Testimonials
We are dedicated to delivering fantastic cycling holidays through the most spectacular regions of the world, offering fascinating sceneries and immense cultural interest.
But don't just take our word for it, here is what our customers have had to say about redspokes and our services...
Ross Prielipp , High Halstow, England, UK
This trip is extremely well organised and confidently led by the tour leader Kasun. You will not find a guide who knows the roads as well as he does. The scenery and sights are stunning, particularly in the high country and the safari in Udawalwa National Park is an experience not to be missed.
The cycling can be tough in the heat and when the hills rise up, but the constantly smiling Sri Lankans give you that lift needed to keep turning the pedals. Many thanks to Kasun, Karlinga and Lasantha for looking after us so well.
Bob Travers, Maryland, United States
"It was a bicycling trip in Northern Argentina that took us into rainforest through extreamly high 13,700 passes and then into desert and salt plains. We rode through dramatic ravines, the Andean puna and dazzling white salt flats under cobalt blue skies.
redspokes Northern Argentina tour is rich in Andean culture, clement weather and challenging cycling". See Bob's Travel Blog for more details of this trip!
Jo & Tim Johnson, Burley in Wharfedale, UK
From day 1, Ox confidently led us through the chaotic Kathmandu streets and continued to thoroughly plan an excellent adventure. Ox and Rocca took it in turns to lead the group and ensure we cycled as a close knit team. We all became firm friends over the two weeks and grew to love the friendliness of Nepal - even the ‘Nepali flat’!
Whilst this is a challenging cycling holiday, those who are mtb beginners should not be put off. Ox and Rocca were both patient and encouraging.
Nepal is a lovely and diverse country. This 2 week adventure gives the opportunity for many different experiences and as ever, cycling is a great way to see it.
Marie Clune, Raworth, Australia
I enjoyed this tour because of the challenge of the hills especially at altitude, the scenery and our group. The accommodation and food was good throughout the trip and Tony our guide did a great job at selecting the foods to suit different dietery needs. The picnic lunches in quiet little spots off the main roads were also a nice change from Chinese food and eating in restaurants. The support crew were always there to help out if anyone needed a ride or drink as well as prepare the lunches. Tony also had great knowledge of the different minority groups their foods, culture and history.
The bikes were brand new and had all the gears needed for the hills. On Day 2 it was amazing to have snow falling as we rode across all 3 passes.
Cameron Ainslie, Lane Cove, Australia
The highlight of the trip was the service provided by the local teams in both Tibet and Nepal; nothing was too much trouble and they made the trip extra special!
Sam Cheesman, Crawley, England, UK
Ox and his crew could really have not done any more for us, great food and plenty of it (We are like kings!) whilst camping in amazing locations. They comfortably sorted out any issues that arrised and took us to see the real Tibet and Nepal in all their beauty away from the commercialised centres.
Richard Cohen, London, UK
This was an unusual trip as there were only 3 participants and we were travelling in Sri Lanka at a time of national crisis following the Easter Sunday bombings. In several of the places that we stayed in our group were the only guests and the staff in all the hotels we went to were grateful that we were visiting the country at a time when most tourists had left Sri Lanka and many countries (including the UK) had advised against all non-essential travel.
I cannot speak highly enough about the cycle guide, Sampath and the driver Gayan. Both were endlessly helpful, patient and conscientious in their work with our group. They were always ready on time and kept the bikes in tip-top working order and they both went out of their way to respond to all kinds of requests from the group. They kept us constantly equipped with cold water even when the outside temperature reached 40 degrees and well supplied with bananas.
Jo Reaves, Edinburgh, Scotland
Another excellent redspokes trip with a lovely group of people and the usual belly laughs. Didn't want to chuck any of them off a cliff! The trip was well run with a varied itinerary and some challenging terrain not to mention accommodation (experience enhancing)! Myanmar beauty and serenity can be seen not only in its landscape but also its people and culture. Thanks again Dermot for a fun holiday.
Paul Mansfield, Poole, England, UK
I'm an avid cyclist and lead many local groups on MTB and road rides although i have never been on a cycle tour before. Our team lead by Ox were exceptional at managing and satisfying the needs of the whole group which inevitably have different requirements and abilities.
The balance between being a cycling challenge and a cultural inside to an extraordinary country where also planned and managed exceptionally well.
Gill Hay, Durham
A fantastic trip, which as well as the cycling offered so much more in terms of exploring this lovely country and its friendly people. The cycling was excellent, mainly on minor roads and tracks and so well supported by the team - Sampath is a brilliant guide answering questions and introducing everyone to Sri Lanka's flora & fauna, culture, history and food & drink. Gayan and Prasad were great too, providing support with the minibus and jeep, topping up water and providing snacks and sorting out the bikes.
This was a great way to see the country and experience its culture and wildlife, the activities which are included as part of the package are wide ranging and include all of the 'must sees' in Sri Lanka. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the trip and have to say a big thank you to Sampath, Gayan and Prasad for all their help and support in making it such a great trip.
Robert Cameron, Pincher Creek, Canada
Hard to ride fast because there was always something interesting to look at. Friendly people. Excellent "pit crew"!
Marius Krikstopaitis, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Amazing tour with beautiful views, tasty food and great guides, very much recommended.
Shirley and Trevor Acreman, Stratford-upon-avon
Fabulous routes and scenery with quiet, many singletrack, roads. The weather was Scottish, with sun most days and rain most days - but nearly always with a wind behind! Mull and Jura were highlights for cycling and the ferries were fun. With the unpredictability of the ferries and the weather I'd recommend this supported trip as the best way to get a flavour of the Highlands and Islands.
Cheryl Hyslop, Ottawa, Canada
The redspokes Classic tour is a great way to experience some of the historic sites of Sri Lanka as well as having a chance to see some of the more rural life. If you are planning a visit to Sri Lanka this is the way to do it. Lots of wildlife: elephants, egrets, kingfishers, and monkeys guaranteed! A zoom lens is recommended for the keener photographers. Maybe not to carry on the bike but you will have lots of opportunities to put it to good use!
The riding took us through a variety of terrain and scenery. Usually "undulating", "sometimes steeply", and often "mostly up". The tea plantations are really lovely. The support team was excellent. Our guide, Kasun, was always informative and was constantly finding interesting wildlife for us to observe. He also made a point of regularly checking in with us to make sure that the accommodations and tour in general were not lacking in any way. Sangeen, our driver and chief water-carrier, was always ready with a smile. Thanks to redspokes for organizing yet another wonderful tour.
Kate Hunter, Vermont, United States
As always, redspokes exceeded expectations. Beautiful scenery. Millions of birds. Great food. Friendly people. Fascinating and rich culture with an undercurrent of sadness which made it an educational and thought-provoking trip.
Katja Stille, London, UK
I have had yet another great experience on this red spokes trip!!! This tour through Nepal gives a very good insight into the varied landscape this beautiful country has to offer, from rainforest to majestic mountain terrain of the Himalayas - we saw it all.
Ox made this trip even more special through many little treats, such as random stops to learn about local craft, impromptu meditation lessons in a temple and opportunities to taste the local food cooked by Ox himself. Ox’s flexibility ensured that we saw a lot. Our group was amazing and very supportive of each other as we tackled some challenging terrain.
Thank you Redspokes and everyone in the group !
Joanne Johnson, Burley in Wharfedale, UK
This was another excellent trip with redspokes. The tour leaders were enthusiastic, supportive and professional. The route was particularly scenic with some challenging climbs which generally suited everyone.
There was a nice mixture of road and off-road to the point that those nervous of off-road had overcome their fears by the end of the trip. The hotels were all consistently good with some stunning locations. Even better, the group was particularly sociable and a pleasure to be with.
Dr Heather Ross, Toronto, Canada
Wow - truly awesome trip that i would recommend to anyone!!! Ox was incredible - flexible, organized, responsive - met our every need and tailored the trip to be exactly what we wanted. i hope it was clear from the blog that we were thrilled with the gruelling nature, stunning scenery and what we believe was quite the accomplishment. We couldn't have achieved it without the amazing team. Dorje was exceptionally knowledgeable about Tibet and Tibetan history. He provided incredible information, modified our tours so we could be present for prayers. Thanks!
Danny Hill, Northampton, England, UK
I had a superb time. A truly memorable trip with outstanding sites, cycling and culture. The local team are so superb, you have to do everything possible to ensure they maintain their high standards. I was deeply touched by the care they took of us all. The experiences I have had will remain as fond memories for a long time.
Marjorie Leighton, Campbeltown, Scotland, UK
This was the second redspokes trip I have done and once again it lived up to expectations. It was well organised, the cycle leaders Sampath and Chamara took us alongside canals teeming with all manner of natural beauty, over roads under construction, and of course the ‘undulating’ countryside. Our driver Ishfan was always at hand to provide water, to help with the bikes and in my case when I was riding in the van, slowing down when I wanted to take photos.
The food was wonderful and abundant, even having lunch served by a Tamil lady at a lookout stop at 1302m (4,270ft). There was always the choice of local, spicy food or the less spicy western and for most days both breakfast and evening meals were buffet style. The accommodation was of a very high standard, with some hotels having swimming pools which were very welcome after cycling in the 36 deg heat and humidity. Probably one of the nicest overnight stops (as far as character) was at Sir John’s Bungalow (John Kotelawala an ex Prime Minister of Ceylon) up in the cool of the hills. It certainly didn’t have WiFi, it only just had electricity-luckily it had cold beer!
Apart from the countryside, the ‘add ons’ to the cycling included temples, UNESCO world heritage sites, a rock fortress, spice gardens, tea factory, botanical gardens, and white water rafting.
There was wonderful natural beauty, with the mating call of peacocks a daily occurrence, monkeys, egrets, herons, land and water monitors, elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, and more kingfishers than you could wish for. The country was lush, green, with an abundance of water and magnificent tea plantations. The people were friendly, always smiling and the children shouted ‘hello’ and ‘bye’ as we passed. We were blessed with good weather (perhaps a wee bit hot for cycling) with only a couple of late afternoon showers in Kandy. I would thoroughly recommend the trip to anyone.
Karen Karnuta, Colorado,United States
I want to rave about the guide Waruna. He was one of the best guides I have ever met -- quality all the way through. the bike guide, Sampath, was very good too. as well as excellent drivers and support staff.
Kate Hunter, Vermont, United States
As always, redspokes exceeded expectations. Beautiful scenery. Millions of birds. Great food. Friendly people. Fascinating and rich culture with an undercurrent of sadness which made it an educational and thought-provoking trip.
Nicky Crosby, Liverpool, England, UK
This holiday was a wonderful introduction to India for me (first time aged 62), enabling me to see people, countryside and places in the unique way that cycling offers. It took a lot of persuading me that I'd cope with the cycling, and in the end I found it every bit (and more) as hard as I'd anticipated, but facilities and staff cater very well for strugglers like me, so I ended up with a decent sense of achievement and had a totally wonderful holiday.
Anne & Peter Latham, Askwith, England, United Kingdom
Really felt as though we were part of the culture , thanks to the team guiding us .
Felt the cultural input of Mr Waruna made the holiday special. His enthusiasm for his native country was palpable.
John Gates, Virginia, United States
I had an excellent experience. The tour was well organized and executed. Our group got along wonderfully and we still exchange photos and greetings via WhatsApp. Would recommend redspokes to anyone looking for this type of tour. Kudos to Alejandro , Tolke & Marcelo for their patience, good humor, and attention to detail.
John Roche, Leeds, UK
Our first experience of Burma was extremely positive. The support team were excellent they anticipated our every need always willing to help but not in the way. Nothing was too much trouble. The guide Mellow was very informative about the history and culture of Burma, we liked the extra trips e.g. Inle Lake, sunset boat trip at Bagan and visits to the many temples. The school visit was interesting so impressed by the enthusiastic pupils and their teachers.
Muriel Thomson, Aberdeen, Scotland
A lovely country with very friendly people. A good cycle route with varied countryside. Everything very well organised. Ngapali beach was super. Nice quiet beach and lots to do. Full day jungle trek we did was excellent.
Myanmar is certainly worth a visit before it gets too touristy.
Paul Goulding, Birkenhead, England, UK
The team were fantastic and treated us to gifts and a great insight into a country which is going through great changes, at the time the riding was hard going (rough surface). Food was plentiful, you will not go hungry on this tour, weather in February was warm with a nice breeze to keep you going. Schwadagon pagoda was amazing in Yangon. In short visit Burma while you can before it changes into Thailand!!! a land of great warmth and smiles you have to go NOW!!
Sten Thunberg, Gothenburg, Sweden
This was our first trip, both with redspokes and to Thailand, so we didn´t know what to expect when we arrived to Chiang Rai where we were met by our guide at the airport.
It was a pleasure to cycle as the roads turned out to be in excellent condition and with surprisingly little traffic. Also, the drivers were very considerate of us cyclists. The cycling route was beautiful and challenging, with several mountain passes to cross. There were several days with long climbs of more than 1000m, partly on steeper roads than we were used to, but the reward came when reaching the top, with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, and of course in the long downhill stretches.
The temperature during our tour in January was agreeable, with a maximum of 26-28 degrees at mid-day and cooler at night, especially when we stayed over-night in high located villages, where a sweater was needed in evenings and mornings. Throughout the tour we got to try a lot of different delicious Thai food, introduced by our guide. All in all, we had a fantastic cycle tour and we will definitely consider travelling with redspokes again on a challenging tour.
Ross Prielipp and Annette Meier, Gravesend, Kent, UK
We have come back to England with wonderful memories of Cambodia, its food, its landscape, its people, culture and history. All these things were brought alive by our fantastic guide Art and driver Det. On the hot and dusty roads the cycling was sometimes hard but the reward of being immersed in the real Cambodia more than compensated for this.The whole trip ran like clockwork but we never felt as if we were constrained within an over organised tour. The hire bikes were perfect for the job, the hotels of a good standard and the balance of cycling, sightseeing and resting just right. Thanks to redspokes and particularly thanks to Art and Det for their enthusiastic portrayal of Cambodia and an unforgettable experience.
David Mercer, Oldham, England, UK
This was the first organised trip I have been on. All my previous trips have been self organised. However, overall, this was a superb trip and I really enjoyed it.
I think the success of a trip depends mainly on how good the guiding team are and how well you get on with the other trip members. On this trip the guiding teams were excellent and the other trip members were really friendly and we got on really well.
This was a tough trip, with most days being 50+ and 60+ miles, with many long hills to climb and I think using a hybrid bike would have been much better. We would often set off riding at 7:30am and finish around 4:30pm/5:00pm, so they were long days.
The guide team of Fon and Ping were excellent as well. Fon was probably more keen on discussing safety on the road and keeping in touch with each rider along the way. He was a very personable and likeable young guy.
So overall, for me, it was a tough trip, but brilliant, 11 riding days, 577 miles, 53hrs 14mins riding and 67163 ft of ascent. The countries were great. I’ve been to Laos and Luang Prabang twice before, 11 and 12 years ago, so it was great to be there again. Laos is quieter and more laid back than noisy, busy N.Vietnam. The scenery of both countries is generally mountainous and green and the people everywhere were friendly with many children running out to call to us.
Thorsten Kowalski, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany
This trip in India is by far the best trip I ever did with redspokes, a real good selection of nice and comfortable hotels at interesting places. Raju is an excellent tour guide and the best tour guide I ever met on a cycling trip. His hospitality already started one day before the trip, when he was picking me up from the airport after my 11 hour flight. It was great to see the redspokes sign at the airport and even handling of my big bike box was pretty easy and well organized with his great support.
Our funny driver Jamal cares for every little detail at the stops and at every occasion. The cycling guides Baba and Keshu are professional cycling guides and Baba is a great mechanics to solve the little things and adjustments on all the bikes. Until today we had no accidents, no one got lost on the way, even when there were many turns on the tour on some days. I really appreciate this tour and would like to do another trip in India with this team. Therefore I would rate the trip with 5 stars out of 5 or 100%.
Leslie Goodfriend, Santa Cruz, California, USA
This is my second redspokes trip. I continued to be impressed with the in-country planning and coordination. Our crew and guides were thoughtful, kind and helpful. They were always happy to answer questions no matter how silly. I especially enjoyed the cultural parts of the trip- we cycled and then we would visit temples and learn about the history and culture of Sri Lanka. I like doing both. The food was excellent- I liked the roadside restaurants the best- although the hotel food was good- the off the beaten track restaurants had more interesting food options. Mr. Sampath's knowledge of the small canal roads that took us away from traffic and guided us through quiet villages and beautiful landscapes was wonderful. These roads are not an maps which clearly showed how much he knew about his country and his committment to give us an enjoyable experience.
Mr. Waruna is such a kind, patient, knowledgable guide. He did a great job handling our group, communicating with us and ensuring that our needs were met. I highly recommend Sri Lanka to people interested in a cycling vacation- it was the perfect blend of cycling, learning about the history and culture of Sri Lanka and enjoying a beautiful country.
Kevin Edkins, Warwickshire, England, UK
I had a fantasic 13 day trip. Very well organised. I have previously been on 4 trips with Exodus The trip leader was the best I have had. He was most helpful and did his upmost to make everyones holiday as happy as possible.
Bettina Bailey, South Carolina, USA
Great guides and fun group.
Paul Bridges, Birmingham, England, UK
Another great adventure delivered by redspokes. This was my 3rd redspokes trip and must admit another faultless trip. The crew couldn't doenough for you from morning through to night. Due to a injury I couldn't cycle much, but walked many miles each day with the bus being my taxi. The trips during the tour and road side stops, seeing the locals at work were excellent. It's also great to meet cyclists from different parts on the world on this redspokes tour.
Richard Kitson, Brighouse, West Yorks, England
Great to see Burma/Myanmar before it might get spoilt by tourism. Good cycling despite the poor surfaces in some places, but it's obvious that that is being addressed month by month. Accommodation in general was very good, considering, but where there was no tourism the places were basic, but that didn't come as a surprise.
It was great that we ate at genuine local venues each day for the main meals and the ride stops and this only enhances the trip. Burma was such a friendly and safe place and the bike support staff were first class.
Weland Mahar, Australia
This tour is intelligently structured and well planned. Lowland heat and mountain cold, lots of climbing and some very long days. Every day was different, and the tour has so much more than just riding. Our group was from many countries and the banter was funny - a great bunch.
You'll need to be reasonably fit and confident on a mountain bike over rough terrain to get the most out of this ride, we trained a little bit by doing some long climbs at home and it really helped. Our guide Ox, was very experienced, flexible and funny - he did a lot of work behind the scenes, and it showed, as everything went smoothly. I'd recommend this tour to anyone. Great fun, you see so much and it left me wanting more.
John Thorne, Edinburgh, Scotland
A great trip, fab support from Art and the 3 other Cambodian guides, they worked very well together. It was my first supported bike tour and having the 2 vans, sweeper, fruit and biscuits and water every 25km made a huge difference! The mechanic worked hard to service the bikes and keep them running perfectly. Def worth hiring from redspokes in my opinion. Great hotels were used too, most having a pool and all with aircon. Hotel in Phnom Penh especially well chosen for its location on the Mekong, close to the Royal Palace and National Museum but on a quiet street.
Everything was done to make the trip as enjoyable as possible and an excellent first redspokes adventure.
Barbara & Spencer, Shelburne, America
My wife & I had a great adventure on our Sri Lanka trip, our first with redspokes. We had a great exposure to the people, culture, history and back roads of this diverse country, and attribute most of that to our tour leader, Waruna, who was excellent and highly professional, and to our bike guide, Sampath, who is an experienced pro, highly knowledgeable of the tiny, scenic roads in his country after 20 years guiding on them. Our mechanic, Noan, and bus driver, Daneesh, made a superb team.
Janet & Mark Basi, Kappelen, France
The cycling itself was very enjoyable. Very flat, apart from the regular small bridges. Pace was relaxed. The absence of spectacular scenery after leaving the Angkor region, both in Cambodia and Vietnam was compensated for by the off-road cycling through small villages, paddy fields and plantations. The contrast between the two countries was very interesting, with insight into local life via regular stops to see local cottage industries and sampling roadside snacks. The local people, especially when you get out into the country were very friendly. A special call out to the guides, Phirun in Cambodia and Hai in Vietnam
Nigel Moore, Amersham, England, UK
We were so very well looked after and enjoyed a wonderful insight into a fabulous country. Everyone was so welcoming and made it a super trip!
Also many thanks to your office staff for the pre-holiday admin to ensure we got there suitably prepared – this part also worked well.
Alf Glover, Chorley, England
A happy returning redspokes customer, I would certainly recommend this trip. Go before the country changes, lovely country and lovely people. Looking forward to next redspokes adventure!
Phil Hurcom, London, England, UK
A fabulous tour in a fascinating country full of wonderfully welcoming people, amazing sights and challenging cycling.
Kalayar and her team couldn't be more helpful, the accommodation was uniformly excellent even in the less traditionally tourist locations and the attractions of Myanmar combine to make this a great 2 weeks.
Susan and Michael Latham, Keighley, England, UK
Phea and Sokham, our guides, were truly exceptional in their professionalism, enthusiasm and knowledge of their country. Open and honest at all times, they shared with us the cultural highlights of Cambodia alongside deepening our understanding of day-to-day life in the villages and towns through which we passed.
Zara Thatcher, Worthing, UK
The trip was amazing. The guides Diego and Jeronimo was very knowledgable and passionate about both countries. Couldn’t fault the trip at all and would recommend it to anyone.
Paul Crout, London, England
I have been on several trips before but I rate this one the best ever. It was well run the hotels and guest houses were clean and very welcoming. Vietnam has to be one of the cheapest places to visit in the world, the food was great and the beer is cheaper than water.
The people are the most friendliest I've ever met and the women are the prettiest. The views were spectacular and the cycling was hard but we all made it. I'm now looking forward for my next trip with redspokes to China.
Bruce Irving, Norwich, UK
Colombia turned out to be much better than expected. The Colombians are honest and a delight.
Happy dance music coming out of all the houses along the way. Lots of exotic fruit made the cycling a party!
Heiko Conze, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The redspokes Pamir Highway trip was for me a lifetime experience that combined all I want from a great (cycling) adventure. We rode through spectacular alpine mountains and green river valleys, met welcoming locals along the road and in the homestays, and were challenged every day by very demanding roads, mostly unpaved and bumpy with hardly any traffic. A great trip if you want to explore a stunning and (yet) less visited part of the world!
Connie Demmel, Mainz, Germany
Thank you redspokes for another truly wonderful cycling experience. We so much enjoyed our time - the beautiful countryside, a lovely and inspiring group of people and excellent rides every day.
Catherine Wallace, Edinburgh, Scotland
Amazing trip - loved every minute. Beautiful country, wonderful cycling and Arjan and Rimi were really supportive. Thoroughly recommend!
Robert Travers, Maryland, USA
To all adventurous bicyclist, redspokes is an incredible company that will take you into some of the best areas of the world to experience biking, culture and the people. I rate this trip and the company behind it 5 stars as everything came off perfectly.
In addition the company and its trip leaders focused on safety and being the best, friendly, helpful and we all had a great time and fun. I highly recommend redspokes. In addition the bikes they provided were perfect and exceeded expectations and the trip leaders totally maintained them during the entire trip.
Minaxi Patel, London, England, UK
This is my third redspokes trip and it came up to the same high standard as the other two. Our guide, Arjan, was excellent, very knowledgeable and passionate about his country, tirelessly attentive to everyone's needs and he had a great sense of humour. The route took us through spectacular scenery, the food was delicious, fresh and plentiful and the accommodation was always comfortable and I love the range from boutique to very rustic. The cycling was the best, challenging but manageable, a great way to see the country.
Kate Cheesman, London, England
Excellent trip. Dermot and local staff wonderful. Bikes excellent and superbly maintained by those overnight "elves" who oiled, cleaned and polished them and sometimes even left flowers on them! - Wonderful "invisible" beings!!
Beautiful countryside & amazing people. Go now before it turns into Thailand
Sheelagh Evans, Winchester, UK
Thanks for the great trip. I can't fault it, its the best tour I have been on. Mr Phea and his team are wonderful.
Joanne Bradley, Bexleyheath, UK
Ox and his amazing team made our two week bike ride through Nepal magical. They were so friendly, helpful, fun and supportive, they were just perfect!
Nepal is such a colourful, fascinating country full of friendly, caring people. The scenery is beyond beautiful and the tour takes in a perfect combination of all Nepal has to offer. Thank you to Ox and his team for a very special two weeks!
Martin Hamilton, Telford, England, UK
Absolutely superb trip, exceeded all my expectations. The crew looked after us fantastically well - nothing was too much trouble. Overall an excellent trip to a fascinating country.
Phil Hurcom, London, England, UK
Another fantastic tour with redspokes. Challenging but manageable cycling in stunning scenery away from the predictable tourist locations. The superb support provided by all the redspokes staff and local agents combined with comfortable and appropriate accommodation helped contribute to an unforgettable experience. To achieve this seamlessly on the first running of the tour is a tribute to redspokes' prowess as a tour company.
Trish and Darren Whitaker, Darwin, Australia
We both loved this trip and will remember the adventure forever- we have done about 5 other organized cycling trips as well as independent extensive world cycle trips.
Of course every trip is different and it is hard to compare but we will remember our time in Nepal forever and the feedback from friends about our photos has been amazing. Thanks again.
Kate Cammidge, Leigh on Sea, England, UK
Having never done anything like this before I was quite nervous. Once we met Phea all nerves vanished! We all seemed to gel very quickly and that helped with the cycling. Pea seemed so pleased and proud to take us to all the places we stopped at. Everyone had a story to tell us it was all so much fun and very interesting. I even got the hang of the '˜red top roads' they were something else. The Cambodian people are a brilliant nation, having gone through all that they have and they still smile! I nick-named it the land of a 1000 smiles. The children reminded me of baby peacocks saying '˜hello hello', it was fantastic! I shall never forget Cambodia and a huge thank you to redspokes for such a well organised trip.
Sarah Rainford , London, England, UK
Ox and his team go above and beyond to making your trip a once in a lifetime experience. The trip is so perfectly organised by Red Spokes, that all you have to think about are the beautiful views, delicious food and your distance to Everest!
Judith Kimenai, Netherlands
A big thanks to all the guides that made this wonderful trip possible! Danny and Maddy were fantastic on the bike ánd in sharing stories about Indian history! Raju did everything possible to have every little bike problem fixed. Cook and transport/logistics staff were just amazing by making sure the whole camp was arranged before we arrived. All of this made us feel like we were on a real holiday! :-). The whole trip was just stunning.
Fantastic scenery, great people, challenging, but doable biking experience and the ever present positive vibe were reasons to enjoy every single bit of this journey. Definitely a recommendation to everyone who enjoys high altitude cycling and mountain scenery!
Donal Burke, New York, United States
All guides were very helpful and make the trip fun. The scenery is incredible and the hills very challenging. As the trip covered some beautiful small towns as well as the two largest cities I felt that we got to see a good cross section of Colombia.
I would love for others to discover the magic of Colombia!
Andrew Mak, Midlevels, Hong Kong
This was my first redspokes experience even though I've been on several cycling tours before. This NE Vietnam tour was certainly one of the most memorable and exceeded all my expectation (not that I had that much).
First of all, my one other tour buddy and I were spoiled rotten with all the extra attention. Second, our tour leader Phong was everything you've read in these testimonials and much much more...I felt I'd learnt just that much more about Vietnam despite having visited this beautiful country many times either on business or for pleasure. One other fun fact, apparently I had the honour of being Phong's first customer from hustle bustle Hong Kong which made this experience even more special.
Sandy McKay, Wanaka, New Zealand
Kasun was an excellent guide, he was very attentive and made sure that we had had a good day and were happy with the accommodation all the way. He was very informative and patient, and had a great sense of humour. And his back up team were also excellent, but as their English was a bit limited, not so easy to ask them questions. And we had lots!! I liked that there were plenty of stops to refuel with water and snacks. And that we stopped ot local villages for morning tea.
There was lots of different terrain, and it was great to be on the rural back roads as much as possible. Accommodation was generally excellent, especially the ones with swimming pools to cool off. And the opportunity to go rafting was great too. All in all, a very well run trip - highly recommended, even if I couldn't make it up the hills on day 6!
Clare & Mark Elsegood, Glossop, UK
As experienced cycle tourists, but having never been on an organised group tour , would we do another group tour? - would we use redspokes? -would we recommend Albania? The short answer to all is yes , we would.
We came away with very positive feelings about it all. We are already considering another tour with redspokes next year . We may have been fortunate in that the group was populated with like minded, interesting and capable people and the Guide and driver were first class. The accommodation was better than expected with plenty of idiosyncrasies- this is Albania afterall. They added to the fun rather than caused real inconvenience. The food was a revelation - plentiful , fresh and tasty with a local bias as hoped. Arjan and Tuani ( sp?) were great ambassadors for their country.
Albania itself was different but not as alien as we may have anticipated and we never felt threatened or particularly uncomfortable and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience that we are keen to repeat.
Sarah Rainford, London, England, UK
Ox and his team go above and beyond to making your trip a once in a lifetime experience.
The trip is so perfectly organised by redspokes, that all you have to think about are the beautiful views, delicious food and your distance to Everest!
Ali Gillum, London, England, UK
What an amazing adventure. One of the best things I’ve ever done. Physically I’ve never pushed myself harder, but what an achievement to have done it!
It was so good for the soul to be out in the mountains. A great fun group, and the team were just fab. All in all, amazing.
David Rice, Carlisle, England, UK
Cycling to Everest Basecamp is an amazing adventure and climbing up to almost 17000ft on a bicycle is an exhilarating experience. The views are all the more rewarding given the hard work it has taken to get them! The culture in Tibet is very colourful and there are many monasteries to look round.
One of the highlights for me was going to the city town in Lhasa and seeing the many Pilgrims walk round the Monastery praying. However the best part of the holiday was obviously reaching Rongbuk and seeing Everest. The guides looked after us well and cooked a wide variety of very tasty food.
Kate Cammidge, Leigh-On-Sea, England, UK
Wow! Where do I begin. redspokes you’ve done it again! We had such an amazing time. From the train ride to Jaffna to our arrival in Kandy. It was such a colourful and interesting tour. Each day we would see such fascinating sighs not knowing what to expect next!
Our Guides Mr Sampath and Mr Waruna were both so interesting. Mr Sampath took us on the most beautiful paths and away from the noisy dangerous roads, to climbing hills through the tea plantations with spectacular scenery. One memorable day - we got up and went for an early pre dawn cycle. We were cycling In Sigiriya Rock National Park and we saw traces of elephant and sure enough we stopped and one walked across the road in front of us! He disappeared without a trace. Mr Waruna is a great historian. When we visited ancient temples he knows so much about each place. Other places of interest he was so knowledgeable. Our guides, drivers and helpers were equally so kind, friendly and helpful. They all went above and beyond their duties to make sure we were all happy and you couldn’t fault any of them. They were a really good team!
Paula Barclay, Colorado, United States
I have to be honest: I was as nervous as hell after I signed up for this trip. I'd seen a slide show in my hometown about a woman's trip through four countries with redspokes. As soon as I heard the talk I was hooked! However after I sent in my deposit, I thought, "What the heck am I doing?" This trip is rated extreme and it is! It's extreme altitudes, an extreme, arid climate and day after day of extreme elevation gains. With all that being said, it is also a trip of amazing scenery, incredible people and physical challenges that push you to your limit.
Raju and his support team were absolutely amazing -- they were so helpful and encouraging and they will not let you fail! They were there every time I needed a water bottle refill, a banana or just a friendly face and a little encouragement. I also so appreciated the camaraderie and encouragement that developed between myself and the four other members of the group. This was a trip of a lifetime and a dream come true. I loved my experience and am already planning for my next redspokes adventure!
Bryan Lally, Colorado,United States
Had a great time. It was challenging, but we always felt well supported. Will definitely look at redspoke tours again, just not sure which ones - there are so many to choose from! Perhaps Thailand/Laos/Vietnam or one of the South American tours.
I was very impressed with the organization both from redspokes and the local operator.
Jo Johnson, Burley, England, UK
This was a great trip with a good mix of culture and activity, it was a superb way to experience Sri Lanka. Kasun was an outstanding group leader and was supported by a fabulous team who managed to cater for everyone's tastes and abilities.
Evelyn Mullins, London, England, UK
The team where fantastic, also there to help with all problems and queries. Please thanks them for making it an amazing trip for everyone.
Michael and Christine Lawton, Rhyl, England, UK
The information provided prior to the trip was excellent. Laos is a wonderful place to visit and the food is really good. Our guide Chit was brilliant and the driver/chef/mechanic/provider of sustenance throughout the ride, Kou was fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble for either of them. The scenery is spectacular. The cycling is certainly challenging in parts, but the long up hills do mean there are long downhills to compensate. The staff were always on hand to provide encouragement, cool drinks and fruit at the right times.
Peter and Jannie Werkhove, Houten, Netherlands
The trip to Yunnan exceeded our expectations. Challenging rides in a beautiful mountain scenery, picturesque villages, local ethnic minorities and markets. Our guide Tony and driver/cook Ken were doing great by arranging excellent food and hotels and by guiding us in local culture and language. The few showers that we had could not temper our enthusiasm. In all, this trip should be on your bucket list!!
Phillip Stapleton, Bognor Regis, England, UK
I've been on a good number of cycle tours and this one was right up there with the best. Albania is a fascinating mix of the traditional and the modern with history a plenty and scenery to die for. The people were so friendly and the occasional drivers that passed, so courteous. Our guide, Aryan was excellent working tirelessly to show us the best that Albania has to offer. My advice is to go there soon before too many other people discover this gem.
Kieran Kelleher, Kanturk, Ireland
Another excellent redpsokes tour which I would highly recommend. Albania is an great destination & a great way to see the countryside. Some preparation is needed beforehand for this tour as the initial part in the North is in the mountains & along with the terrific climb on the last day cycling, it is challenging but well worth it.
Debbie Vearnals , Salford, England, UK
This is the hardest cycling that I have ever done, however all the guides were super supportive. I never felt under any pressure being last and they were always checking if I was ok. For me the scenery was spectacular, I had ample opportunity to stop and take photographs and just enjoy the scenery. The Columbian people were friendly and tranquil, wonderful country.
Glenn Doel, Southampton, UK
This was my first cycle tour and I was impressed with the level of organisation. The local guides and agent Raju were very good and any problems these guys knew how to fix the problem. The whole tour was very well run and I would consider doing another tour with redspokes.
Martyn Forsey, Al Khor, Qatar
I knew this would be a very challenging trip and, as someone who has little mountain biking experience, it certainly was. My lack of mountain biking experience, combined with my enthusiasm for regularly stopping to photograph and film the fantastic views, meant I was always the last to arrive at the destination each day. But it wasn't an issue because we were encouraged to ride at a comfortable pace and there was always a support guide at the front and back of the group. I highly recommend this trip.
Joanne & Simon Belton, Matamata, New Zealand
Can you think of a better way to meet a bunch of random people from anywhere in the world? This ride showed the great mountainous expanse of Albania, the contrasts within the country itself, and how far the country has advanced since the end of communism.
Our guide Arjan was every passionate about his country and was never hesitant to share his views and information. Our support man Elvis was outstanding. Nothing was too much effort for him, and he was always there offering you water, a banana, packet of nuts, or chocolate bar whenever you were in need - it was like you were holding a sign with your order on it. Happy pedalling!
Walter Dumont, Edmonton, Canada
I was impressed with the quality of the meals, and the living accomadations that were provided considering we were camping. Well done redspokes, can't wait for my next trip!
Karen Donnelly, Bali, Indonesia
This trip was amazing and the biggest cycling challenge of my life. Spectacular scenery, passing over some extremely high passes and remote valleys. The road were mostly good, but some downhill stretches were unpaved and lots of fun after the difficult climbs. I found the altitude the biggest challenge of all. It made every day a tough day, but the environment was so outstandingly beautiful, it was worth the hard work. I did all my training at sea-level, and highly recommend training at altitude if you can get the opportunity!!
We were fantastically supported by a large, hardworking team. On arrival at camp in the afternoons, they had already set up our tents, provided hot water for washing and HUGE amounts of delicious food. The chef was outstanding and produced a wide variety of amazing, healthy and tasty meals!! Raju, our leader, was exceptional. He was very careful in ensuring we were not suffering from the altitude and stayed constantly hydrated and full of food. I felt safe and very well looked after for the entire trip. I highly recommend this trip!!
Peter Dahlhus, Stenloese, Denmark
I do not like to use 'big words' about personal experiences because words are easily devalued. But I have to say that the redspoke Indian Himalayan tour was a great personal experience, which I will remember for many years. I can mention many things that made this trip something special. But if I only have to mention one thing that made a big difference, it must be Rachi and his team. These people are amazing and I wish I can take them with me next time I go on a redspokes tour.
Karine, London, England, UK
I felt a bit out of range when I first arrived on this tour as the average participant age was higher than mine. However I had a lot of fun on this tour!!!! The cycling part was excellent. Really well organised and a paradise for cyclists.
Arjan was helpful to guide us and give us information on the country. July went above his duties to make sure everybody was having a good time. A fantastic experience overall :)
Mark Moran, Exeter, England, UK
Had a fabulous time on our second redspokes tour (which is why I graded trip as "the same" as our previous cycle tour because the other was also redspokes and was excellent). Guides were brilliant and couldn't do enough for you; hire bikes better than expected Cannondale 29s which were ideal; accomodation superb with swimming pools in nearly all of the hotels and "guesthouses" indistinguishable from good hotels. For the trip cost, I hadn't expected such quality hotels. Cambodia and it's people in particular are just beautiful. Really sad to have to come home.
Ms Sharlene Rainford, Lewisham, NSW, Australia
Wonderful trip. Colombia is forever in my heart and the crew were just lovely. I never thought I'd enjoy cycling up mountains so much. Be warned, the cycling on some days isn't for the feint hearted. The 130km day is pretty tough especially in the heat. The 'monster mountain climb' however was fantastic and not as hard as it sounds. The views are spectacular and of course there's the downhill reward. Be prepared for fairly same-ish food most of the time but it won't matter because Colombia is a special place!
redspokes, UK
redspokes, scotland
David Rice, Carlisle, England, UK
Cycling to Everest Basecamp is an amazing adventure and climbing up to almost 17000ft on a bicycle is an exhilarating experience. The views are all the more rewarding given the hard work it has taken to get them! The culture in Tibet is very colourful and there are many monasteries to look round. One of the highlights for me was going to the city town in Lhasa and seeing the many Pilgrims walk round the Monastery praying. However the best part of the holiday was obviously reaching Rongbuk and seeing Everest. The guides looked after us well and cooked a wide variety of very tasty food.
Cycling to Everest
Karen & Geoff, London, England, UK
Another amazing redspokes trip, this time to Albania with our wonderful guide Arjan who was very knowledgeable about the country and history of Albania.
Scenery was beautiful including mountains/lakes and Albanian coast. It really gave you a insign into the country and the people along with delicious meditterean food and challenging cycling.
Bernie Raverty, Surrey British Columbia, Canada
I can highly recommend the redspokes Nepal bike tour.It offered a good overview of Nepal with the Kathmandu Valley region,the Chitwan and of course the Annapurna region.Tour guide "Ox" is the hardest working person I have ever met. He is a great guide and seems to know every person we met in the small villages.I enjoyed our visits as we climbed from the back of the pack-he is also the first person to call me "Canada" for two weeks.
Nigel Fielden, Cheshire, England, UK
An outstanding trip into the high mountains. The cycling was challenging enough, but not too tough for average cyclists. The support crew and guide were absolutely first-rate - helpful, professional and good-natured throughout. Just pack plenty of warm kit for the nights whilst you're camping!
Bob Harrison, Weymouth, England, UK
This was an extraordinarily tough trip but well organised and utterly rewarding. Furthermore, as a committed solo cyclist I would recommend anyone to consider doing this route with Red Spokes in preference to pushing a heavily laden tour bike through kilometer after kilometer of deep sand and rock.
Ged Browne, Wanstead, London, UK
If you enjoy off-road adventure cycling, I don't know how this trip could be bettered. The terrain was varied, challenging and often exhilarating. The range of scenery and weather in such a short period was amazing - from fertile, populated valleys of 35C+ to bleak Tibet-like uplands, below 0, and as undeveloped in terms of infrastructure as anywhere I have ever been. Obviously, this had its challenges, but for me the feeling of being in some truly untravelled wilderness areas, with lovely welcoming people made it well worth the hardships.
Paul Emms, Harrogate
This was a sensational trip in a world class stunning location. The organisation was faultless, the itinerary was great, the route beautiful and the whole trip was so much fun. I loved the fact that the location had virtually no western influence and we saw very few other “tourists”. The local people everywhere were lovely. All the accommodation was spot on with big clean comfortable rooms and the local food was continually delightful. The cycling was spectacular, exhilarating and tough with some huge demanding climbs and speedy exciting descents so thank you for choosing such a great route and providing such a great bike which made it all possible.
Finally everything above was made magical by our wonderful guide and friend Phong. He was fun, caring, knowledgable, fixed any problems (of which there were few) and always ordered brilliant food wherever we ate, and lots of it! And when there were no places to eat on the route during to day he always prepared a great picnic supplemented by coffee & snack breaks. He made sure I tried lots of new fruit & vegetables and the yummy rice cake! Mr Ming our driver also did a great job transporting all our gear and helping Phong wherever possible. I very much hope that I will have another opportunity to go cycling with Phong and experience his lovely company & sense of humour! Thank you everyone at redspokes & I look forward to joining you again!
Kristina Isberg, San Diego, USA
This was our third redspokes tour and it was great. Our guides were outstanding, providing with the right information at the right time. The scenery of northern Patagonia was stellar.
Deborah Littlejohn, Uxbridge, England, UK
We have just returned from our wonderful Sri Lanka Classic cycle tour. As we are middle aged and not particularly fit we decided to take the e-bikes. Although these did help us, they did not stop us from getting a lot fitter by the end of the tour. Our guide Chamara and driver Janika were extremely experienced and benevolent. We learnt so much about this beautiful country from the spices and teas that are grown there, to the gems that are mined. We visited Buddhist temples and world heritage sites. The lunches were varied delicious and memorable as were the snacks, black tea and fresh coconut stops.
It was an opportunity to see parts of Sri Lanka that very few others can or do. The people are incredibly friendly and the children run down the road after you for a ‘high five’. I don’t think that there was one moment where I didn’t have a smile on my face. Thank you “redspokes” for a wonderful tour.
Kathryn Phillips, New Zealand
What an incredible experience. The scenery was so dramatic, so stunning and changed so dramatically across our journey. The altitude made the journey challenging, but also resulted in a wonderful camaraderie emerging between all the members of the group as we battled to the top of each pass.The trip was superbly run and the support offered by our guides was brilliant. The final challenge of tackling Khardung La on the final day was the perfect end to an incredible journey. If you're up for a challenge, willing to give things a go and have the experience of a lifetime - do this trip.