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 63 reviews.

Jacqui Ackroyd

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written August 2010
What a fantastic holiday. Great places, fantastic cycle rides, delicious food, fab team looking after us all the way.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The visit to the Elephant temple was way better than expected - they are such amazing creatures. Arriving at such a place by bike makes it even better.
What did you think of your group leader?
Vishnu was great at the organisation of everything - food, places to stay, transport.
Safi was a fantastic cycle leader - very aware of everyone in the group - if someone was struggling or if someone else needed to be pushed on.
The driver Sheebu was equally amazing and played a full part in the holiday - making sure that everyone was safe and always topped up with water.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We all put money into a kitty for evening meals which worked out well in the end although there was a bit of friction initially - especially given that exodus say there are no local payments - I would say this is one holiday where you will eat with the group just about every night and eat fantastic food even more so when Vishnu orders for the group. (it might even be better to sell it as a holiday with more evening meals included)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A great holiday. We travelled for a week in India before joining the group and realised then just how much easier this type of holiday is when you are not in charge of all the organisation! It was great to hand over all responsibility for decision-making and planning and just relax and enjoy!
Bridget Cox

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written August 2010
This was an awsome trip. It was an amazing experience and was really well run. This was the first time I have been on a group holiday so I wasn't sure what to expect however it was a lot of fun and I would definitely do this kind of thing again - in fact I am because I have booked my next cycling trip. The staff were brilliant and respectful and the backup truck regularly supplied us with water. There was no rush and I could go at my own pace which was reassuring. The accomodation was good, the food was excellent, the organisation was smooth and the sights were awsome. What more can I say - I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys cycling as you get to see parts of India which most people wouldn't get anywhere near.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling early in the morning through the coconut palms having got off the boat at Alleppi - The weather was perfect, I was feeling really fit after all the cycling I had done and it was just a really great feeling to have seen India in this way.
What did you think of your group leader?
I liked Vishnu he had a good sense of humour he was gently spoken and was polite. He had a lot of information to tell us and he was very patient. His recommendations for food were always very good and he was very good at ordering a wide variety of dishes which I enjoyed but woldn't have ordered on my own.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The hardest day for me was the first full day of cycling but I persevered and felt so much better for it. I had the confidence to complete the rest of the trip and it was the first time I had done 90km!
My essentials for the trip would be Padded seat and shorts, water bottle and hand sanitiser.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you exodus for a fantastic experience I look forward to more trips like this
Dee Dickson

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written February 2010
A well researched and planned trip taking us off the beaten track and into rural India that few peple, even back packers, have the opportunity to experience. I loved it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole trip was a journey of discovery. Cycling wise the best day was the Western ghatts descent - wow did the adrenalin flow! On another day when visiting the elephant temple we heard about a local festival so Peter sussed it out and organised a detour. To see the elephants lined up and bedecked in huge gold head dresses gleaming in the sun and to be part of the throng of people jostling around all the food and gift stalls was quite something, more so because it was so impromtu and spontaneous and we were the only foreigners.
What did you think of your group leader?
Peter was very professional. He organised the trip well and dealt expertly with the day to day idiosyncracies of the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go for it!!!!!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I can't wait to have another similar experience - Cuba or Sri Lanka are top of the list.
Katy Peacock

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written December 2009
Kerala was really beautiful - the people were friendly, the food was delicious and the sites were awesome, we thoroughly enjoyed the diversity experienced during the trip. This is a really great trip with so much to see and do - we loved it.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We loved Cochin - there was so much to see and do. We hired an auto-rickshaw (tuk tuk) for the day for 400 rupees (about £5) and went around all of the major sites including the Jain temple, which was beautiful. If you like shopping, there were lots of small keepsakes including silk scarves, handpainted paper mache pots and decorations and fabulous silk rugs. The hotel in Cochin was very luxurious and conveniently located - we were really sorry to leave!
We loved staying on the houseboat on the Keralan backwaters, it was so tranquil after several days of cycling and it was wonderful to watch life go by.
What did you think of your group leader?
Vishnu led the group for a few of the days. He was great - really knowledgeable and always on hand to help if you needed it. Peter was very experienced and resolved all complicated bike issues - brilliant!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This is a pretty full-on trip despite it being graded B/C - you do need to be fit and have trained a bit beforehand. The days of cycling were very enjoyable but they were quite long. I was carrying an old injury which flared up and consequently stopped me from doing all of the cycling, which was a real shame.
If you want to buy a sculpture to bring home then make sure you get it at Guruvayoor - they had fabulous pieces at reasonable prices. We thought we'd wait and buy something nearer to our flight home so we didn't have to carry it around but then never saw any sculptures as good as the ones in Guruvayoor and were all really touristy!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip was challenging but very rewarding and we would definitely use Exodus in the future - in fact we're already thinking about our next trip! There are only a couple of rest days though so we stayed on in Kerala for an extra four days at the end of the trip. We travelled down to Kovalam but, as it turned out, Varkala had a much nicer beach with better restaurants and cafes. If you want to stay on for an extra couple of days then just stay in the same hotel that Exodus books in Varkala - it was positively luxurious, clean, central and had a great swimming pool.
Samantha Jayne Byam

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA

Written December 2009
India is far more than I thought it would be, and ive wanted to go there for 30 years. Cycling across tropical India means you get to experience real life, not a tourists view. Wonderful local guides. Cant wait to experience more Indian life on 2 wheels
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being in the middle of wild dangerous nature, amazing!!!!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Arrogant 6 out of 10
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do it
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think we should have been kept together on the trip through the tiger reserve. We were told at the start not to spread out but it happened. I ended up cycling through there with one other person with no support if we had been eaten by tigers
Michael Surtees

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA CYCLING HOLIDAY

Written April 2009
A really good way to get to know a country. Cycling through small towns and villages really allowed us to get under the skin of India. One of the best holidays we have ever had!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top of the hill at Ooty. This provided a real sense of achievement and was only possible because the whole group worked together, helping and encouraging each other during the climb.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent! Very knowledgable and well organised. Always made certain our bikes were in top condition and always knew the best places to eat and drink.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you want to get to know India sign up for this trip. You will not regret it!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Take plenty of rehydration salts and make certain you add these to your water each day. It can get very hot and humid and this will certainly help overcome this problem.
Paul McCormack

KERALA & TROPICAL INDIA CYCLING HOLIDAY

Written February 2009
Outstanding trip, interesting places people food culture animals and the cycling was good too
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the Highlander Cafe at the top of the Ooty Hill climb, the spontaneous applause of schoolchildren as the "Peleton " rode though villages, meeting the staff aand children of the Orphanage, the descent from Ooty.
What did you think of your group leader?
Peter was an excellent guide for our trip. Nothing fazed him, excellent local knowledge, good fun, gave us a great trip
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't bother to take spare tubes pumps etc as technical support is really good`