Kerala & the Tropical South

Traveler Reviews

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  Casandra

  February 20th, 2019
  4.5
  I enjoyed many aspects of the tour - the accommodation was better than I expected, the itinerary was good and at a...
  I enjoyed many aspects of the tour - the accommodation was better than I expected, the itinerary was good and at a nice pace, the transport provided was very good and Santo was a very competent leader. The main negative for me was the age of the group. I was surprised to find I was in the younger half of the group. It was not really a problem, but I would not chose to spend my holidays with people up to 20 years my senior. On the whole, I did not like the choice of evening restaurants (too touristy for me) and I felt that I was putting my hand in my pocket constantly, even though the amounts weren't large. I am not sure if it was that so many options were included in the trip or whether I am used to the options being included in the cost of the trip.Show more
  Traveled in January 2019
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  Alan McBurnie

  November 5th, 2013
  5
  A fantastic introduction to India and Exodus. Having been recommended to travel with Exodus by a friend, I chose the...
  A fantastic introduction to India and Exodus. Having been recommended to travel with Exodus by a friend, I chose the "Tropical South" - a two week tour of the most southern States in India: Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was the best holiday decision I have made. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many inspirational moments during the trip. It was my frist trip to India - and the rich diverse culture simply grabs you from the moment you arrive and enthralls you until you leave.There were many wonderful things, from walks in nature reserves and tea plantations, elephant rides, cruising the backwaters in a houseboat and by Canoe.., ancient and exotic Palaces and Temples, tuk tuks crammed with school children ( I mean at least 10!) all beaming and excitedly waving at you as they pass by, and now I'm onto that - the chaos of the roads - which actually seems to work - from the many tuk tuks, buses, wagons, carts, rickshaws, vespas, and yes elephants all vying for space, watching wild elephants grazing on rich grasses, sampling the excellent food which is just waiting to be explored - and sample I did! We even met a local family and cooked with them to learn how to make some of Keralas dishes and Paratta!Probably the most thought provoking was our day trip to the southern most tip of India. We took a ferry over to an offshore rock where we had two very significant views: Looking South, the meeting of three waters: The Indian Ocean, The Bay of Bengal and the Sea of Arabia.  Nothing between you and the Antarctic.  Looking North, the town of Kanyakumari and the start of the landmass of the subcontinent of India - and the rich, colourful, noisy, kaleidoscopic and charmingly chaotic life of 1.2 Billion Indians.I really appreciated that I could do so much and get so involve in the local culture and activities, which is down oto the fact you are going with Exodus - who know the country inside out and have the logistics and ideas of where to go thoroughly reseached / tried and tested.  There is room in the itinerary for you to decide if you want to relax or if you want to explore some more.  You can tailor it to what you want within your group.  The important thing is you can place all your trust with the Group Leader and waste no time in figuring out logistics / systems. You just get to immerse yourself and enjoy India to the fullest. What did you think of your group leader? Touffique was exceptionally friendly and really good with the whole group. He kept us on track and was really helpful throughout the trip.  The itinerary was already exciting, but he always had "a plan" - for some additional adventures - which I readily did and was so glad to do so...... Nothing was a problem for him and he went out of his way to make sure the trip was enjoyable and memorable for us all. He managed to strike a good balance of being informative but also not making you feel like you were on a school field trip and will be tested afterwards :-). Overall a very good Group Leader. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take hand sanitiser just to be sure, and use before you eat. It is not that people are "dirty" there, it is simply the fact that naturally you are exposed to bugs you are not exposed to in the cooler climbs of Northern Europe. I used Vicks First Defense hand foam, and did not experience any stomach upset at all.  Other than that, take a deep breath, and get ready to immerse yourself in one of the big adventures of our life.Show more
  Traveled in October 2013
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  Vanessa Arnell-cullen

  September 8th, 2012
  5
  Awesome trip. Went with my 13 year old daughter and would recommend to anyone who wants to experience Kerala. The...
  Awesome trip. Went with my 13 year old daughter and would recommend to anyone who wants to experience Kerala. The trip changes every couple of days from bustling temples in the middle of a town to the remoteness of camping in the rain forest or the floating on a house boat. The itinerary may look busy however it was great to have the variety and moving on to new experiences every couple of days. As always the other families who were on the trip were great and like minded What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The highlight for me was walking amongst the tea plantations which was shrouded in low cloud, and hearing the hum of the women working together with the clipping of the cutters as the leaves were cut. My daughter loved the elephant ride and then bathing - the kids squeeled with delight as Deena (elephant) showered them with her trunk : )To be honest i enjoyed every day and it has been very difficult to pick one.  What did you think of your group leader? Santosh Kumar was fab and so organised.  His knowledge of the area and culture helped us to get max out of this experience.  The cooking lesson and then sitting down to eat it all was great fun too Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do it - you'll love it.  We  went at the end of the monsoon season as needed to go in the sumer holidays and I loved the heavy monsoon rain on a couple of days however there were plenty of times when the weather was good too .....  Is there anything else you would like to add? This was my first family exodus holiday however have done several adult adventures previously, my daughter and I both loved it and will definitely look to do some more.  Well done Exodus : )Show more
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  Mariette Heaney

  August 10th, 2009
  5
  Our journey was truly amazing made more so by the knowledge and experience of our guide who was able to take...
  Our journey was truly amazing made more so by the knowledge and experience of our guide who was able to take advantage of events and matters of interest arising in the moment. With the help of our expert driver we would stop at the side of busy roads to see festivals unfolding, investigate cashew nuts growing and see cows being washed in a river to name but a few. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Perhaps the place that will stay with all of us was our trip to Munnar, high in the hills, surrounded by tea plantations and cool fresh air.  We were particularly taken by the way everyone smiled! What did you think of your group leader? It was Souresh's understanding of how incidental moments contained the essence of his country and how they would capture our interest that made our adventure so spontaneous, fresh and feel somehow unique to us.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Travel light and think about taking a hand held fan. Suggest that you don't leave buying souvenirs to the end of the trip as it proved to be quite pricey in Kovalam. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would also like to thank Souresh and Sebastian and all the other guides who supported the tour for their genuine care and kindness they offered our children. I could see that the children's welfare and safety was paramount to them. Thank you once again you made your beautiful country even more magnificent by being able to see it through your eyes.Show more
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  Tiena Eccles

  October 22nd, 2013
  5
  A remarkable trip. So much to see and do.After each day my head was buzzing from all the experiences I had...
  A remarkable trip. So much to see and do.After each day my head was buzzing from all the experiences I had encountered. There was also many contrasts of landscape, from the coast at Fort Kochi, the mountains of Munnar to the plains of Madurai. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Sri Meenakshi Temple was incredible. A huge edifice buzzing with people. The guide was superb informing us about the many aspects of their religion.The houseboat on the  backwaters starting from Allepey provided a contrast to all the bustle beforehand. Hugely relaxing but still a lot to absorb with all the vessels etc on the rivers.Watching the sunset at Kanyakumari after a busy day. So peaceful.  What did you think of your group leader? Thoufeek was incredible. His local knowledge was superb and he offered lots of hidden extras. He was determined we were all going to have a good time and didn't let us down. He helped us with all the different dishes and even arranged a join in cookery session where we had to cook our own meals. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go with a sense of humour. India is quirky but take it as it comes.Show more
  Traveled in September 2013
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  Francis Josephs

  February 6th, 2012
  5
  An excellent, varied and well-paced trip- inspirational and relaxing What was the most inspirational moment of your...
  An excellent, varied and well-paced trip- inspirational and relaxing What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many: the two idyllic days on the houseboat; the moving Madurai temple and pilgrims; the exhilarating trek in the Munnar hills; our lovely meal with an Indian family; the tea plantations; the two peaceful days in the Coir village; exciting wildlife walk in Periyar; the elephant santuary; the (optional) train trip to Vekala beach; moving Gandhi museum; surfing and strolling at Kovalam; Trivandrum; bustling and atmospheric markets and villages- and so much more! What did you think of your group leader? Suresh was outstanding: highly knowedgeable, friendly, witty, very caring, attentive to the needs of all, and extremely hard-working. Easily one of the best leaders I have experienced. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Lassi is a nice drink, and cools hot curries. Chai tea grew on me- refreshing. Munnar is cold at night!Some markets and towns are dusty: I found tissues, eye lotion and throat sweets helpful. Antiseptic handwash and wipes are important.   Is there anything else you would like to add? Much easier and more relaxing than the north.Show more
  Traveled in January 2012
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  Jennifer Douse

  January 25th, 2012
  4
  The trip was very well balanced with a range of activities and sufficient time to enjoy them. Manoj, the Tour Leader...
  The trip was very well balanced with a range of activities and sufficient time to enjoy them. Manoj, the Tour Leader was excellent, professional, calm and efficient. He quickly worked out what the group liked to do and ensured that our needs were met. Memorable images include the fishing nets in Cochin, tea pickers in Munnar, pilgrims in the temple in Madurai, rice planters in Tamil Nadu, floating along in the houseboats on the Allepey backwaters, fishermen hauling in their nets in Kovalam and pilgrims visiting the shrines at the southern tip of India. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many colourful sights. I enjoyed travelling over the Western Ghats through the tea plantations and spice gardens. The colour and human hubbub in the temples in Madurai was fascinating. I enjoyed relaxing in the houseboats on the Allepey backwaters watching daily life unfold on the banks. Watching the fishermen hauling in the nets in Kovalam was interesting. What did you think of your group leader? Manoj the Tour Leader was excellent. He was very professional, calm and efficient and made sure that the needs of the group were met. The driver and assistant were also very professional and helpful and ensured our safety. Manoj dealt with problems in a manner that was co-operative such as having to leave early in the morning to flee from Thekkady to beat the blockade. He quickly worked out the needs of the group and would make sure they were met. He provided good advice on eating places, places to buy articles and places of interest. He was very knowledgeable and provided sufficient information to make the tour interesting. He also gave good tips on photography, being an expert. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for different climates as the tour goes from warm tropical to chilly mountain climes.Take rehydration powders as there is a possibility of stomach problems.Although we were able to borrow adaptors and eventually managed to buy one, the normal plug adaptors you buy here did not seem to fit Indian plugs. You will be taking a lot of photos!Be prepared for quite a lot of travelling on mixed road surfaces. Is there anything else you would like to add? It was a very relaxing trip and I felt rejuvenated by the experience. Most of the group suffered from a stomach bug (probably Noro virus) so I hope this did not detract too much from their enjoyment of the trip.I would recommend this trip for it's mix of activities and leisurely pace.Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Mavis Tyas

  January 19th, 2012
  5
  Excellent trip , varied itinerary with lots of time to explore. What was the most inspirational moment of your...
  Excellent trip , varied itinerary with lots of time to explore. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We really enjoyed the optional trip down to the very tip of India. I would recommend that that day be part of the itinerary. The wooden palace en route was amazing, and the island off the coast where the three seas meet was just wonderful. The ferry was an experience not to be missed.The houseboat was very well appointed and the food excellent with such an attenetive crew. The views as we cruised the backwaters were a delight = very restful and romantic. What did you think of your group leader? Gopal was lovely. Kind efficient and very thorough. He was very good at making sure we enjoyed all sorts of culinary delights. It was our third trip  to India but he found us different tasty meals that we had not tasted before. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You know leeches are not so bad. Inconvenient but not life threatening!! Is there anything else you would like to add? I did complete a more informed review in September with proper place names etc but it dissappeared and obviously failed to send. After spending ages with ny map getting the place names spelt properly etc I was disinclined to do it again, But I did not want you to think that we did not have a good time because we did. It was a wonderful holiday.Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Joy Brodie

  January 17th, 2012
  5
  This was a great trip with a fantastic guide with lots of variety included from walking, wildlife, sightseeing and...
  This was a great trip with a fantastic guide with lots of variety included from walking, wildlife, sightseeing and relaxing. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many highlights - climbing Munnar Hill, elephant riding, houseboat trip, seeing the birds (feathered variety :)). What did you think of your group leader? Absolutely wonderful - nice and calm, good sense of humour, checked out the welfare of the group both individually and as a group, organised and able to try and put in an alternative when we couldn't do part of the trip due to a border dispute. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Hiking boots instead of trainers would be better for the hill climb and the Periyar National Park.Need to be relaxed about slow service in restaurants - enjoy the time with your fellow travellers!Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!! Is there anything else you would like to add? India wasn't my first choice and it was one of my travelling companions who suggested it - when I saw this trip on the Exodus website and saw the variety it caught my imagination but still far exceeded my expectations.  The area we went to reminded me very much of my childhood spent in Fiji where there is a large Indian population and I felt very at home from the time we travelled in from the airport in Kochi.  The group we were with were a great bunch and I made some good friends.  So nice to get away from the cold in Scotland to some warmth in winter too.  Cooking and food was fab!  Just loved it all round!Show more
  Traveled in December 2011
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  Emma Shubrook

  October 30th, 2011
  4
  A wonderful holiday which ticked all the right boxes - great guide (Lukose), good mixture of city and countryside,...
  A wonderful holiday which ticked all the right boxes - great guide (Lukose), good mixture of city and countryside, good hotels, glimpses of local life - highly recommended as a great first time holiday to Southern India. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The houseboat.  There is something intrinsically peaceful and calming about meandering along the back waters on a fabulous houseboat where the crew conjure up wonderful meals from, seemingly, thin air, oh and banana fritters just in case we were hungry in the afternoon! What did you think of your group leader? Lukose was brilliant.  He anticipated our every question and had an uncanny ability to appear as if from nowhere as soon as anyone even passingly mentionned that there was something they wanted to ask him.  Very knowledgeable about the places we visited and India in general; and very quick to call someone if there was a question he didn't know the answer to.  He was very quick to get to grips with different peoples' wants and needs (beer and ice playing a large part in that!).  The trip ran like clockwork.  What can I say, a good few of us wanted to take Lukose home with us to organise our lives in the UK! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Definitely go on this trip it's a great experience.  Don't expect to be able to go to lots of bars, there isn't the same kind of drinking culture in Kerala as there is at home, but Kingfisher beer is available in most places! The day walk from Mattupetty Dam was a lot harder than many people anticipated.  The walk is really quite steep all of the way up and combined with the humidity / heat does make it quite difficult.  That said it is worth doing, the view from the top is great and it was good to do something more active.   The air con on the house boat was  really cold at night, take layers! I wouldn't recommend the visit to Kanyakumari - we spent a lot of time queuing and there really wasn't anything much to see.  The wooden palace about an hour away was beautiful so perhaps that could be a shorter optional trip.   The German bakery, Waves, at Kovalam is a must visit restaurant - food and cake is fantastic, as is the sister Fusion restaurant.   Is there anything else you would like to add? A fantastic trip.  There are some long stints on the bus but Lukose made sure we had plenty of stops to feed us and you see loads.  There are plenty of impromptu stops along the way to see fields being worked, sugar produced, bricks being made.  Book it!Show more
  Traveled in September 2011