Reviews

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

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118 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

John Mitchell

Reviewed November 2022

An action-packed trip taking in culture, food and the environment

The standard of this trip is up there with the best Exodus trips I have experienced: great cycling, fantastic food, very few moments of down time and a terrific insight into the culture, environment and wildlife of the three states it encompasses. It is an added bonus that the local population is hugely welcoming and friendly.

Most Inspirational Moment

This trip was so good I had four! Without a doubt the first and foremost was seeing both a leopard and a tiger on our jeep trip in the Bandipur National Park; we were able to watch each of them for over 15 minutes and whilst the leopard was close, the tiger was only a few metres away. The second was - with apologies to anyone yet to attempt it - reaching the top of the Kalhatty Killer (the climb up to Otacamund) which was definitely the hardest bit of cycling I have ever done since I first sat on a bike 60 years ago. The third was eating a Sadhya - a traditional Keralan meal served on a banana leaf - and learning from Shibu, one of the team members, how to eat politely and neatly with my fingers. Finally - swimming in the Arabian Sea at Cherai Beach: huge waves in what felt like bath water with an air temperature to match.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was outstanding. As he has so many qualities, it's difficult to know where to start, but let's kick off with the fact that he is a really nice, friendly, modest person. Then, he couples a great sense of fun with an even greater sense of safety, something which is essential on Indian roads. His attitude was, "Let's really enjoy the cycling, but let's also all get to the end in one piece", an attitude which he backed up with, when necessary, lengthy but clear explanations of the risks associated with each upcoming stretch of road and how to mitigate them, whilst not losing the adrenaline hit of, for example, the descent from Ootacamund. He would deny this next attribute (as he frequently did on the trip), but he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Southern India, its economy, politics, customs and religions. He has been working on this trip for well over a decade and in that time has accumulated a huge red book of places to eat, drink and shop (even down to each of the morning tea shops), matched only by his relationships with the proprietors of these establishments. Finally, he knows and loves the food of his homeland: it was entirely due to him that we ate so well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Do the recommended training programme. I am a regular and energetic road cyclist and, living in the South Downs, I am used to hill climbing, but I seriously doubt that I would have managed Kalhatty if I had not done the training. 2. If you are a road cyclist, take a pair of half-and-half pedals (one side platform, the other cleated). Cycling in Indian traffic cleated-in would be a nightmare, but on the open road and up climbs you can have the riding action you are used to. If you are an off-roader like most of the people on our trip though, you won't understand what the fuss is about! 3. Take a bike rucksack or handlebar bag, as panniers are not provided on this trip but it is useful to carry a waterproof on days when rain is threatened: although the van is right behind, the ferocity of some of the rain showers means you could get very wet very quickly. 4. Do the cookery class in Fort Kochi if you are offered it. Whilst I have been cooking Indian-style food for decades, this introduced me to the theory of using spices in cookery and was a real eye-opener.

Simon Llewelyn

Reviewed October 2022

Cycle Kerala & Tropical India - Oct 2022

Great trip, well organised, lovey tasty food and very friendly staff and locals. Bike were appropriate to the trip and mostly trouble free. Houseboat stay was a wonderfully peaceful and restful period after busy actioned packed first week. Weather was better than forecast, not too hot for cycling and only used rain jacket one day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the boat journey as I had time to contemplate and take in everything that had already past.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, Safi was really experienced and confident in his role and clearly had overcome any issues in the past so was relaxed and knowledgeable and allowed us all to enjoy the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a waterproof and consider waterproof cycling shorts for the days it might rain as bikes don't have mudguards. A pair of binoculars really help on the Safari - which was great. The climb to Ooty is a long one, take it slow and preferable spend a couple of weeks getting fit beforehand. Most importantly are the bureaucratic pre-reqs for getting out there in the first place. India seems to revel in making it difficult getting there (fine once there). 1. Getting a Visa can take weeks/mths and requires a visits to Embassy so do it well in advance (5 guests never got out due to not doing this!) . 1a. Visa application needs attention to detail - When it says nationality do not select British from drop down menu as this will get thrown out, they want United Kingdom which is a country not a Nationality - but that's India. 1b. Photos - they say they want a two inch version - For me they wanted two, fortunately I'd taken all four (from a station machine) 2. What really tripped up 5 of us was the need to have filled in and ideally printed was a form called an Air Suvidha - A self declaration form which has to be done around 72 hours departure. Three of us were panicking and completing it at the check-in desk on our phones and two others missed their flights because they didn't have it. I was asked for the printed form at Dubai (fortunately I had roaming and could refresh my email and find it. - So make a big diary date to do this the day before you leave and print this and your travel details which you will need to enter the airport on return. 3. I had bought and Lebara sim for my phone (vodafone network at home) checking roaming details and unexpectedly found that you can use all your allowances at no cost in India (They may be an Indian company) so could be worth getting one - they are very cheap.

Eddie Irlam

Reviewed February 2020

A trip for your bucket list.

I have done many cycling trips with Exodus and without doubt, this is the best of the lot. If you want a good mix of cycling with plenty of time for afternoons by the poolside, this is the trip for you. The climb to Ooty is exactly as described on the tin and it’s tough. The rest of the tour is all within the average cyclists capabilities. Only one 4 hour bus transfer during the trip, the rest pretty much involved finishing the days ride at your destination hotel. The whole trip ran like clockwork and that’s no accident all thanks to our first class tour guide Joseph, Maneesh and Kam, our excellent bike team. We were a mixed group of 13 like minded people and it worked perfectly.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, cycling through the villages in Karnataka where sometimes time seems to simply stand still and the rice barge trip on the backwaters of Kerala.

Thoughts on Group Leader

There is simply no better guide than Joseph. Absolutely faultless and a truly nice bloke.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you only ever do one cycling tour in Asia, do this one.

Will Hamilton

Reviewed January 2020

Wonderful experience

This was a fantastic couple of weeks. Joseph and his team are absolutely first class. The cycling is easy apart from that climb up to Ooty! Lots of magical memories.

Most Inspirational Moment

The visit to the temple at Guruvayoor. Farm walk and chai at the farmhouse. Seeing elephants in the wild. Home stay lunch. Houseboat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

First class.

Lynda Branch

Reviewed January 2020

Simply sensational

My husband and I had an amazing time on this cycling trip. From the start in Mysorevisiting stunning temples and cycling through manic traffic to the backwaters of Kerala and the tranquil pace to the national parks and tiger and elephant sightings it was a wonderful experience.
Safi and his team were first class guides – there to help in every way they could and to enhance each experience and always with a smile on their faces. Nothing was too much trouble and the added extra of being impromptu guests at an Indian wedding was an experience we’ll never forget.
The cycling was accessible to us as occasional cyclists and sometimes challenging. Climbing the hill to Ooty was certainly physically demanding but we had plenty of time and support on route and the midway tea point provided some much needed respite. The roads are, as described in the trip notes, mostly good but with some rough patches but taking our time we all navigated these without too much difficulty.
It’s hard to pick out the top highlights because there were so many varied and different experiences but for us the night on the houseboat (where we all dressed in traditional outfits) and seeing a tiger at close range were two. The food was also exquisite.
However, it’ll be the smiles of everybody we met and the hospitality of people who couldn’t do enough for us that we’ll remember.
We can’t recommend this trip highly enough,

Most Inspirational Moment

Having lunch in a family home where we tasted a huge range of local delicacies all served by every member of a lovely family. We loved it so much that we went back for a cookery class.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was incredible. From start to finish nothing was too much trouble - he anticipated our needs even before they were apparent to us. His local knowledge added hugely to the trip and he knew every local place to stop at, the best places to eat, where to shop, local craftsmen who demonstrated their skills. If anybody needed anything - e g medication, insect cream - he took care of it all. He gently guided us on the cycles - always around if we needed him but happy for us to go at our own pace as well. A big shout out should also go to this two assistants - Vypin and Santhosh - who were also fantastic. As a team of three they couldn’t have been better and added hugely to our trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that there’s some cycling in traffic so practice this before going. Pretty much everybody had a bit of a funny tummy - not enough to stop us cycling - so hand gel essential and supplies of Imodium.

David Wilford

Reviewed April 2019

Wow!

This really was a holiday of heightened senses: the most brilliant colours, the noisiest roads, the most intense flavours, the brightest smiles, the biggest views – and everything experienced in the thick of it, either from a bike or on foot. Vehicle transfers are few and far between, meaning there’s nothing between you and your environment (including a tiger, if you’re lucky enough to see one – which sadly we weren’t).

The great thing about Exodus at their best is that they can organise things we could never do on our own: not just carefully picked hotels and restaurants, but also temple and palace tours, a safari, a houseboat trip, a bespoke lunch in a bay of the Indian Ocean – and much more. That not only makes this trip great value – it also makes a lifetime memory.

And then, of course, there are the guides. The unfailing cheerfulness and knowledge of Joseph and our support driver Maneesh were a constant bonus that contributed to this being not only our best Exodus trip to date (it was our fourth) but one of the best holidays of our lives. Cycling aside, in fact, a highlight was a lesson in Bollywood dancing from Joseph – who is incredible at it!

Most Inspirational Moment

One of two: getting up Ooti hill without passing out, and Joseph's Bollywood lesson - see above!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph and Maneesh were both fantastic - anybody who gets this team in future is very lucky.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book it...

Keri L

Reviewed March 2019

Wonderful cycle trip through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

This was my first trip to India and it was a fabulous experience. I loved the cycling, which was mainly moderate with a few tough days, and we packed in so much that it felt like an amazing introduction to the country. We had wonderful guides, our group got on famously and the food was delicious. It was a very memorable holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

That's genuinely hard to narrow down, as there was so much to be inspired by. Getting to the top of Ooty ( sooo hard) watching the sun rise from the houseboat, Mysore palace illuminations, the temple at Guruvayor, the beach at Varkala - there were so many lovely moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shibu, Shegar and Sandosh (apologies for spelling) were a great team that looked after us so well. There's no way we would have packed so much into our limited time without their guidance, and we certainly never went hungry or thirsty. One of our group was celebrating a big birthday and they made it a very special experience for us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Really I'd just say go for it. There are challenging days on the bike so be as prepared as possible, but with some training, you can do it. I'd been worried about stomach upsets and mosquito bites and wasn't troubled by either. In fact as a vegetarian I've never eaten so well in my life - the food was glorious, and plentiful - we all worried whether we'd squeeze into our Lycra by the end of the holiday. I honestly don't have any notes of caution. One of our group did the whole trip on a Brompton, so anything is possible!

Sharon Reuben

Reviewed February 2019

A Perfect Balance!

My first time using Exodus for long-haul…I’ve traveled independently all over the tropics so was reluctant about this, wondering if it would be worth the money, but compared to the European trips I actually think it’s great value & I loved this trip
It’s a perfect balance of cycling & sight-seeing with the best food I’ve EVER eaten in India, which I put down to our guide Safi. As a vegetarian, you can’t eat better than Southern India 🙂

Lots to do, heaps to see, great variety of landscape, architecture and more…people are warm and friendly towards cyclists here…use your bell in the busy areas and enjoy the glorious peace of the quiet out-of-town rides. The backwater trip was lovely & peaceful, most hotels very good & a few excellent.
I’m an experienced distance cyclist so wasn’t daunted by the itinerary…most days are leisurely, a few more challenging which keeps it interesting -without question, the climb to Ooty is a serious challenge so be prepared. That said, a few folks used the support vehicle, that’s what it’s there for so don’t be proud!

* Would definitely recommend *

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a tiger in Chamundi was unexpected and magical...Seeing the sign for the last hairpin bend up to Ooty was a different kind of magical!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was great - very good company, didn't push the group too hard but also kept to time and delivered a great trip with lots of variety, heaps of local interest, incredible food etc.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't need many clothes - bring light thin layers as it gets v hot as you head south, but the few days around Ooty including the long descent after it are properly chilly, particularly flying back down to sea level out of the sun! The bikes are good...bring a little saddlebag or similar to hold a few items (phone etc) There's nothing you can't buy locally but ideally bring mossie spray / sun cream from home.

Sue Jones

Reviewed January 2019

An unforgettable experience

The cycling was challenging at times due to ascent and temperature but the local guides were realistic and supportive. The trip through three Indian states showcased the amazing friendliness of the local Indian people. The trip demonstrated the wildlife of Indian, the heritage of the area, history and heritage of the locals and the cycling challenges.
Recommended as a great way to see the real India. Please don’t see each day as a race and get into the Indian time zone and slow down and enjoy the time cycling rather than try and finish first.