Saddle Skedaddle Reviews 

We went to Sardinia on a self guided cycling tour and Skedaddle planned everything for us, cycle hire, the route, accommodation, luggage transfer and hands on support. We went to places we wouldn't have known about and stayed in a real mixture of accommodation from hotels to family run hilltop mansions. The team were amazing, going above and beyond their role when I had an issue with my bike. We had regular telephone contact, hands on technical support, a vehicle to take me to the next place and another bike delivered that evening when it couldn't be fixed. It was so reassuring to know they cared about you and wanted you to have a great holiday. We're home now and looking at another trip with Skedaddle. Thanks

Great bike trip from Lisbon south, 250 miles. The entire experience was seamless, no hassle. Mollie in the UK took care of all the planning. Wendy and her crew created a memorable trip in Portugal. The routing was fantastic. Would definitely travel with this company again. Tom Byrne

We did LEJOG, Lands End to John O'Groats, 1,000 miles over 21 days. Skedaddle works to put together groups, our group of 12 really enjoyed each others company. The guides were exceptional looking after us but also giving us some freedom to go of course occassionally if there was something we really wanted to see. Food provided was fine, excellent trip

THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. V EXPERIENCED. Went Coast to Coast. Staff are amazing - really did 24/7 help over minor matters. Hoping to do the Camino by Bike with them

I have now had 4 trips with Saddle Skedaddle they have aways been good. The last trip crossing Sardinia was enhanced massively by the guides who had changed professional careers from industry, and were very competent and a lot of fun. The fellow guests were similarly experienced and interesting. You cannot get better than this!

Just completed a self guided C2C tour with Saddle Skedaddle. The trip was really well organised with good quality accommodation and efficient transfers of people, bikes and baggage throughout, I recommend you check them out!

This review is based on limited experience of Wolf Way, as I had to abandon after the first day, due to illness / lack of fitness.

The guides were great - friendly and knowledgeable. I only used two nights of the week's accommodation but the hotels were fine and the bikes were securely stored at each location. The route itself was good, with generally good surfaces and little motor traffic. There were some off-road sections, which were fine after a prolonged period of dry weather but I did wonder how navigable they would be during or after wet weather.

One disappointment in terms of guiding was the failure to warn us of an upcoming ford. I make a point of NEVER cycling through water. Fords can be extremely slippery due to slime on the stones. I managed to brake before I reached the ford and used the footbridge to cross. However, one of our group was not so lucky and fell, injuring his arm and leg, requiring a visit to A&E and subsequent abandonment of the tour.

The default for lone travellers is to share a hotel room with one other traveller. You can request a single room but you're looking at another few hundred pounds (from memory) on top of the £1,695 for the trip. I was sharing with a lovely bloke but he a) kept the bedroom windows open all night and b) snored like a freight train. I had ear plugs in but they made no difference. To be fair, after two nights of 3-4 hours sleep, one of the guides offered to change the sleeping arrangements (not sure how, as surely SOMEONE would have ended up sharing with him). By then, I was exhausted from lack of sleep and had had enough.

The final, and arguably most important factor to consider, is how comfortable you are being with a group of strangers all day. I'm a bit of a loner and I mostly cycle tour alone, as do many bicycle travellers. For me, the flexibility that comes with lone cycle touring is one of the most attractive things about it.

On one of these guided trips, you are thrown together with a group of strangers. All the people in my group of nine were friendly enough but I had very little in common with them. They appeared to be mostly retirees, as you would expect on a holiday of this nature. However, you do get to spend a LOT of time together. You take all your meals and rest stops as a group, you all stay in the same hotel each night, dine at the same table, you set off and arrive as a group each day and so on. I was only on the tour for 48 hours but it felt like a week.

My advice:

Train for the trip. I had been ill on and off for weeks before departure and had barely cycled. I got dropped almost immediately and spent the rest of the day trying to chase back on, accompanied by guide Kieran.

If you're travelling alone, pay extra for a single room.

Take warmer clothes than you think you will need. I had been seeing temperatures of c17°C forecast for Suffolk and had brought only jerseys and bib shorts. However, there were cold northerly breezes and I was chilled, even with arm and leg warmers on. The luggage is transferred each day, so you don't have to carry any unworn clothing.

Think carefully about whether you will be happy to be part of a group for an entire week.

Overall, these are pricey but well-organised tours. I won't be doing another one but that's more to do with me than Saddle Skedaddle.

If you are reading this its time to stop thinking and book a trip - we have just completed our fourth trip with Saddle, all have been self guided and all excellent, Sardinia, Garda to Venice, Granada to Seville, Emilia Valley, each trip is a journey into places new, the backup and pre travel information is top draw, on the one occasion we have used the out of hours service it worked fine, luggage transport has never been an issue. We love the varied accommodation, your on a bike so just enjoy the day, meet the locals, drink their wine, why not just do it ?
Thanks to Mollie for our last tour, see you next year.
Shaun & Jude

This was my first cycling tour and, although I had certain expectations, I wasn’t exactly sure of what the experience would be like. I shouldn’t have been concerned. From my pre booking enquiry to my departure in Pisa I loved every minute of the group tour experience. The tour was called “Tuscany - Giro della Toscana – guided road cycling holiday”. The scenery was spectacular; the accommodations were varied but all met or exceeded my expectations. The grade 3 description of the routes was exactly what I had wanted and whilst it did rain, I felt the guides did a brilliant job and always kept us safe. All the riders were given plenty of freedom as there were pace differences between slowest to quickest riders. The group of eight ‘tourists’ and the two guides got on really well and we all socialised together each evening. The picnics and meals arranged by the guides Massimo and Mirko were fabulous. If you have never cycled in Tuscany – do it – I now understand why all the commentators at the Giro D’Italia rave about the area. Be prepared for some climbing and a few spectacular descents. I took my own bike, and I felt it was kept safe and secure every night always locked away.
My own research suggested SKEDADDLE was going to be a great cycling tour experience and I was not disappointed. I will remember the scenery and the guides for years to come and I am already planning a second guided tour with the same company. I think the phrase ‘exceeded my expectations’ applies massively.

We have had wonderful trips with Saddle Skedaddle, most recently to Sardinia. We have previously gone with them to Puglia and Cuba. Each time the guides were personable and caring, the rides were challenging and fun, and the people on the tour enhanced our experience. We will not hesitate to travel with them again.

self-guided cycle tour of the Loire Valley in France. Excellent organisation of luggage transfer, good quality bikes (with comfy saddles!), very good GPS downloads of routes, amazing accommodation (one place even looked like a chateau!). Cycle routes perfect, drivers courteous (unlike the UK) although we didn't see many cars. Highly recommended.

My friend and I recently completed Hadrians wall coast to coast with this company.
The organisation was faultless. We need to change our original booking, that was done with ease. From starting at the Hilton in Newcastle with a pick up by taxi and a very knowledgeable drive Paul , car was fitted with a Thule bike carrier and fitted with due care an attention to our precious bikes. The journey to start was filled with masses of useful information for our ride
When we arrived thanks to an unloading by seagulls bikes were well cleaned!! He was prepared for every eventuality! The journey was helped by sat nav details provided. Amazing overnight stays and when we decided not to be picked up as ola ed and cycle back to Newcastle that was dealt with easily. Can’t fault this and highly recommenders

What an incredible experience I’ve just had on my fourth trip to Colombia with Saddle Skedaddle, who create excellent cycling holidays that challenge those looking for it. The grading system is clear. Colombia is famed for its mountains, so you must be prepared for digging deep in order to reap the rewards of this fascinating environment.

The Emerald Mountains trip has been another inspirational experience.
The team of David and Tomas leading the tour with aplomb, supported by Oscar and Milton is like a well oiled machine. Nothing is too much trouble and the collective experience is undoubtedly enhanced by the work that is constantly going on behind the scenes.
The routes were well planned, David and Tomas are very knowledgable, but make the cycling fun, breaking the day up into more manageable segments. The cycling is challenging, but the team provide support and encouragement every step of the way. Colombia is such a vibrant, interesting and lively country- and the route provides such a great taste of it. The hotels and towns we stayed in were varied, and gave us a great insight into the Colombian culture.

Skedaddle are a professional company with great guides & a good backup. Unfortunately on this trip my fitness levels were not at the level required & a chest infection gradually took me out. Periyar Tiger reserve was a disappointment as photography is my passion. If I had known we were not allowed to move from our seats on the boat & had to hand over cameras to the people on the boat I would never have gone. Cycling was tough but the folks on the trip had a great camaraderie. The hotel in Marari beach organised an amazing dawn boat ride for me & for 3 hours I had the boat to myself indulging some of my best photos in years. The beach & water were amazing as was Kochi beach doing some wonderful street photography. The food each day was beautiful with occasional suprises. You definitely could put on weight. There was plenty of variety in the different cycles. Heat averaged 25/33C & guides were always there to encourage you. Each day folks were asked their opinion on length of breaks to suit their needs plus as well as the briefing. Notes & realtime info on routes was always provided

I recently completed a trip with Saddle Skedaddle, and while there were many positives, it wasn't perfect. The guides were knowledgeable and kept safety a priority, with a pace that suited everyone in the group. Refreshments during the day were good, and the hotels were generally comfortable, though some variability in accommodation could be improved. Communication and bike quality were solid, with clear instructions provided. However, there were minor areas where checks and organization could be tightened. Overall, a decent experience, but room for improvement. 3 stars.

This was our first trip with Saddle Skedaddle and we will definitely use them again. Everything from our initial enquiry to the pick up at the end of the route ran like clockwork. We had a great time and enjoyed the eclectic mix of accommodation and the amazing countryside along the way. Navigating was easy with the Ride with GPS app and the daily routes we were given.

This was our first experience with Saddle Skedaddle (my husband’s first cycle tour) and was positive from the word go, with excellent pre-trip information and support. We did the self guided tour and the Ride with GPS app was very good. The hybrid bikes we hired were good quality, comfortable, well maintained and suited to the terrain. The routes use mostly quiet roads and we had time to enjoy the beautiful unspoilt countryside and dips in the Mediterranean. The logistics (baggage transfer etc) went without a hitch. The accommodation was all good and we particularly enjoyed the Agriturismo and small B&B’s, where we felt really well looked after by the hosts. The food and wine were excellent and the Sardinian people are so friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this trip.

Another great holiday / adventure with skedaddle. Guides are first rate in every sense. Well organised, exciting and fun. These are not cheap holidays but when you think about what happens behind the scenes and the fact that this is wall to wall entertainment with no need to think or plan we feel that it is very good value.

We are regular Skedaddle customers and really enjoyed the self-guided version of this ride, using a mixture of Garmin & Ride with GPS to navigate. All the logistics re; luggage/hotels worked well and we particularly enjoyed the Agriturismos. Every day bar one is hilly but the terrain & views are wonderful and worth the effort. We paid extra to hire gravel bikes which was we felt was worthwhile as some of the roads were not always well maintained. On the plus side motorists were very courteous. If you have the time we'd recommend a couple of days in Cagliari to get a full sense of the island and it's traditions.

An absolutely awesome experience. Guided one week’s ride on e-bikes. I enjoyed every aspect of this holiday. The scenery is amazing, the guides terrific, the hotels very good and the rides incredible. I would (and may do) this experience again. Thoroughly recommended.