Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

It is difficult to pinpoint any one inspirational moment, it was all good! Maybe seeing the Indian Ocean for the first time.  The houseboat was a lovely way to relax as well, with some stunning scenery. The landscape and people were fabulous - there always was something interesting to look at. Varkala was a great place to end on as well.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All of them were very good. Shibu was excellent company on the day I was ill (due to a massive cold, not 'Delhi Belly'! and both Saffi and Joseph were excellent cyclists. Joseph in particular was very kind and patient!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be relatively fit....it is easy to think that this is a holiday, how tough can it be?...It wasn't that difficult and I don't cycle regularly, but I couldn't have done it without gym/spin sessions etc.  Even with that, I didn't bother cycling up Ooty Hill...gave it a go and then ended up walking, which was a slightly easier option! Be prepared to chat to people as you are cycling, especially motorcyclists...and the endless kids!

Suggestions

This is a great trip, possibly the best cycling trip that I've done! It was very varied, the hotels were good to very good, the food great - noone got very ill either.The only slight negative is the kitty...and we were asked about this by Saffi.  I assumed that it was for snacks, entry tickets, tips, lunches and some dinners. In fact, we ended up being together all the time for dinner. It wasn't a problem as it was a lovely group, but sometimes it might be nice to do something independently. Of course, no one is stopping you but it would mean paying twice!! The upside of this though is that you know you are being taken to great places and all the hassle is taken out of it. The pros probably outweigh the cons.Overall, one of the best trips I've done!

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on 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.

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.

Suggestions

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on 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.

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.  

Suggestions

If you're thinking of going on this trip I would say "Hurry up and book it!"

Thoughts on Group Leader

They did very well. It would have been nice if there would have been more oppourtunities to go / cycle your own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check out on the food - our group was heavily suffering with stomach-/food-problems.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling down from Ooty was a blast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi, and his assistants Shibu and Shaka were excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a gel seat cover!

Suggestions

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Ooty!

Thoughts on 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.

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick just one - the highlights included - the elephant festival we attended near Guruvayor; the descent through the Western Ghats and the food which just gets better and better.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pete was an excellent group leader - knowledgeable and experienced with a laid back approach. He went the extra mile to ensure that we all enjoyed the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother taking money to exchange - there are ATMs at numerous points along the trip and you get a much better exchange rate than when exchanging cash. There is an ATM at the airport. 

Suggestions

There were 18 in our group, even though it was advertsied as being a maximum of 14. This did cause a couple of logistical issues and would have been better with 14.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long descent from Ooty is an amazing ride - mile after mile of sweeping turns, with amazing views amongst the tea plantations. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader has created a great trip, that blends some tough cycling (a very steep climb half way through the trip) with some easy and relaxing days (especially on the houseboats - which are lovely by the way). We also experienced some great food. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

While there are 1-2 long cycling days these are taken at a modest pace. Most people of moderate fitness could do this trip and really enjoy it. 

Suggestions

This was a trip where we rarely felt like tourists. Most of the places we went to (apart from the first two days in Mysore, and our time in Fort Cochin) were rarely visited by non-Indians, and therefore we were treated and welcomed like visitors or guests, not tourists. This was a privilege and a great feeling. The welcome and greeting from the Indian people in less-visited areas was incredible. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have never experienced anything like it on any trip. 

Most Inspirational Moment

 The 2200m steady descent from Ooty was spectacular. It was quite cool when we set off in the early morning and, after a few undulating miles through the Nilgiri Hills, we glided down through a range of climate zones to palm trees and the warmth of the plain. It was 5 hours of non-pedaling bliss with far too many temptations to capture the stunning scenery on camera. Another of the many highlights was the ride from chaotic Mysore to Bandipur National Park. On quiet country lanes, we were introduced, for the fist time, to rural life in India and jubilant greetings from dozens of children. This became a regular and heart-warming feature during the trip. It really is a different world in these small villages and cycling enabled us to see this at close quarters.Peter, our leader, managed to arange a cycle run to a Hindu festival and this was simply mind-blowing with a dozen elephants adorned in spectacular colours, huge bands of Keralan drummers and horn players and dancers supporting massive colourful spinning wheels. This was Hinduism at it's most vibrant! I heard that they manage to find a such a festival on most trips.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Peter was a suberb and confident leader with a huge bank of useful knowledge about the country. He was pleasantly laid back and there was no experience of being too organised; a problem among some leaders.Joseph, his co leader, was a delightful and considerate Indian guy and quite new to the job. He was invaluable as well as being a strong and fast cyclist. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

When we first met as a group, two of the major concerns were, cycling in the chaotic traffic and the climb to Ooty. These were also my worries.Don't worry about the traffic.  Things may seem a bit chaotic and your intrusion is just one tiny additional element to the scene. Drivers seem to cope well with all this; they are masters at judging your speed and avoiding you. Cycling through towns becomes a breeze eventually. Try to keep 3 metres away from the edge of the road and mantain a decent distance from the cyclist or vehicle in front of you. There's an abundance of pot holes and speed bumps in the towns and drivers tend to stop suddenly and without warning to negotiate these. Cyclists can be vulnerable in these circumstances, so the most important piece of advice in my view is to keep your distance, particularly in the small towns.The climb to Ooty is not a race even though an element of male and female machismo emerges at times! Some walked or grabbed a lift in the support mini bus for all or part of the climb. Others did it ever so slowly. Believe me, nobody cares a jot or tittle if you don't cycle to the top. It's a holiday, not a competition.

Suggestions

This must be one of the trips you must do before you die!Just do it! You will not regret it!