Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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47 Reviews

4.3 out of 5

Reviewed December 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

You have to be a far better cyclist than they suggest, however its good fun, long days and very early mornings, 0630 get ups. A day of 90km is no fun, Sometimes i wondered why we cycled through some industrial areas, most of the time its was great good countryside and villages. Be warned, Indian villages are dirty, piled high with rubbish, open sewers and never drink the water. its a culture shock.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the forts and palaces, mostly local people were pleased to see us, children and alike. Only twice any problems, stone throwing and slapping, and group stayed together. India is an eye opener.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Group Leader was extremely good, knowledgeable and listened. But cycled too fast ! I was mid group we had to wait for "tail end charlie" and the times we did km by time trial were difficult to keep up

Advice for Potential Travellers

Becareful and don't expect hot water and wi-fi, it maybe a rich country and the hotels and local towns aren't rich. Mind the cows and the stray dogs, lots of them and not nice.

Suggestions

On the whole it was a great trip, certainly made me think and in awe of how hard the indian village people work and put up with such hardships. Recommend but take heed of the cycle use, its hard work.

Reviewed December 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

This holiday was quite simply the holiday of a lifetime. It exceeded my expectations in almost every way. I could never have imagined that India had quite so much to offer. The endless stream of temples, forts, palaces and scenery that was simply breathtaking. The people of India were just so friendly and the great thing about cycling through the villages was the opportunity to meet the real people of India.

Most Inspirational Moment

Pushkar - the afternoon I spent on my own wandering around the streets of Pushkar during the world famous camel fayre was the most memorable few hours of my holiday. I spent a lovely lunchtime overlooking Pushkar Holy Lake in The Rainbow Cafe. The service was friendly and the food excellent but the views and the serenity of the location, in what was a bustling town centre, was simply breathtaking. Taj Mahal - Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of the Taj Mahal. It is simply perfect. The detail on the building can only truly be enjoyed by being there in person. The story of how it was built is fascinating in itself. This was a great way to bring my amazing trip to India to a close. Indian Wedding - whilst cycling up a quiet rural road we stumbling into a wedding procession where 26 couples were getting married. We were mobbed by the procession and at one point I was shaking the hands of the guests with both hands at the same time. Everywhere we went in India we met local people who were inquisitive, friendly and always smiling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

On our trip we had a team of 5 people taking care of the group of 10. Mr Singh - our bus driver and his very enthusiastic assistant. "Michael" who was the bike doctor. Sanjay was the supporting group leader and Harish was the lead group guide. The whole team spent the entire holiday looking after us. The attention to detail was amazing and Harish and Sanjay were always happy to help if you wanted a little more information or guidance. Harish's knowledge of the places we visited was excellent. He is also an expert on wildlife and in particular birds. He is a lifelong member of the RSPB and has even travelled to the UK as a guest of the RSPB to give lectures. I really felt that for those two weeks, all the team cared about was ensuring the whole group had the best possible holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cycling was enjoyed by everyone in the group. I would have described the group as generally fit but not athletes by any means. Everyone seemed to enjoy the cycling and managed to complete the routes with relative ease. The cycling is broken up into shorter legs throughout the day to ensure the group are together at each point of the tour. The hotels were of a surprisingly high standard. The were usually very impressive locations. Occasionally the hotels lacked the refinements of a European 3/4 star hotels but the staff were always happy to help. I think you have to expect in this trip that at times the hotels may not be as well run and maintained as you might get in the UK. However, the rooms were generally clean, well furnished and the cycling helped ensure a sound sleep at every location.

Suggestions

India has so much to offer, this holiday may not have been life changing but it was certainly life enhancing. I returned home with a real sense of achievement and an appreciation of so many of the things we take for granted.

Reviewed December 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

It was a great adventure cycling trough cities with crazy traffic, passing forts, palaces and temples. Cycle along with cows, camels and elephants and beeing greeted by friendly Indians! As a dutchman I had good fun with a group of English, Scots and Manx!

Most Inspirational Moment

Just seeing big smiles cycling trough rural Rajasthan when you greet people and children with Namasté from your bike. Passing loaded jeeps and tuk tuks with cheering people in, behind and on top of.It was good fun winning a prize on the Puskar Camel fair by making a human pyramid with 12 other foreigners and beat a Rajasthan team because we first broke a bowl with flowers at 5 metres high! And afterwards being interviewed by Indian news!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Harish and Sanjay where great tourleaders who took responsability for a great journey. They where well organized and we had good fun with them! And of course not forget the great bus driver mister Singh and the bike repair team!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go for it, have fun and aproach India with a big smile!

Suggestions

Be prepared that next to the cycling you will also spent a reasonable amount of time in the bus because of the long distances. For me the amount of time you spent visiting palaces, forts and temples could be less, especially in Jaipur. I would rather cycle more.

Reviewed December 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

The trip was well organised the team leader was good, the support good, it would have been hard to ask more of the five people we had looking after the ten of us in the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

It inspired us all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good and most helpful

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't eat the meat or chicken!!

Suggestions

The bikes could have been better, they were not that old but had been used and moved around so much

Reviewed December 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

This was my first cycling holiday and it was fantastic a real achievement and wonderful experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through the villages and the wide open spaces with a total feeling of freedom and peace.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sanjay and Harish were simply amazing, the whole team were.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long days. Just go for it, you'll have a great time.

Suggestions

The group made this holiday a truly amazing experience.

Reviewed November 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Having travelled with Exodus on about 12 occasions, it is difficult to pick my favourite trip, but I think Cycling Rajasthan was the best yet. I really cannot fault this trip and everybody in the group had a great time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Where do I start, Cycling through busy Indian Cities was exciting, cycling through small villages was an experience you cannot forget. The historic buildings were excellent. Divali Party was great.Most of all, the Taj Mahal lives up to your expectations

Thoughts on Group Leader

I have always found Exodus group leaders to be top class. On this occasion a new standard has been set, I cannot describe just how good Sanjay and Harish were. Along with our driver, 'bike boy' and bus attendent they were perfect and it felt like we were leaving old friends when we left.I have read previous reviews that rated Indian Group Leaders very highly. They are simply the best.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Constant washing of hands with gel made for no upset stomachs for the large majority of the group.Be prepared for 6am wake up calls, bags packed by 6.30, breakfast and start cycling.The cycling even on the longest days is not difficult and the pace is leisurely.

Suggestions

My wife was unsure about cycling India when we booked. We are likely to be booking Cycling in Kerela (India) as our next holiday.

Reviewed October 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

A wonderful holiday, full on, but a great mixture of cycling and sight seeing. Really gave you the opportunity to get off the normal tourist trail and see rural India up close and personal. I loved every minute. We had a great group and were looked after extremely well. Great holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

The people of rural India.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was great, he looked after us so well, and nothing was too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy the experience, you won't always get 5* hotels but you will always get a warm welcome!

Suggestions

Cycling is a superb way to see India, and probably any country. I won't be looking back :-)

Reviewed April 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Phenomenal. A challenge for mind and body. Focussed my thoughts on the day, the surroundings and the bike. Leadership superb, back up outstanding, hotels wonderful and colours and smells of India, will linger!

Most Inspirational Moment

There are no special moments...all of it. Getting the bikes in Delhi and trying them out...the overnight train and a tray of curries to try not to drop on one's clothes...the hotel in Jodphur and the pool. Meeting the group...going on the road and encountering my first roundabout...help. Temples and forts, and birds in the Keolodar Park were outstanding and we saw the tiger at Sarista! Rough tracks thru villages, avoiding camels, and water buffalo, and the hardest, daredevel school kids with naughty sticks to smash ones behind! Meals out, in Udaipur...dancng in the bus on way back to hotel. Everything about the trip was astonishingly good, even when my mobile was stolen from hotel room in Jaipur I got so much help from our bike guide Pramod, phoning UK etc. As a past trek leader, I know what to look for in trips, and this was simply outstandingly well led. Sanjay was our group leader, and Pramod our bike guide...they thought of everything...always looking ahead. The steady chai stops on the 94 km day made it seem easy...the non stop bananas and water and oranges helped us all along, but mainly it was everything. Even the day at the Taj, end of day...when light was good. I simply cannot enthuse enough, and looking for next one....I heard that P Burrell was responsible for the route...I wondered how it had been recce'd. It was amazing, leading us into rural rough tracks and potholes and onto highways...with the bus always on hand when it got to over 38 deg. Where am I going next?

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sanjay and Pramod were quite simply outstandingly good. Always punctual, always ready to help, or advise re food or biking, Pramod was a bird expert which I enjoyed as am into birds...he knew each bird by its call! Sanjoy kept up untiring willlingness to offer extras, at the end of a long day, by arranging a meal out, and we tried all sorts of things at roadside chai stalls...He took us to a marble factory, yet biked into smart hotels and nice hotels.. These two worked so well together, having known one another for a while....not assertive, but quietly managing it all so it worked like clockwork.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It may be moderate...I am not young...but bike fairly frequently, but no more than 16, 20 miles...on mountain bike, but found it fine, but it would not be good if one did not have some bike experience..at no time did I feel I could just dawdle along....BUT JUST GO and ENJOY the ride!!!!! Marvellous..opens doors.

Suggestions

Just thanks .....I loved it ALL....enjoyed meeting new people...enriching my life. Can't wait till next one... I felt renewed when I returned. and free.

Reviewed April 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

A brilliant combination of cycling and sight-seeing through a fascinating corner of India

Most Inspirational Moment

For an apparently unmoveable atheist, I found the deity 'dressing' ceremony at the Jagdish temple in Udaipur astonishingly moving. The sheer number of waves and smiles from local kids (and their parents / grandparents - some of whom might have looked glum, but a smile, wave and 'namaste' almost always broke through the facade of indifference) was fantastic. As was the sighting of Sarus Cranes just before dusk in the Keoladeo National Park, and the tiger in Sariska National Park, and the carving in the main Jain temple at Ranakpur, and arriving in Pushkar to a brilliant orange sunset... etc etc etc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pramod and Sanjay did a fantastic job, and the trip wouldn't have been the same if one or the other had been missing. Pramod's quiet approach perfectly balanced Sanjay's frequent aspirations for everyone to have a go at 'Indian' dancing... On the bus... After rum and coke. Brilliant! To see them at their most competitive, put them on opposing sides during a 'friendly' cricket match...

Advice for Potential Travellers

The first afternoon in Delhi can feel like wasted down time, but bear in mind that you'll be up at 6am on many of the subsequent days and have probably just endured a tedious night flight - relaxing by the pool is acceptable! Not having visited India before, I was rather unsure of myself and wish (in hindsight) that I had taken myself off to the Qutab Minar complex, which wasn't too far from the hotel. If in doubt, negotiate a price with the tuk-tuk driver and crack on. Whilst it's possible to eat incredibly cheaply in India, we tended to adjourn en masse to local restaurants in the evenings, where you could expect to pay in the region of 600INR (including beer) for a decent veggie meal. Don't worry if you can't get hold of small money from the FOREX places in the airport - I found that I soon had a stack of 10, 20 & 100INR notes after meals (10INR notes proved invaluable for 'toilet tipping'!), and there are ATM stops en route if you need to top up supplies of cash.This was my first ever group holiday, and I was nervous about booking it beforehand (it was a birthday treat and I didn't want to have a miserable time!). I can honestly say that I had a blast and would do the whole thing again tomorrow.

Suggestions

There's so much to see and do on this trip that you'll find it almost impossible to have an early night - particularly if you find yourself in a group of cyclists who won't be rushed. Some of the sight-seeing can feel time-limited, but the only times I felt really pressured not to linger were at the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. If you get a chance at the latter, ask to see the mosque, which is outside the 'museum' complex and still in use - fascinating Sufi shrines inside and an interesting comparison with the Jama Masjid in Delhi.Luckily you'll get plenty of time in the Taj complex. The mausoleum chamber itself can be unpleasantly crowded, but linger until the guards move you on (to let the next group in) and go round to re-join the line if you think you missed something. Finally - if you like good quality hand-crafted decorative items, then bring a card with plenty of credit. The carpet I bought in Jaipur arrived back in the UK just after me (8 days)! PS. My only negative: The pre-trip bike preparation was rubbish - the bikes didn't appear to have been cleaned after the previous Exodus trip, and some were only just road-worthy. Pintu did a fantastic job of puncture and general field repair en route, but I thought he'd been poorly served by the quality of his starting materials. Luckily this didn't detract from what I can only describe as a fantastic holiday.

Reviewed April 2012

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

I took my 23 year old daughter and we both had a wonderful holiday. You need to have an open mind, willingness to accept what India has to offer rather than a critical eye, ability to get on in a group and reasonable fitness plus tolerance of the heat if going in March. If you have all these you won’t regret this trip. Organistaion was excellent and group leaders could not have been better. Quite a lot of time in the bus but this is necessary to get around the area.

Most Inspirational Moment

No one inspirational moment but generally loved the madness of place. There may be a lot of poverty, little sanitation, no rubbish collection and insane driving but it all seems to work and most people are genuinely happy and pleased to see you. It was great to be free of some of the ever increasing restrictions that western governments put on their citizens. Loved the immense size and remoteness of Kumbhalgarh fort; the beauty of the Taj Mahal; the birds at Bharatpur; the bazaar at Jodhpur; the countryside in general.

Thoughts on Group Leader

2 leaders. Both excellent. Could not have been more friendly or helpful. Well informed and willing to give of their knowledge. Also should mention the rest of the team - bus driver; bike mechanic; general helper. All were good at what they did and genuinely friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry Immodium! Take strong sun cream in March. Go for it.

Suggestions

We spent an extra day in Delhi and it was worth it to see a few more of the city's sights, especially the bazaar area around Chandri Chowk.

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