Bike tours in Burma/Myanmar

Hi forum people,

I would just like to know if anyone has traveled with Spice Roads or Grasshopper Adventures? If you have, do you have any comments on either? I am hoping to do a bike tour in Myanmar next year and from my research, I%26#39;ve found that...

*Both companies run tours there and are similarly priced

*The itineraries are similar

*Grasshopper actually give you a profile on the western guide that will be on the tour

*Spice Roads I think, provide only a local guide

*Spice Roads would appear to be a little more established than Grasshopper, but seem to lack the personal touch.

I like the idea of knowing who my guide will be, and without wanting to sound a bit ';ooh the locals';, I would like to have a western guide for communication sake.

I guess I just want to know if it%26#39;s all that it is all that it%26#39;s cracked up to be, given that they appear to be web based companies. I am swaying towards Grasshopper, but I would really like to know if anyone has traveled with them. There was a discussion on the Cambodia forum, but it mentioned a photography tour and I would really like to hear from someone that has done a bike tour.

If anyone has any comments on either, I would appreciate it.

Thanks, Stef

Bike tours in Burma/Myanmar

My reply is probably too late, but they say %26#39;better late than never%26#39;. With respect to some of your questions:

* I was one of the participants in charity/fundraising cycling challenge back in late 2007, cycling from Vietname to Cambodia. Some of our guides were from Grasshopper Adventures and I personally found then excellent. They were very friendly, had great local knowledge and participated in activities outside their normal job (i.e. they became our friends). They really looked after us.

* I%26#39;m organising/planning a charity cycle ride with Grasshopper Adventures in 2009, and am confident they will do an excellent job.

Cheers, Aye

Bike tours in Burma/Myanmar

';I like the idea of knowing who my guide will be, and without wanting to sound a bit ';ooh the locals';, I would like to have a western guide for communication sake.';

FYI: both Spice roads and Grasshopper has no name in the land, Myanmar. Yet they both are using a local agency/agencies, what do you mean by saying ';ooh the locals.'; At the first sight I saw your topic, it was appalling for a response. For an instance, you don%26#39;t see any feed back since the one you got.

Simply, you can request what your guide will be to where you book.

Cheers.

yes We went in Myanmar last november and inquiry for bike tour for a next trip with some friends. It seems that only 5 or 6 local agencies propose this kind of trip, including exotissimo and golden land. Our local agency, Hein Thuzar prepare bike tours too.