Expedition providers

[andrewjlennon]

Hi,

Unsure whether this is the best forum on here or elsewhere to pose this question, but has anyone used one of these specialist providers for a mountain biking expedition? By expedition, all I mean is a few weeks' holiday with tents, logistics and bikes provided.

Was looking at Nepal, preferably. I'd also prefer, all other things being equal, to use a smaller company, rather than one of these larger ones, but am unsure what the relative merits of that are of that. Certainly, with small companies, personal recommendations are probably the way to go.

Am travelling by myself and have the organisational skills of a toddler, so that is why I'd rather pay for someone who knows what they're doing to sort it all out.

Thank you.

[ianfitz]

I dont have any recommendations but would love to see the pictures when you get back

[ScotRoutes]

I was looking at this a while back too. My Mrs has done a couple of walking/trekking trips with Exodus and really enjoyed them. It's great that someone else is taking care of all the logistics and she loved meeting up with the other walkers and getting to know them as the trips have gone on. If I leave my "must be in control" genes at home, I also like taking part in organised trips.

I think you are always going to come up against the issue of mixed abilities though. For instance, looking at the Exodus trips, one of their toughest is Lhasa to Kathmandu. Sounds great, except when you look into feedback given it seems that some folk have been forced to take a coach part of the way because some others weren't capable of cycling it all. Look at the less extreme trips and the daily mileage is (as far as I'm concerned) pretty minimal. I get that for many participants it's using a bike to do some sightseeing but I don't reckon I'd be wanting to spend too much of my time looking at temples, street markets etc.

Perhaps careful selection of company/guides would help minimise this, e.g. I see that Mountain Bike Kerala do more of an cycle expedition approach. I'd certainly be keen to hear what you come up with if you take it any further.

[SteveM]

Saddle Skedaddle have a very good rep for overseas, not used them myself but have friends who have, and friends who work for them

[Pyro]

A mate of mine runs AdventureX, they do foreign biking trips but I'm not sure how much/which locations are expedition-style and what is base-camped. Might be worth a ratch through their website though, I know the guys have worked hard to get knowledgeable local providers and guides rather than ship out Brits.

[whitestone]

We've used Karakorum Experience a couple of times, once to Peru and once to Cyprus. From memory they do a couple of longer trips in Nepal, Ladakh and that general area.

[ianfitz]

Thinking about it wasn't there an article in singletrack a while back about local guiding in India?

Not Nepal I know but it looked stunning in the pictures...

[barney]

Hi Andrew,

My friend used to swear by www.joy-riders.com when he used to go cycling in Spain. I understand they have recently also set up in Nepal doing guided trips and rides etc.

Might be worth dropping them a line?

(Stu if it's not ok to include links to other websites please feel free to edit post)

[andrewjlennon]

Hi,

Thank you for the responses so far. At the present moment, I'm trying to cost it all out at the moment. There seems to be quite some variation between what the larger companies are asking for trips versus what some of the smaller, local providers are quoting, but that makes sense in many respects and they're pitching to different clientele also, I suppose.

Been keen to try something like this for a veritable age, but kept putting it off for this, that and the other. Will check out all the recommendations this afternoon.

[Blackhound]

I went with Saddle Skedaddle back in '98 there first non Chile trip to SW USA, Moab, Grand Canyon etc. They are not cheap but you are well looked after. I had met Andrew Straw - one of the founders - on a local trail the year before. 2 or 3 of the riders on my trip went onto guide for them. They have recently been bought out by another large company (I forget which but I spoke to them at Destinations a few months ago that did not have a cycling arm).
Another friend with Red Spokes a couple of years ago to Kyrgyrstan on this trip I believe:

http://www.redspokes.co.uk/cycling_holi ... iday&ID=11

Read in a couple of places that this a wonderful place to visit if you can forego 5* luxury and wi-fi.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/adventu ... n-by-bike/