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Reviews

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

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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119 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

Mr Colin Prince

The overall content and places visited on the trip was up to the standards expected of an Exodus holiday. The standard of the hotels was average, except when we were in Kochin. There, the home stay room we were given was very poor, the bedding was dirty and the room very small for 2 people. This would have been alright if we only had 1 night there but as we had a down day, I felt it was unacceptable. Our group was split into 2 hotels. It would have been better if we were all kept together. Safi did move us for the second night, but only after I requested it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the tiger in Bhundipur reserve. The animal and bird life was an unexpected pleasure. Going to a family home, meeting the family and doing a cookery course there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

This is my 3rd Exodus trip and I feel that the service that Safi provided was very much below the standards that Exodus had set previously. His knowledge was very poor and his communication skill were lacking. I felt he had lost any enthusiasm for the trip and he did not think about the social aspects of the group. The Kochin hotel as an example. The care that had been shown on previous Exodus rides,mwhen we came to stops on the bikes,bwas lacking e.g., no reminders for hand wash, no welcoming smiling faces and snacks had to be asked for. The driver was very good but not always there. Having said that Safi stepped up to the plate when I needed to go to hospital.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Use plenty of hand wash, apply lots of sun cream and drink plenty of water.

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

We were sorry to hear that Colin was disappointed with aspects of this trip. This homestay in Cochin is no longer being used by our groups and we hope that people will enjoy their stay at the new homestay. We were disappointed to hear that Colin was underwhelmed with some of the trip’s leadership; Colin’s feedback was followed up on by our local manager and we are pleased to see that Safi has taken this constructively and has received very good feedback since.

Louise Ungless – Product Manager for India

5000 miles away from my life in rural England!!!

What a shock to the senses arriving in Mysore on the first day of what was to be an amazing 2 weeks! The colour and noise of India was exhilarating! Such a brilliantly varied trip – I loved it! So much more than just a cycling holiday! A real snapshot of Southern India that I would recommend to anyone who loves to see and do a lot whilst away.

Most Inspirational Moment

Just arriving in India and realising that my 2 week adventure was about to begin! Against all odds, seeing a tiger drinking at the waterhole in Bandipur National Park! Mysore Palace at night (I nearly didn't go cos it was the first night and I was SO tired!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was a nice enough guide but could have been a bit more forthcoming with info about places visited and things seen along the route.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take: a bag for front of your bike to avoid bumbags/rucksacks (it's too hot!), shower gel if you don't like soap (that's what most of the hotels provide), loo roll (not provided in loos out of hotels), electrolyte tabs for your drink, concentrated squash (makes that warm water a little more interesting!) and BINOCULARS for the safari (a must!) Add as many extra days in Varkala at the end of the holiday as you can (one day just isn't enough!) but book it yourself (Exodus charged us double the going rate!!). We used the group flight but left 2 days later than everyone else and were so glad we did!

Enjoy South India from the comfort of a bike saddle

Described as “moderate/challenging”, this cycling adventure produced everything promised – varied cycling experiences in Indian towns and villages, backwater houseboat cruise, fabulous food and a relaxing beach at the end.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick just one inspirational moment when there were many, but for me the houseboat trip felt like a privilege: the leisurely pace of the cruise and the photography opportunities as the evening light changed, not to mention the beautiful meals cooked on board for us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Joseph, and together with his team he kept everyone on track and ensured we were well fed, safe and gave us good direction. He let people go off on their own when it was safe to do so, and kept everyone in check and under his wing when cycling through busy urban areas. His management skills ensured that we kept to time, while at the same time allowing us flexibility to visit local homes, tea shops and tourist areas if we wanted. He made staying in Indian hotels easy - no worries about accommodation, food safety or what to tip. He also anticipated some of us needing to know if we could get a beer at the hotels, ensuring we bought in advance if there was going to be a no-alcohol policy at the next hotel.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I took my own saddle cover for comfort - not a necessity, but a little luxury for the last day which is the longest cycling and some roads a bit bumpy. Always carry hand wash or soap leaves with you - taps for washing hands were normally available at snack stops, but not always soap. Anti-mosquito spray was needed in the evenings at the National Parks and Verkala. Don't be put off by other road users/traffic in India - Indian drivers are much more sensitive to cyclists than British drivers in my experience. They want you to survive, they take care to avoid you, they beep their horns as a warning that they are there, not to tell you to get out of the way. I felt much safer cycling in India than I do cycling in my own home city - London

Cycle Kerala

It was an amazing holiday. We saw a variety of landscapies and interesting items. The routes were varied and entertaining. I had the option to ride the bus when the road was too steep or too busy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Riding down hill from Ooty in the mist through the eucalyptus trees.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was informative, helpful and fabulous.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Mmske the most of all the trip has to offer.

Savouring a section of India at bike speed

It would be foolish to try and get a taste of all of India in two weeks. You would need to spend at least half your time flying and busing from one corner to another. This tour allows you to savour a corner of India at a reasonable pace. We had a chance to experience the moderately sized city Mysore, see the beaches, the hill country, national parks and cycle both in moderate traffic (hint- don’t look back) and on quiet back roads.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved -seeing the people washing in the river outside Mysore -recognizing the extent of our disposable plastic problem - the range of climate from dry land in the parks to the canals of Alleppey - seeing a tiger. Yes we were that lucky.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I appreciated that our leader Safi allowed us to cycle - when reasonable- at our own pace. Safi has a quiet sense of humour. He was sensitive to the groups various food needs, always calm and in control of the situation.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Look out for the tuk tuks in Kochi. They will try very hard to get you into 'tourist' stores. That can be fun, but be prepared to wonder about the value. Consider Dukoral to reduce the chance of stomach upsets. Pack your sense of humour. It is all part of the experience. Enjoy the people. I found that a smile or wave, especially to small children would be rewarded with wonderful welcoming smiles in return. We spent some time before and after the biking on our own. People were helpful friendly and happy to share their lovely country.

Kerala

All in all this was a fabulous trip ! Food was excellent. Hotels etc excellent. Cycling challenging enough to give you something to think about each day. Local people wonderful ! Just do it !

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling all the way up Ootty !

Thoughts on Group Leader

Saafi and his team were EXCELLENT !!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ladies don't worry you can cycle in Lycra and vests all the time. I packed all sorts of cover up clothes that never came out of my bag !

Fantastic trip

This was a whistle stop tour of southern India with a great variety of scenery, some absolutely amazing food & fantastic accommodation. The cycling was straightforward & the Exodus tour guides were great. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

I managed 30 of the 36 hairpins going up Ooty Hill before waiting for my partner who wasn't feeling well. Big achievement for me & one of my personal highlights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph (leader) & Shibu (driver) were a fantastic team & they gave us everything we needed & more besides on the trip. Unfortunately there were only 3 of us on my departure (because the other guests cancelled the day before) so Joseph & Shibu spent a lot of time with us, talking about India, their lives & ours. I cannot speak highly enough of them. They are absolutely lovely people & made the trip for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be nervous on the roads - they are insane & chaotic but you get used to the traffic & soon start understanding how they work. Confidence is the key! The cycling really isn't very challenging so don't worry about doing loads of training before you take the trip. Only Ooty is tough but that's optional & you can take your time if you do go for it. Jump in with both feet & enjoy the culture shock! Oh & eat as much food as you can manage, it is amazing.

Sensational!

I did this trip with some trepidation as to whether it would live up to a previous cycling trip I had done with Exodus (IndoChina & Angkor) which was brilliant, no worries there, this was an amazing experience in so many ways.
Firstly the variety stands out for me, each day offering new unseen before sights, giving another view of India.
The organisation was very good, accommodation and eating arrangements all hassle free. Bikes were in excellent condition and easy to ride with their smooth tyres. The trip is classed as ‘challenging’ but don’t be put off by this as only a short ride on first day and the 36 ‘hairpins’ are a challenge. Neither are compulsory and quite a few walked without bikes instead. The rest is fairly flat and downhill and many days are short as you start early to avoid the heat. The roads are mainly quiet with a few busy bits but the drivers in India seemed more accommodating than those in UK!
We were a group of nine and the group gelled really well, we had a lot of fun 🙂 one of the group even had a guitar which added to the entertainment!
It was very hot in March and it is essential to drink lots of water at every opportunity. One particularly good part about this trip is the very few transfers (on the bus) that is has, some trips have quite a few I have noted.
Overall India was a revelation to me, quite different to what I was expecting. The people are friendly and keen to speak to you as they practice their English. I took away so many memories and am so glad I decided to do this trip.
In summing up there is nothing not to like about this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Well some might say completing the 36 hairpin climb which was a sense of enormous personal achievement however 2 things stand out for me....seeing and managing to get some really good photos of a leopard, truly amazing to see this amazing creature in the wild. Also the ride after leaving Ooty where you have a long downhill, the bit before this as you pass through the tea plantations, the peace and array of colours did it for me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Safi, an experienced rider who has done this trip 70+ times I believe. He was organised, friendly and sorted out any issue or request we had. He was well supported by Vipen our other biker and Maneesh who was our water and banana man along with being the driver of the bus in which all our bags went. They were a really good team together. They joined in our fun and made the trip so much better for it. I felt safety was high on the agenda and always felt so at all times.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a good camera, one with a zoom lens and one you can carry on the bike, also get a cheap handle bar bag to carry it in too. Handy for phone, hand gel, sun protection etc. Padded shorts are essential and a gel seat or seat cover will help too. Hand gel/wipes at every opportunity! Travel light, don't take any super smart clothes, you won't need them! Buy clothes and haggle but be reasonable.Take cash £ to change, its easier as sometimes an ATM is not always available. India is cheap for most things so your money will go a long way. Do the kitty the notes advise, makes for much less hassle and is in fact good value on reflection. Don't delay..book it!!!

Cycling Kerala and Tropical India

Our first Exodus cycling trip and we will definitely be travelling with Exodus on our next adventure. It is a great introduction to India if its your first trip (its relative prosperity makes for less hassle from residents) and it offers a different perspective to the hustle, bustle (and many more tourists) of Rajasthan if you have travelled further north in the country. Beautiful and varied landscapes with an interesting itinerary and most memorable for us for time spent simply chatting with our guides along the way about life in India.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our favourites: scenery: ascent to Ooty hill station and the dramatic descent through the hills and tea plantations sight: tiger in the wild in Bandipur National Park town: exploring Cochin relaxation: night and day on the houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala

Thoughts on Group Leader

The whole support team were great company and worked hard to ensure that everyone in our group had a fabulous trip. What they may have lacked in detailed "technical knowledge" about the history, geography and culture of our surroundings they more than made up for with their friendly manner, determination to protect us all from the madness of the indian traffic and their delightful company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The fitter you are the more you will enjoy this trip (although the Ooty climb is the only really challenging ride so hop on the bus for the scenic drive or walk if you wish to avoid it). Leave your cleated cycling shoes at home - the traffic in towns is very challenging and we felt safer unclipped. Keep really well hydrated (salt and sugar - not just water). we avoided all meat for the duration of the trip and remained fit and well. Be prepared for very basic accommodation and if you can do upgrade to the premium trip for a bit more comfort. if you get chance take an extra few days at the end to rest and reflect on the experience - we opted for a beautiful spa resort further south along the coast - never has luxury felt so welcome!

Good food, good scenery, bikes, what's not to like?

Great trip

Most Inspirational Moment

We were taking a few minutes to visit an ancient church, and while we were there, got invited in (more like press-ganged, actually) to a wedding party that was going on in the church hall... not only did they try to get us to eat with them, we ended up on the stage where the bride and groom were greeting groups of guests in turn - and thereby got included in the wedding photos, in full lycra :-).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph did an excellent job of both leading the group on the road and helping us enjoy the other aspects of the trip - for example suggesting the typical cuisine of the specific area we were in to try.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If G&T is your thing, pick up a bottle of gin in duty free...the local stuff is less than entirely great...