Pyrenean Classic Cols :: Reviews
Last Updated on Monday, 26 November 2012 11:02
If you would like to read an account or 2 from ladies who did our Classic Cols trip in 2011, then take a look at FionaOutdoors (by Fiona Russell) or Michelle Gregory's blogs..
Comments can also be found on the Exodus Travels website for this trip as we run this holiday as local operators for them as well as taking our own Marmot clients.
I would like to thank you very much for a fantastic holiday. The organisation and pre-holiday support from Marmot was great; the information sent to us was very useful. Thank you for arranging the single room at short notice. Alan could not have been a better guide. His encouraging, supportive and friendly attitude really made the trip. He was very organised, knowledgeable and happy to go ‘above and beyond the call of duty’. I hope to book another trip with Marmot in the near future. D.Snook, Aug 2012
I enjoyed my trip to the pyrenees last month - the weather was good (rather hot at times), as was the cycling - with plenty of flexibility to do as much as i liked. The organisation was excellent. i've been on numerous cycling trips with exodus, and the organisation here was the best; uploading routes to my garmin before we started, alan providing mobile support if needed, mobile no. provided at start, excellent trip notes... S Ward, Aug 2012
James, Cathy and Alan: Many thanks for a brilliantly organised trip, I really enjoyed it and I liked the weather! D.Michael, Aug 2012
Excellent trip helped by ideal weather, great organisation and group - would have no hesitation in recommending Marmot to others. C Unsted, Aug 2012
Thanks to Rani, James and Kevin for the great organisation through the week. Despite being a "newbie" to this type of cycling, and the grimace displayed in Kevin's photos of me approaching the col, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole week. P Chard June 2012
This is the best cycling trip I have done so far...reasons are so easy: great organisation with lots of fastidious and detail work that allows the participants to focus on just great rides tailored to the individual...what more can one ask? I have to lift my hat to James, Kevin and Ranieri, as well as those that are in the back office. The detail maps make it easy for slow coaches like me to navigate even without a GPS to the rendezvous points...I was only lost for one short 30 min in Aste, but then I used that time to enjoy a wonderful magnum ice cream. I look forward to more trips with Marmot Tours and hope to do the Col du Madeline next year. A wonderful, memorable trip for me, as I am sure for everyone. M Chin, June 2012
Excellent, Excellent and Excellent! more then exceeded my expectations, I was worried we would get stuck to certain times and routes etc - but having the challenge really worked - as I also got my challenge top. Nathan was an excellent host/support being friendly, humourous and knowledgable in the trip and local areas, top guy. Chris Jenkins, July 2011
The organisation was excellent, the routs were fantastic and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the accommodation and the food (I had been expecting dingy hostels and noting buy cheese and ham baguettes washed down with foul coffee!). James deserves a medal for dealing with everything in a present and patient manner. Will Logie, July 2011
Your enthusiasm, wise and witty words were a delight and your and Cathys help before and getting us to Ax made a big difference. We shall certainly be recommending you and your tours to all and sundry . Especialy after talking to a number of people watching the tour on other group tours who had not had nearly as much time on the cols. Adrian and Margie Cohen, July 2011
Just to say I had a fantastic time and the company really made the trip. To think I'd originally thought of doing this solo like that poor mountain biker coming up the Tormalet! So many thanks to Nathan, James and Cathy also. Julian Cluff, May 2011
The holiday was fantastic -exactly as I imagined it - I'll definitely be back for more! Andrew Pettican, Sept 2010
I had a truly wonderful week, thankyou. Nathan was excellent too. In truth I couldn't fault it. Sarah Adlam, Sept 2010
Just a quick note to say thanks for organising such a brilliant cycling trip. Those beautiful Pyrennean Cols seem so far away now as I immerse myself in work and and other mundane stuff. I could not fault the organisation of the trip. The routes were well planned with plenty of time to get the legs warmed up before the serious climbing started. I liked the variety of options which gave plenty of scope for serious challenge. Nathan was a superb tour guide - he was enthusiastic, gave lots of good advice, helpful and encouraging. I have already recommended your tours to numerous cycling dudes here at work. Thanks again
Catherine Ward, June 2010
I would just like to express my gratitude to you for such a great trip, everything went seamlessly (except trying to get up the Plateau de Beille in a 39/26!), the whole group was very friendly and Nathan was superb in both his organisation and encouragement.
Neil Salmons, June 2010
Thanks for a fabulous trip. Nathan was brilliant! How he manages to be so on the ball and make things so much fun is a real talent he has! I will treasure my Marmot jersey forever and will be wearing it on the Etape along with Finn. Once again thanks for such a genuine experience and I hope to do another trip again in the not too distant future.
Khurshed Cooper, June 2010
Just to say a massive belated thank you to Marmot for an amazing trip. Nathan was fantastic, we really couldn’t fault him. Lots of extra help and advice when we needed it, and always a smiley face which goes a long way when you’re feeling shattered on a bike!
Hannah Wiggins, June 2010
"Thanks for a fantastic week of cycling. This was an amazing experience and one of my best holidays ever. Thankyou for making it possible." Paul Fairman, June 2009
It was an excellent trip and I've already recommended it to a few people. Special thanks to Alan who was an excellent leader/guide and who made sure everything went smoothly. He also coped admirably with the inevitable quirks and demands across such a mixed group with the combined diplomatic and social skills of Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and Henry Kissinger - he represented Marmot Tours exceptionally well. The organisation from my initial email enquiry through to being dropped off back at Toulouse Airport was exceptional.
Brian Hickey, Sept 2009
Thanks James, another brilliant trip. Please give my thanks to Alan for his fantastic support throughout the whole trip, he was even there on the day off to give assistance to some who wanted it. Will have to have a look for next year, maybe the Ariegeoise or the same again.
Ian Finch, Sept 2009
"Overall I thought the tour was excellent and I greatly enjoyed the week and the support and organisation you provided. In particular, the route information was very good and the options to do more or less each day (less in my case!) worked well for the mixed ability of the group. The food too was excellent and the range of accommodation interesting. Likewise I greatly enjoyed your talks about the area and the routes, which brought a level of insight and humour to proceedings." John Lakin, July 2009
"The rides were great, as too the bunch of guys - I've been on many training trips in Spain and France, and you always seem to get a good bunch of cyclists. And your support from the van was also excellent - it was a pleasant change from the usual out and back type of training I have done previously. And, of course we were very lucky with the weather."
Alan Westwood, September 2005
"I have to say it was a brilliant trip. Great cycling, great food, great accommodation and of course; great beer and great craic! Thanks for a fantastic holiday and I will recommend Marmot Tours to anyone looking for an adventure holiday. Take care and I hope to see you somewhere on my travels again." Stephen Stokes, September 2004
"The accommodation and food was great. We particularly liked the communal atmosphere of the Tour de France gite and the trip to the bicycle museum. I would strongly recommend this trip to any regular cyclist who is looking for a bit of a challenge. Speed and strength are not essential but persistence is an advantage. The picnickers who yelled "Allez,Allez" were a great encouragement as was the thought of coffee and a snack at the top of each col ,and of a beer at the end of the day." Margie and Adrian Cohen, September 2004
