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Fully immersive into the local culture, the trip takes in the ways of life across a hugely populated and relatively underdeveloped state of Tamil Nadu and the more prosperous and relatively developed state of Kerala. It is not for the faint heated as long cycling days end with relatively modest accommodation and throughout the local food is the only option, and toilet stops basic.
The unspoilt beauty of the back roads through paddy fields and the scenery of Kerala
He had not done this trip since before covid. Therefore not as well versed on routes, culture, hotels etc as one would usually expect from exodus. That said he was always helpful, organised and keen to see everyone ok.
Be ready for a full immersion into India - and happy with a lack of sophistication
Week one: too much cycling on busy main roads, too much cycling on busy dual carriageways, hotel with rats and mould, rivers dead from raw sewage, endless piles of rubbish, bland countryside. Week two: Kerala, beautiful cycling, much quieter roads, great views.
Very friendly locals, an aspirational country clearly highly motivated to embrace education.
Excellent team, faultless.
Skip the first week, find a trip spending more time in Kerala.
Loved this trip. Tamil Nadu was lush and the people very friendly. Lots of wildlife. Hindu temple in Madurai was really worth a visit. Food was fantastic. Tamil Nadu and Kerala very different places. Western Ghats forests and tea plantations stunning. Kerala was beautiful. Decent hotels. Good guide and back up team. They could not have been more patient and kind. The cycling at times was challenging. Some days the temperature was 38 with high humidity. The roads were generally very good apart from day 3 which was an awful road. There were a lot of punctures that day. It was for me the hardest day. More like mountain biking. There are some long flat days at the start and some hills in the middle which were actually ok( I did the recommended pre trip training). The days in the hills were the best. I wasn’t mad about the houseboat stay. I’d have been happy with a day boat trip and another night on dry land. I enjoyed every day though (even day 3).
I liked the temple in Madurai, the birds, the days we cycled in the Ghats and the tea plantations best. And the food.
Shekkar was very knowledgable. All the team were very kind,friendly and helpful.
I wouldn’t bother with taking clip in pedals, too many hazards on the roads to make it safe. Cows buses etc. Cycling in city traffic was scary at first but actually quickly worked out it’s not aggressive like the UK. Everyone gives way for you and no one drives too fast. I would take light weight bike lights. We had a couple of late finishes and really should have had lights. Take plenty of mosquito repellant, especially for long days when you might arrive at dusk. They bite through your cycle shorts. Some long days in the saddle. Worth investing in good cycle shorts. Take your own saddle maybe. Pack light as you can have washing done midway through at one of the 2 night hotel stays. Most places we stopped for lunch had hand washing facilities but wet wipes were handy. Take a water bottle with a mouth piece cover as roads very dusty. They give you plenty of snacks and have electrolytes for your water bottle.
This is not a trip for the faint-hearted : but if you are ok in temperatures of 30 degrees and over; you are a keen cyclist, can cycle 100km and cope with frenetic and unruly city traffic; you have an interest in foreign culture and religion ; and you have a strong tolerance of pungent smells this is the trip for you! I went prepared for this…..and thought it was great!
Visiting the amazing Hindu temples in Thanjavur after dark, beautifully floodlit, and being fortunate enough to see a performance of traditional dance there.
Shekar was a very good leader, always thinking of ways to make our expedition more memorable and more enjoyable. Nothing was too much trouble and the things we did and the places we went to were very interesting.
I found a rear mirror very useful..... partly to ensure that there was always somebody behind me which was good for my morale !...... And partly in navigating the city traffic and knowing when it was bad time to pull out !
This trip was pretty much exactly what it said on the label. A varied ride through contrasting states. Well organised and well run. No problems and a lot of fun. A good balance of riding and relaxation.
Nothing particularly stands out. There were many interesting things to see but for me there was no one inspirational moment. This is not a negative comment - it was all good with no real highs and no lows.
Shekar - Excellent. He was organised and always very considerate. He led well and although some minor incidents must have raised his stress levels he coped well. He loved to talk and would use two words when one would do but he was interested in improving his English (which was very good) so as to communicate more efficiently. Sometimes he made up the odd facts, particularly dates, but this was just an amusing characteristic and one would not treat his historical knowledge too seriously.
In our group everyone had done at least one cycling trip with Exodus before. There are some quite long days so I am not sure I would recommend the ride for first timers unless you were already keen cyclists. India is a mad place to cycle but quite safe once you get to grips with the techniques of getting through the crowds as one exits or enters a town or city. It is hot - low 30's C - but this is fine.
This was our third cycling trip in India and lived up to all expectations. There is a great sense of achievement in cycling Coast to Coast from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. It is wonderful cycling through the countryside, villages and towns and seeing and meeting people going about their daily lives.
I most enjoyed the friendliness of the people we met. I enjoyed seeing the cottage industries of the coir rope maker and coir mat maker. I love the chaos of India and the heightening of all your senses with all the sights, smells and noises.
Our group leader Shakar was excellent. His love for his country was obvious. He introduced us to many 'everyday' people and showed us many places on route. He is friendly and fun and got to know and involve the whole group in the trip. He made sure we were safe throughout the cycle trip. He was ably supported by Bevan, Franklin and Jenni who made sure our water bottles were always full and any issues with our bikes were quickly sorted.
Cycling is a wonderful way to see India. Don't be put off by some of the long distances - the route is generally flat and there are frequent breaks for water, snacks and coffee. Cycling in the towns can be challenging but being in a group helps. Don't think you'll loose any weight as the food is delicious!
This was such an excellent trip from start to finish. We experienced all types of weather from baking hot sun to cyclonic rain and along the way were constantly amazed by the friendliness and generosity of the local people.
Without a doubt the guided tour of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple where we witnessed Bullock and Elephant in ceremonial costumes in a procession.
Shekar was great, organised everything and sorted out a visit to a chemist for me when things got a bit awkward.
You will drink a lot of water whilst cycling so take something to put in it for flavour as it gets a bit dull after a while.
Wow, what a great trip. I had a fantastic time and I am so glad that I did it. There were so many highlights. To start with the cycling was varied and interesting combining flat, uphill and undulating sections along the way as well as cycling by rivers, along country lanes, a bit of city cycling, cycling through tea plantations and many more. The food was delicious throughout and there was lots of choice. I particularly enjoyed the fresh fish and jumbo prawns in Cochin but there was also a wide variety of tasty curries to choose from along the way. All of the accommodation was relaxing, comfortable and air conditioned/had fans. The amount of different places visited was great too ranging from Hindu temples, Christian churches, tea plantation, spice plantation, bird sanctuary etc. The guides on the trip were exceptional. Abhi, the tour leader, always had a smile on his face and always had an answer for any question that you asked him. He was also very encouraging on the cycling side of things as well as pointing out lots of interesting things along the way. He also made you feel welcome and was very organised. He was great. Franklin, the driver, was also great. He was always there to help with your luggage, fill up your water bottle or offer some food for your trip. He was also encouraging too. I would just like to say a quick thank you to Virginia, Alan and Scott who were my travel companions. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to travel with. They were fun, good to talk to and helped make me feel comfortable while cycling. Thanks. Finally, I would like to say that if you are thinking about doing this trip then just do it as you will have a great time.
The most inspirational moment was the day where we were cycling through the tea plantations. I really enjoyed the cycling (including 3000ft of climbing!) and the scenery was spectacular too.
The group leader Abhi always had a smile on his face and always had an answer for any question that you asked him. He was also very encouraging on the cycling side of things as well as pointing out lots of interesting things along the way. He also made you feel welcome and was very organised. He was interesting to talk to and a great human being.
It got up to nearly 46 degrees when I went on my trip so I would highly recommend wearing a cap/buff or similar under your cycling helmet as it gets so hot on your head otherwise. I would also recommend cycling gloves and padded shorts/underwear as it can get very hot and sticky. Good quality sun cream is essential too.
Just back from a wonderfully exciting ,fulfilling and enjoyable trip across India with a lovely group of people.
Accommodation and food of an exceptionally high standard.
Meeting with and seeing how the people of Tamil Nadu get on with life in a manner that seemed to be so bereft of aggression and so gentle while welcoming visitors despite living in the most primitive of conditions. Seeing at close quarters the level of service provided at all of our overnight stays. The cycle through the tea and rubber plantations.
Shekar R. and his crew of Keryun, Bevan and were as attentive to our needs as any people could possibly be.Our water bottles were filled before we asked, our bikes were ready and we were minded and cosseted from start to finish. Shekar is very proud of his country and was keen to allow us to experience as much of its culture and people as time would allow. He took every opportunity to allow us to gain extra enjoyment from out trip by seizing opportunities which presented themselves en route such as arranging for us to join a wedding party for lunch...meeting a young schoolgirl to recite poetry and visiting houses benefits . He coped with requests and difficulties in a most efficient and caring manner and ensured that all were included in his plans.
The temperatures during March this year were exceptionally high (up to 45C) but I would advise people to travel for trips in Dec/Jan /Feb if possible. Drink as much water as possible...then some more.
When my husband suggested cycling in India, I was to say more than a bit apprehensive but having returned from this 2 week trip I have to say that I have had one of the best experiences of my life that I could possible ever have. The contrasts when cycling were incredible – from the quiet undulating roads through stunningly beautiful tea plantations in the Western Ghats to super busy streets with buses, tuk-tuks, motor cycles, bicycles and cows to navigate around! The cycling itself was of a reasonable challenge with a few ascents but the bikes provided were of a high standard with good gearing and suspension so absorbing some of the “bumpy roads” making the ride enjoyable and rewarding at the same time. The distances cycled on a daily basis varied and even on the longer days (100 km) these were broken up with food stops/rests so nothing felt overly difficult. The food was another highlight and stopping at local “cafes” which were most definitely not on the usual tourist route a great experience and we tried so many new and delicious delicacies cooked at times on open fires by the most friendly of cooks. The accommodation on the whole was a very pleasant surprise with the standard a lot higher than we expected. All the places provided excellent breakfasts and dinners so the main issue was of NOT putting on weight! Finally, whilst the main focus was to cycle from coast to coast, on each and every day there were different cultural sights / experiences to partake of and so allowed us to see and appreciate this beautiful part of India. If you are thinking of doing a cycle trip that allows you a wealth of new experiences and adventures then do NOT hesitate to do this trip as you will not be disappointed.
Cycling in Tamil Nadu and when we passed the schools, the children in their beautifully presented uniforms would come rushing to wave to us and smile as we rode past. They made us feel so welcome. Also when we stopped, people were again very welcoming and wanted to have photographs with us and know all about us. The friendliness of the people, who themselves have very little, were so smiley and happy that it made you feel very humble.
Our leader Shekar was outstanding! From the moment we met him in Pondicherry to waving us off at Cochin airport, he could not have done more to make this trip so special for our group. He was extremely organised, knowledgeable and listened to what our group wanted and adapted the trip accordingly as he genuinely cared about us having a memorable time in his country. We felt very safe under his direction and he took full control so that when we arrived/departed different places we only had to worry about riding our bikes. He was very friendly and sociable, and worked tirelessly to ensure we had a fantastic trip. In this, he was supported by Abi, Kurian and Franklin and as a team they worked extremely well together so that all of our wants and needs were catered for. Could not ask for any more from any member of this fantastic team.
Cycling in India is unlike any other cycling that I have ever done! However, the team looking after us ensured we were safe so listen to what the leader tells you to do and follow any such instructions from the team guiding. On the roads do not hesitate - ride with confidence and you will be fine. Accept that parts of India have real rubbish/pollution problems, but try to see beyond this and in areas like Kerala a real effort is being made to make the region a plastic free zone. Also, embrace every new experience - there are so many - and enjoy every moment of such a trip that will leave everlasting memories.
