Cycle Kerala & Tropical India - Cycling Holiday to India

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 62 reviews.

Olly Leicester

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written September 2011
I really enjoyed this trip from start to finish. Indian roads are a lot of fun to ride on - if a little chaotic at times. Each day has different sights and sounds and it just keeps getting better. You see so much more on a bike, than sat on in a minibus. The leaders are great and so is the curry.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are lots of highlights on this trip. But I think the best bit was reaching the top of the hill at Ooty, after climbing up the 36 hairpin bends. Down the hill the next day is also a great ride as there are 45 km of downhill.
What did you think of your group leader?
The leaders and driver (Vishnu, Joseph and Shibu) on the trip were great. They're all really friendly and together they are a great feature of the holiday.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I really didn't have a bad moment on the whole trip. Get stuck into the cycling, and into the curry and Kingfisher lagers too.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Use your horn - everyone else does.
Niall West

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written August 2011
This is an excellent trip. Every day is so different and there is something new around every bend. Cycling is a super way to see what this part of India has to offer. Not only do you get to see the sights but you also get to hear the sounds and smell the smells as you cycle by. You would miss so much if you travelled by bus or car. The cycling is very doable with the climb to Ooty the only really big challenge. On some days we did cover large distances but these are broken up with tea stops and a lunch stop. The trip covers a hugh variety from the busy streets of Mysore to the stunning Bandipur National Park and the quiet backroads and backwaters of Kerala. One of the best trips I've been on!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the summit of Ooty was a great achievement, having counted every one of the 36 hairpin bends on the way up! We were also very lucky to see a tiger while on the jeep safari in the National Park which was fantastic. Another enjoyable morning was cycling through the heavy rain and trying to cycle through an almost foot deep flood! The houseboats on the backwaters were also fantastic.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leaders Safi and Joseph and our backup driver Shibu were all superb. They were very knowledgable of the area and did everything they could to ensure we were happy with the trip. They were very diligent in looking after and maintaining the bicycles. Safi gave us a run down on the following day each evening after dinner and gave us directions each morning on the day's cycle.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
No need to bring bicycles from home as the bicycles used are of excellent quality. Would recommend bringing a gel saddle or saddle cover from home as some days are quite long.
Safi suggested a group kitty which covered all tips and meals not included on the trip. This was a great idea as we all joined together for each meal and it saved all the hassle of splitting bills etc. We were also brought to some very different places to eat which we possibly wouldn't have gone into on our own.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you're thinking of going on this trip I would say "Hurry up and book it!"
Rob Cottom

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written August 2011
This is a superb trip. We read all of the reviews on it before booking and they say it all. We're going to do another similar one next year.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So much of it. Seeing so many locals running out of their houses to greet us every mile of the way. We didn't see another westerner for 12 days. The food was varied, mostly good and fun. WE SAW A TIGER!!! Our guides didn't come on the safari and were dead jealous when we got back as they had never seen one. You really get to see India and its cultures...cycling around little back lanes with music piping out from churches & mosques. Held a snake. Stopped at lots of little 'coffee shops' (not exactly Costa Coffee so don't expect it) where we sat around with locals.
Without exception every person we encountered was friendly and happy to see us.
What did you think of your group leader?
Safi, Joe and Shebu were the key to the success of this tour. After day one they were like family...friendly, helpful, encouraging, sympathetic, empathetic, funny, the list could go on for ever. The quality of these guys can not be understated in their quest to make this a wonderful experience for us all.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We all got saddle sore (still take a gell saddle though) but after the first 2 km each day you just forgot about it. We also had varying degrees of stomach problems but again everyone just accepted it was part of India and it didn't really spoil the fun at all. Ours was the first trip in August and the weather was ideal for biking. Mostly around 30 degrees and occasional rain to cool you and have fun cycling through.
The 14 of us in our group was made up of some late 20s, 30s, 40s and us 2 in our mid 50s. Although we are not cyclists and struggled on days 1 and 4, everyone was great and each had their day of triumph. It was not a race and it was not an ordeal...we walked (with 2 others) up Ooty Hill as we couldn't cycle it. The bikes went on the van. It took us 4 hours but it was okay and we were cheered when we got to the top.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We were asked if we wanted to do a kitty and we did it. It was roughly £120 in Rupees which we gave in 3 installments along the way (no hassle if you didn't have it that day). It was well worth it, paying for all food, coffee stops, tips, entrance fees, everything else, and made life so much easier. We hardly spent anything else at all along the way. Highly recommend this!
Take rehydration salts to help you although Shebu had plenty on the support vehicle behind if you need more. They supply you with endless water so don't worry about that. A platypus was useful. The roads are a challenge with the traffic at times but it turned out to be fun. The locals were 'kind' to us when in heavy traffic. Just don't stop or start suddenly...just keep going in a straight line at a steady pace so they can anticipate where to pass you. You'll need 3 shirts...wick away ones and a couple of shorts with padding. You can get them washed along the way and besides 2 minutes after starting they're muddy again. The kids ask for pens all the time. We stayed on for another 5 days at the hotel in Varkala...(Expedia) the staff were great there too, the hotel small but clean and close to lots of good restauarnts and small shops. Perfect end to a fantastic holiday.
Isobel Tanaka

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written April 2011
A lot of variety - some great sights and places. The cycling was enjoyable and a good workout most days. A very pleasant and active trip.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling down from Ooty was a blast.
What did you think of your group leader?
Safi, and his assistants Shibu and Shaka were excellent.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring a gel seat cover!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Some of the hotels were basic and the rooms very small. Single beds were often not separable (space constraints) which was not great when sharing with someone I didn't know. Hot water and/or water pressure were sometimes elusive. Rooms did vary in the hotels though and some places were very nice.

We were asked to pay a kitty of 8,000IR to cover all meals, snacks, water and tips for hotels/restaurants.
andre schmid

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written April 2011
Nice bike ride along the backroads of Kerala. Occasionally very hot and humid, what made the uphill quite a hard work. The itinerary is a very good mix.
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What did you think of your group leader?
They did very well. It would have been nice if there would have been more oppourtunities to go / cycle your own pace.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Check out on the food - our group was heavily suffering with stomach-/food-problems.
Stephanie Brown

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written February 2011
A great trip with a huge variety of experiences and scenery. I found the cycling challenging but achievable, and our two guides, Peter and Shibu, were excellent hosts.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top of Ooty!
What did you think of your group leader?
Peter did a good job of looking after everyone and our bicycles!
A highlight was when he took us on an impromptu trip to a festival near Guruvayoor where we saw a procession of 25 elephants decked out in gold splendour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The quality of the bicycles provided is fantastic so there is no need to take your own.
Take plenty of antiseptic hand gel and wet wipes in small containers so that you can carry them with you all day.
Have a massage at the Cochin Ayurveda Centre, located in the Hotel Fort House - it was the best massage I have ever had.
Katherine Brown

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written January 2011
I consider myself pretty well travelled, but this was by far the best holiday I've ever been on. The organisation and planning was first class, aided by an excellent guide with local knowledge of the best cycle routes, eateries, hotels and cultural treasures. We hardly saw any other tourists for the majority of the trip which gave the sense of experiencing 'real' Indian life. The scenery was diverse and made every day seem like a new adventure, passing through the hustle and bustle of towns, quiet rural villages, tea plantations, coastal tracks and tranquil backwaters. The only constant was a chorus of greetings from excited local children, which seemed to follow us wherever we went. Despite being an active holiday, I found the balance between physical exertion and relaxation to be well planned. The houseboat experience was particularly therapeutic and reminded me how important it is to take some time to unwind whilst away. All in all an amazing adventure that I'd strongly recommend to anyone.
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