Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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.

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39 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

Pamela Lammiman

Reviewed January 2016

Incredible India Indeed – a wonderfully memorable holiday

This was our first visit to India so we were excited yet apprehensive in equal measures. Our holiday could not have been better and we are already looking at a return trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

All the children, immaculately turned out in their school uniforms, waving and saying ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ as we cycled by. The crazy, noisy, chaotic traffic in the bustling towns. The constantly changing scenery, through small towns and villages, initially passing by rice paddy fields, endless banana and coconut trees then through tea and rubber plantations. Dipping our back wheels in The Bay of Bengal and ten days later our front wheels in the Arabian Sea thus marking the start and end of our coast to coast adventure.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shaker, the leader, was smiley, knowledgable and well organised. He navigated the group safely across India organising great lunchtime stops along the way and introducing us to many culinary delights.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The hot hilly days were fairy tough but nothing that the whole group couldn't handle. Our taste of Southern India has left us wanting to experience more of this incredible country and I don't hesitate in recommending this trip to any moderately fit cyclist.

Suggestions

Thank you Exodus for a very well structured cycling holiday. Also big thanks to our cycling group – especially ‘The Kingfisher Girls’.

Darrell Stocks

Reviewed December 2015

Fun and Enjoyable

This was my fourth exodus cycling trip and the ‘routine’ was the same, across different countries. I’m impressed by the way Exodus find the excellent leaders and support staff. The bikes do the job, but don’t expect perfection – even so I wouldn’t contemplate bringing my own bike. The cycling is easyish for the fit and challenging (but doable) for others given the heat, especially. The main hill with all its bends I would equate to Alpe d’Huez. Some had to hop on the bus – but don’t let that put you off.

India and its traffic is unique and not for the nervous rider, but ride in a straight line and follow the cyclist in front and be aware and you will come to enjoy the manic experience. But there were lots of byways and some great views over the mountains at times.

We had some excellent food,much better than on the Rajistahn (don’t let me put you off) trip and in some ‘interesting’ local roadside eateries. Eat before inspecting the kitchens is my advice! I came to no harm.

Most Inspirational Moment

India (and Sri Lanka) is/are so different to the West and I can't believe that people wouldn't be inspired by this amazing country. Most of the people don't have what we have, yet they are charming, excited, genuinely pleased to see you. It is embarrassing to appear to have so much when compared to their simpler lives (I hope I'm not being patronising). Being able to cycle from coast to coast is amazing and to experience the contrast between east and west India. A real highlight was the overnight trip/stay on a boat in the Backwaters. A time to chill.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As always the guides, leader, assistants, mechanics, water bottle fillers and driver etc were magnificent (all 4 of them). How they cope with us daft europeans only they can say!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Things don't always runs smoothly. Chill out. Go with the flow. Enjoy. Previous reports had said you couldn't always get a beer at the end of the day dues to laws/culture. Our leader had it all sorted and clearly we had a few 'alcoholics' on this trip judging by all the bottles loaded on the bus. This trip could have been named the 'Kingfisher' tour due to the numbers of these birds we saw in kerela and the number of bottles of this wonderful Indian lager that were used to rehydrate!

Olive Patchett

Reviewed March 2015

An amazing cycling adventure coast to coast through the soul of India

You do need to be both a confident and competent cyclist not only to cope with the wonderful mayhem that is Indian town traffic but also the distances in the heat, however the rewards of this is getting to see and visit areas of India that most do not.
The sights,sounds and smells as you ride along are a delight and a photographers dream.
The accommodation was wide ranging from modern hotels, home-stays and magical old Indian hotels. All the food through out the journey exceeded our expectations with wonderful Tamil and Keralan cuisine.
We really had a great adventure – a highly recommended trip. Thank you Exodus!

Most Inspirational Moment

It seemed at times we were passing through the very soul of India with its very colourful local ceremonies and all the many school children high fiving us as we cycled through their life.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Shaker and his support team were excellent throughout with their mindfulness of our needs both on the mechanical side and perhaps more importantly on the relaxation and refreshment front! To get us all safely across India on a bike was no easy task!

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to be both a very competent and confident cyclist with stamina more important than speed to enjoy this trip to the full. Take a small pocket camera with a big memory card! Tamil food has taste attitude! Enjoy!!

Suggestions

The bikes were of high quality and great to ride although a little large for some of the ladies who had difficulty with them. Not good in the challenge of the Indian traffic system!

Robiah Goehtz

Reviewed January 2015

Ruby Goehtz

If you are a keen cyclist than this trip is for you as its one of the most challenging ride in India. The distance covered most days are long and the terrain itself is formidable. The rating for this trip should be C/D because of the many stretches of the uphills !! Also the road and traffic conditions can be a nightmare but its doable.

Most Inspirational Moment

The boat trip in Kerala is my highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The whole team we had was excellent. Shaker our leader is efficient, he is innovative,always cheerful and has very good knowledge of the region. He has proven himself to be a true gem for the company and because of his leadership, most of us have many happy memories to take home with us. Aby, his deputy is a young man with plenty of potential. He has been a great help to us all,always the encourager when we are about to give up. He works well with Shaker and they both work well togather. Franklin, our driver is a gem. He is very caring and never have to be told what to do. Always ahead in providing water, bananas and energy biscuits etc to make sure we have the energy to go on!!! His initiative is his plus point.Also he works quietly behind the scene everyday to provide us with enough to hydrate us in the hot weather. All in all a perfect team that works well togather.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the tough ride.

Andrew Swift

Reviewed January 2015

Southern India Coast to Coast Ride Booking reference: 4571361

Great trip – opened my eyes to the changes in India

Most Inspirational Moment

The agriculturs in TamilNadu and Kerala

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent,

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do as the leader says

Suggestions

Emirates flights were excellent

Ade Pickering

Reviewed January 2015

Southern India coast to coast

If you do just one cycling trip with Exodus, make sure it’s this one. It’s slightly tougher than Kerala and Vietnam, but more rewarding. You don’t have to be anything other than keen and reasonably fit to complete the journey (says the forty-something year old drinker and occasional smoker), but you will discover new muscles and an overall sense of achievement. But isn’t that the point?

Most Inspirational Moment

Successfully finishing a 160km day - by far the longest on the trip before I scare the horses - with my fellow travellers; exhausting but truly satisfying.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All the staff were superb throughout.....I wouldn't have changed anyone or anything about this 'once in a lifetime' trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it, and do it now. The food, the experiences, the challenges, the weather (October), the comradery, the people and the sense of achievement make it truly wonderful.

Suggestions

Nope.....if you're not convinced by now you never will be. Do it!

Sigurður Helgason

Reviewed January 2015

Cycling India from Coast to Coast

Another great cycling trip with Exodus in late october 2014 when all official predictions for number of „wet days“ were wrong with heavy rain and flooding in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is very different from Kerala and a great experience especially since the route has been improved and covers a very interesting area with long biking sections without any traffic.
The hotels and homestay were just great with good variation and luxury usually not seen on bike trips. Our drivers made sure the luggage arrived before or with the cyclists.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is difficult to pick only one moment as experiencing the caos of big cities with all their trash, traffic and human buzzling was just as interesting as cycling up the hill to the border of Tamil Nadu (Thekkady) in torrential rain against heavy waterflow or staying at Chettinah. The food was also excellent so dont espect to loose weight in spite of burning >20thousand calories cycling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was pleasant, opinionated, informative and talkactive and did his job well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long days with an early start and try to see the rain with the attitude of a farmer. Be flexible regarding the cycling distance (some disagreement was between different web trip notes, printouts and the expectations from our group leader. Causing some frustration) Because of the long cycling days there often is little time for independent exploration. Scheduled sightseeing may be very interesting but remember its optional and constant group supervision is not for all. Exploring on your own is OK as you dont disrupt the group schedule!

Suggestions

Small points that should not draw away from the fact that this was an excellent trip and highly recommended by me and my fellow travelers from Iceland: A better organized supply route for beer and gin in Tamil Nadu and keeping a small icebox in the support car stocked with instant coffee would be appreciated by many (invaluable on prior trips in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia and Laos). For some travelers it is more interesting to see wildlife, curiosities (snake charmer) or small home industry (the rope "factory" on the way to Kochi) than to many temples. Finishing in Kochi should perhaps be optional as this town has nothing of interest for many (after biking through more interesting cities and villages) and created difficulties for those who decided to end the trip by relaxing on beaches (Varkala, Kovalam) 170 km south of Kochi. Perhaps finishing in Varkala should be an option.

David Perry

Reviewed December 2014

Southern India Coast to Coast Ride

I carried out two trips back to back. The coast to coast followed by tropical India
Once you accept that Indians like their cold water hot, their hot food cold, there are no rules of the road and that Indian time is different from the rest of the universe you will have a good trip
Cycling challenging in places but not excessive Accommodation about what I expected
Food exciting and varied especially in Kerela

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting the people of the real India in the fields and plantations we travelled through. Meeting real labourer doing a real job in the actual location Tea Picking Rubber tree cutting and latex collection Squeezing and processing the latex Coconut Coire String making

Thoughts on Group Leader

An experienced guide who successfully herded the "cats" (travellers) through the trip without incident He had an optimistic and friendly approach to the job and offered opportunities explore and try new things

Advice for Potential Travellers

Sun protection and rehydration important Think about using sleeves for the arms don't use cotton clothing Loose modern synthetic clothing the most appropriate

Suggestions

I thought the quality of the bikes were very poor on both trips. I had the same type of bike on each trip We used Be-twin bikes from Decathlon that would not change down under load. The front suspension was very soft and could not be locked and made a standing climb position difficult The teams on both trips tried to resolve without success so just had to manage to the problem

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank David for his review. We are pleased that he had a number of inspirational moments during the trip , but sorry that he was disappointed by his bike. We have followed up with our local operator who are in the process of updating their bike fleet; we hope that this will avoid such disappointments in the future.

Megan Devenish – Trip Manager for cycling in India

Reviewed November 2014

Southern India Coast to Coast Ride

The cycling right across from Pondocherry , Tamil Nadu to Cochin in Kerala was a wonderful experience. Apart from one transfer we cycled all the way giving us an insight of the different cultures of the Tamil and Kerala people. From flat to awesome scenery of the Highlands and tea estates. We enjoyed the relaxing houseboat cruise on the Backwaters before our last kilometres to the other side on the next day.

Most Inspirational Moment

The temple at Madurai. Our home Stay at Vanilla country. Visit to Auroville on our first day. Chettinadu village

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader put in a tremendous effort to make everybody happy. We would go with him again.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Exodus should upgrade the trip notes.

Suggestions

We had a wonderful time and would recommend this trip to anyone.

Reviewed November 2014

A ride of two halves

Having completed both this & the ‘Kerela & Tropical India’ trips the concept of a coast to coast ride has instant armchair appeal. However the reality of this trip is that the riding in the first few days is rather repetitive & flat & would benefit from a re-think of the route to take in more hills – perhaps commencing further South? Once in the hills the riding is excellent with a great variety of accommodation.

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying in fantastic manor houses & homestays.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good organisational skills but lacking the ability to always understand the desires of the group. Fluency of English adequate but the cause of some frustration in the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare to be in the saddle for 7 hours per day - particularly in the first week. With the best will in the world there are not cold beers available after each ride. If it is a choice of this trip or Kerela & Tropical India I would book the latter first.

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