Balkans Bicycle Trips

Great trip, I would thoroughly recommend. The leader Doan and his team were the best. We were a group of 7 like minded cyclists, lots of laughs and really great rides, through villages and scenic mountain roads. All the hotels were perfect. I feel privileged to have visited this wonderful and diverse country.

We had an amazing time on our Cycle Saigon to Hanoi trip with Explore with an excellent local guide and support team . The itinerary provided the perfect opportunity to explore the towns, cities, villages and stunning countryside of Vietnam ranging from renowned tourist sites to local village markets. Vietnam is a fabulous country to explore by bike, and I strongly recommend the Cycle Saigon to Hanoi trip.

The trip guide with his knowledge and personality made this trip exceptional. The accommodation was wonderful and the cycling was brilliant. The only change I would make was to not have the cruise at the end…..it was not a traditional junk boat but a cruise full of tourists. I would rather have had 2 extra days cycling

I totally agreed with the feedback left by Robert (CAN) However also just wanted to say a massive thank you to Binh, like everyone else has mentioned, he is friendly, approachable, goes out of his way to help, even with information on how to get your laundry done cheaply/quickly. Will walk with you if you need to visit a pharmacy. Provide local snacks for you to try. And protect you from monkeys (I was worried about cycling past one, he was very understanding and cycled next to me). Ensured we stopped regulary to hydrate. Our tour was over the Christmas, so Binh even arranged a fun Christmas eve activity. His sense of humour, smile and laugh is infecious. As well as his constent thirst for learning. He would also help hotel staff, in explaining breakfast times and amenities, and pass on his knowledge to other tour guides in Cambodia. This was my 1st ever tour, Binh has set the bar very high. Thank you Binh, 100/100, 5 stars :-)

Let's start with the positives: the organisation from Explore was magnificent. I was picked up and dropped off at the airport, and I received help whenever I needed it. The leader was amazing -knowledgeable, helpful, and always had a plan B. They looked after us, along with the support crew. Honestly, I have never experienced such kind and helpful people who genuinely wanted us to have the best experience while sharing their love for their country. However, there were some challenges. The constant noise during the day on the street or from live music almost every night made it difficult to get a good night's sleep. The chaotic streets filled with millions of scooters were part of the experience, but it would have been nice to have a larger proportion of quieter streets. As a result, the air quality was very poor. The cruise was overwhelming; how can you enjoy nature when there are 40-50 other cruise ships at the same place? We were shoved through the cave, and the water on the beach was quite disgusting. Additionally, we spent hours and hours on the bus from the start of the trip. No one mentioned that the bus ride would take longer than the biking segments, which was exhausting. Overall, it was a tiring two weeks, even though the group was nice and we had a lot of fun!

An amazing tour & I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Explore. The ride is accuratey rated "leisurely" & it was. The water breaks every 6-7km were perfect. Cold water was provided at every break. Safety was number 1 with this tour & the mechanic from the back would come forward to stop on coming traffic if we needed to cross the street or make a turn. The tour leader's pace was perfect & agreeable to everyone on the tour. Bikes provided were in excellent condition. I rented an ebike & it was given to me fully charged every day. The activities organized by the tour were well organized, interesting & educational. There was some free time given each day. Meals & accommodations were excellent. Clean & well appointed rooms. Most hotels had a pool. Meals that the tour provided were authentic ethnic meals. Food preferences & allergies were considered for every meal. Bihn was an excellent guide. His English is very good. He provided excellent education & organization throughout the day. He was always available for questions or assistance. He was very clear with the how the day would "play out". The only negative I have to comment on was the Cambodian temple guide's English was not good & it was extremely difficult to understand & follow his information. He was enthusiastic & did put in a good effort. The other negative was the hotel in Siem Reap. Upon completion of the tour we stayed a couple of extra days. There was a Cambodian wedding in the neighborhood that played their music super loud for 2 days straight beginning at 4:30am. When I mean loud, it was loud!! Earplugs didn't help & no respite in the room. Extra bass between 10-11pm on the last night!! The hotel manager could not change the music, but did comp us a couple of drinks & a meal. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour.