Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the best bits weren't on the itinerary; they were the incidental adventures that inevitably happen when you leave the group behind and go and explore.  Having said that, the Munnar day walk is fabulous and a great contrast to the hustle and bustle of Cochin.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Jatin, was calm and professional. However, I did feel he took a very 'coach trip' approach, in that information was usually limited to how long toilet breaks where, directing us to shopping co-operatives and leading us to ok but very 'safe' restaurants for group meals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is billed as 'leisurely' - and I'd just say be mindful of the type of people this may attract.  If you want to look at India through a coach window, be shepherded around and not have to think for yourself, and complain about not getting biscuits with a cup of tea, you'll be in your element.If, like me, this is not your thing, use the trip as a means of having your  transport and accomodation arranged, then take yourself off on your own, open your ears and eyes and get set to have the most fabulous adventures.  A word about meals: while the group dinner arrangements are handy in places like Munnar and Madurai, there are MUCH more exciting places to eat (for a fraction of the price) - so I'd urge you to get a guide book, look at the local recommendations and venture out.  As the trip notes warn, the service in restaurants is painfully slow, so the group dinners actually made for quite a painful frustating experience with 14+ people ordering, fiddling with bills etc. I'd also suggest that if you want to make the most of your time in Periyar, book extra activities in advance. It's a fair old drive to get there, so it was desperately frustrating to find, on arrival, that all of the extra hikes/safari options (other than the boat) were booked up.  We did manage to book ourselves on to an extra day hike and a hight hike too after a lot of fluttering our eyelids, but it was quite a stressful doing so.  Skip the stress and book ahead. Oh - and the morning hike arranged with the group isn't much to write home about, so if another activity clashes with the times (like the all day river rafting option, for example) I'd skip the morning walk and get out on the water. Do explore in Kovalam too - there's a much nicer beach than the main one lined with all the shops past the LightHouse - it looks like it belongs to a hotel, but it doesn't. Get yourself up the lighthouse and you'll see the track leading you down there.  A great place for watching the sun go down.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was inspired by the Keralan backwaters as it is hard to find places to completely unwind and simply drift along in the sunshine with not a care in the world, only think about where you will find your next coconut to drink.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ajith is a wonderful human being, very caring, intelligent and openminded. Nothing was too much trouble for him and he surpassed all expectations. He probably knows more about history and culture than the local guides!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Feel free to scream as much as we did during the jungle walk through leach infested bush. I am sure it is very therapeutic and funny afterwards! If you are offered leach socks, take them and the leach powder. Yes, elephant droppings that are damp usually mean that there could be one in the vicinity. You are not in a safari park.

Most Inspirational Moment

The panaramic view of the tea plantations

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ajay Gupta was an efficient leader but with little passion or interest in the area - South India.He is probably more at home in North India where he comes from.One of the things that struck some of our group was his complete lack of understanding about where we came from so that he had no point of reference to know where our interests may lie.  One thing Exodus should consider is letting all their long-service guides visit the UK - it would help the guides understand the people they are dealing with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take much in the way of extra clothing as it really isn't required.  Get a good road map of the area to be visited as the Indian ones are poor.  If you want some decent drinks - gin, vodka etc., buy at the duty free in the Indian airport of arrival prior to customs.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trek we did Munnar overlooking valleys of tea.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. The best tour guide who accommodated all 15 of us according to our needs, but also by going went that extra mile to help everyone that he was in contact with during the tour - the Brick makers, the Dhobi Wallas, the rubber tree harvester.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cost of meals varies tremendously depending on where you eat. Make sure the group leader gives you choice of the cheaper as well as more expensive restaurant/cafes. The taste of indian food is often better in the cheaper places!

Most Inspirational Moment

temple of Maduraiseeing rubber being harvested

Thoughts on Group Leader

excellent and knowledgeable

Most Inspirational Moment

I think the overnight stay on the houseboat is an experience never to be forgotten. The magic of the rivers , our own cook , having drinks sitting on the deck. A once in a lifetime moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

PLease see above. I cannot speak to highly of our guide leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went totally vegatarian while on our trip, my wife a doctor, advised it. It was sound advise we had no problems whatsoever.

Most Inspirational Moment

Agi was the most inspriational part of the trip. He was amazing at sorting out problems and adding so much to the trip.The local people were on average incredibly friendly.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic!!!!!! Simple as that.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect basic rooms, I would say european 2 star on average. I think on average  the group was disappointed with the accomodation, especially the river boats, they were very poor quality. Take insect spray, hand wash and baby wipes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Quite a few - it was lovely seeing the ladies picking tea in the mountains; watching the people praying and worshiping the various Hindu gods in the amazing temple in Madurai; watching life on the backwaters from the amazing and very relaxing houseboat; and the people in general - so friendly and unassuming

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ajay was a fantastic leader, you could tell he really cared that we were all having a good time.  He was very knowledgable and keen to answer any questions we had.  Any feedback was taken on board and he did his best to make right anything that people weren't happy with.  He was particularly good at organising the restaurant staff pretty much everywhere we went - this was sometimes beyond the call of duty!  Great leader, who contributed to our enjoyment of the trip. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

I don't really understand the previous comment by an 'independent traveller' who criticised the fact that the Exodus trip has a leader who did a lot of the organising.  This trip was a great introduction to India - and choosing a company like Exodus, paying a bit more, comes with this service.  The great thing about being on a group trip is  meeting like-minded people and relaxing in the knowledge that someone else is dealing with the logistics of the organising (which was often a challenge, even for Ajay who could speak the language!).  It would be very difficult to fit so much in in a country like India in only 2 weeks, that was another reason I chose a company like Exodus. Take pounds sterling with you to exchange, and do not rely on a Mastercard, as most ATMs are Visa.   Also - ladies don't have to be so strict with the dress code (the trip notes are a bit misleading); apart from the religious sites, bare arms and legs were seen as acceptable.  I was a bit disappointed I had packed to cover up in >35 degree heat! 

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the temple at Madurai and the Hill station at Munnar.I wish the whole trip had not been quite as regimented, as an adult and a seasoned traveller the follow-my-leader approach without a chioce  did not really fulfill my expectations of an organisation as long standing as Exodus

Thoughts on Group Leader

I think that Ajay did what he had been trained to do - lead a group of people around various sights. However what I believe might have been missing from the training was - these are people who are having an experience they ahve paid handsomely for, who may appreciate a choice of places to eat, who may not wish to be led around following their leader's hand in the air, who may want to ask questions individually and may not find being told to wait to be told until the whole group is together altogether useful, who might appreciate some information about places to visit or eat on their free time, who might expect a certain level of enthusiasm from their leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ask a lot of questions about how the trip is organised.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me - pretty much everything! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh was very kind, patient, knowledgable, funny and very pleasant to talk to. He was an extremely good tour guide.   

Advice for Potential Travellers

Embrace everything! Indian people have a very good sense of humour and love to engage in a conversation with foreigners, so make an effort! :) I went a bit mental, I can't sit still for 5 seconds, so I was getting up earlier than I needed to every morning to go into each the towns we stayed at just to experience more and more!!