Internationale groepsreis Cycle the Camino de Santiago

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Well what a great trip. Very exhilarating and a complete endorphin high as this was my first cycle trip ever. My training for the trip was about 3 times a week doing 15-20kms on roads with hills and flat sections for 4 months before the tour started. I was able to finish most of the tour except for the last 20kms due to time pressure of my flight out of Santiago de Compostella.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We mostly travelled on the Pilgrim paths so there was a lot of rough riding with wonderful vistas and views of the Spanish countryside. Hence I would certainly suggest that you do some mountain bike training before you come on this trip so that you know how to handle a bike in rough, undulating and rocky terrain. Most of us in the group did not have experience in this sort of terrain but if you want to feel confident and go at a reasonable pace then do some. Moreover do some serious hill training as you are probably going to encounter some long inclines.Also we travelled on main roads shared with cars  especially the long climbs that you will not encounter in any leisurely weekend cycling. We also travelled on some main roads as from Samos and then onto Sarria once we reached the summit at Cebreiro. This decent was 24Kms in length. The climb to Cebrerio was 9kms which was tough. There is also another long decent at the beginning after you climb for 14ms to the top of Peurto del Foncebadon. Your decent to Molinaseca which is very exhilarating. So you can see that you need to be prepared to do some serious climbing and riding. I could not have done it without having some aids for hydration and energy.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our tour guides Nacho and Diane were really good and were extremely helpful all the way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

 - Overall the consensus in our group was that this was more of an Advanced cycling tour rather than Moderate as advertised. To highlight this point only 2 out of 9 members were able to complete every stage of the tour.  - One member of our group fell riding too close to the side of the road so it is important to ensure you have insurance.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This tour is highly  recommended for the experienced rider. Overall a very enjoyable trip.

Camino de Santiago Cycle Ride, Sept 16

We have been to a number of Exodus rides but this one stands out because 1) It was a "door to door" ride - we rode to/from the hotel from beginning to end without any bus transfer 2) We had some non-technical off road sections which was great 3) The leaders were great (see below) 4) It was a very interesting ancient route (we rode the "Camino") and had amazing churches and Castles en route that one could collect stamps on your Camino passport 5) We had great weather (quite hot for Sept. in the first few days but turned cooler towards the end) + the food was wonderful and cheap....

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We had a great group of cyclist with similar ability and everyone got on well. The climb to O'Cebreiro was quite "cheeky" and I am glad that we made it! The scenery was wonderful and we got there during a festival / market day which was unexpected in such a village that is so high up. Finally, arriving in Santiago with everyone getting a certificate for riding the Camino was also very special.

What did you think of your group leader?

Jose was very knowledgable (he knew exactly the terrain, distance in detail so we knew exactly what to expect and how to pace ourselves - but "undulating" means quite a few ups!). The places that we stopped for coffee, ice cream, lunch, dinner were all wonderful. Guillemo, our support driver/mechanic was also great. We never had our Saddles/Paddles fitted and removed for us in previous trips + we had great support from him (making sure our bottles were filled, checking the tyre pressure, fitting the squeaks....) throughout the trip with a smile.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

We thought it was just a cycling trip and didn't know anything about the "St. James Way" and the pilgrims walking the trail. It was a very interesting experience but I wished I read up more about the history before hand.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

There were some wonderful long down hill descent and Jose controlled the speed well at the front and make sure that we didn't do anything stupid. The views were wonderful and make sure you took the time to enjoy it.

Cycling the Camino de Santiago

This was a great trip and I was happy to give it 5 starts (I don’t give every Exodus trip 5 stars either). I was not sure about of number of things before setting off but the trip ticked all of the boxes – great cycling, excellent leaders, a fun group, excellent weather (most of the time), fantastic and cheap food and a beautiful part of the world. What more could you ask for from 1 week in Spain.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Probably the good nature of the pilgrims, it’s a tough walk some had been on the road for weeks, they were always friendly, willing to let us pass and wishing us a good trip.

What did you think of your group leader?

Danny and Alfonso were excellent, always positive, available and they offered first class support along the way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Having read the reviews of this trip regarding the grade of cycling before departing I got the impression that the grading was a bit complicated, some clients saying it was challenging and some saying it was moderate, so I was not sure what to expect. In truth It’s a little problematical as it comes down to a number of factors such as fitness, cycling ability and weather conditions. What is certain is that this is no simple moderate itinerary, there is too much variety in the cycling (climbs, off road, rough track, technical sections) but it’s also far from challenging the majority of the time (unless it rains all day) so the moderate/challenging grade is probably appropriate but in good weather closer to moderate than challenging.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Have fun.

Jim Carder (Exodus Sales Manager)

This was a great trip and I was happy to give it 5 starts (I don’t give every Exodus trip 5 stars either). I was not sure about of number of things before setting off but the trip ticked all of the boxes – great cycling, excellent leaders, a fun group, excellent weather (most of the time), fantastic & cheap food and a beautiful part of the world. What more could you ask for from 1 week in Spain.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Probably the good nature of the pilgrims, it’s a tough walk some had been on the road for weeks, they were always friendly, willing to let us pass and wishing us a good trip.

What did you think of your group leader?

Danny & Alfonso were excellent, always positive, available and they offered first class support along the way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Having read the reviews of this trip regarding the grade of cycling before departing I got the impression that the grading was a bit complicated, some clients saying it was challenging and some saying it was moderate, so I was not sure what to expect. In truth It’s a little problematical as it comes down to a number of factors such as fitness, cycling ability and weather conditions. What is certain is that this is no simple moderate itinerary, there is too much variety in the cycling (climbs, off road, rough track, technical sections) but it’s also far from challenging the majority of the time (unless it rains all day) so the moderate/challenging grade is probably appropriate but in good weather closer to moderate than challenging.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Have fun.

Cycle The Camino De Santiago

Enjoyable part of Spain to see with pretty countryside and interesting history to learn from the tour.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The little villages were lovely to cycle through such as Villafrance and Palas De Rei. The 9km climb up to the village of O'Cebreiro was a nice challenge for fit or moderately fit people.

What did you think of your group leader?

Javier was our group leader with Jose as the driver. Both individuals are extremely nice and considerate. They were always happy to chat and remained pilot and friendly throughout the trip.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

We stayed in villages or very small towns so no need to pack anything too dressy for night time wear in the restaurants or pubs !!!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The trip is graded moderate/challenging. This was my 4th cycling trip for this same grading with Exodus. Although i did n't think it was challenging except for maybe 30 mins on a few occasions, some of the group that were with me were not fit enough to be on this trip. There's a few climbs you have to do which you need decent fitness for but overall if you are quite fit, you might be bored as its not as challenging as other Exodus cycling holidays.

Camino de Santiago

An excellent trip with glorious weather - we were so lucky! 2 fab guides, great cycling, amazing food and mucho vino tinto! Thoroughly recommended and brilliant off road on the camino at times made for a different experience.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing to the top of the hill at O'Cebreiro and arriving above the clouds - a spectacular view and worth the slog!

What did you think of your group leader?

Javier and Alfonso were great company and did an excellent job to all us English!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Do some training beforehand!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Camino de Santiago

A challenging trip with many hills & steep descents but very enjoyable.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There was a huge amount of satisfaction at finishing the ride & cycling into Santiago together as a group.

What did you think of your group leader?

Jose & Javier were excellent & very attentive, nothing was too much trouble for them.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Make sure you are fit before undertaking this trip.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The hotels were much better than I expected & the food lovely.

Captivating Camino

Week long bike adventure was the perfect mix of intense physical activity and sightseeing / touring.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The challenging uphills were made worthwhile upon reaching the summit of the small mountains (1.500 m)...and then of course the smooth downhill cruise after.

What did you think of your group leader?

fantastic

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Camino de Santiago

This was a terrific cycling holiday with some challenging and varied riding days. The guides, Nacho and Xavier, were well organized as well as being humorous and entertaining. Each day brought different challenges whether that be riding a trail that was more akin to a mountain bike trail or the 6km killer hill that was so thick with fog at tge end that it felt eerie or even the 14km downhill which was a great opportunity to get in touch with your inner child.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing the 6km killer hill that was prefaced by a 4km hill that was challenging in its own right. It was at the end of a 62km day and after backing up from such a miserable previous day it was quite a euphoric feeling charging up that hill ( I made it a workout and gave myself a time to do it in)

What did you think of your group leader?

Nacho was terrific. A great personality who was good for a laugh but also took his role as leader very seriously. His offsider Xavier, was a great back up and the two of them made a great team.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Make sure you train properly. If you are coming out of an Australian winter try and do at least 3 Spin sessions a week. If you can get out complement the Spin classes with some hill training on a real bike. If you are a fair weathered cyclist and you like to ride around a lake on a Sunday this isn't the trip for you . Like most things in life you only get out of it what you put in. Most people don't do strenuous cycling 6 days in a row let alone challenging hills that you will encounter on this trip. Have a coke at lunch time too it helps you get through the afternoon.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think Exodus should provide an exercise program in their trip notes so that people understand what they will be in for. The tour isn't a race but it's better to be fit so you enjoy everything the tour has to offer. The mountain bikes we had were better than expected. The hotels were also better than the brochure suggested.

Camino de Santiagp

I didn't know whether to go on this trip selfguided or guided and I'm glad I chose the guided option because I would have missed so much by myself. The two guides were a fantasic team and took us to the best restaurants , on the best routes and to the best places. The best holiday I've ever had. Perfect weather, good company in a small group of 8, fantastic cheap food with many local specialities and terrfic varied cycling. As soon as I got back home I booked a similar trip to Italy with Exodus.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Arriving at the top of the Monte de la Cruz de Ferro where the guides had organised a picnic of local produce that was more like a banquet.

What did you think of your group leader?

Fantastic, informative, caring, passionate about his country and very funny.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Go !

Camino de Santiago

Loved this trip. All-round, this is one of my favourite holidays for quite some time. Great country, great food, great cameraderie, some challenging riding, plus the sense of a journey which makes the trip really special. And we were lucky with the weather.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We were a small group (five) - I took my inspiration from the other people on the trip who were all a bit better than me and helped me along the way. The off-road section on the morning of the penultimate day - this was harder than anything I had done before and the scenery was spectacular. The end of the final push up to Santiago!

What did you think of your group leader?

Dani was a great leader. He constantly adapted the route to give us more/less off-road biking according to our pace. I learnt a lot and will be much more confident about tackling hills in future. Jose was in a driver/support role for our week but I would also have complete confidence in him. A local guide really makes the difference with food tasting. We got some preferential treatment and delicacies from the restaurants along the camino who all know our guides very well. Try a bit of everything!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Get your pilgrim passport stamped - it is a nice momento of the trip. The toughest climb is the road up to O'Cebreiro. There is an option to take the walkers' route to the summit village instead which two of us did and enjoyed. Consider an extra night in Santiago - we flew back on Sunday from the local airport. Go to the Friday night mass in Santiago with the Botafumeiro - none of our party were doing the camino for religious reasons but it was an insight into how much the pilgrimage means for those who were. Packing cubes - I'm a recent convert! They really help for a trip like this when you are on the move all the time. Take your own water bottle as these are not supplied.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Enjoy this trip - Buen Camino!

Cycling the Camino de Santiago

A fantastic trip in beautiful scenery from mountains to vineyards. The guide was amazing (Jose) endless knowledge and tireless in answering our questions, helping out and generally great company. The ride was challenging in parts, but overall manageable, with plently of stops for coffee.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Arriving at the top of a 12 km climb to the view from O Cebreiro. A beautiful old stone village with cobbled streets and awesome views across the mountains. Well worth the pain of the climb in 31 degree heat

What did you think of your group leader?

Jose was fantastic, tireless and very patient. He was great company in the evenings and certainly knew the best places to eat. He seems still really enthusiatic and passionate about the tour and the region, despite having done it many times before.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Make sure you have general all round fitness, but if you go steady you should manage it. Also dont eat a three course meal at lunch and then try to bike up a big hill!!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I was really lucky to have the chance to go with a small group, which worked out great. I'm not sure how it would work out with pacing if you are a fit and fast cyclist in a larger group, I think you would need to expect quite a few waits for the others.

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Cycle the Camino de Santiago was a wonderful holiday. From the lovely and varied countryside we cycled through, to the way the group got on, and how well we were looked after by both the group leader Javier and his colleague Sandro - it was really memorable.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

For me it'd be the the challenging ascent to the small and pretty village of O'Cebreiro and the next morning seeing the clouds nestling in the valleys below before cycling down a whoop-inducing fast stretch of road and then stopping for a coffee at Triacastela.

What did you think of your group leader?

Javier, our group leader, was kind and knowledgeable and really looked after everyone. He took care of running repairs, knew lots about the area and was able to advise on anything from the history of the route to the local cuisine. He and his colleague Sandro, who provided vehicle support (and provided us with a lovely picnic on a number of days) made sure all members of the group were well catered for.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a varied cycling holiday that travels through lots of different types of countryside and also takes in towns and villages, churches and cathedrals, coffee and picnic stops along the way. There is ever-changing terrain - everything from broad smooth mountain roads to gently undulating country lanes to tracks through beautiful oak woods.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This trip was great for a wide variety of cycling abilities (members of our group were aged between 28 and 71). It offered both a good level of cycling but also loads of time to take in the sights, take a mid-morning coffee or have a doze after a late lunch before setting off again. A fantastic holiday!

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Magical, very special cycling holiday, gorgeous villages and mountains, lovely, quiet roads, jaw dropping churches and monasteries. Loved it. Galicia is a very cheap are of Spain. Picnic lunches cost us just over 2 Eiros each, a big round of drinks 6 euros

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Staying at O Cebreiro, a Galician celtic village with thatched roofs,  on top of a mountain. From O Cebreiro saw mountain tops floating in a sea of mist below us. Great nights out, V sociable leader. Dancing in the street at Santiago, then salsa dancing in a club

What did you think of your group leader?

Javier Bartolome was a great talker, very sociable. He lived in Spain and Britain so is completely bi lingual. We had a good laugh. His assistant Sandro, was V helpful. He bought the lunches and laid them out for us. He took our bags up to the rooms. We were treated like kings.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring a gel seat cover if you are used to soft seated bikes. Be prepared to cycle up some hills.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I rarely stopped laughing throughout the whole holiday

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

It was a brilliant trip cycling through a varied and fascinating part of Spain. Challenging enough to make you feel you had stretched yourself at the end of each day - but not so tough that the the second glass of wine was an invitation to fall asleep at the dinner table.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The climb up to de Cabreiro - to the converted monastery that was our hotel for the night - was a tough 10km climb.  As you get higher out of the valley the views get better and better  - and the point at which you reach the ridge and can see forward to the mountains around Santiago is stunning. And in the morning, after a comfortable night in the cleverly converted monastery, you are high enough to be looking down at cloud filled valleys all around and to anticipate a long downhill run to the first coffee stop of the morning

What did you think of your group leader?

Javier and his driver Sandro were great - just the right mix of making the holiday easy and leaving us to find our own level.  There with info about the villages we passed through and about the history and culture of Galicia when we wanted it but never making us feel it was a field trip not a holiday. They make you feel that they are just friends in the group but then you realise just how hard they have been working to make it all go smoothly - good people! 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Ride a bike every day at home  - even if its just a couple of miles. you will enjoy the holiday more if you start with a basic level of bike fitness. and get padded cycling shorts  - it can make life a little more comfortable.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I had read a great book about the Camino before i travelled - The Pilgrimage to Santiago by Edwin Mullins - and it helped me understand the bizarre history of the pilgrimage which shaped the landscape and villages that we passed through. You dont need to believe any of the myths to share in the sense of achievement that you feel standing in front of the extraordinary cathedral in Santiago bult by hundreds of skilled craftsmen who clearly loved their work but maybe not their employers

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

It was an enjoyable holiday.  It may be stating the obvious but there are only a few things that make or break this type of holiday - the host (Jaime, great company and a very nice guy), your cycle companions (as always varied and entertaining) and the area/ride itself (some challenges, changing scenery, some good contrasts)

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

I did find the arrival at Santiago very moving.  There is always the sense of achievement when you complete a ride, but there was also the pilgrimage and history element associated with this.

What did you think of your group leader?

A great leader.  He was excellent company and tried to accommodate the group needs and aims.  Had clearly given serious consideration to the places we stayed in (towns and hotels).  Could perhaps have given a bit more detail on some of the history, sights, anecdotes.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Have fun...

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It is always nice to end in a city.  But we had very little time there so did not get to see much of it. 

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

This is an excellent but at times challenging trip.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Achieving the climbs and arriving in Santiago.

What did you think of your group leader?

Both the group leader and support leader were excellent in every way; knowledgeable, skilled in their respective jobs, supportive, encouraging, thoughtful, mindful of the needs of individuals, conscientious and thorough.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be fit!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you Jose and Danni!!

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

A really good group of people and a trip I'd wanted to do for a few years but which seemed to have disappeared from the brochure for a couple of years before being re-introduced.  Cycling was harder than expected; although rated 'moderate' this trip was harder than other 'moderate' trips I've done in the past; in fact only two of our group actually cycled the whole way without spending any time in the support vehicle. 

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Arriving in the cathedral square in Santiago; it's a beautiful place and a fitting end to the trip. 

What did you think of your group leader?

Nacho and Diane were really good, particularly in sorting out arrangements for one of our group who had a close encounter with a concrete drainage ditch and needed hospital treatment.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be aware this trip has some difficult hills (at least one which is serious 'get of and push for about an hour' territory for those who insist on 'cycling' rather than using the support vehicle).  The first day of the trip isn't great as it goes through the suburbs of Leon and then across largely flat fields with uninspiring views, but the scenery gets better as the week goes on.  With the exception of one night where the rooms were very basic, the hotels were very good, en suites occasionally including full-sized baths which were very welcome after a day's cycling.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It was a nice surprise to find the flights with Sleazyjet (a fictional airline that the lawyers tell me is entirely unrelated to any real airlines) were actually on time.  But it would have been nice to have had return flights from Santiago airport - and perhaps having more time to look around Santiago after the trip - rather than having to take a three-hour coach journey back to our starting point.  I appreciate there may be cost issues here but hope that Exodus would be able to do a reasonable deal on these costs given the number of flights booked by Exodus over the course of a year.

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

Just got back from the Camino de Santiago cycling trip and am filled with enthusiasm for all things Spanish, and all things cycling. Had a wonderful time, with a lovely group of people, and a guide and driver who did so much to make our week fun and enjoyable. The cycling was harder than we expected. There are no flat days, one day was slightly easier than the others but there were strenuous climbs almost every day. The days were long and there was very little 'down time'. There are lots of rough tracks and steep descents on tricky terrain. A few of us felt that the holiday description should give more of an idea of what to expect. To complete every day requires a good level of fitness, determination and cycling experience

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Our group varied widely in fitness and cycling. The fitter members coped easily, but others showed amazing and inspirational determination on some of the more difficult days

What did you think of your group leader?

The group leader was lovely. He was friendly, kind, and helpful, and was brilliant with all of us.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Try to get some experience of cycling on rough tracks, and be prepared to spend long days on the saddle.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

CYCLE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

A fabulous experience, with a fabulous group of people of a wide age range!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Walking from the valley up to O Cebriero - I had fantastic views before the clouds came down. The arrival in Santiago and knowing that the challenge had been met.

What did you think of your group leader?

A superb group leader and backup person who couldn't do enough for us; everything planned to make each stage of the journey achievable and flexible enough to sort out any bike problems along the way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Ensure you get in some practice climbing hills before the trip; not totally essential, because the backup vehicle is a fail safe. If not, be prepared to walk fast and push!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

For a first time visitor to mainland Spain, the whole experience was a joy and a challenge; every day was superb and as it happens, the weather and temperatures couldn't have been kinder to us.