lawley, Shropshire, England

Another fantastic, well organised trip by the redspokes team, the local knowledge & guide Phong was exceptional. Varied accommodation & local cuisine dishes every day along with beautiful outstanding scenery every inch of the way made this trip truly memorable.With redspokes great value & attention to detail I will certainly be booking up with them again.

Janne Turpiainen, Finland

Mike Hayward, Benfleet, Essex

I have been on several cycling trips in the past, but this was far and away the best!

The guides were first class, the people warm and friendly, scenery spectacular. 

We were all sad to leave and would love to return one day. We have been home a week and are still on a high! All three guides could not do enough for us and Phea in particular was fantastic.

AJ Smith, London, England

Really great trip, every single day had incredible views. Crystal clear lakes and snow capped mountains and met some great people along the way. We couldn't climb the volcano unfortunately for the weather that day (though we had great views most days of volcanoes), but white water rafting was a great alternative. The guides were good fun, and they did a great job at altering the itinerary when needed. One of the best days was having fun locally on some dirt tracks in the hills when we had to spend an extra night in one town. The food and wine, everywhere, was so good. Argentina especially. A steak will never taste the same again!

Steven Fort, County Durham, England, UK

Memories to last a lifetime. Many thanks.

Tony Mohr, Melbourne, Australia

The redspokes Thai / Laos tour was a rich, diverse experience. More than just 'putting in the kilometers', the tour gave us opportunities to experience Laoation community, culture, language and food. Take the time to share some Lao Lao, join a local Thai Cao new year celebration, and your experience will be kuk li li (very very good)!

The boat trips give you a different view of the country and it's people, and of course the cycling itself is a stunning mix of hills and flats, limestone cliffs and quiet rice paddies. redspokes have an obvious commitment to Laos and it's people, investing in local projects and supporting organisations like COPE. I really applaud that, keep it up. !

If you just want to cycle lots of kms, stay at home. If you want a once in a lifetime experience, get on this tour.

John and Steph MacDonald, Perth, Australia

The lost in Laos tour gave us a perfect inroduction to Laos and to cycling tours. The place is facinating and the riding was rewarding. Sharing it with a tour group and an enthusiastic guide team made for great fun, even at the end of the day when the legs were tired and the showers sometimes cold.

I won't easily forget the excitement of the Lao children as we rode by, or the village stay experience

Roger Day, Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland

Dermot supported ably by local staff Ken and Daleit literally went the extra mile to ensure we had the trip of a lifetime. I'd chosen redspokes to get away from the Lonely Planet trail and get a bit fitter. I certainly got what I wanted, seeing beautiful Laos from a more native perspective including a homestay in Ban Nalay and shed a stone on the way. Dermot and team's dedication, patience and tireless good cheer made it a super trip.

I have already recommended redspokes to friends and family and am keen to go with Dermot on another cycle adventure.

Anthony Chadwick, Sheffield, England UK

Having travelled extensively I must say I enjoyed this tour, it was better than most I've been on. Good bunch of people to cycle and drink [Lao Lao] with. The Laotians were some of the friendliest and welcoming people I have ever come across.

The staff were great fun joining in on everything, Dermot kept us all laughing, but is also very charitable and helpful to the Laos people.

Ann Southall, Staffordshire, UK

A brilliant holiday with a great mixture of scenery, homestay and some nice guesthouses.

The local team work exceptionally hard to make sure you have a good time and to accommodate both serious and less serious cyclists. You can cycle at your own pace and stop to take photos or get a drink whenever you wish to, as Dowlete is always cycling patiently at the back sweeping up the stagglers.

Kate Scott, Brooklyn, New York, USA

An amazing way to have a group experience paired with hours of peaceful riding surrounded by wonderful landscapes and cheered along by generous, spirited people.

Deirdre Roche, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Ireland

A wonderful experience! A fabulous way to see a country, learn about the people and culture. Totally hooked on cycle holidays!

Thank you for making it all possible!

David Harrington, California, USA

Whether we were pedaling through the scattered corn fields or terraced rice paddies along the streams on a pleasantly warm day, climbing thousands of feet through the morning's cool mist into jungles of bamboo, or riding through the passes of majestic limestone karst formations that reached the clouds above, there was one beautiful common thread to every single day in Laos aside from the incredible scenery. Many, many times a day, we would pass through tiny, rustic villages, scattered with an array of stilted houses dotted along the roadside or spreading up the hillside or down towards a stream. And within almost every one of these villages were the friendliest, sweetest, and most charming people in the world. We would offer our greetings and wave as they shared their warm smiles, friendly waves, and 'œsabaidees,'� especially from the wildly excited children who flocked to the roadsides of most every village to exchange an enthusiastic 'œhigh fives,'� thereafter dancing with joy as we pedaled away smiling!
Ngam lai lai!

But how could we experience these wonderful days without both leaders Ken and Dermot being on top of their game the entire trip! I can only imagine there were occasions when things were not according to plan. Yet we never noticed because they did such an amazing job of taking care of business so we could thoroughly enjoy our journey.

I think I can speak for most everyone who hired a bike: the rental shop and excellent mechanics provided impressive attention to adjustments for finely tuned bikes, and that the front-suspension bikes were of very good quality! And front suspension was a must (sorry James and Tara)!

Lastly, every encounter with another person or place is an opportunity to be enriched and to give back in one way or another. In these two weeks, some of us found that in our fellow travellers, others with a simple smile or interaction with a local, and still others through donations. But I would venture to guess that we were all touched by the charm and beauty of the most hard-working, attentive, sweet, and loving local support staff that truly made our entire journey the wonderful pleasure that it was; an absolutely incredible experience!

Kop jai lai lai der!

Michele McCoy and Malcolm Dean, Kilmarnock, Scotland

A great trip in a beautiful country with many memorable moments. Ken, family and all the support team did a fantastic job looking after us all.

Truly a step back in time, people are friendly, welcoming and take time to smile. The sence of community in the villages is something that will stay with us for a long time. Great work Dermot with the community trust fund. Thanks!

Alastair Locke, Leeds, England, UK

The whole trip was an incredible kaleidoscope of experiences, even though I am a well traveled person. The highlights being the home stay, the friendly Loasions, your support team (even including you Dermot!! shame about your pucking skills!!?) the suprise canoeing trip, redspokes passion for the country and their charitable sponsorship.

I could go on, but suffice to say I enjoyed it very much and everyone was very tolerant of my sometimes wayward behaviour!!!

Mary and Donald, Edinburgh, Scotland

Once again redspokes does a fantastic trip. Sailing down the Mekong, cycling through villages barely changed in generations, excited children shouting sabaai-dii, lazy day in Luang Prabang, welcome ceremony at the home stay, the support provided by Khen his family and team are a few of the unforgettable memories of this trip.

We wouldn't have wanted to see Laos in any other way. Dermot you are a cycling inspiration.

Scooby Werkstatt, California, USA

Awesome Laos trip! I was so impressed with the way you do tours that I plan on taking either your Vietnam or one of your South America tours next year! I have seen first hand the damage that irresponsible tourism can cause so it was incredibly refreshing to be on your tour where I truly felt good about my role as guest/tourist.

I was really impressed with the way you help the local communities and the wonderful work of the charitable organization COPE, I'm trying to raise money for them on my website as well: www.scoobysworkshop.com/charities.htm

Ian Smith, Surry, England, UK

Many people say they'd like to go to India; few do, for fear of what they might see. This trip is a great introduction to a country that never ceases to surprise, delight and occasionally disappoint. In two weeks we experienced so much more than I could possibly have imagined in advance. The wonderful costal scenery, the tea plantations and blue Jacaranda trees, the thrill of an Indian train ride (what an experience), the intenseness of Indian city street life, the relaxing house boats, the delicious food, the smiling people, the ultimate thrill of seeing and hearing wild elephants and, of course, a little bit of cycling too! For me the cycling was incidental; it was what we saw from our saddles that will forever remain in memory. At times the cycling was tough, due mainly to the heat and humidity; coming form the UK's coldest winter for 30 years, it took a while to adjust. The accommodation far exceeded my expectations, even if one hotel did have a lift playing Carpenters songs! You will come home from Kerala with enough stories to bore the neighbours for years, so for that reason alone I recommend this trip.

Ray Knowles, Morwenstowe

This was our first trip with redspokes, and we can say there were only very positive things to say. The trip just got better by the day and big thanks to the support staff and organisers who kept the trip running smoothly. Kerala and Tamil Nadu were very interesting both in culture and scenery, but what made the trip was the friendliness of the people. Experiencing the way the Indian people lived in such a happy go lucky way will always be cherished and we will have long memories of our trip. It was nice to meet our cycling group and we all got along very well.

David Mitchell, Warrington, England UK

Every day's riding was different, so much variety. Most road surfaces surprisingly good and some excellent. The downhills were exhilarating, the 14 hairpins and all the bits in between en route to Palani will be difficult to beat.

Paul Borek, Surrey, England, UK

All in all an unforgettable 2 weeks in a fascinating ,beautiful country. The organising team were wonderful and the white minibus in the distance provided a welcome respite from the physical torment with its pineapple and bananas providing much needed sustenance. Some of the uphill days were tough but really it was what I was hoping for, a challenge. The village stay was an unforgettable experience, as was the mekong river trip. Cycling and scenery --simply the best I have experienced. Looking forward to my next RS trip!

Jen Parsons, Cheshire, England

Eddie Brocklesby, London, England, UK

Didn't think the last great trip in Vietnam could possibly be improved upon, but it was! Helped by David's consistently excellent group leadership qualities, the geographic and community delights of Laos, great biking, breaks and evening meals, Bier Lau and Lau Lau, and an amazingly cohesive, supportive and positive group. The kayaking was a brilliant addition - albeit mortifying to skull through the backpacking riverside nightmare near Vang Vieng. Thanks to all

Chris Ellerton, Torquay, England, UK

Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed the Kerala cycling holiday. It was the great combination of some challenging cycling days, and a fascinating opportunity to see the off-the-beaten-track India. The memories of friendly people, beautiful and varied countryside and fantastic food will stay with me a long time. The highlight though has to be relaxing on the luxurious river boats to finish. Thanks again, and hopefuly I'll see you on the Karakoram trip next year.

Gail Buswell, Oxford, England, UK

Ken, Mai and team were fantastic, they ensured the trip was truly memorable by helping us to understand their culture and enjoy the best of their country whilst also being sympathetic to our 'falang' requirements and ensuring everything was easy and enjoyable for us. Thanks for a great trip.

Rick Algar, Essex, England, UK

The company, a fantastic, considerate and fun group; the Laos experience, nothing prepared me for the excited laughter and uninhibited, unconditional delight of the village children as a stream of falangs in gaudy cycle gear streamed through the village;

The guides and support team, unfailingly attentive and just genuinely lovely people, a great trip.

Anita Gupta, Liverpool, England, UK

This holiday was an exceptional experience for me and I think I will find it difficult to find another like it. Laos is a beautiful country - Dermot and Khen's passion for it and its incredible people is the unspoken part of the tour that is priceless. The tour offers a wide range of real cultural exchanges which would not be found on any other holiday. We were all made to feel so welcome in Laos by everyone we met which was really very humbling. This vital sense of community that this country exudes is sadly such a rarity in the rest of the world.

This really is a cycling holiday and is very well organised and paced. Transport by buses etc are kept to an absolute minimum. Some days are tough but you are on those hills before you know it and the sense of achievement is worth every effort.

The group was very well balanced and it was great the way that everyone pulled together whilst on the rides - no one was left cycling on their own unless they wanted to be. An approach that was encouraged by Khen and Dermot from the start. Help was always at hand.

The thought and energy that has been used to create this tour - down to every last detail - is an inspiration. I would recommend this trip to anyone without hesitation. If you are interested in exploring this country properly and understanding its complex issues then this tour is a very good introduction.

Katja Stille, London, England, UK

I think the tour was fantastic all around even for someone who normally avoids organised group holidays. I wouldn't have gone with any organisation and redspokes and the personal involvement of Dermot made organised group travel seem appealing. It sets a great example that organised travel is possible without the negatives associated with it.

Ken was great! His beaming smile is still one of the major impressions of the trip.. He was also always approachable and willing to explain local customs and details about day-to-day Lao life. Above that he was attentive and helpful in sorting bike problems.

Ashley Makepeace, Fremantle, Australia

A fantastic trip!!! There is no doubt that there are some long days but what goes up must come down, a long way down sometimes. I cannot fault the organization from Dermot and Ken. The distance travelled each day was split up to make even the longer days manageable.

This beautiful country, full of friendly, mellow people was enhanced by the contact with local people, including a home stay where there is electricity (from a generator) running water (otherwise known as a river). Hearing about what some charities (inc. Cope) are doing to help and being able to give a small donation and seeing exactly who the money was going to was a bonus.

Biggest traffic jam we encountered, was the cows. Skills obtained included proficiency in executing high-fives to children at speed and not running any of them down, shouting 'sa bai dee' to everyone, while fighting for breath on the 'wee bumps'. Finally, a big thanks to the group, who added so much to one of my favorite holidays, I couldn't ask for more.

Graham Searle, Oxfordshire, England

We had a fantastic time on the tour. We were hoping that it would be a really memorable experience, but it absolutely exceeded our expectations all the way. We came back firmly believing that cycle touring is the very best way to see a country, and that Laos is one of the very best countries in the world to see.

Everything about it was pretty much spot-on - the route, accommodation and food were great. The overall atmosphere was really good - in a group that size, I think that it's actually pretty impressive that there weren't any major issues in two weeks. I think that the effect of the personalities leading the group can't be underestimated. Dermot and Ken were fantastic, it's a tricky thing that you do but your cheerful and friendly ways really do make a difference. It's obvious that you both take a personal interest in each individual and how they're getting on / enjoying the trip - that's appreciated.

We are pretty impressed by the work your charity has done, and by how much difference a relatively small amount of money can make to these rural communities if invested wisely.

Dave Whitton, Exeter, England, UK

I thought this was an excellent tour. The welcome and hospitality from the Loas people was very touching. The local knowledge and contacts that Dermot and Ken have established enabled us to see and experience so much more of the local communities.The Homestay was a great experience where we were guests of honour at their evening party and were treated to no less that three breakfasts to set us on out way the next day! The impact of the Vietnam War on Laos was broght home when we visited the COPE Carity HQ, and I aim to do my bit to help repair some of the damage caused by the legacy of the remaining UXBs on the civilian population.

Debbie Denton, Chesterfield, England, UK

A big, big, thanks for a fabulous holiday in Laos/Thailand. Everything about the holiday we both enjoyed;- the friendly smiley Laos/Thailand's, impressive scenery, great cycling, food, weather,various types of accommodation, organisation, the diversity of each day, not forgetting our fellow cyclists - even the mad Scotsman !!, the list could go on and on !!! Best holiday ever, look forward to the next.

Jenny Nicoll, Sussex, England, UK

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed last Christmas/New Year in Laos. Know my comments are a little late but I've not long been back in the UK. Do you remember that the tour was part of my round the world travels and it was the first time I had ever been on a cycle tour as well as travelling on my own. I had an amazing time travelling, visiting over 10 countries in just 6mths.

Now I'm back, friends often ask where was my favourite place. Of course that is difficult to answer as I've had a great time nearly everywhere I went experiencing many cultures and doing some amazing things. However, I must say that the cycle tour comes right up at the top of my list for an overall adventure. I loved Laos, the people the country and the actual challenge of the cycling, which I did find tough at times. Ben and Ken were both great and very supportive and I thought the tour was very well organized. I was so glad that I decided to include this as part of my travels and would love to do another one sometime.

Yvonne Knowles, Morwenstowe

A fantastic trip with lots of interesting things to see and do along the way. Nothing was too much trouble for the guide and support team. I would recommend this trip to friends and family. Thanks redspokes for a great trip!

Penny Weir, Aviemore, Scotland

The Cambodia tour was excellent, a lovely country so full of recent history as well as ancient history, easy biking and a terrific team of local guides and drivers.

We were spoilt!

Claire Thomas, Edinburgh, Scotland

During the course of our travels through Laos, as well as experiencing wonderful scenery, good food and amazing cycling, we also managed to touch the Laotian culture. The Laotians have so little but gave so much warmth and encouragement which helped make this trip so special. The Laotian support crew who were driving the van, cooking and acting as local guides as well as Dermot the Tour Leader, did their utmost to make this a holiday to remember. I would recommend this trip to everyone.

Paul Massie, London, England

The tour delivered everything, and more, that I was looking for. Great friendship, a wonderful country, lovely people and a physical and mental challenge! The tour was superbly led by Dermot and Ken. It exposed us to a culture in a way I think very few other tours could match.

It was that insight into and brief experience of the Laos way of life that for me made this trip unique and certainly this was a view echoed by one or two of my fellow cyclists that I talked to.
So well done! And to cap it all, I am now on the lowest notch on my belt and trying my best to keep it there.

Ian Smith, Letchworth, England, UK

Laos/Thailand Lost In Time: believe everything you read about this tour. Go with high expectations and expect to come back saying every expectation was exceeded. You will be transported to a country where everyone is your friend; where everyone smiles and time has indeed stood still.

Don't expect luxury; expect to muck in a bit, expect it to be uncomfortable at times as it can be hot and sticky; if you can handle this your reward will be an experience that will move you deeply and have you returning home singing the praises of a wonderful country. I promise.

Trevor Best, Lyttelton, New Zealand

Just writing to say thanks to you and Lee for a great trip through Tibet last October. Tibet has always been one of my dream destinations (Hillary, Everest, high altitude desert, Buddhism, Shangri-La, etc) and the way the trip was organized met all my expectations. 

I really enjoyed the chance to interact with the locals through Nawang and Mr. Loka yet still have the challenge of getting through a real adventure and experiencing all that goes with that. I'm already looking forward to doing this again with you guys somewhere else.

Ros Lawson, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The Nepal cycling trip completely exceeded my expectations & it was challenging in many ways (not just the terrain, suspension bridges, rivers & hills but the toilets too!).

Our guide Lee was excellent, striking the right balance between being in charge & joining in. Nepali guide Ox was always keen to make things happen & provided great local support. Food would get a 9/10, accommodation mostly 8/10 (on a Nepali scale) although a couple of nights' accommodation could be improved upon.

The scenery was breath-taking & the locals very friendly. Not once did I feel intimidated as I have done in some other countries. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone. Go for it!

Sunil Bhopal, Newcastle upon Tyne

My first time on an organised tour, and my first time in Central Asia. I highly recommend the camaraderie, organisation and excitement on this redspokes tour. Great fun. Do it!

Chris Reade, Lancaster, UK

"COPE visit cancelled which was a shame. Trip was fantastic and very enjoyable. Cycling was tough, challenging and fun and camaraderie was great.
Hosts Ken and Co were always great and informative and humorous . Would be interested in another tour somewhere.
Food was good. We talked with Ken about varying the breakfasts a bit, maybe some porridge or muesli which he liked the sound of.
Interesting to see the place and meet lots of people. Homestay was a definate highlight as were the high mountains.
Thanks to you all. "

Anne Hillman, Southport, England

'This was my first tour with redspokes and I wasn't disappointed. A wonderful country.'

John Thompson, Newcastle, England

Having been lucky enough to travel in Asia a little, I had high expectations of our trip to Laos. These were more than surpassed. The trip combined the beauty of an amazing country with the spirit and huge smiles of a fabulous people.

Dermot and Ken provided professional and yet hilarious guiding and made us all feel very well looked after. One of the luckiest features of our trip was the fantastic group I cycled with. I couldn't have wished for a nicer group of fellow travelers, and really hope we can meet up again soon to do a similar trip. One of my best holidays. I can highly recommend it.

Cathy Sheehan, Auckland, New Zealand

I want to thank you again for a wonderful wonderful tour in Laos/Thailand. I am totally hooked and recommending redspokes to everyone I meet. I can't think of a better way of doing it.

The group was brilliant and so was the organisation, really stress-free for me. And having Lao guides and translators was fantastic.

On the first night I decided not to make snap judgements about the people in the group and just accept everyone and let them reveal themselves, and it really worked. They were all wonderful.

You have just the right touch - it's organised beautifully and takes away all the worries of doing it on your own, but leaves enough freedom to still make it an adventure. I liked the skillful way you went around and checked on everyone without being overbearing.

I fully expected to be bundled into the back of the truck on the day from Luang Prabang to Kiu Kacham but it was great I was able to complete that challenging day.Your initial instructions about respect were spot-on. I felt proud of our group and the way we conducted ourselves - I think even our drunken behaviour was within acceptable limits.

Grahame Beard, Spalding, UK

Tony Duckworth, Surrey, England, UK

In spite of the weather - heavy rain around midday - the ride was a delight. Marvellous scenery, friendly crowd, generous refreshments, a nice pub half way down, all well organised.

Pete Raimes, London, England, UK

Thanks to redspokes for organizing an excellent event on Sunday, my 13 yr old son and I very much enjoyed the day and were very impressed by the organization and the all the staff and helpers involved.

Heather Weaver, London, England, UK

Julie Niven, Edinburgh, Scotland

The best holiday I've ever had - it's going to take some beating. I've been on organised cycling trips before and this trip blew them all out of the water. The organisation was faultless, the cycling was awesome, the scenery was stunning, the people were fabulous. The welcome we received in Ban Faen will stay with me for a long time. A truly humbling experience.

Clifford Erett, Belfast, Ireland

Belated happy new year to all at redspokes. I'm emailing to thank you and your team for a fantastic holiday Dermot, it was one of (if not the most) interesting and enjoyable experiences of my life to date. The warmth shown to us from the people of Ken's village and the population generally was most humbling. Please convey my thanks and good wishes to Ken and his family, not forgetting Mr Lucky, forkeeping us well fed and watered while we enjoyed ourselves.

I will not fill your inquestionnaire Dermot because for me the trip was better than I expected. OK so the hotels were not up to western standards but I feel that adds to the experience.

Don't change a thing Dermot; it's a bloody marvellous tour!

Stuart Hill, Kurnell, Australia

One of the most rewarding incredible adventures I have ever had the pleasure to experience! Would definitely do this again!

John Beckley, London, England, UK

This was my third holiday with redspokes and just as good as the two previous ones. The holidays feel like real adventures (you get a long way off the beaten path) but the organisation is superb. Each holiday has given an opportunity to get to know local people and understand a bit more about local cultures.

The cycling is fantastic, but stopping, looking and talking are just as important. I cannot rate redspokes holidays highly enough.

Chris Morfas, California, USA

This was the bike tour of a lifetime (so far). I say "so far" because the pleasures provided by this tour have inspired this Yank to consider even more adventurous outings! redspokes did a great job feeding and housing us and moving us along through many kilometers of challenging roads and terrain in Vietnam and Laos.

The other riders in the group were jolly fine chaps and lassies. Tour leader Dave is a fountain of wisdom, enthusiasm and energy. redspokes' UK staff was very helpful with pre-tour arrangements.

Cathy McCartney, New Zealand

Vietnam and Lao was made amazing by David, Phong and Dao Lit by their ability to relate to me as an individual. My view of this is that each of them addressed the individual needs of each participant on the trip. David personally discussed with me very early on what it was I was seeking. I talked to David about why I had come on the trip and we worked out a plan to accommodate my needs as an individual trip participant and the needs of everyone else.

The big things for me were scenery - what will I see? experience? smell? participate in? how does each local community operate? what is important? How many water buffalo? why do you need these water buffalo? what do you get for each water buffalo? Children what happens - what is the rhythm and plans for the emerging country? where are they? where are the schools? medical? what happens when why and how??| and then cycling - that was pretty obvious!!!. They met the view I had before I left and then some instead of me feeling like I had gone on a bulk buy trip.

The situations in each country were vastly different. David, Phong and Dao Lit adjusted the trip to accommodate. The recognition of cultural differences was extremely important and those needs were met. Thanks to David, Phong and Dao Lit the individual attention of each of these extremely unique people made this an incredible journey, Ka kete ano.

Rod McPhee, Australia

After the first 2 days I was saying to myself what the hell has my daughter talked me into, after day 4 thanks to everyone on the trip and especially David our tour guide I started to believe I could do it, and I was really enjoying it. As we neared the end of the trip I wished the trip was longer I was not ready for it to finish.I will definitely be doing another redspokes tour with David and hopefully all of us will do it together I met on the trip.

Phil Hurcom, London, England, UK

My third redspokes trip and the most enjoyable. Stunning scenery and wonderful welcomes from the Laotians, challenging cycling that was still within everyone's abilities plus some great evenings on the Beer Lao combined to make the most memorable of trips, all topped off with the usual excellent redspokes organisation and tour leadership

Paul Tierny, Galway, Ireland

Overall I had another excellent adventure with the redspokes group. This is my third trip with them and it once again exceeded my expectations of the trip. Laos is one of the nicest places to go cycling and there were some good climbs which presented some nice challenges. The cycling vs. non bike time was perfect and the rest day for Christmas in Luang Prabang was fun. Really nice mix of eclectic riders on the group and some fun nights!Well done redspokes and thanks for another unforgettable experience, will be back for another adventure next year.

Andrew Rankin, Dorset, England, UK

This was a great trip and I would happily recommend it. David was brilliant as the Tour Leader and his knowledge of Laos added greatly to the experience.I have many happy memories of a great group, a beautiful country and laughter.

Mark Pearson, Bath, England, UK

Can't put in words how much I enjoyed the trip. Challenging physically and intellectually. Beautiful country and people. Great group and redspokes is a fantastic company. Will recommend Laos and redspokes to everyone who'll listen.

Louise Goldingham, Oxon, England, UK

This was a truly fantastic holiday. The cycling was great, the local people so warm and welcoming, scenery amazing and the organisation of the trip was brilliant. I didn't need to worry about the cycling as the pace was so good, with lots of refreshment stops. It was an experience I will never forget.