Testimonials

"I loved it. The comraderie of the riders was exceptional. We did not have a single negative person on the trip and evryone was concerned for everyone else. What a treat to meet such awesome people."

- Al Young OE 2008

"They promised us adventure and it certainly was an adventure. Like all adventures, some parts went smoothly - some parts not so smoothly. I loved every inch of it - from the tour around the Arc de Triomphe, to peasants in the fields in Romania, to te final cruise down the Bosphorous."

- Maureen Lanuke OE 2008

"It was a great experience. We were looking for an adventure and got it "

- John & Elizabeth Pfahlert OE 2008

"It was four months of total removal from 'normal' life - complete immersion in the different cultures of Africa, dawn to dusk association with a wonderful group of people, staff and participants, who we'd basically never met before. My physical, mental, and emotional senses and capabilities were overwhelmed. Two months after the end of the Tour, I continually relive (mentally) the experiences and get something new out of it every time. It has changed my appreciation of the world I live in."

- Rae Simpson TDA 2008

"Forget everything you think you know about Africa. Get on your bike and ride it. It will change you; you will come back a richer person. Every day an amazing adventure," just like cycling through the pages of National Geographic".
 
A feast for all your senses, daily.  Life at it's simplest; eat, sleep, RIDE!
-Chris Wille TDA 2008

"Africa did change my life, that’s true. Not a day has passed where I don’t want to be back in a desert lashed out of it by the wind, to be watching a sunset on the Nile or at the foot of an Ethiopian hill trying to summons the courage to take it on. Tour D’Afrique promises that they will deliver you to Capetown on a certain date. Everything else is up to your participation. I didn’t know anything about Africa before but now I consider myself well versed in the organized mayhem that makes up the world’s largest land mass. There were funny times, dancing times and absolute wonder wrapped in most days. I never cried but I laughed a lot. I would never regret it and recommend it to anyone any age. If you’re reading this you might be considering dropping everything and doing it. Trust me you won’t rest until you go. Now is the time before you dismiss it, close this internet window and return to your job."
-Conor Devine TDA 2008

"I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the African countries, the simplicity of the African peoples life and yet I noticed that many were quiet content with their life; yet on the other hand there was also so much poverty to see. I am still struggling to get a grip on understanding their way of thinking. It left me with wanting to research more about the African history / politics and to get a grip of understanding why the foreign aid does not seem to make much of a difference. But maybe Africa will always stay the mysterious and yet magnificent continent, a continent that seem to grab you and wanting you to go back and experience some more."
-Ursula Haas TDA 2008

"For four months I spent every day seeing a part of the world that I had never seen, in a way that few people get to experience it. To visit a continent on a bike is so unique and exciting - bringing you so close to the people, the land and the wildlife. It is exceptional. I felt like the physical effort, which was tough, coupled with the comraderie of the Tour and the magic of the land made for one of, if not, the most remarkable, memorable, life enhancing experiences I could have. Bravo TDA!"
-Asleigh Emerick TDA 2008

"The Tour d'Afrique made life simple: get up, take down your tent, eat, bike, set up your tent, eat, socialize, sleep. It was nice to have a simple life for four months. The terrain was challenging, the people were friendly and the other riders were a delight. I would recommend this mode of travel to people who want to deeply experience the geography of the continent."
-Kerri Finlayson TDA 2008

"Tour d'Afrique was an amazing experience. Being on a bike is the perfect way to get to know a continent. One is fast enough to cover distance, but slow enough to be in close contact with people and landscapes."
-Alexander Link TDA 2008

"It was a challenge and an experience I will never forget."
-Joachim Loeffel TDA 2008

"Taking part in the Tour d’Afrique was the fulfillment of a dream I have been dreaming for 4 years. Riding your bike every day, seeing Africa unfold in front of your wheel, and meeting lots of wonderful people is a great experience I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life."
-Ton de Jager TDA 2008

"When my trip started, I had high hopes and great expectations. These were easily exceeded on all counts. I had a fantastic time and can’t wait for more."
-Bill Dodds Silk Route 2007

"Beautiful sunsets, early morning sunrises, days of biking heaven, days of biking chaos, extreme temperatures , different cultures, headwinds, hills, heat, a cold beer at the end of the day, sharing tea, vodka & beer with generous locals, desert camps, sore bum, bike maintenance, snow, ice and yurts, kids on the streets, high fives, rough and smooth roads, long days, history, culture, architecture, generosity, markets, food, life long friendships - these only sum up a small amount of the experiences I had over the 3.5 months which was the Silk Route – They say a once in a lifetime trip – turns into an addiction – I can’t wait for my next adventure!"
-Jo Demmler Silk Route 2007

"Participating in the first Silk Route bike tour was a great experience and I enjoyed the tough riding, the beautiful landscapes and the scenic villages and towns as much as the possibility to share this with a group of intersting, adventurous and nice riders."
-Juergen Willrodt Silk Route 2007

"For two months I was on a drug-free high. (That is if you don't count imbibing vodka and beer.) Every day brought fun, adventure and triumph. I laughed enough to add 10 years to my life. I tasted new foods, danced to new music, shared stories, food and drink with the locals, learned about parts of the world of which I was ignorant and shared the experience with some fantastic fellow cyclists who I shall remember always. Enduring those challenging days when it was scorchingly hot, the climbs unrelenting, the roads boulder-strewn and nearly impassable gave me cause to be grateful that I am living life and not simply passing through it."
-Lili Hrabchak Silk Route 2007

"This was my third trip with Tour d'Afrique Ltd. and it was the best one yet. I did not know much about the former Soviet republics and had no idea what to expect. The experience exceeded my expectations, to the point that I would like to return to Asia and complete more sections in future years."
-Paul Davidson Silk Route 2007

"It kicked ass! I loved it!"
-David Cotton Orient Express 2007

"It was a fantastic experience and holiday, and fun! I loved the cycling and think this was a unique way to experience a country and its people. Biking out of the towns and finding our way along the local roads, seeking clarifications from the locals and villagers and sharing coffee or coke and cakes in their little shops. Having them hose us down or pouring watering cans of cold water over us before we set off into the heat in Bulgaria and Romania are memorable experiences which I will not forget."
-Diane McKinley Orient Express 2007

"It is hard to put into words what a truely amazing experience this trip turned out to be. Seeing parts of the world that I had never seen before on a bike was a dream come true. I couldn't believe the kindness of strangers - from opening up a restaurant so we could sample their wine, to stopping their cars and getting out to help us when we were stopped by the side of the road trying to figure out which was the right directionto go. Everything combined made this a tour of a lifetime. I only hope that I am lucky enough to be able to do it again sometime."
-Claire Parker Orient Express 2007

"Even though I only completed the Paris to Vienna portion of the OE, I felt real accomplishmnet and improvement as a cyclist. I also learned some things about myself by reflecting and spending time with the other riders in the group. I think I am now hooked on cycle touring and exploring parts of the world from the seat of my bicycle, as it gives you time to truely see, savour and experience the surroundings and the people you encounter. In a word, inspiring!"
-Gaye Roberts Orient Express 2007

"The combination of doing something I love, cycling, together with being with a great collection of people with whom I share this common passion of cycling and traveling at a pace that enables me to take in so much more of the countryside  or towns and villages that I'm moving through, as well as the great and friendly staff, made this trip one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences that I've had in a long time."
-Jules Milner Orient Express 2007

"This was the best 4 weeks of cycling of my life, maybe the best 4 weeks ever.  I was a 10 year old doing what I enjoy, with not a care in the world.Meeting new people who share a common passion & making new friends was the surprise treat of the trip.  It was marvelous see new towns, meet many friendly people who helped me struggle with the languages, enjoy the food  & beverages.  A real eye opener on France/Germany & Austria, something I never fully appreciated when I did a driving tour some years back."
-Les Crane Orient Express 2007

"I am only able to answer the universal question of "how was it?" with a pregnant smiley pause followed by an understated "amazing!" No summary exists for this tour. Every one of the 120 days was an exhilerating experience. Even though I got used to the workings of the tour, I was often saying right up until the end "I'm biking in Africa!" which renewed my excitement no matter what the state of my GI tract was. What a special experience that I will eternally treasure. Averaging 44km/h over 130km of cycling from a gale force tailwind, having young Sudanese children offering ME money, having an informal soccer match with a gaggle of Ethiopian children overlooking the massive Jema Gorge beside a troup of monkeys, passing the extremely curious and colourfully clad Samburu while in a volcanic desert, laying my naked eyes on some cheetah, passing by bicycle after bicycle loaded to imaginative heights with a variety of goods, yelling in elation and being acoustically completely drowned out and simultaneously soaked by the swelled Victoria Falls, watching a heard of elephant from 10m away on my bicycle seat, going 78km/h down a gravel road into the massive Fish River Canyon, hitting salt water again after traversing a continent as special as Africa... How do you even begin to describe this tour?!"
-Andrew Cameron TDA 2007

"Tour d'Afrique was a wonderful experience that tested and pushed my personal boundries. It was inspiring to be part of such an accomplishment. Even as a sectional rider, I felt included and welcomed by the group. It was great fun. A must do"
-Alicia Williams TDA 2007

"The one word to describe this trip is: UNBELIEVABLE."
-Patrick Thomas TDA 2007

"A wonderful experience on the most beautiful and exotic continent in the world. The journey was rich in many respects: the physical enjoyment of cycling everyday, always on a 'new road', being close to the local culture and nature."
-Ruth Storm TDA 2007

"Although I have joined the tour for the last section only, I got the spirit and joined very quickly in the overall excitement and adventure.It was a challenge, and I was delighted that it met all my expectations, and beyond
-Guy Elyashiv TDA 2007

"Une expérience sans pareille, une épreuve physique, morale et sociale qui m'a permis de connaitre mes limites dans des conditions physiques et climatiques parfois extrêmement difficiles. Pour moi qui viens de prendre ma retraite, cette expérience fut aussi un voyage intérieur qui m'a permis de faire le bilan  de ma vie active." 
-Pierre Bataini TDA 2007

"At times this trip took me to my physical limits, to remote places that few will ever visit, and that seemed to give me as much pleasure as it did the locals, who looked on in wonder at the lycra clad stranger who'd blindly stumbled into their mud house and collapsed on there bed, waking every 10-15 minutes to find more and more people staring down at him!  An experience neither I nor they will probably ever forget."
-Andy Paton TDA 2007

"I have ridden nearly 12,000km in 96 stages, crossed ten countries and the equator, and spent over 400 hours in the saddle.  These figures, though, pale when posted against the overall experience, the learning that takes place during an endeavor such as the Tour d' Afrique.  To compliment increased knowledge of the continent and its peoples came also an ability to remain in a meditative focus for greater lengths of time."
-Mathew Caretti TDA 2006

"I was tired, always tired, more than tired, and hungry, always hungry, never missing an opportunity to eat, but I was exhilarated, this was through the heart of Africa and by far the longest personal endeavor I have ever attempted.  There was never a moment when I wished I was elsewhere.  The overwhelming emotions I had at the finish line are still with me today."
-Joe Mattinson TDA 2004

"It was the World's best trip, period! It exceeded all of my expectations. It was so refreshing to travel areas untouched and as far from the usual 'McWorld' we increasingly see everywhere we go."  Go while there is still time!"
-James Brown TDA 2003