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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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21 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

Reviews

What a fantastically amazing trip!

There are almost no words to describe how fulfilling this Kerala trip was. I have taken a lot of interesting trips in my time, including northern India, but this really touched my soul like nowhere else and I cannot explain why. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t love about the trip. The food was great, the people were so, so friendly, the group was fantastic, the countryside so pretty, hotels were comfortable and the cycling was something I have never done before but really enjoyed. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the elephant walking in the festival parade. I never thought for a minute I would see that in Kerala. But also meeting so many lovely locals along the route

Thoughts on Group Leader

Safi was a great leader. He made sure we always knew where we were going and when and checked that everyone in the group was ok with that. He left some flexibility so that we could add in some interesting excursions when the opportunities arose. A great combination of leadership and teamwork.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Kerala is so beautiful and cycling at grass roots level lets you see and hear everything going on around. You can stop whenever there is something interesting to see (every 5 minutes!) If you are interested in this type of immersive trip but don’t fancy cycling, hire an e-bike. Best of both worlds.

Exceptional Holiday from Start to Finish

I’ve just returned from this tour and can honestly say it exceeded all expectations.

From start to finish, the trip was exceptionally well organised, with every detail thoughtfully planned.

The cycling routes offered a perfect way to take in Kerala’s beautiful coastline and local culture. Each day brought something new and memorable, with a fantastic range of activities and experiences that really made the trip special – with lots of surprise cultural experiences that we did not expect.

The food was excellent throughout, fresh, varied, and full of flavour and the hotels were of a great standard. Having access to swimming pools at many of the accommodations was a real bonus and a great way to relax after a day’s cycling.

Overall, this was a truly fantastic holiday. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-organised, active trip with great food, comfortable accommodation, and unforgettable experiences.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many! From the local wedding we visited, to learning and watching local craftsman keeping traditions alive to all of the super friendly locals and even a Hindu procession.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A special mention must go to our group leader and his team, Safi, Shibu and Vinnie who were outstanding throughout, professional, supportive, and genuinely passionate about making sure everyone had the best possible experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be put off if you're not a regular cyclist or haven't been on a bike for a while, the route is very flat and there is no hurry or race to get to the next stop, its a very good relaxed pace.

Disappointing trip with poorly maintained bikes

We added this trip as an extension to the Discover Sri Lanka trip which was fabulous and we highly recommend. Unfortunately
this trip for us fell far short of the standard we have come to expect from Exodus. I write this as a qualified ride leader with over 40 years of experience in bike maintenance.

Our bikes had multiple problems including excessive play in the rear wheel, unreliable gears, poorly adjusted headsets and badly set up brakes all which affected bike handling and created unnecessary risk. Having discussed this with Exodus they have assured us that changes will be made to the servicing of the bikes and that the ride leader will test ride every bike before handing it to a client.

Generally it is easy cycling on flat roads with a few minor hills on the last day. A lot of the roads are fairly busy, the Indian drivers like to toot so you know they are there, so it is also very noisy. The backwater roads are lovely but views of the sea can be limited because of the coastal defences. There is also a lot of litter and some unwelcome smells due to the lack of sanitation. The locals are generally very welcoming and friendly, plenty of smiles particularly from the children.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our highlight was the Kerala house boats, they were fabulous especially watching the sunrise in the morning as we sailed along the backwaters.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, who we understand was not the usual leader, was a poor communicator, disorganised and a thoroughly disappointing ride leader. On previous Exodus trips the leader has set up a WhatsApp group and used it to keep us informed of departure times and other key information. Our leader asked us to set the group up and rarely used it, most communication was by Chinese whispers. He was also a poor time keeper, we left late in the mornings, rode through the hottest part of the day and didn’t get to lunch until 3:00pm. On rides his pace was erratic, he would stop pedalling when on the phone. He also led us down the wrong side of the road, cut corners and failed to give clear signals of his intentions. Again we raised these issues with Exodus, they have assured us that these issues will be addressed with additional training so that Exodus usual standards are maintained on future trips.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Lycra cycle shorts are acceptable apart from visiting the temples/churches. Use insect repellent on the houseboats overnight as the ensuite had slats and no mesh to keep the mosquitos out.

Fantastic experience

This cycle tour was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Exodus were a great company and as a solo traveller I was very impressed with the support, nothing was too much trouble. It was a great itinerary, our tour leader was informative, flexible to all members of the group and did his best to accommodate everyone, despite there being some challenging members in the group.
All accommodations were great and of a good standard.
I would highly recommend the tour

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling in the mornings on quiet back roads where you are greeted like celebrities by happy smiling families on they way to school/work

Thoughts on Group Leader

My personal experience was absolutely fine. Unfortunately there were several other travellers in the group who were very challenging, our group leader tried so hard to accommodate but nothing was ever enough. Mr Shaker was professional, courteous, informative, helpful and flexible at all times. A great tour leader.

Potentially great trip let down by unroadworthy bike

Bike: Rear caliper loose, rear tyre coming off rim, excessive play in headset, poor brakes as calipers not aligned with discs. Bike replaced after a couple of days but they sent the wrong size. Leader was at best average. I cycled in Kerala two years age with different company, good Bike, brilliant leader. Hence 2 stars.

Most Inspirational Moment

Homestay and Backwater trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Average, made poor decisions about eating places. Communication poor, not using WhatsApp to remind us of important timings , like diner, breakfast and departure. Didn't even set up a WhatsApp group, so I did.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check your bike thoroughly or get someone with bike knowledge and refuse to get on it until all faults are rectified to your satisfaction. Pot luck with leaders. I walked out of our first night dinner in Varkala without sitting down. Next daythe others said they should have followed me.

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

We’re sorry to read that Charles felt this way about his Cycle the Coast of Kerala trip, and we appreciate him taking the time to share such detailed feedback. Exodus places great importance on the condition and safety of all bicycles used on our cycling itineraries, and we have stringent checks in place before every departure. Feedback from other members of this group indicates that the majority of bikes were generally in good condition overall; however, the comments Charles raises about his bike are not acceptable and this is being followed up with our local team. We fully understand how frustrating it must have been for Charles to begin his holiday with an unroadworthy bike, and we’re glad a replacement was provided, even if the sizing wasn’t perfect. One of our UK team was in touch with Charles during the trip and we would have been happy to organise a different replacement bike if he had requested at the time.

 

We were also sorry to learn that Charles was disappointed with his tour leader. We’re proud to have a strong team in Kerala who usually receive excellent feedback for their organisation, communication, and local knowledge, so it’s disappointing to hear this wasn’t reflected on this occasion. His comments regarding communication, restaurant decisions, and group coordination have been noted and will be shared our local manager.

 

It’s encouraging that Charles still enjoyed aspects of the trip, particularly the homestay and backwater experience, which are often highlights for many travellers. We appreciate him offering advice to future customers, though we feel that our ongoing equipment checks and leader development mean guests can join this trip with confidence.

 

We’re grateful for Charles’s honest reflections and will use them to ensure we continue strengthening the experience for those travelling with us in the future.

 

-Oliver O’Boyle, Exodus Product Manager

Fabulous tour - great cycle routes and much more

We did this tour after a week in the North doing the golden triangle so it was nice to sample the north and the south of India – they are very different. The cycle routes were fabulous and as were in the main flat within most people’s ability. The tour should be named cycling the backwaters and coast of Kerala as more time is spent in the backwaters than on the coast – not a complaint as the backwaters are fabulous. The night on the houseboat was amazing and the home stay was better than we expected. A great way of seeing the area.

Most Inspirational Moment

We did an impromptu visit to a local school - which was fabulous. The cycling was amazing

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rahim and his deputy Dipan were fabulous. We felt very safe in their company even in the busier towns.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just do it

Best first cycling trip

fantastic food- authentic curries you cannot find at home,freshly caught seafood. the backwaters were beautiful and perfect for sun downers after a day of cycling. hotels much better than expected

Most Inspirational Moment

the cycling was a thrill though the cities, on long coastal roads to stretch your legs and in tropical rain which brings a smile on when I think of it

Thoughts on Group Leader

sehar was phenomenal, we were in safe hands from the start, very knowledgeable and had great stories such as the time he slept in his vehicle and woke up to a tiger asleep on his bonnet. the support team rahim and franklin made sure everything ran very smoothly

Advice for Potential Travellers

day 1 is a bit slow and lots of visits to synagogs and churches. would have liked to visit Hindu temples instead so maybe stay extra nights if you would like to also. go heavy on the mosquito spray , the rooms were fine but it's outside at dusk they bite.

Fab trip

Fantastic trip, enjoyed every second.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Shibu was fantastic as were all of the team.

Cycling - The Best Way to Experience Kerala!

I had a truly memorable week as part of a group of six, who cycled a total of 134 miles (215 km) from Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi to Varkala.

The weather was georgeous and the scenery and food amazing. The sights and sounds of the real Kerala could not be experienced in a better way.

Shibu our tour leader and Kingsley our mini bus driver and support assistant made it so easy just to relax and soak everything up. The support vehicle was always present to provide regular water top ups and snacks and always drove a good distance behind the last cyclist, (frequently me) so there was never any pressure to speed up.

There are seemingly no rules of the road in India.! Lorries, cars, taxis, tuk tuks, motor bikes and cyclists simply move along in incredible harmony , somehow avoiding each other and the numerous animals and pedestrians occupying the streets, by sounding horns and bells constantly. Unlike European drivers, this is done in a very non aggressive way and is simply to alert other road users of a vehicles presence. You soon learn to join in with your bicycle bell!

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling through towns and communities and experiencing the genuine friendliness and excitement of locals of all ages calling out and waving to our group as we passed through.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shibu was an excellent tour leader. He briefed everybody clearly on where we were going and how far we were cycling. He broke each ride up into stages, so that we always knew the distances and times between stops and breaks. If we needed to negotiate a challenging junction, he ensured that everybody crossed safely. He also allowed individual group members to ride at their own pace, which I particularly enjoyed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was a little apprehensive about coping with the distances, as I am a very infrequent and casual cyclist at home, having never done more than 20 miles. Three of the group were keen cyclists and two of the others had opted for electric bikes, whereas I had a standard bike. I needn’t have worried, as the routes were all flat, apart from the odd bridge and the final day exploring Varkala, which was quite hilly. I was lucky enough that day to borrow an electric bike from one of the group who opted out and was so impressed with the assistance it provided, I would definitely recommend one to anybody in two minds about considering this trip.

A Cycling Adventure Through the Charms of Coastal Kerala: A Journey to Remember

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the incredible “Cycle the Coast of Kerala” trip with Exodus Travels, and it was an absolute dream come true. Every aspect of this journey, from the breathtaking landscapes to the exceptional guidance, exceeded all my expectations. The itinerary was meticulously planned, allowing us to soak up the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Kerala at our own pace. The cycling routes were well-chosen, taking us through picturesque coastal villages, lush greenery, and serene backwaters, offering an authentic glimpse into the soul of this beautiful region. The accommodations provided by Exodus were top-notch. From comfortable stays in charming local lodges to luxurious nights in beachside resorts, each place offered a unique experience, blending modern amenities with the traditional charm of Kerala. The trip leaders were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and always ready to offer support and guidance. Their deep understanding of the local culture, history, and geography truly enriched our journey, making it more than just a cycling adventure but an immersive cultural experience. Furthermore, the local cuisine was a highlight of the trip. From delectable seafood dishes to flavorful spices, every meal was a celebration of Kerala’s rich culinary heritage. The team made sure we got to savor the authentic flavors of the region, adding an unforgettable dimension to our travel experience. Overall, I cannot recommend this trip enough. It’s a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation. Exodus Travels has truly crafted a remarkable itinerary, leaving me with cherished memories and a profound appreciation for the beauty of Kerala. I will undoubtedly cherish the moments and look back on this trip with fondness for years to come. Thank you, Exodus, for an unforgettable experience!

Most Inspirational Moment

A particularly inspirational moment during the trip was our stay at a traditional homestay nestled amidst the lush greenery of a Kerala village. Engaging with the warm and welcoming local family, hearing their stories, and sharing in their everyday life offered a profound insight into the rich cultural fabric of Kerala. Experiencing their genuine hospitality, delicious home-cooked meals, and participating in their daily routines created a sense of kinship and belonging that transcended cultural boundaries.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Shibu, was an extraordinary guide whose passion for the region was infectious. His deep-rooted knowledge of the local culture, history, and natural wonders added an unparalleled depth to our journey. Shibu's unwavering dedication to ensuring our safety, comfort, and enjoyment was truly commendable. His friendly demeanor, coupled with his excellent organizational skills, fostered a sense of camaraderie within our group, making the trip not just an adventure but a shared experience of joy and discovery. Shibu's genuine enthusiasm and genuine care for each member of the group made our journey along the coast of Kerala all the more enriching and memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Hydration is Key: Stay hydrated at all times by carrying a refillable water bottle and drinking water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty. Replenishing lost fluids is crucial in combating the effects of heat and humidity. Light Clothing and Sun Protection: Opt for lightweight, breathable clothing that covers your skin to protect it from the sun. Additionally, use sunscreen with a high SPF, wear sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat to shield yourself from the intense sunlight.