Reviews

Cycling Jordan

It was a full packed, well paced, comprehensive tour of Jordan, beautiful sights on the bike that just wouldn’t be seen in a vehicle. Stunning scenes & you get a good feel for the countries landscape, culture, history and position now, with all the planned visits and fantastic guiding. The cycling is enough to make it a non-lazy holiday but not for people wanting to do any serious mileage or training.

Busy trip seeing the sights of Jordan

A busy trip covering a lot of ground in a bus. If you are a fit cyclist, the cycling is not especially challenging – only the ride en route from Petra to Aqaba gets the pulse up – most rides are downhill.
I could have done without a stop at the mosaic factory/shop – just 15 minutes after starting the ride from Madaba. It seemed too much like a hard sell to me. The Bedouin camp was a let down. Close to a village with barking dogs, and near a busy well lit road – lots of light pollution. I understand this is not the usual Exodus camp, so you may get a better camp experience than we did.

Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike

Firstly have no worries about safety in Jordan. The country is a very stable “island” surrounded by countries in turmoil, and at no point did we feel uncomfortable. This holiday has less cycling then other ones we have done, but you wouldn’t go to Jordan without spending a fair bit of time soaking in the history and culture – Petra is just amazing and one and half days only allows you to scratch at the surface.

Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike

A unique combination of very enjoyable bike rides, 2000 year old history and incredible desert landscapes. The trip was very well organised and I enjoyed every minute.

Jordan by bike-fantastic!

Brilliant guide and bike guides. A trip for any level of fitness (imo) though don’t go expecting to use it as a training holiday. Well organised with good amounts of free time.

Amazing trip - cycling, sights, sea and sand!

Jordan is a fantastic country with so much to offer – and travelling by bike is definately the best way to see the landscape and people at their best. Great cycing (quite alot of up, but some pretty awesome downs to go with it!), floating in the Dead Sea, snorkelling in the Red Sea, ancient sights (Petra is to be seen to be believed), camping in the desert, camels…

Holiday of a Lifetime

Jordan exceeded our wildest expectations, its fantastic with vast romantic deserts and exotic mountains and incredible history. Everyday provided new experiences. The main tourist sites of Petra, Little Petra and Gerasa are more than breathtaking and were almost deserted. The people are very friendly. Our group of 8 cyclists was accompanied by 2 leading members of Jordans’ National Cycling team, a mechanic, guide, 3 armed policemen and others. We never felt at any risk. The need to cover up for modesty was rarely apparent. Hotels were reasonable and food was good. Trek lightweight hybrid bikes were excellent. You must be fit, one of our group who was fit but had not cycled since childhood had to walk occasionally. Cycling varies between easy; technically difficult descents; and steep rolling hills. Temperatures were between 34 and about 40.

Touring like a VIP

I watched the camel running alongside me for a while before my attention returned to the climb ahead. It looked steep, but I could see the top so I wasn’t worried. Super-fit Andy was blasting ahead as usual and almost at the top, pursuing our even fitter cycling leader. I felt I could catch them, even in the fierce heat. My bike was a good one and rolling so easily on thin tyres that all I had to do was tuck in for a slight downhill and I’d gain enough momentum to carry me halfway up the slope. Energy from the delicious bananas handed out by our tour guide at the last stop would take care of the rest, and I could look around at the stunning desert landscape. The cycling leader, half my age and riding a proper racing bike, came flying back down the hill, then returned to pass me a few minutes later, out of the saddle with legs pounding like pistons. Show off.

Our police escort followed him past, driving their huge SUV with red and blue lights flashing on the roof and Arabic police markings on the side. They accompanied us on all the cycling sections, stopping traffic at junctions and making it easy to imagine that we were part of the Tour de France. Special treatment that made us feel like we were honoured guests. We also had a tourist police officer with us on the bus at all times, speeding us through checkpoints and escorting us on foot to the tourist sites, stopping traffic so that we could cross the road. It felt like being a VIP but it wasn’t even necessary because the locals were so friendly. Where the traffic was a nightmare and locals have to risk their lives, drivers would see a group of tourists and stop for us. Even taxi drivers would halt, smiling and waving us across. They treat tourists well. Even in the shops they don’t try to take advantage of you, and the most delicious freshly made falafel sandwich will still only set you back about 50p.

A local car came over the hill ahead of me, going very slowly with kids hanging out of the back windows to take a look at us. There weren’t many cars on the roads we’d been cycling – traffic became a point of interest rather than a danger. As the car came level I heard the familiar cry of “Welcome to Jordan!”. What a country.

I reached the top of the hill and came through a pass cut into the rock, which opened up to reveal more great views across a valley, and the even more welcome sight of our bus with its fridge full of cold drinks. I needed one. My legs were still tired from hiking 13 miles up and down the rocks at Petra, a place with such atmosphere, such awe inspiring history and ancient craft that it will never leave you.

I couldn’t wait to get to our desert camp at Wadi Rum, for an evening of camel riding, freshly roasted feasting around the camp fire and a night under the stars, but I also knew that would mean the end of our cycling and I didn’t want it to stop.

Petra and Wadi Rum by Bike

Completing Petra and Wadi Rum by bike confirmed to me that age is no barrier to adventure. The route inspired awe for Jordans’ natural beauty and built wonders; our guides and the local people made the trip memorable by freely sharing their knowledge and hospitality.
At any age you can appreciate the smooth organaisation experienced from booking the holiday throughout the trip right to the final transfer to the airport. No question was too difficult; nothing was too much trouble.
I was so impressed that I am already considering my next trip with Exodus.
Regards Stuart Browett.
Thanks again for a fantastic holiday.

great way to see jordan

a wonderful trip around jordan bringing together the highlights in a bit of a whistlestop tour, yet with enough time to really get a feel for the country and the cycling bought the wonderful landscapes into reality rather than just watching them float by on a bus