Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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The trip exceeded expectations, so well organised, lots of interesting things to do. Our guide Safi knew his job inside out and somehow managed us all perfectly! Food was also amazing and snacks and meals were well thought out and timing was perfect!
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling through the backroads around Mysore, chatting to Indian people, colours and friendly smiles every where. Our guide Safi and his team, friendly, chatty, helpful and seamlessly organised. So helpful when I wanted to buy unusual gifts to bring home or take lots of photos!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi was a fantastic group leader. His skill in giving the appropriate amount of information, at the right time enabled everyone to be clear about the day to come, health and safety and information about what we were seeing. He is a very talented leader. He always made us feel welcome and went out of his way to join our group for drinks and meals. He went over and above everyday. In particular he helped me source a glass stand! Not an easy task but he didn't give up!
The itinerary is designed to give their customers a taste of the real country, its culture and people, taking you to less touristy places. The trip notes are very accurate to ensure you book the right trip, the booking experience is excellent and the local guides are superb.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling downhill through stunning scenery from the top of Ooty hill
Thoughts on Group Leader
Unflapple, nothing too much trouble, inclusive, sociable, a great advert for Exodus
The perfect balance of a fairly challenging two weeks of cycling, varied scenery, activities out of the saddle that are just as good as those in it, and a beach ending that is the cherry on top! Who doesn’t want to spend their rest day searching for tigers & elephants in Bandipur National Park? Our leader, Safi, had 15 years experience and his local knowledge made sure we saw the real heart of India. I would go and do this very trip again and I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a trip. 10 stars!
The guides, Safi, Frank and Shibu were excellent and provided a friendly atmosphere. Safi had first class knowledge of India and his preparation for our trip was first class.
Most Inspirational Moment
The boathouse, the friendliness of the Indian people, the food.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi was a major reason the trip was so successful. His preparation in visiting the hotels before we arrived ensured our health and safety needs were met and only 1 person was ill. He was able to answer all or questions in India and provided a detailed knowledge of the country. A first class leader who was friendly and fun to be around.
Our first cycling adventure with Exodus (after a great various activity tour to Vietnam last year) and this tour was just perfect for my husband and I as we love being active. However we still enjoyed the free days to explore and the sightseeing too. We had a great group and excellent guides. It was also our first trip to India and we felt as though we saw the real India, especially in the first week. The people were so friendly and they never stopped smiling and waving at us. The bikes were very good quality and suited to the mixed terrain. The hotels were generally of a good standard although a couple not so much but appreciate that it’s not always easy to find suitable accommodation in certain areas.
Most Inspirational Moment
For both of us it would be the impromptu visit to a junior school. The staff and children were so happy and made us very welcome.
My husband would say the cycle up Ooty was his favourite ride but mine was the ride across the rolling Nilgiri Hills and the dramatic descent through the hills and tea-covered slopes of the Western Ghats and tropical rainforest on day 6.
Also seeing a tiger in Bandipur National Park.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi our group leader along with Vineeth and Arun were all excellent guides. They kept us safe through some busy areas and fed and watered to keep up our energy levels, as well as being friendly and spoke excellent English. We enjoyed the food at all the cafes and restaurants safi took us too and my favourite was the seafood one by the sea on our last ride.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Some of the road surfaces and speed bumps are horrendous, traffic manic in the cities and the heat makes even the flat rides tiring but keep hydrated, follow the guide, take care and you will love it.
This trip is certainly an insight into real India, we definitely felt we were in at the deep-end! We’ve previously cycled in Vietnam and Sri Lanka with Exodus and this trip was very different. Our previous holidays included a lot of information about the abundant flora, fauna and history of the countries, this trip not so much. However, it is very interesting to cycle through the villages and towns to see how the people are living and the people were very friendly towards us.
Don’t under-estimate he climb up Ooty Hill, it’s an unrelenting slog, but well worth the pain for the sense of pride at the top and the lovely stop at the Highland Cafe.
Some people in the group had asked for electric bikes and 2 of them were small-wheeled and, in my opinion, looked quite poor and not up to the job. However, our non-electric bikes were absolutely fine.
The roads are very busy and we had some sections cycling on the highway so I would say that this isn’t cycling for the faint-hearted. However, our guide was excellent at keeping the group together through the ‘dodgy’ bits! The cycling for the first few days does include a fair few hills so don’t expect it to be flat! Also, some of the road surfaces can be a bit rough, or even non-existent in some places, so don’t forget your padded cycling shorts!
Eating out is very cheap in the south and we had some delicious food. Also as far as I’m aware no-one in our group suffered with any tummy upsets.
In the main, the hotels were good. We had a couple which were a bit basic, but our guide explained that this was because there wasn’t anything else in the area, but other hotels were excellent so it’s swings and roundabouts.
All in all, a very good trip and we definitely feel like we’ve seen real, incredible, India.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing a tiger in Bandipur National Park!
One day our guide asked if we'd like to visit a little school and we had such a lovely visit. The children were absolutely delightful.
Getting to the top of Ooty Hill!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Safi was a great leader and dealt with all this trip threw at him magnificently. Unfortunately, there were a few accidents which caused him to have to think on his feet but he never faltered and everything worked out very smoothly. He certainly earned his money on this trip!
Vineeth and Arun also deserve a mention because they too were brilliant. The three of them worked tirelessly to ensure we were looked after extremely well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The roads are busy and rough in places.
The weather is hot.
Don't under-estimate the hills!
India is an over-the-top experience for all the senses, bright colours, constant noise, strong flavours, heat and cold. The cycle routes provided a wonderful opportunity to explore a wide variety of landscapes and lifestyles — farmland, plantations, villages and small cities. We experienced the busyness of the traffic and the quiet of the beaches. Shibu was a wonderful guide who answered all our questions and explained the economic activities of the backwaters of Kerala. The challenges of this route include the heat and humidity combined with the long distances in the coastal section of the trip, and the demands of intense traffic conditions and poor roads on some days. The climb up Ooti is challenging, but accounts for only 90 minutes of one day. I used an e-bike for the first time on this trip and it would have been helpful except that it was so poorly fitted.
Most Inspirational Moment
The long descent from the hills to the coast, dropping 2000 metres through tea plantations, eucalyptus plantations, jungle, and bamboo forest (elephant crossing zone!!) with outstanding vistas at every turn was absolutely exhilarating! The circle ride around the backwaters to see how the locals live was really interesting.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Shibu was very helpful and personable. Rintu, the assistant guide and Shihan, the driver were also great.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The driving style in India is very different from North America or European practices. Be prepared for noise and apparent chaos.
Have done the trip during last Christmas/new year time. Totally enjoyed. I made a video for the trip: https://youtu.be/7xvF7soVxfw?si=4SniSHVWDryz8NLN
for those who is interested.
