It truly is about the journey and not the destination on your tours with everyday providing spectacular scenery, cultural exposure, friendship and just plain good fun amongst a few, sometimes tired, cyclists. The accommodation and food were top shelf, as it was on my previous tour, and Echo and Cathy did a wonderful job of ensuring we had the opportunity to taste our way through this area of China. Yunnan provided some dramatic landscapes that I am pleased I was there to see and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who thinks that maybe they could climb a hill or two. You may find yourself climbing a mountain or two, but that all comes with the service and support of David, Echo, Cathy and Lee.
Jan - Bribie Island, QLD on China - Yunnan
Great companionship on the trip, hot weather, comfortable accommodation, fabulous food, superb support team and David in his natural environment on the gravel tracks close to his heart. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough to Painted Roads 4.28 veterans or new Painted roads cyclists. Thanks, David for all the advice and a truly amazing trip.
Colm - Republic of Ireland on Thailand Gravel Roads
Thank you, David and the team for a fabulous adventure in Vietnam. We have adored experiencing the very different lifestyles in the Mekong Delta. Thank you for introducing this very different culture, our trip with Painted Roads will stay with us for a very long time. Hope to travel with you again soon.
Jane Slater. UK. on Vietnam - Mekong Delta Region
our Mongolia cycling experience was mountain biking through immense wilderness, wide open valleys, steep climbs, river crossings, yaks, horses, sheep, goats, and scattered nomad gers (yurts). It’s another world. Think “Wild West” on steroids, missing only the trees and snow-capped peaks. Painted Roads’ drivers, guides and cooks were exceptional. Wild camping in the bush with a portable toilet tent is common, but with a portable shower, too - unbelievable!
Carol York. USA on Mongolia Khangai Mountains
We cycled through some amazing parts of Vietnam. I'm sure parts you wouldn't normally get to see on a bus tour. The people are so friendly and excited to see some people from a different country, albeit briefly as we cruise past. but as we cycled through each town/village, cries of "hello" "hello" greeted us and even the odd high-5. All the kids would run onto the streets to get a glimpse of the tourists, wondering who was visiting their distant world. It was very humbling and we felt like movie stars. They don't have a lot but you wouldn't know it based on the big smiles and waves that came our way. An experience hard to describe and impossible to capture in a photo.
David Sulivan on Vietnam - Mekong Delta Region
Adventurous, challenging, scenic, a humbling experience,interesting, lots of interaction with the local people, good food, comfortable accommodation, great back up support, near new bikes and most important lots of fun and humour!!
Ken Dunwoodie on Vietnam - Mekong Delta Region
The scenery surprised us, it was really outstandingly beautiful, and we felt welcomed by the local people. We always felt very well looked after on this trip, and in safe hands.. I have already recommended this trip to my friends, and I greatly look forward to more cycling adventures with you in the future. A heartfelt thank you for sharing this corner of the world with us, and our cameras...!
Jen Parson on Vietnam - Northeast
While this is my first overseas tour, the next will have to be truly special to beat this one. Aside from the spectacular scenery, and stunning downhill riding, and engagement in the local culture, the most memorable part of the tour was to experience the genuine friendship and camaraderie that the group displayed on so many occasions. I was humbled by the assistance that everyone gave me after my fall, and the award ceremonies after each day’s riding was a real treat. Our tour guide David Walker, truly has a special gift of being able to bring people together, sometimes in challenging circumstances, and leaving them with some long lasting memories of an exceptional holiday experience. I will definitely be coming back if Painted Roads will have me.
David Dowling on China - Yunnan
Not often that a tour genuinely exceeds all expectations – this one most certainly did ! The route was a constant delight in terms of changing spectacular scenery, and it was a rare opportunity to see a totally unspoilt region of Vietnam. The overall organisation of the tour, and the role played by leaders and support was great, but sufficiently light touch. No hesitation at all in recommending anyone who to do something a little different from the norm.
Nigel Fielden - UK on Vietnam - Northeast. The 'Eighteen Special
I would not have brought my wife and sister along on a trip like this if I did not have the confidence and trust in David’s ability as a leader and a person who understands human nature and the psychological needs of the people in his care. I was not disappointed and he proved once again to be the competent leader I got to know on my Tibet/Nepal trip three years ago. I could highly recommend this team to anybody thinking of doing a cycle trip in any remote region of Asia
Ollie Hughes - NZ on Vietnam - Northeast. The 'Eighteen Special