"Outstanding job! I've traveled with several different bicycle touring companies, some were expensive, some luxurious, some exotic. But none could match the experience of the Orient Express. On a scale of 1-10, the trip was about a 15."
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Orient Express 2024
Orient Express 2024
Orient Express 2024
Cycle in the tracks of Europe’s iconic long distance train connecting the city of lights (Paris) to Byzantium (Istanbul)
RIDERS AND STAFF
patricia moore
Rider
Paris to Vienna
I started biking about 15 years ago when I met my husband, Helmut Kiffmann. While I don't ride as much as he does, I have been training pretty hard these last couple of months, riding with his bike group, taking spin classes and doing my grocery shopping by bicycle. We rode the first leg of the Orient Express two years ago, and had a great time, and are ready for more! We look forward to meeting you all in Vienna, and even more, to arriving in Istanbul. See you soon!
Patrick McManus
Rider
Vienna to Istanbul
Living in Perth, Western Australia. Working in the Mining Industry. Looking forward to meeting everyone and a month of new sights, experiences and some hard rides.
Chet Basher
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Looking forward to this adventure-----Have previously done ride across USA and 2 other TDA trips in Europe--- Stay well to all have fun
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Rider
Paris to Vienna
Rider
Paris to Vienna
Rider
Vienna to Istanbul
Stephen Frost
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Turning 60 soon so thought I better do it now.
Lisa Norcross
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hello Everyone, I am relatively new to bike touring - having done my first tour in 2009 along the Camino de Santiago from France through Northern Spain and back to France. I absolutely loved it and have since done a few other shorter tours, most recently crossing Switzerland from Lake Geneva to Bodensee. I am taking advantage of changing jobs to take the time for another long tour and I am thoroughly looking forward to it. See you all in Paris in a few weeks! Lisa.
Bonny Fairweather
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
-
Don Colpitts
The vendors setting up their market stalls in the early morning light, the children joining friends for the walk to school, scooters carrying entire families through busy intersections: the start of another day, in this town, right now, right here, where I am in the midst of the intimate fleeting dance called life. Some make references to "real-life" back at home, call this journey "once-in-a-lifetime", speak of a destination as a finish line. I reject all such attempts to constrain these experiences of exploring the world's peoples, cultures, geographies, religions, customs, daily rhythms of life, as merely attempts to stay sheltered in what is familiar, to be put it in a box to be forgotten. Instead, these journeys are life-changing: challenging what we think we know, can do, can feel, and need.
Evan Colpitts
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
25, living in Montreal. Going on this tour with my dad (Don Colpitts). This is my first bike tour!
Vilma Plesníková
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hello everybody, my name is Vilma. I like going to the nature by bike or just for a walk whenever it is possible. Bottle of water, some snack, camera and good weather - what could be better :-) See you soon
Peter Plesník
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi, my name is Peter Plesník and I work as a shop assistent and bicycle mechanic. I'll be your mechanic on this tour and I am looking forward to meeting you all :-)
Brian Cox
I love taking bicycle vacations. I think I took my first bicycle vacation in 1992 or so. All my trips have been on road bikes using commercial touring companies and some tours with friends as well. Click on my blog to see some of my trips. Happy Biking, Brian Cox
Brigitta Varadinek
Rider
Vienna to Istanbul
My first and only experience with a longer cycling tour was two years ago when we went from Belgrad to the Black Sea. The photo shows how it ended up ... we brought three little dogs. I loved Romania, the people, the landscape, the bars in Bukarest, so I am looking forward to come back again. Otherwise I am more a runner than a cyclist but I will start training as soon as the sun will show up. At the moment we still have snow in Berlin. So I hope I will make it! I love traveling, Africa, South America, lived in Paris for some years, but now I work too much so I am looking forward to head away for a while. See you all in Wien.
Daniel Frye
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hello, I'm a retired oceanographer and I've taken up cycle touring as a replacement for running and backpacking, which I'm no longer able to do. My wife and I have done several previous trips with TDA (Orient Express, TransOceania 2014, the South American Epic, and Tour d'Afrique, among others) and we're looking forward to another interesting and challenging experience this year in Australia and New Zealand. Looking forward to meeting all the riders and seeing old friends.
David Hamilton
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
So where in the world next? A love of travel and adventure since I was a kid has seen me scuba-diving in a shark tank, kayaking on the Zambesi River and sky diving over the desert in Swakopmund, abseiling down waterfalls and caving, trekking to Everest Base Camp and climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro, and travelling by overland truck down the west coast of Africa. As well as the heart-pumping action of occasionally cycling to work in the traffic in Sydney, I have also enjoyed more leisurely rides alongside some of the canals in the Netherlands, ridden over the high passes in Kashmir, cycled the length of the Birdsville track in the Australian Outback and the Old Telegraph Track to the tip of Cape York, and struggled up and rolled down Alpe D’Huez. So now it is on what will hopefully be an enjoyable yet challenging ride across Europe.
Helmut Kiffmann
Rider
Paris to Vienna
My wife, Patricia Moore, and I live in Encinitas, CA and we took these pictures in our front yard. I am a semi-retired Real Estate developer and investor who has enjoyed bicycling for the last 20 years. I ride once or twice a week locally and have done a number of 1-2 week tours, mostly in the Western US, but also in portions of Europe including France, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Hungary. I am looking forward to the tour from Paris to Vienna, and wish I could stay with you to Istanbul, and hope to complete that portion in 2015. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.
James Panzl
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Love traveling (39 countries), having my paradigms altered and/or expanded, meeting demanding goals and biking in general. This tour should address all of the above.
Jim Murton
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I seem to be at that stage of life where I'm not sure if I'm unemployed or retired. Consequently, cycling is occupying more of my time. Currently, I'm "researching" and preparing a guide for some bike routes around our cottage. In the recent (and not so recent) past I completed the Tour du Canada in 2006 (hello Lloyd Strong; I was in the other group...). I've also done some mountain and road biking in France (including a climb up the infamous Mont Ventoux) and Thailand, and have taken many other "more local" trips in Ontario and Quebec. Touring by bicycle is the best way to see new places and meet new people. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.
Lil Martin
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I reside in Manitoba Canada and we are experiencing a very cold winter. I enjoy the slower pace of cycling and love to explore different countries. Cycled Nashville TN to Winnipeg MB, across Canada, Vancouver BC to Inuvik NWT, Orient Express tour, state of Iowa, and shorter Canadian trips. Staying active has always been a part of my life and I enjoy biking and trekking in the Himalaya's. I've been fortunate and proud to be a part of this group tour, sharing unique cycling experiences with like minded people from all parts of the world. I want to live my dreams instead of dreaming my life! This tour will be another great adventure and look forward to meeting everyone and enjoying some great company. Cheers,
Liz Bicknell
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi. My profile photo is of myself with my sons taken at a recent wedding in Vancouver. I am Irish by birth but have lived in Canada as a proud Canadian since 1984. Before that I lived in East Africa where I worked with the United Nations. I have 3 sons and two granddaughters. I love to hike and bike and am counting the days to the start of our cycling trip. I work full time with the BC government. For those of you interested in politics the government has just won another 4 years in office in an historic election victory on May 14. I love to travel and enjoy rambling all over the world. After this trip I will know whether or not I will be biking all over the world! My birthday is August 25 and I look forward to celebrating it with my biking buddies in Istanbul and sharing some champagne which I have been able to purchase along the way. Happy training everyone and I look forward to meeting you all. My blog address is bicknell2013bikeride.wordpress.com See you in Paris. Cheers, Liz.
Lloyd Strong
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
HI, I'm looking forward to this adventure and meeting everyone. And renewing some old friendships as well. Never been to the Northwest territories and can't wait to experience all it's charms.
Lori Evans
I'm a mother/grandmother/speech pathologist/avid runner/cyclist from San Antonio, Texas. Had a wonderful experience on The Orient Express in 2013. Looking so forward to getting to know everyone and sharing a great adventure!!
Louise Sims
Rider
Paris to Vienna
I'm not a fast rider by any stretch, but I love to travel this way!
Maureen Wotherspoon
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi everyone, I live in Banff, Alberta, so the Rockies have been my playground for the past 18 years. I work at our small but busy hospital in Health Information Management(formally known as Health Records) In the winter you will find me skiing, mostly cross country with the occasional down hill excursion. In the summer we are hiking & biking around here or in BC. I love adventure travel, so try and get away for a couple of months every 2 to 3 years with smaller trips in between. This trip I was lucky to get 5 months off. My plans are to leave here in May to bike down the Oregon Coast to San Francisco, meet with you all to ride the Orient express, then make my way over to China to do the first part of the Bamboo route in Sept. I have never done this much biking before so I hope I'm up for the challenge! See you soon!
Mick McManus
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hello everyone, I am a retired teacher from London UK and have recently enjoyed many long cycle trips. I would describe myself as a traveller who cycles and appreciates the extra opportunities for eating and drinking afforded by need for extra calories!! Looking forward to the trip and meeting new cycling friends.
Richard Russek
Rider
Paris to Vienna
I enjoy the slower pace of cycling that allows one to explore a country. And the opportunity to try new food. And the history. But not the sore bum.
Rick Abbott
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Jean & I are both ER Docs, retired. Our typical vacation for the past 40 years has been some sort of adventure travel, often cycling (Canada - BC, Alberta, Newfoundland; USA - transcontinental as well as less ambitious all over the US; UK end-to-end; Morocco; Vietnam - Saigon to Hanoi; Tasmania - working and cycling). We've done a bit of hiking and trekking - Kilimanjaro, Nepal. Sea Kayaking: BC - Vancouver Island, Nefoundland, Baja California Sur, Wales. And, some skiing in the backcountry both close to home in the western US, as well as in the Canadian Selkirks. I think once or twice we might have gone somewhere to just hang out on a beach, and I visited a city once a long time ago, but it's hard to remember.
Robert Shapiro
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I have enjoyed biking from childhood. I retired in 2007 after a very rewarding career in general & bariatric surgery. My wife & I live in northern MN for the summer & in coastal NC for the rest of the year. We have two grown sons. Since retiring I now have time to pursue my love of bicycle touring. In addition to day and week tours(e.g. CANDISC, C&O canal), I have traveled by bike through Normandy,the Netherlands & in 2008 between Amsterdam & Florence. In 2011 I cycled across the Northern Tier of the US with a group. I currently ride an S&S coupled touring bike to avoid the outrageous airline charges for sending bikes as luggage. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone & cycling the Orient Express.
Shanny Hill
Look forward to meeting everyone in Alaska. I have worked for TDA for over 10 years now and every trip is a new and challenging experience. I have been fortunate to have traveled all over the place, but North America ironically I have not explored much. It should be great fun (except maybe for the mosquitoes). Happy pedals...
Shirley Frye
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Have enjoyed many TDA trips and hope to do many many more. After health issues and Covid, back on the road again. Slower for sure but so looking forward to a part of the world I've never been but hear so many great things about.
Steven Pade
I live in the United States on the West coast in Burlingame, California just south of San Francisco. I'm a retired software engineer that specialized in medical applications. I love to travel. I will go anywhere anytime. This is my third TDA tour. I cycled the Orient Express in 2013 and Magical Madagascar in 2017. Cycling is my passion. I am proud of the fact that I bicycle more miles per year then I ride or idrive a car. I love the freedom of traveling on a bicycle. Traveling by bicycle your only concern is your health, your bicycle, and experiencing the immediate world around you. Im looking forward to meeting you in India and experiencing the wonder of the Himalaya Mountains with you.
Peter McCartney
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
My name is Peter McCartney and this is my 4th TDA trip.
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
John Brady
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
Male, 64 years old, canadian
Marian Brady
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
I Retired 6 years ago from Sheridan College where I was a sales rep for training and development to business and industry. We have two adult children, Meredith who is a chiropractor here in Port Dalhousie and Ryan a carpenter in Rossland B.C. One grandson two and a bit and little brother on the way in November. Grandchildren are wonderful. I can enjoy them but get lots of bike riding in too which was impossible when our kids were young. John and I ski out west at Red Mountain in the winter also do a lot of snow shoeing and cross country skiing. As well as sing with friends with guitars and ukelales. We stay out there all winter to make sure we catch the pow when it comes. Also book club and bridge. Off ski season is biking, yoga Pilates and playing with our grandson Finnley, in Port. This summer we did an awesome bike trip in Holland, Belgium and France. Bike and barge from Bruge to Paris. We rode everyday for month. It was wonderful. Looking forward to summer 2015 with Tour d'Afrique.
Rider
Bucharest to Istanbul
Graham Geddes
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
My name is Graham and I am from the South Island of New Zealand. I am greatly looking forward to this my first big bike ride outside New Zealand. Over the last eight months I have completed some big rides locally with a veteran of TDA Jim Pearce. It is Jim who has inspired me to take on this adventure and who has been high in praise of the way these tours are organised. It is my intention to be at Paris for the start and at Istanbul for the finish hopefully completing EFI.
Bill Wilson
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
This will be my 13th trip with TDA, as I've previously ridden all or part of the Trans Europa, the Orient Express, the Hippie Trail, the Bamboo Road, Magical Madagascar, the Tour d'Afrique, the Trans Oceania, the Odyssey, the North American Epic, the South American Epic, the Great American Roadtrip and Journey to the East. . I retired nine years ago, after more than 35 years prosecuting criminal cases for the Ontario government, and spend the bulk of my time cycling, golfing, reading and travelling. I am looking forward to getting together with some old friends and making some new ones.
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
kathy herson
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I love to bike and explore. I also enjoy learning about new places and cultures- I love the TDA style as they provide the right amount of support for me, either too little nor too much.
Gillian Davies
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi I'm Gill. I am 55 years old, married with 2 children. I love road biking and mountain biking but have never previously done a trip of longer than 6 days (yikes!). I am leaving my job in Marketing towards a future with a better work life balance and this adventure is the kick start. I am doing the trip with my dear friend Debbie and we are looking forward to the journey and adventure.
Wei Ruan
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi my name is Wei. I love travel and seeing different parts of the world. I like bicycle touring. In my opinion, bicycle touring is the best way to interact with environment and people. I have done bicycle tour from Paris to Istanbul with TDA in 2015 and some short and medium tours in the past ( cycled around Qin Hai lake in China, rode to Niagara fall from Toronto with my son. )
Bennett Herson-Roeser
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am a 19 year old from Wisconsin. I have been doing different cycling tours throughout the United States for nearly 6 years now. Outside of biking, I enjoy music and dance, puppies, and playing tennis.
Richard Walsh
Retired teacher but not inactive. In previous years I crossed USA and Australia and indeed Europe (from the West coast of Ireland to Istanbul) and in 2016 from Beijing to Osh, and the Pamir Highway in 2018..... always on my trusty cyclo-cross. I live in Tipperary.....so, no matter where I am, IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO home.
Jane Bloodworth
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I live in Melbourne. I love cycling long distances with the assistance of TDA.
Michael Morgan
A Kiwi who moved to Victoria, BC for a few years and is now permanently living in Melbourne, Australia. Still working part time after a corporate career across several different companies in plastics. Married to Jane (who is also on this tour) and have four children. We both took up cycling 7 years ago and have been to Vietnam, Cambodia and NZ on shorter cycling tours. Jane and I are currently building our kilometres to hopefully enable us to enjoy rather than endure the Orient Express ride. Other interests include yacht racing and 4x4 touring in outback Australia.
Denise Silk
Hi All, I am Denise. I am currently taking a sabbatical and enjoying some travelling and cycling.
Rider
Paris to Vienna
Callum Davidson
Rider
Paris to Vienna
22 years old, enjoys outdoor activities. I am Half Dutch and Half Scottish. Recently Graduated from University studying Environmental Science. Hopefully will be accepted into a Masters degree for a course relating to Renewable Energy starting in September 2015.
Tone I. Lundsaunet
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Biking vacations since 2006. TDA´s: the Orient Express 2015 and Cannes-Barcelona in 2016. Looking forward to meet you all again!
Elizabeth Rooke
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Liz Rooke Love cycling and love travelling and caught the TDA bug a few years ago. Did Venice to Barcelona leg in 2014 and it was so good that in 2015 I completed the Orient Express and the Bamboo Road before realising I had to get a job again! Sadly this year I can only do one segment but with lots of old friends (no reference to ageism) I couldn't resist returning - looking forward to joining you in Banff
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Ruth Grathwohl
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Looking forward to participating in my 6th TDA ride with my husband Peter Ellis
Jim Skeel
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Barb and I have done several TDA rides. The most difficult part of this trip will be leaving my one old dog at home. Consequently, I am only signing up for the first section.
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Judy Murphy
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I'm retired after many years as an auditor for the State of Alaska. I been on 47 bicycle tours mostly in the United States, all in North America. They've varied from overnights to 8 week cross-country (USA) trips. Early trips were self-supported, but recent ones have almost all been supported. I look forward meeting new people, seeing new places, seeing some great new scenery, and to the challenge. "I'm not slow—I just enjoy the ride a lot longer than you." http://yehudamoon.com/20120328/
Özgür Karataş
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
“Working outdoors is phenomenal.”
When TDA need local support for translations in Turkey in 2014, I entered the picture. Before TDA, I lived year-round there, in Izmir. Now I live on the road eight months of the year; the rest of the time I’m in Turkey, either applying for visas or rock-climbing.
Sometimes on a tour our failures are as incredible as our successes. Being defeated as my tour attempted to climb a new route on Koca Sarp, a rocky mountain in central Anatolia, is an experience I’ll always remember.
I’ve seen so much of the world with TDA. My favourite place I’ve been so far is Meteora, Greece. Probably the greatest pleasure of cycle-touring for me is never spending more than two days in a row in the same spot.
Gergo Szanyi
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary. I graduated in Visual Communications, since then I am dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I bounced into a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique. It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle? Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA! I successfully completed the full tour as the first (and only) Hungarian in the TDA's history. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu. On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba with Eszter. Self-supported, with the help of an outdated, but then only available paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then aged 1 and 6) with tents, a tandem and trailers.
Rider
Bucharest to Istanbul
Peter Plesník
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi, my name is Peter Plesník and I work as a shop assistent and bicycle mechanic. I'll be your mechanic on this tour and I am looking forward to meeting you all :-)
Vilma Plesníková
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hello everybody, my name is Vilma. I like going to the nature by bike or just for a walk whenever it is possible. Bottle of water, some snack, camera and good weather - what could be better :-) See you soon
josine meurs
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
Trond Michelsen
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Hi. I'm a 49 year old programmer from Oslo, Norway. This will be my sixth trip with TDA. Previously I've done a section on Bamboo Road (2013), three sections on Trans-Europa (2014 and 2016) and the complete Orient Express (2015) and Pub Ride (2018) Looking forward to a great summer of cycling
Matt Wilson
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
28-year-old technical/creative writer from Ontario. I've done a few short bicycle trips (northern Iceland, Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, Canada), but this will be the longest by a fair margin. Looking forward to the challenge!
Gabriella Ginsberg-Fletcher
I am and Israeli born multinational young adult. I grew up in Jerusalem but spent a few years in Switzerland as well. Upon completing my army service I went traveling through Latin America finally landing in New York City. I am currently a student at Columbia University where I am studying Political Science and Sustainable Development. I hope to somehow make positive change in our world.
patricia moore
Rider
Vienna to Istanbul
I started biking about 15 years ago when I met my husband, Helmut Kiffmann. While I don't ride as much as he does, I have been training pretty hard these last couple of months, riding with his bike group, taking spin classes and doing my grocery shopping by bicycle. We rode the first leg of the Orient Express two years ago, and had a great time, and are ready for more! We look forward to meeting you all in Vienna, and even more, to arriving in Istanbul. See you soon!
Barendina Hunt-Davis
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Love exploring countries on my bicycle
Helmut Kiffmann
Rider
Vienna to Istanbul
My wife, Patricia Moore, and I live in Encinitas, CA and we took these pictures in our front yard. I am a semi-retired Real Estate developer and investor who has enjoyed bicycling for the last 20 years. I ride once or twice a week locally and have done a number of 1-2 week tours, mostly in the Western US, but also in portions of Europe including France, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Hungary. I am looking forward to the tour from Paris to Vienna, and wish I could stay with you to Istanbul, and hope to complete that portion in 2015. I look forward to meeting all of you in Paris.
Robin Hunt-Davis
Rider
Paris to Vienna
Have previously ridden the Silk Route, Doomsday and part of the Bamboo Route.
Stephen Williams
Hi all committed and prospective fellow Orient Express participants, I hail from Canberra, Australia - though the family "home town" is Darwin, NT. I've participated in a number of "Big Bike Rides" in Australia - But they are small stuff (in terms of duration) compared to the Orient Express. Aside from recreational road riding I also play at mountain biking (for fitness). I work for an international development non-government organisation - 23 years plus now. Motivation for ride is mainly to be able to say I've ridden from Paris to Istanbul! NB. Despite career/professional expertise I'm linguistically (outside of English) and directionally challenged
Randall Shier
Rider
Paris to Varna
Randy is happily married to his best friend and wife Sandy of 37 years. He has three adult children, two of them married and two young grandsons. Randy resides in Kelowna, British Columbia and enjoys his real estate development career as President of Mission Group. When he is not working, he loves travel, cycling, snow skiing and oil painting. Born in Vancouver, he has been a lifelong British Columbian, except for six years in Los Angeles, earning a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California. His favourite team sports to watch are hockey and football. Randy is an avid Canadian Olympic hockey team fan, a USC Trojan college football fan, as well as a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. He and Sandy have experienced long distance cycling twice before in 2015 in 2017. Their first trip they rode 1,800 km, unsupported from Canterbury, England to Rome, Italy. their second trip was the Orient Express with TDA Global from Paris to Varna, Bulgaria. Randy is grateful to be married to an adventurous wife as she has been the catalyst for our long distance cycling adventures.
Mark Brumbaugh
Rider
Paris to Varna
Love to see the world from a cycle saddle and connect with people, though I haven't toured through days of bad weather yet. My wife and I retired from our New Jersey careers. I was a technologist for Prudential Financial. Domestically, we've cycle-toured in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom into the Eastern Townships of Quebec, around the Finger Lakes Region in New York, in the Okanagan Region of BC, and in Orange and San Diego counties. The winter we're going out with our local Morris Area Freewheelers for the first taste of cold weather cycling. Lots of European touring also. Majorca cycling is awesome. Our most recent tour was a great 3 week cycle tour of Croatia with Sitnica. Also the full 2017 TDA Orient Express. In 2018 we cycled Seattle to Boston with BAC. Last year, Yunan in February and Southwest Ireland in September with CCCTS. I look forward to planning for and experiencing the Slavic cultures from St. Petersburg to Budapest. I'd enjoy sharing any recommendations for reading preparation for what we are about to encounter. Ride on, Mark
gaye swanson
Rider
Paris to Varna
I like to travel by bike; it gives me the opportunity to peek into people's backyards and absorb the essence of a community. My husband, Mark, and I have had many bicycling adventures throughout Europe and North America but we do most of our riding near our home in the the hills of Northwest New Jersey. I am looking forward to the challenge and the new experiences of the Orient Express.
Balazs Perjesy
Rider
Paris to Varna
Bob Briggs
My name is Bob Briggs, 71 year old State of Florida retiree. Since my retirement in 2001. I have completed bike tours in India, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, TDA Africa, Silk Route to Xi'an before crashing and SAE to Lima. Have not done a tour in over a year. I am presently suffering from TDA Global Cycling withdrawal. I've also done numerous less formal long distance tours prior to hooking up with TDA. Went to college in Salzburg, Austria in 1966 but have never done any cycling in Europe. Really looking forward to it!!!!
Robert Kazmerchek
Rider
Paris to Varna
I need to travel somewhere on my bicycle and I’ve never been to Korea or Japan. I have a hunch that this trip is gonna fly. It can’t come soon enough!
Gergo Szanyi
Rider
Paris to Varna
Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary. I graduated in Visual Communications, since then I am dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I bounced into a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique. It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle? Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA! I successfully completed the full tour as the first (and only) Hungarian in the TDA's history. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu. On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba with Eszter. Self-supported, with the help of an outdated, but then only available paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then aged 1 and 6) with tents, a tandem and trailers.
Ming-Jiing Hsieh
Rider
Paris to Varna
Ming-Jiing Hsieh from Taiwan(Formosa) . I may be the first Asian cyclist to participate in TDA for past years and forthcoming 2024 for this route Pub-Ride 2024. I will be excited to do this trip together with many other cyclists from all over the world. It enables me to make new friends and have a lot of fun through these countries and experience different cultures, people and natures and eventually make a great discovery Europe. Should I succeed in accomplishing this journey with my bike all the way, it would make my dream come true after these years and generate it into a lifelong unforgettable memory. I look forward to fulfilling my dream this time after my retirement. See everyone in Dublin!
Özgür Karataş
Rider
Paris to Varna
“Working outdoors is phenomenal.”
When TDA need local support for translations in Turkey in 2014, I entered the picture. Before TDA, I lived year-round there, in Izmir. Now I live on the road eight months of the year; the rest of the time I’m in Turkey, either applying for visas or rock-climbing.
Sometimes on a tour our failures are as incredible as our successes. Being defeated as my tour attempted to climb a new route on Koca Sarp, a rocky mountain in central Anatolia, is an experience I’ll always remember.
I’ve seen so much of the world with TDA. My favourite place I’ve been so far is Meteora, Greece. Probably the greatest pleasure of cycle-touring for me is never spending more than two days in a row in the same spot.
Catalin Pricoiu
Rider
Paris to Varna
Rider
Budapest to Varna
Daniel Kurka
Rider
Paris to Varna
I'm 57 YO, have been retired for 3 years from the hospitality industry. I live in Warburton Vic, a small country town in the mountains 75 km from Melbourne. I have a wife, son, dog, 5 chooks and a hive of bees. I ride 10 - 15,000 km a year, mainly on hilly roads with some gravel rides & MTB. O/S I've cycled in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India (Himalayas) GB, & Italy. Though the Orient Express will be my longest cycling trip (so far). Looking forward to riding new roads in different countries, especially the mountains.
Shaun Busuttil
My name's Shaun and I'm an Aussie, originally from Melbourne. For the last four years I've been travelling around the world, living in different countries and working online as a travel writer and journalist. This will be my first ever multi-day cycling trip and I'm really excited about the challenge!
Gergo Szanyi
Tour Leader
Paris to Istanbul
Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary. I graduated in Visual Communications, since then I am dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I bounced into a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique. It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle? Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA! I successfully completed the full tour as the first (and only) Hungarian in the TDA's history. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu. On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba with Eszter. Self-supported, with the help of an outdated, but then only available paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then aged 1 and 6) with tents, a tandem and trailers.
Balazs Perjesy
Tour Leader Trainee
Paris to Istanbul
Cove Fylpaa
Hello! My name is Cove and I'm going to be the Tour Mechanic and Support Aide for the 2019 Orient Express. Since graduating from Macalester College, I've been exploring the bicycle industry from every angle that I can. I have a broad range of mechanic experience spanning from community bike co-ops to racing focused boutiques. Lately, I've been most excited about linking single track to spend all day on my mountain bike, racing the regional enduro series with my friends, and getting into bicycle frame building. I've done a bit of self-supported touring in Central America and a handful of overnight trips in the United States, but this will be my first time visiting Europe, let alone exploring the continent by bike! I cant wait to sample all the beautiful breads, stinky cheeses, and cured meats throughout our trip. I'm looking forward to connecting with each of you over the next few months as we all prepare for our travels together later this summer.
Stephanie Thornton
Tour Leader Trainee
Paris to Istanbul
Hey Everyone, I am looking forward to traveling & supporting you on your tour across Italy. This will be my 5th TDA tour. In between tours, I do all sorts of other work spanning from Fighting forest fires to working with Doctors Without Borders. Can't wait to ride bikes with all of you and eat gelato when we aren't!
Melissa Morse
I have settled in Houston, Texas after living overseas for most of my adult life. Originally from suburban New Jersey, I headed to the Rocky Mountains for college and stayed a while to enjoy all the healthy living. I enjoy traveling on a bicycle; it provides more opportunity to interact with people, to smell the aromas and feel the elements, and it's a great way to burn enough calories to enjoy the flavors along the way. I have been on some long rides across the USA, Europe, and Asia, but have been less active during the past two years of COVID restrictions, so I am challenging myself to get back into shape with this Journey to the East ride as my reward. On, on!
Bob Kieckhefer
Rider
Budapest to Istanbul
Geophysicist, cyclist, swimmer. I currently live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where there are plenty of hills to climb. I rode Cairo to Cape Town in 2018/19/20/23 and several other TdA tours. I look forward to riding along the roads of Empires!
Jay Ozturk
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Looking forward to challenges ahead.I am Realtor in Toronto and love adventure. This tour fits my style perfectly.
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Margaret Perlette
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I'm Marg. I really enjoy travelling by bike with my husband, Mike. I look forward to the sights and experiences that this tour will offer.
Michael Perlette
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I did my first long distance cycle trip about 40 years ago and fell in love with the notion of travel on two wheels. Since then I have done a number of cycle trips including a couple with TDA. I have been fortunate to share most of my cycling adventures with my wife Margy. I'm looking forward to seeing a bit of North Africa and to meeting a few more folks in the TDA community. Cheers...
Maria Victoria Cardini
Rider
Paris to Bucharest
Retired. Hobbies: travels, movies and technology
Stephen (Neil) Slotnick
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Looking forward to slowly making my way across Korea and Japan (2024) and Morocco (2026) with a fabulous group of people.
Katherine Slotnick
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am a retired public health nurse and live in Juneau, Alaska. I’ve done several TDA tours with my husband Neil.
Wayne Grover
Wayne Grover is a retired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, his professional life encompassed time with the military, with Bell North Research as a Research Engineer, then as founding VP Research for TRLabs, and as a full Professor (ECE) at the University of Alberta. He has over 150 peer-reviewed published articles, one book, and 38 patented inventions. Among other awards and recognitions he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Commonwealth Scholar to the UK, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Life Fellow of the Alberta Association of Professional Engineers, Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and Professor Emeritus University of Alberta. As a cyclist, he is a past Hawaii Ironman and an Alumni of five other TDA rides before Trans Europa. From July to December last year he rode 14,500 km from Fairbanks, Alaska to the Panama Canal, accompanying fellow TDA Alumnus Bob Fletcher as he set the Guinness World Record for the longest e-bike ride to date. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with his wife Jutta. Their son, Ted lives and works in Vancouver, B.C.
Michel Bee
Rider
Freiburg to Budapest
Geophysicist, cyclist, hiker. I am retired in Bend, Oregon, where there are many opportunities for outdoor activities.
Carolyn Pearson
Rider
Paris to Budapest
I'm excited to cycle from Paris to Budapest with my husband, Doug Pearson and all of you! I started cycling in April 2011. Four short years later my husband asked me to participate in the last month of the 2015 Tour d'Afrique. After much consideration, I said yes. I enjoyed one of the most challenging, scenic & cultural experiences of my life! This time the trip was my idea : ) I am looking forward to experiencing a variety of European cultures, food, history & sites along the way. See you in July!
will carter
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I live in Bedford uk.,im 76 and enjoy the challenges of life
John Karwoski
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I enjoy bicycling, camping, and hiking. Looking forward to sharing adventures on this tour with new and old friends.
Robert Stavros
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am a retired engineer who likes to ride on long trips. I have made the Cross Country trip from Oregon to New Hampshire with America By Bike (ABB) and I have gone from Oregon to San Francisco also with ABB. I have done several week long trips with Lizard Head Tours in Utah and New Mexico,
Steve Rogers
I'm an active cyclist, always seeking new adventures...wherever the road takes me. Having thoroughly enjoyed the 2023 Golden Buddha tour, I now look forward to continuing SE Asia adventures on the 2024 Bamboo Road. Let's ride - 'eat, drink and be merry' - all the way to Singapore!
Donna Queen
I love to bike but have never attempted a ride like this one before. Last year I rode in the California Coast Classic--8 consecutive days of 80 miles per day. It was a great ride, but a tough one! I'm looking forward to this--the riding and the sightseeing--and meeting some great people!
Peter Roberts
Rider
Budapest to Bucharest
Riding the Dempster Hwy is a fascination for me, and I’m excited to make that a reality in July 2025! I’ll be raising funds for Cycle4Sam, a charity supporting the families of kids in palliative care.
Mark Brandjord
Hi, I'm Mark. I live near Seattle Washington, and I'm retired. I worked as a software developer for over 30 years, and I've been retired since 2013. I am looking forward to this ride because every day I'll get to ride down a road I've never been on before, and I'll get to experience so many new sights, sounds and tastes. And the frosting on the cake will be getting to share the day with so many other people who enjoy cycling as much as I do.
William Olmstead
Retired lawyer and educator who ended up in Ghana managing a furniture manufacturing and retail company. Now living in Sacramento.
Kathleen Dempsey
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Retired nurse practitioner. Have done quite a bit of long-distance cycling in past: TDA 2008 alum. Rode Orient Express in 2019 and decided to see/enjoy more of Europe. Looking forward to seeing new parts of the world to me and having a great time.
Stella Afesumeh
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I like an adventure I like to see different cultures I am sure I'm taking a gigantic bite... we shall see
sylvain rondeau
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
i am so happy to be on this tour
Joseph Lee
I love to travel, and bicycle touring is my preferred way to see the world. This will be my first tour since Covid cancelled many plans. I’ve enjoyed 4 full TDA tours: Indian Adventure, Ruta Maya, Pub Ride, West Africa en Vélo. I’m excited to see Korea and more of Japan than Tokyo. I have travelled lots, but my list of places to visit never gets any shorter. I became a teacher, mainly because of the holidays, and I am now semi-retired, doing occasional teaching in between travels. Looking forward to renewing old friendships and making new ones. Now I need to get cycling again!
Finn Trygve Nybakke
My name is Finn and I have bene living in Norway all my life since I was born i 1952. I am a father and grandfather, and I did have a cat! In 2014 we joined TDA on the last stage on The Silk Road to Istanbul. After that we joined the Orient Express 2019, and last year, Viva Italia 2022. All 3 tours together with my beloved Asrun, but this time through Europe I go alone (but we are still partners). See you soon in Tallinn :-)
ASRUN AALVIK
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am born in 1951 in Hardanger in the western part of Norway With narrow fjords between steep Mountains. I love hiking and biking, but most of all I love to be grand mother of two girls and one boy! I participated on 2019 Orient Express Full Tour. This year I only bike the first stage.
Doug Pearson
Hi All! I am 63 years old and live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA with my wife, Carolyn. I have two grown children, one living in Houston, Texas and the other living in Seattle, Washington. I completed the Tour d'Afrique in 2015 and the Garden of Eden Section of the Silk Route in 2016 and the Orient Express route from Paris to Budapest in 2019. Looking forward to hotels every night; Great new friendships; A fun relaxing time; Exploring with my wife and being with all of you!! Cheers!! Doug
Trina Prior
I live in Vancouver, British Columbia. I love to see the world from the view of my bike and have done several multi-day cycling trips including Kenya to Tanzania in 2007 and Alaska to Whitehorse in 2013 with TDA. I will be raising money for Cycle 4 Sam which supports Pediatric Palliative Care Service at the Adelaide Children's Hospital http://www.cycle4sam.com/ This will be my second long distance bike trip with my husband Peter Roberts Looking forward to Cycling with Vlad and the rest of the TDA riders.
Ryan Rice
Bike Mechanic
Paris to Istanbul
Is there a more challenging, charming, or humbling way to travel the World and discover it’s people and treasures? If there is, I haven’t come across it yet, and perhaps I wish not to. I have been a bicycle mechanic for over ten years and it has led me towards new adventures and friendships. Here’s to clean and lubed chains, straight wheels, and a comfy saddle! See you on the next adventure!
Samuel Roy
Tour Leader Trainee
Paris to Istanbul
I see bike touring as an opportunity to slow down and bring yourself back to the essential things in life. Food, water, shelter, love, connection, space in your heart, space in your mind, movement, exploration. I believe that travelling by bike is the best way to discover our beautiful planet because of the pace of travel. It's fast enough to cover ground and cross continents, as we do with TDA, but it's slow enough to be able to truly soak in the destination you're in and everything that comes with it. The vulnerability of being alone on a bike, dressed up in bright lycra in the middle of nowhere makes you approachable and sparks curiousness and interest in the locals you meet on the road. As a tour leader with TDA, I am grateful to have the opportunity to facilitate these experiences, moments and connections.
I'm originally from Montreal in Canada where I studied business and tourism, but I have recently moved to Barcelona where cycling is unreal, even over the winter months. For the past few years, my career has been a collection of different projects and opportunities such as working as a TV host back home in Quebec, guiding with TDA and other outdoors companies as well as running my own vanlife conversion business. I've always loved getting around on two wheels, for some years, my focus was to go as fast as I could while I raced Ironman triathlons as a semi-pro. Nowadays, I still enjoy riding my bike, but a little slower, and looking around much more.
My best memory on tour is without a doubt when both my parents joined the 2019 Tour d'Afrique as riders to cycle the last two sections of the tour, from Vic Falls to Cape Town. It was such a precious privilege to be on sweep duty and get to ride with both of them through the namibian dunes.
As a tip for future participants, I think the best mindset to come onto a tour with is one of gratitude. We are all so privileged, both staff and riders, to be on these trips that being grateful for this life we get to live is an attitude we must cultivate.
See you on the road!
Gergo Szanyi
Tour Leader
Paris to Istanbul
Hi there, My name is Gergo [Grrr-go], I'm from Budapest, Hungary. I graduated in Visual Communications, since then I am dealing with photography, film and all sorts of graphic design projects. After more than a decade of annual and occasional bike touring with my family and friends in the late 80's and 90's, a couple of seasons of mountain bike racing, and quite a few years of "just" sitting in an office, in 2005 I bounced into a magazine article about the Tour of Freaks... I mean... the Tour d'Afrique. It made me wonder: how such distance is even doable on a bicycle? Fast forward to the following January: I found myself in Cairo, at the start line of the 4th edition of TDA! I successfully completed the full tour as the first (and only) Hungarian in the TDA's history. What a great adventure it was! Next year, in 2007 I crossed the Himalaya by bike, riding with a friend from Lhasa to Kathmandu. On this trip we had a great off-road ride up to the "North Base Camp" of Mount Everest in Tibet, China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) above sea level. This is where this profile photograph was taken. In 2010 we circumnavigated the island of Cuba with Eszter. Self-supported, with the help of an outdated, but then only available paper map. Since then I did the Amber Route, a couple of Orient Express tours, Trans Europas, Odysseys and the PubRides. In the summer of 2020 we completed a long distance all self-supported bicycle tour with the kids (then aged 1 and 6) with tents, a tandem and trailers.
Balazs Perjesy
Assistant Tour Leader
Paris to Istanbul
Frank Wichlo
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I have done 5 TDA trips and I plan to keep doing them as long as I am able, or the money runs out.
Michele Kline
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
My Husband Anthony (Tony) and I, are from Hobart in Tasmania...we went on our first TDA tour in 2014 from Lima to Cuzco part of the South African Epic our second tour was NZ from Auckland to Queenstown 2015 and a lap around our state Tasmania in 2022 both were part of the Trans Oceania. We have completed 3 full tours the Pub Ride 2017, Viva Italia 2020 and The Orient Express in 2022. We are looking forward to Morocco!
Anthony kline
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
54yrs old small business owner building concreting landscaping. Enjoy adventure activities, have walked everest base camp and kilimanjaro successfully. Been a keen cyclist for several years, in 2015 Michele and did our first TDA trip from Lima to Cusco. Last year we completed Auckland to Queenstown and now looking forward to the Pub ride.
GLORIA FU
I signed up for the entire Bamboo Road 2019 on a whim with zero training, no bike, and having mostly ridden a peloton stationary bike. From there I caught the bug. Alex Smith and I aim to do two long trips a year, and Journey to the East, I’ve been wanting to do since 2020! So five years later, I can’t wait to visit S. Korea for the first time, and cycle Japan for the first time.
Britton Morrell
I've been bike-turing here and there as time permitted. I've done the Katy Trail, parts of the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota, The TransAmerica in 2017 with the ACA, Pacific Coast Northern Tier, Death Valley, three Ride the Rockies, and two Pedal the Plains. In 2022 I biked solo from Edinburgh to Paris and then joined up with TDA's Orient Express Tour.
Grant Duncan
Enjoyed greatly the TDA Odyssey and Orient Express trips with Barbara. Now looking forward to exploring a different continent - sharing experiences with fellow travelers. Spend most of time cycling/walking/travelling. Enjoy capturing the experiences on camera. Carpe Diem!
Barbara Tate
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am a retired industrial regulator living with my husband (Grant Duncan) in south Wales, UK. I enjoy cycling, walking, running, swimming, music and photography. After The Odyssey (TDA) cycle ride in 2019 Covid put paid to our longer-time travelling for a couple of years. In 2022 we completed the Orient Express (TDA) ride. I have never been to Australia before so there should be plenty of new experiences!
Nancy Stueve
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Avid road cyclist who loves seeing new places from a bike seat.
David Ross
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am 70 and semi-retired. Had a great trip with TDA Taiwan to Singapore before covid, Part of OrientExpress in 2022 and just finished Journey to the East
Jude McDaniel
Rider
Paris to Freiburg
Married, old lady, financial advisor
Jim FOWLER
I'm a nomad and spend as much time as possible traveling. With TDA I've done the Tour d'Afrique, Magical Madagascar and the Orient Express. I’ve become a TDA junkie and am signed up for lots more trips. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones on the next tour!
Coni Dean
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Biking and exploring.
Valerie Ohanian
I am a long time cycling enthusiast--a road rider who has guided multi-week trips abroad, commuted starting in the 1980's, and rides at home, just for fun! Home is in Minneapolis, but winters are mostly spent in Santa Barbara, CA now, since working remotely is possible. I am a teacher and practitioner of classical homeopathy, have worked full time for 40 years, and now am reducing my schedule to make room for some other things. This trip has been a dream in my mind, only. I finally have time to make it a reality!
Evelyn Holland
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Starting to lose track of how many TDA trips we've done! I think this will be #8. Really looking forward to riding in the British Isles as we have wanted to go there for awhile now.
Greg Forst
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Have been a cyclist since '92 doing a variety of things including commuting to work, week long rides, after work group rides and more recently longer duration rides including one across the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon of Canada. I enjoyed the challenges and scenery of the Outback and the terrain of New Zealand on the 2016 Trans Oceania tour. Rode the Bamboo trail and enjoyed it immensely. Had an overall good time on the Hippie Trail. The food was great and the whole experience was incredible.
Justin Ripley
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
... to be continued.
Wendy McDonald
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Alex Smith
Rider
Freiburg to Budapest
I’m excited to explore South Korea and Japan on a bike, the ultimate mode of transportation. Have enjoyed several cycling adventures over the last few years; love the activity, exploring new parts of the world between the cities and being in awe of beautiful new sites on a regular basis
Michael Kahn
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
My interest in bicycle touring began in 2000, riding with a group on a one year international tour. Since then I’ve done numerous one month rides in Europe and more "exotic" locations, usually solo and self supported. I’m looking forward to this tour.
G. Michael Keltos
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Aloha, Greetings from O'ahu. I am a retired educator/economic development consultant who has truly enjoyed riding around these beautiful islands over the last 35 years. I am currently a member of the Hawai'i Bicycling League and the Tradewinds Cycling Team to stay active and to socialize with fellow riders. Although I have traveled to several cities in Japan and briefly to South Korea, I look forward to seeing them, and others, from a whole new perspective on a bike while making new friends and seeing some fellow cyclists from my past three TDA tours: the Orient Express trip (Paris - Istanbul) in 2022 and two trips last year, the 2023 Trans-Europa (Tallinn - Gibraltar) tour. and the 2023 Golden Buddha (Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok) tour. While living and working in Hawaii's diverse and multi-cultural communities for over 3 decades, I am somewhat acquainted with the various cuisines and cultural practices of the countries we'll be visiting. Moreover, I look forward to deepening my understanding and appreciation of the local cultures we'll be experiencing along the way. My previous three TDA tours were great, so I am back for more adventure with them. Mahalo Nui Loa,
Rider
Budapest to Istanbul
Rider
Budapest to Istanbul
Mike Busby
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
A serial cycle tourist always keen to escape winter in the UK and keen to stay active!
Rider
Budapest to Istanbul
Rider
Paris to Freiburg
Balazs Perjesy
Tour Leader
Paris to Istanbul
Shaik Baba
Bike Mechanic
Paris to Istanbul
Baba is a maestro in the art of cycle maintenance. He has close to 20 years of experience in the industry along with 10 years of travelling the length and breath of the country on cycle trips and camps. India is a highly diversified country with many languages. With five spoken languages under his belt, Baba is an asset to have on the team. Baba is a very friendly team person and ever willing to help & contribute in all aspects.
Coby Werlin
Cycling, photographing, video-ing, and traveling -- what could be better?! I cherish the adventures that TDA has taken me on over the last few years, and am so thrilled to tell the stories of these rides. If you've been on a ride with myself or another content creator, you know that we need your help in telling these stories as a means to capture the essence of the ride, and as a memento for you to look back on. You may see me riding passenger in the support vehicle to shoot some cool videos tracking riders down the road, or popping out of the bushes to snap a candid shot, or (at times) riding alongside you. And, as always, I'll periodically ask some of you for short interviews to hear your thoughts on all of the good, bad and amazing aspects of the ride. See you on the road!
Tour Support
Bucharest to Istanbul
Michelle Frost
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I enjoy gravel riding, long distance cycle touring and bikepacking in more remote locales. My favourite way to see a country is from a bike.
Sally Weatherald
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Now retired, I have the time and money to complete more adventures and continue to explore the world. I love history, cultures and meeting people from all walks of the life. I'm a passionate fitness person, cyclists, and walker/hiker.
Alan Brookman
I will be 65 at the time of the tour, having returned to the UK in August 2023, after a period of 13 and a half years working overseas in South Africa and the Philippines. I am retired, single with no dependents My main hobbies are skiing, diving and cycling
Rider
Vienna to Bucharest
Mark Vantrease
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I've been fortunate to live and travel in many places around the world. The Paris to Istanbul ride will be a new experience and fulfill a bucket list item. I enjoy Adventure Travel including Cross-Ocean Sailing, Distance Hiking/Back Packing, Distance Cycling and Competitive Rowing. Looking forward to meeting like minded adventurers!
Geoff White
Retired teacher - High School Maths/Sci/DigTech Cyclist/surfer/skier/snowboarder.
Jeanne Turner
I love seeing the world at 12 miles an hour
Angela Meharg
Toronto-based Canadian who loves to travel. I've been wanting to do the Orient Express trip since I found out about it 2005! My main cycling history is mountain biking - I used to live in British Columbia and did a lot of riding in Whistler. I've been out of cycling long enough that I didn't know gravel bikes were a thing. Now I have one!
Karen Gold
I am a 60-year-old she/her with an active lifestyle and an elite athlete mindset. I have run 15+ Marathons including 3x Boston, and while in recovery, I do a lot of spinning which has endeared me to cycling. I have done 1 Sprint Triathalon which got me interested in road riding and one day joining a group destination ride. Wishes do come true! I work as a Marketing Executive and a Business Professor at Humber College in Toronto, Canada, and also do some consulting. I love keeping busy and often say I love 2 things: Working and Working Out. This isn't to say I am a boring workaholic. I surely am not. I love to laugh, make people laugh, and have a great time. I enjoy going out to dinner, watching movies, and entertaining, very much. I live in a Condo in downtown Toronto and love being in the action of the city and being able to walk everywhere. This is a good thing because the daily gridlock traffic makes it impossible to drive most days. I have a daughter, a partner, and a dog named Skittles, whom I consider my second child. I am having surgery on my right foot in September to repair a damaged tendon and will therefore be going out with a bang on this ride. I am joining the last section of the ride from Romania to Istanbul and look forward to celebrating with everyone at the finish line!
Roger COOK
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I am a 70 year-old that has always been active, with gym-workouts, running, and biking. I completed the Viva Italia in the fall of 2019 and was impressed. As a result, i have signed up for many more adventures; however, we all know how that has worked out! The Pub Ride fits perfectly within my life: I am a lover of activity and of beer :).
Spiros Theophilas
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Theresa Morris
I am a retired teacher who is involved in a lot of different activities, mostly involving music. I joined my husband, Donnie, on the Pub Tour in 2022, and part of the TransEuropa in 2023. Obviously a sucker for punishment, I’ve signed up for another one, but fingers crossed, it seems less hilly. And this time, we’re excited to share the adventure with our good friends, Joanne and Gary, who are joining TDA for the first time. Looking forward to sharing beers and stories with old and new friends. Cheers!
Donald Morris
Rider
Paris to Budapest
Had so much fun on the 2022 Pub Ride and 3 sections of the 2023 TransEuropa that I had to sign up again. Looking forward to the challenges and celebrations. Bringing along a few friends; hoping to meet some new ones as we did on the earlier TDA tours. Maybe I will lose a few pounds this time LOL.
Rider
Regensburg to Istanbul
Gary Hines
Rider
Paris to Budapest
Air traffic controller at Toronto Pearson Airport, retiring April 2024, after 30 years Husband to Joanne Hines for 31 years, father to 2 girls.
Joanne Hines
Rider
Paris to Budapest
I am a retired teacher with 2 adult daughters and a husband who is about to retire. We are looking forward to this stage of our lives and cycling is one of the things we enjoy doing together. We’ve been inspired by our friends to sign up for this adventure and are working hard to get physically ready for the challenge. We’ve never done anything like this and know that it will push us, both mentally and physically. Can’t wait to put ourselves to the test!
JULIE RICHERT
Rider
Paris to Budapest
HI there! I'm Julie from Port Townsend Washington. This will be my third TDA tour. Cycling through Europe is the best.
Brian Thompson
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I have ridden the entire way around the world, much of it with TDA. I am eager to join a mate who is also doing this ride. I am retired, have been riding/racing/touring my bike since I was 14 and am still in love with it.
Xufeng(Gail) Cascketta
Rider
Paris to Budapest
I am retired, and love to explore the world by cycling. Have done some self-supported tours. This will be my fifth cycling tour with TDA.
David Blair
Grew up in Chevy Chase Maryland ... college in Montana ... Had a very fun 30 year career with members of Congress from Montana, Colorado, and Oregon. Was a casual road cyclist in college and after, in and around Missoula Montana, but got heavy into it when i moved to Washington DC. Since moving to Bend, Oregon in 1999, have done cycling trips in Mexico, Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Italy .... Walked half of the Appalachian Trail 2 years ago, finding myself seeking longer adventures like that. I'm living in Thailand this year, in fact will be going straight to the ride from Bangkok. Over the past 40 years my passions have evolved, waxed and waned, but have included cycling, soccer, whitewater kayaking, cross country ski racing, coaching and teaching cross country skiing, alpine skiing, and lately, pickleball and scuba diving ...
Rider
Paris to Budapest
Stephane Lancereau
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
………………. but …..……….., also ………………!
Katy Hawkins
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Looking forward to cycling in Europe after crossing Canada on bike. Squeezing a summer adventure in on holiday from teaching in Toronto. I will try to keep up with all the amazing retirees I have met on my cycling trips.
Philippa Davis
I'm a mad keen cyclist, it doesn't matter what sort of bike I get to ride, as long as I'm on 2 wheels. I've done trips around Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Tour de France and Tour Down Under, cycled the length of NZ and Tour of Italy with TDA. I've got a group of friends who are just as nutty and we go off on adventures together.
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Maria Dare
I live to travel and enjoy meeting new people along the way. I have cycled in many countries around the world, the longest cycle I have done is from Broom to Perth in Australia. Really looking forward to 2024 and the adventures it will bring .
Francine Plante
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ! On n’est pas à la plage...
David Stein
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Ex nerd, now older and cantankerous. This is my third TDA trip -- I very much enjoyed the Great American Roadtrip in 2021 and the Golden Buddha in 2023.
Rider
Freiburg to Budapest
Corinne Burt
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Paul Kelley
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Retired lawyer from Los Angeles, CA, USA. Avid cyclist. One long trip in 2023 across the USA from Alexandria, VA to Waldport, OR in 2023
Graeme Don
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I live in Auckland, New Zealand, am married to Margaret and we have two adult sons. I am now ‘retired’ having phased out of paid work over the last few years. I am a mechanical engineer and established a process engineering company in the late 1980’s and ran it for 20+ years before passing the guardianship on to new owners. My cycling journey began when I was in my early 50’s when my family and business commitments reduced. It started with the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, a very popular 160km road cycling event in NZ. I was hooked and have continued to ride frequently ever since. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed many road cycling holidays in Europe, the most recent in Croatia last year. However, the length of the Oriental Express will be a new challenge.
Michael Dreiling
Rider
Paris to Budapest
Born in Cleveland, OH. Lived in Ohio most of my life. Have traveled extensively, Europe, India, and China. Retired for the past 8 years from telecommunications industry. I like to garden, travel, and bicycle. Have just completed bicycle riding the Rhine River with my wife.
Siau-Hsuan Chen
I was born in Taiwan and came to US for graduate school. I am retired 5 years ago from the Telecommunication industry. I enjoy reading, watching movies and biking. My husband and I just finished the Rhine River ride on our own and I realized biking is the best way for us to see the world.
marcus ezekiel
I live in London and enjoy road cycling, walking and mountains. I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone. Marcus
Stacey Bailey Pauw
Hello All, I am fairly new to road cycling. I just started my fourth year and I can’t imagine traveling without a bike! My first TDA trip was the Trans Europa in 2020. Now I'm hooked, I love the TDA style of cycling. What I love most about traveling with my bicycle and TDA is that I meet locals who live off the beaten path in small villages. I also love tennis and hiking. My husband and I each brought two grown children from previous marriages, and we now have nine grandchildren. Although I spend a considerable amount of time traveling, I live in Banff, Canada, during the summer months and Arizona during the winter. I consider Arizona my home. My husband Wim and I look forward to meeting everyone! Cheers ~ Stacey
Wim Pauw
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Born and raised in Utrecht ,NLD and moved to Canada in my early 20s. Have been living in Banff Alberta since 1971 and also have a residence in Scottsdale AZ. Me and my partner Nancy have travelled the world on our bicycles for the last 25 years but unfortunately she passed away July 2019 at a relatively young age (59). I promised her to keep on traveling with my bicycle so here I am doing another trip. Looking forwards to make new friends and enjoying life to it’s fullest .
Carly Beatty
Rider
Paris to Budapest
Mick Dunne
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
I've ridden bikes all my life for transport and recreation. Nowadays I ride about 250 km a week primarily on road with clubmates, to maintain fitness and for the pure love of riding. I've done road racing, crits, track, mountain biking, gran fondos and just got my first gravel bike. I lived on a hospital ship with my family in Africa from 2013 to 2019 and rode in Congo, Madagascar, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, UK, France and Sierra Leone. In 2018 I did an 8 day tour of Cameroon on MTB. In 2025 I plan to ride from Florida to San Diego with a surgeon friend in 31 days. And then in 2026 Paris to Istanbul with my awesome wife, Tam, who is getting increasingly faster, stronger and more confident.
Tammy Dunne
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Ken Mungan
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
Erik Hoenisch
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
A 60 year old - born and raised in the Yukon - not much long-distance cycling experience other than a few fully supported tours with 50 - 75km max per day. Reasonable good shape for my age. (I hope!)
Colleen Clark
Rider
Paris to Istanbul
"Orient Express 2019 was a wonderful way to experience and sample what Europe has to offer. A couple of months in the slow lane does wonders for putting things in perspective. Just ride, see, hear, touch, smell and taste!"
Michael Perlette (Canada)
2019 Orient Express
“It’s early Sunday morning in Paris and I’m cycling through the City of Lights with TDA Global Cycling. There are nine of us in this group of intrepid cyclists, hailing from Australia, Canada, the USA and Taiwan, and we’ve already taken obligatory selfies in front of the Notre Dame and the Arc de Triumph.”
OVERVIEW ORIENT EXPRESS 2024
- FULL TOUR
- SECTION 1
- SECTION 2
- SECTION 3
- SECTION 4
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- JOIE DE VIVRE
- DANUBE TRAIL
- CYCLING WITH VLAD
- INTO THE ORIENT
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- PARIS TO FREIBURG
- FREIBURG TO BUDAPEST
- BUDAPEST TO BUCHAREST
- BUCHAREST TO ISTANBUL
- JUL 7 TO AUG 26
- JUL 7 TO JUL 13
- JUL 15 TO AUG 1
- AUG 3 TO AUG 15
- AUG 17 TO AUG 26
- EUR 14300
- EUR 2800
- EUR 6600
- EUR 4900
- EUR 3800
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
FULL TOUR
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- JUL 7 TO AUG 26
- 14300 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
SECTION 1
- JOIE DE VIVRE
- PARIS TO FREIBURG
- Jul 7 - Jul 13
- 2800 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
SECTION 2
- DANUBE TRAIL
- FREIBURG TO BUDAPEST
- Jul 15 - Aug 1
- 6600 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
SECTION 3
- CYCLING WITH VLAD
- BUDAPEST TO BUCHAREST
- Aug 3 - Aug 15
- 4900 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
SECTION 4
- INTO THE ORIENT
- BUCHAREST TO ISTANBUL
- Aug 17 - Aug 26
- 3800 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
ALL DEPARTURES
- 2024
- 2026
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- JUL 7 TO AUG 26
- JUL 5 TO AUG 24
- EUR 14300
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
- SPACES AVAILABLE
-
2024
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- Jul 7 - Aug 26
- 14300 EUR
- REGISTRATION CLOSED
-
2026
- ORIENT EXPRESS
- PARIS TO ISTANBUL
- Jul 5 - Aug 24
- SPACES AVAILABLE
Full tour and section dates listed are for first and last day of cycling. Prices based on double occupancy at majority of the hotels. Solo riders will be paired with another rider of the same gender at no additional charge. Accommodation the night before first cycling day and the night of last cycling day are included in entry fee. Single supplement may be available, please contact us for more information. We advise booking at least 1 additional night at tour accommodation before the tour, to be able to attend rider briefing and have assistance from tour bike mechanic in setting up your bike.
Full entry fee payment is due 90 days before the tour start date. Full tour entry fees will receive an early payment discount of €400 if full payment is received 6 months before the start of the tour. A registration fee of US$150 must first be paid to hold your place on the tour and is in addition to the entry fee listed above. Registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. We recommend registering 4 - 6 months before the tour start date to take full advantage of our pre-tour support and information bulletins, but late registrations are possible when spaces are still available.
Those coming for multiple sections get 10% off for 2 or more sections on the same tour (multiple section discount does not apply to full tour price). TDA alumni get special alumni discounts. Please contact our office for further details.
LATEST TOUR NEWS
The Magic & The Mystery Of The Orient Express Cycling Tour
"TDA in our view are masters at long haul bike touring. Michele and I have now completed five trips…
UPDATED July 24, 2023 BY Michael Coo
A Smooth Transition Into The Orient
Samuel Roy was the Tour Leader Trainee on the 2022 Orient Express. He looks back at the final stage…
UPDATED September 9, 2022 BY Guest Author
The Train Has Left The Station & It's Heading East
Samuel Roy is the Tour Leader Trainee on the 2022 Orient Express. He sends this report from Freiburg, Germany.…
UPDATED July 26, 2022 BY Guest Author
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WANT TO TRY US OUT FOR FREE?
We welcome you to join us, free of charge, for up to three days on one of our tours in your area. An excellent chance to sample the TDA experience first hand without committing to a longer tour.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST RIDER DAYS