Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Our favourites: scenery: ascent to Ooty hill station and the dramatic descent through the hills and tea plantations sight: tiger in the wild in Bandipur National Park town: exploring Cochin relaxation: night and day on the houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala

Thoughts on Group Leader

The whole support team were great company and worked hard to ensure that everyone in our group had a fabulous trip. What they may have lacked in detailed "technical knowledge" about the history, geography and culture of our surroundings they more than made up for with their friendly manner, determination to protect us all from the madness of the indian traffic and their delightful company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The fitter you are the more you will enjoy this trip (although the Ooty climb is the only really challenging ride so hop on the bus for the scenic drive or walk if you wish to avoid it). Leave your cleated cycling shoes at home - the traffic in towns is very challenging and we felt safer unclipped. Keep really well hydrated (salt and sugar - not just water). we avoided all meat for the duration of the trip and remained fit and well. Be prepared for very basic accommodation and if you can do upgrade to the premium trip for a bit more comfort. if you get chance take an extra few days at the end to rest and reflect on the experience - we opted for a beautiful spa resort further south along the coast - never has luxury felt so welcome!

Suggestions

don't be deterred about being over-organised. we were very wary of any group trip but found our fellow travellers a delight and there is opportunity along the way to do your own thing too

Most Inspirational Moment

We were taking a few minutes to visit an ancient church, and while we were there, got invited in (more like press-ganged, actually) to a wedding party that was going on in the church hall... not only did they try to get us to eat with them, we ended up on the stage where the bride and groom were greeting groups of guests in turn - and thereby got included in the wedding photos, in full lycra :-).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph did an excellent job of both leading the group on the road and helping us enjoy the other aspects of the trip - for example suggesting the typical cuisine of the specific area we were in to try.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If G&T is your thing, pick up a bottle of gin in duty free...the local stuff is less than entirely great...

Suggestions

The second half of the trip down the coast is pretty samey, with little variety of scenery. Some of this cycling could sensibly be removed and either the trip shortened or something else added in its place.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment of my trip was when I reached the top after sycling 36 hairpin bends through the most wonderful landscape you can imagine.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The Group leader made me feel safe. I really appreciated his way of leading the group and how he guided us through all kind of traffic.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget Your camera. There are plenty of Pictures to be taken:-)

Suggestions

This was my first trip With Exodus and it was a fantastic experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

The best bits were great, Cochin and our rest day, cycling up to Ooty, Guruvayanor, the houseboat, the final day. The food was fabulous throughout, although more opportunity to eat outside of hotel and tourist restaurants would have been welcomed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As a cycle guide Safi was great. But that's about it. Limited information about the plan each day, often delivered without enough time to be able to do anything different. Very little information about the places we went through and stopped at, and what we might optionally like to do there. If you didn't ask, very little was forthcoming.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are very happy to hear the accents if your fellow group members more than hear india, this is the trip for you. Take your own guidebook if you want to get out and about at all.

Suggestions

The bikes were generally very good and well maintained, however.... All of then had very very wide handlebars. Ridiculously wide especially on the small frame sizes. Several of us had aching wrists and it wasn't a natural position. I actually got hit by a car on a main road diversion. Or at least the car drove into the handlebars taking me with it. Fortunately I got away with road rash and nothing more serious.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling is fun... it isn't inspirational! Weird question! ;-)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph was really helpful - even intervening when I had trouble convincing one of the hotel staff that they might have double sheets I could use!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read up on India. The south is much less hectic than the North but still if you're expecting European standards and British type courtesy... You're in for a shock! Go with the flow.

Most Inspirational Moment

Personally this was on the last day of cycling when I decided to dawdle completely at my own pace through the scattered settlements along the quiet coast road, with the rest of the group way out of sight ahead of me and the back-up van somewhere behind me but not right on my tail. I saw so many sights, met so many lovely people and felt so completely safe and welcome even as a lone, western and obviously fairly affluent (ie displaying camera, binoculars etc) female - it was just wonderful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Safi was superb - very organised, friendly, supportive and knowledgeable and clearly someone who could be relied on to look after us as a group and as individuals. Our driver Vinu was also fantastic and a great source of local information as well as an expert bird-spotter - something I really appreciated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're at all tempted by this trip just go for it - it's brilliant!

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling down hill from Ooty was amazing, the super tall trees in the mist were so special. The sunset and sunrise on the houseboat was also fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Joseph was great, he really knew what he was doing and gave good advise on what to expect each day in terms of the traffic and riding terrain. When we had free time he would always be happy to help with suggestions and arrangements. He was also very aware and caring when people got sick offering advice and suggesting what to take to help etc. All the extra food places he took us to or suggested were great. Joseph as well as Rindu (assistant) and Michael (driver) were very professional and had obviously done the trip many times before as everything ran smoothly with out to much fuss. Thanks for a great trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take your own water bottle for the bike, some people didn't have them and the standard plastic water bottles would fall off the bike while cycling.

Most Inspirational Moment

MANY GREAT MOMENTS:. Making it up the hill to Ooty, when a young boy stopped to pick up and return my water bottle which had fallen on the road, when children said hello to us as we rode by, when families asked us to pose with them for photos, meeting great local people, and yummy food, seeing tea plantations, and the Arabian Sea, swimming in the warm sea at sunset, meeting the others on the tour - the most humorous group I have ever met.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was excellent. thoughtful and considerate and knowledgeable, and calm and great to be with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for crazy traffic in the cities and large towns and go your own comfortable speed.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were too many to nail down to just one moment. The achievement of climbing the 36 hairpin bends en route to Ooty or the 20+ kilometre downhill ride into Kerala? Meeting a group of lively local boys on a train who were so polite and animated and who wanted to chat with us on everything British? All this and more, although the biggest highlight each day was simply the local people coming over to talk, children calling out excitedly, waving and smiling, and moped riders driving alongside to exchange a few words. Wonderful people!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was a brilliant leader who made us welcome from the moment we met him. He was good company throughout the trip, was patient, caring and considerate and a very competent leader who prepared each day well, giving clear information before each ride and constantly overseeing the safety of the group. He became a good friend to all of us. Safi was also very well supported by Sekhar, our support driver and bike mechanic who was always checking the bikes over and making repairs and adjustments whenever needed. He kept us well supplied with copious amounts of water and snacks and always had a cheeky joke or interesting story to make the trip more fun or informative. The group was rarely aware of the support vehicle monitoring our progress from behind, but Sekhar was always close by looking after our comfort and safety and was immediately on hand at the right moment to provide refreshments. Safi and Sekhar worked so well together as a team and their contributions made our trip even more memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A fabulous holiday - one of our best with Exodus - and we would recommend it most highly. Travel light, as it is easy to wash and dry most cycling clothing so that it is ready to wear the following day. Don't fret about the heat as the breeze you get from cycling easily counteracts it and at night most of the hotel rooms have aircon. Traffic and drivers in India have to be experienced to be believed but, as the trip notes say, if you are a confident road cyclist in your home country you will quickly adapt and adjust your style for the predictably hazardous behaviour of bus and tuk tuk drivers who are a law unto themselves! Our leader, Safi, always gave us sound advice before we tackled any "hazardous" stretches and our driver, Sekhar, looked after us by thoughtful positioning of the support vehicle.

Suggestions

Try everything, enjoy the new experience, embrace the differences and make the most of every minute. Oh, and we learnt that the most important piece of equipment on any bus, car, tuk tuk, moped or motorcycle is not the accelerator or the brake but the horn, so get used to using your bike's bell at every opportunity! You will soon feel part of the local scene.

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed cycling through the villages, seeing village life and finding everyone so friendly and welcoming. One of the most inspirational places was Guruvayoor and watching the pilgrims come to the temple.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi, aided by Joseph and Vishnu made an excellent team. They were well organised and unflappable making the trip a seamless journey. They were happy to answer any questions and talk about about Indian life, religion, etc.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to go with the flow.