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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114 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Nancy Arbogast

Reviewed February 2025

Exciting Introduction to India

India is an over-the-top experience for all the senses, bright colours, constant noise, strong flavours, heat and cold. The cycle routes provided a wonderful opportunity to explore a wide variety of landscapes and lifestyles — farmland, plantations, villages and small cities. We experienced the busyness of the traffic and the quiet of the beaches. Shibu was a wonderful guide who answered all our questions and explained the economic activities of the backwaters of Kerala. The challenges of this route include the heat and humidity combined with the long distances in the coastal section of the trip, and the demands of intense traffic conditions and poor roads on some days. The climb up Ooti is challenging, but accounts for only 90 minutes of one day. I used an e-bike for the first time on this trip and it would have been helpful except that it was so poorly fitted.

Most Inspirational Moment

The long descent from the hills to the coast, dropping 2000 metres through tea plantations, eucalyptus plantations, jungle, and bamboo forest (elephant crossing zone!!) with outstanding vistas at every turn was absolutely exhilarating! The circle ride around the backwaters to see how the locals live was really interesting.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shibu was very helpful and personable. Rintu, the assistant guide and Shihan, the driver were also great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The driving style in India is very different from North America or European practices. Be prepared for noise and apparent chaos.

jean almeida

Reviewed February 2025

WOW what a great vacation

I loved every minute of the trip it was exactly what I hoped for

Most Inspirational Moment

The way everyone in India was friendly ,the churches, the beaches everything

Thoughts on Group Leader

he was most informative on the region

Xiaolin WU

Reviewed October 2024

Exodus alway met expectation

Have done the trip during last Christmas/new year time. Totally enjoyed. I made a video for the trip: https://youtu.be/7xvF7soVxfw?si=4SniSHVWDryz8NLN
for those who is interested.

Most Inspirational Moment

There is some big hills to attack

Thoughts on Group Leader

5 stars

Samantha Rapp

Reviewed March 2024

India cycling

This was an excellent trip with 14 other people I did not know who are now friends, we had three guides Safi, Sandeep and Dipkin, Safi was our cycle leader, Dipkin cycle as well and bike mechanic and Sandeep our van driver and water man. We had daily briefings and how to navigate roads where to eat, our guides were knowledgable with local envionmental information such as trees, fruits and temples overall a really good trip, with some challneging cycling which was great

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Hooty cycling and completing this as well as the back waters boat and good distances covered as well as teh safari I saw a tiger and other fab wildife teh only thing was the safari guides good have made it more interesting with some commentary but overall good it was lovely to see animals being protected and the echo emaphisis although India has a long way to go they have states taht are plastic free and look after the wildife its a sjhame about teh street dogs as there is a problem with that as dogs are pregant and no way to stop this but India and this trip has been fab

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was very good he gave us a daily briefing the only thing I would say is taht he needed to be a bit clearer with instructions, and keep up with the female members to check welfare as a few times men would come close to us on mopeds, which he needed to be more aware abaout, apart from taht he was excellent friendly nice and had local knowldge the trip was brillent thanks to Safi and his team

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip if you like a challenge cycling and also to see hardly any tourists you see the real india with teh villages and friendly people I havve not been to India before and will definatley book another trip the accommodation was good teh food teh cycling and you had time to socialise and shop for gifts etc with our leader telling us what a good price would be for tuc tuks and shops etc in a nutshell I loved this trip

Jo Ronald

Reviewed February 2024

A trip offering a rich variety of experiences

Was quite nervous about going as it was my first trip to India. Once we arrived, I realised my nerves were unfounded. Our leader Safi and his two assistants Dipin and Sanjeed were all amazing. Everything was organised beautifully. They led the rides expertly, and made sure that we had a varied and authentic experience of India. The Indian people were fantastic – friendly, curious, helpful. And the children … wow! Lovely.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the hairpins at Ooty on a bike was a major personal achievement. However, there was so much to choose from - temples, holy rivers, stunning landscapes, amazing food, the warm ocean, three states, all very different, tuk tuk rides, seeing elephants and a leopard in Bandipur. Seeing a monitor lizard. And the backwaters cruise is stunning.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was amazing, as were Dipin and Sanjeed. They were brilliant. Can't praise them enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't count on the ATMs, they don't always work and are only available in the bigger places. Safer to take cash to exchange as this gives you more options. Take plenty of hand sanitiser and use it. Only drink filtered or bottled water and drink in cans or bottles. We took chlorine tablets just in case, but only used them to keep our water bottles clean overnight.

Claire Norfolk

Reviewed November 2023

So colourful!

I did this trip in Nov 2019 and did a review but cannot see any reviews from our trip for some reason. This was an amazing trip, so much to see, stop, photograph and take in the views and scenery. Tamil Nadu, tiger reserve (only saw elephants but that was great) we had a great guides and a fab group. I was definitely taken with the whole cycle trips to see more of the real country and life going on. Ooty hill was an amazing achievement for me though a lot of swear words kept me going! The Ooty train trip was great too. The colours, smells, madness of the traffic all terrific memories. Eating a typical Karelian meal from banana leaves in a local house was the best food. Vegetarians very well catered for and I wasn’t ill like many of the others in the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved it all but cycling up Ooty hill I guess. Also loved the overnight boat trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic, couldn’t be more helpful

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it!

Sally Jennings

Reviewed November 2023

Tropical India

I loved the holiday, the people, the food, the adventures however, I think whoever put the description of the holiday together needs to go on the tour and rename it. There is a lot more cycling on main roads and highways than I expected. We didn’t get to experience the tea plantations. We simply sped past them. The Tropical bit didn’t occur until the final few days.

Most Inspirational Moment

Definitely seeing a tiger stalking a baby elephant. We watched it for about an hour. The Granny and mummy elephants were so close to us and it was amazing to watch them protect their baby. Getting a Tuk Tuk to drive us round Kochin. The Jewish quarter is just lovely. The houseboat experience was fun. Loved sitting back playing Name that Tune with our new cycling buddies and chilling out.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was great. Always there with a big smile and he was brilliant at keeping us together which is not an easy task in India! And of course, Dipin with his very positive encouragement at the back and Sandeep who didn’t say a lot but always turned up with the van in time for us to top up our water bottles.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware, the traffic and noise is crazy. If there is a gap in the traffic, it will soon be filled with scooters! You will acclimatise but it is so different from the western world!

Amanda Sewry

Reviewed October 2023

Abundance

Was trying to think of one word to sum up this trip and India, and it’s Abundance. Abundance of people, noise, traffic, colour, friendliness, food, wildlife etc. It was everything I hoped it would be: the places we cycled to and through, the friendliness of the people, outstanding food and the legend of a guide that is Safi! Cycling in the traffic on the busier roads I never felt unsafe, they’re actually better, more attentive drivers than in the UK, and the seeming chaos of the roads makes complete sense in a country with sooo many people and modes of transport. Safi takes great care to look after his group, keeping us safe. He’s informative, kind and funny and goes above & beyond to make sure we’re happy and having a good time. A huge credit to Exodus. We had a fabulous group and along with our leader and the support guys made this a superb trip, feeling like we’d really immersed ourselves in India.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many to choose from, but a couple were: the people; always so friendly. The wildlife; couldn’t get over the sheer volume of dragonflies, butterflies and eagles/kites.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was exceptional and helped make the trip memorable. I’d read reviews of the trip before I went and saw the positive feedback about Safi, so was hoping he would be our leader. So I was pleased when he appeared. He has all the qualities you would want in a guide and super cool with it!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take cash to change up, some of our group struggled to find ATMs that would give out money. There were plenty of places that would exchange cash. You can only get clothes washed in a couple of places, one is at Ooty, but it’s not cheap.

Graeme Mackenzie

Reviewed March 2023

Really Great Holiday

The two week cycle tour more than met our expectations. First time in India and would definitely visit again.
The two key components being part of a nice group of eight participants whom all got on well (4 couples) and really superb local tour guides led by Safi.
India more than met our expectations in terms of being ‘different’ in that it was very busy, noisy, colourful, warm which all added to the sensory experience as well as much of the countryside being delightful to cycle through.
The Indian people in all locations were very very friendly with the children particularly keen to wave and acknowledge our presence which was a nice feeling.
The first days dive into the very busy and noisy hustle bustle of Mysore with cows wandering down the roads and experience of some poorer areas, then the tour moves more to the countryside where it is quieter. The final week heads down to the coast of Kerala where the cycling is easier and the temperature is hotter and the humidity is higher.
There are interesting and varied accommodation types used throughout the tour. Some accommodation is delightful whilst some accommodation is ordinary.

Thoroughly enjoyable and memorable holiday

Most Inspirational Moment

The long cycle downhill from Ooty through the large pine forests, then through the tea plantations and finally into the amazing eucalyptus forests was a real highlight. The scenery is unforgettable as well as the feeling of moving from the cool early morning air at 2,200 metres in Ooty to the steamy humid heat closer to sea level a number of hours later. We also ended that cycle with one of the best meals we experienced with the most delicious grilled fish as well as a selection of curries and other “dips” and bread served for lunch. The stay on the boathouse was also a delightful and relaxing experience- just a beautiful way to spend an afternoon and evening / night. Breakfast served whilst the sun came up the following morning as we cruised down the river was very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Safi was excellent. Safi is very engaging, knowledgeable, organised and makes it his business along with his two colleagues (who were also superb) to ensure that the cycle tour is as enjoyable as possible for all participants. Safi ensures everything goes smoothly in order that the holiday is pretty much all enjoyment and zero hassle. Safi puts a lot of effort into enabling the group to meet local children (visit a local primary school), meet a local family and experience workers demonstrating the skills that have been passed down over hundreds of years. The local team led by Safi ensure that the bikes (which were excellent quality) are all in great working order (regularly checking / servicing them), always helps provide a feel for a local area and frequently takes the group on a walking tour and makes really good restaurant suggestions. Importantly, I think all persons on the tour felt very comfortable and safe whilst in the capable hands of Safi. Safi ensures that safety during cycling as well as in all other areas is a paramount consideration which is reassuring. Everything feels very under control.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not take too many clothes- opportunities to wash clothes as you go if required. Do not get too hung up on food hygiene concerns. The accommodation where we stayed and restaurants where we ate or were suggested for eating were all clean and well presented. Yes, take care but we had no issues. We did only drink bottled water (which was in plentiful supply) and used same for teeth cleaning. It may have been the time of year but we had very little issue with bugs or mosquitoes.

Ray Salim

Reviewed February 2023

Kerala Cycling

Great variety of riding, lots of different terrain and views. Excellent guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Down hill from Ooty!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was extremely knowledgeable and very experienced. Was always calm and gave a great briefing for next days program and before each section of the rides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get a local sim card on arrival. Do some hill training for the 19 switchbacks up to Ooty!

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