The Tropical South

Customer Reviews

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  Casandra

  · February 20th, 2019
  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.
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  Trip date: January 2019
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  Alan McBurnie

  · November 5th, 2013
  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.
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  Trip date: November 2013
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  Tiena Eccles

  · October 22nd, 2013
  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.
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  Trip date: October 2013
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  Francis Josephs

  · February 6th, 2012
  An excellent, varied and well-paced trip- inspirational and relaxingWhat 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.
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Jennifer Douse

  · January 25th, 2012
  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.
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Mavis Tyas

  · January 19th, 2012
  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.
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Joy Brodie

  · January 17th, 2012
  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!
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Emma Shubrook

  · October 30th, 2011
  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!
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  Trip date: October 2011
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  Penelope Westmoreland

  · April 16th, 2011
  Wonderful trip as it combined beautiful, ever-changing scenery, amazing temples, picturesque rural scenes, wildlife and colourful markets. Our guide was lively and funny, and our group was friendly, so we had a lot of laughs along the way.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The relaxing houseboat cruise and canoe trip were so enjoyable as we could observe village life, coir spinning, birds, etc. in their beautiful, quiet and exotic surroundings.  Walking through tea plantations in Munnar was also lovely - they are dotted with silver oaks and stetch for miles over rolling hills, with some high mountains in the distance, and the tea pluckers, all women, working in groups, were friendly and interesting to watch. What did you think of your group leader?Avtar was likeable, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fond of jokes and silly expressions, one of which "easily peasily, lemon squeezily" I couldn't get out of my mind for days after my return...  He took pride in his job and tried to show us lots of things to break up the coach journeys, which he called adding spices.  Although he generally kept an eye on our group when sight-seeing, he let people wander off occasionally and wasn't quite strict enough about setting off on time (himself included); on the other hand, he was patient and resourceful, e.g. he proposed an (easier) alternative walk when he discovered that the steep Munnar trek would be disappointing as the tea plants had been cut down in that area.  Also, as no one wanted to do the optional excusion from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, he took us on a walk to see the Fishermen's Beach, and was willing to accompany us if we had free time or offer advice on what to do. He refunded unused kitty money to us on the last day.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?It was very hot and also very humid the further south we went, so perhaps best to go before March.  I would not advise visiting the Periyar Tiger Reserve in March because the wild elephants are irritable during this dry season and have calves and could charge at any moment (NB: tigers have not been seen by tourists for years).  Our local guides were clearly frightened and often told us to run when spotting an elephant that could be aggressive, but had been told we wanted to take photos of elephants and it was difficult to persuade them that we actually wanted to leave!  We could not do the Periyar Lake boat cruise because tickets were sold out when Avtar tried to get some a few days beforehand.  A reservation system has just been re-introduced and includes a significant booking fee but even so there's no guarantee that places will be available.  No one wanted to queue up for 2 hours and risk not going and it would have been particularly bad on the day we were scheduled to go because it was a Sunday, when local Indians go.  Swimming can be dangerous in Kovalam because of currents - the waves are high and surfing is possible, so best to swim in hotel pool.Is there anything else you would like to add?Funnily enough we weren't bothered much by mosquitoes.  The food was really good and cheap - a lot of vegetarian meals but quite a bit of fresh fish and some meat.  The coach was comfortable and the microphone worked well so we could hear everything that Avtar said.  The driver and assistant were good.  The roads weren't too bad and we stopped frequently as there's always something to see by the roadside, e.g. brick-making, religious processions and colourful markets, which broke up the journeys - Avtar did consult us first to make sure we wouldn't prefer to drive fast and arrive earlier at our destination!  I loved this holiday with its variety of things to see especially the martial art and Kathakali shows which were new to me.
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  Trip date: April 2011
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  Jennifer Bailey

  · April 5th, 2011
  This is a great holiday to introduce you to the delights of Southern India. It was a magical experience and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in this part of the world.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?There were so many highlights that it's difficult to pick out just one so I'll put down a few. The scenery and wildlife are beautiful as the colours are so vibrant and the contrasts immense. The walk through the tea plantations with the views of the Western Ghats was stunning. The backwaters in Kerala are amazing too - it was a dream of mine to visit there and the experience lived up to expectations. The Meenakshi temple in Madurai is very interesting and the visit provides an insight to some of the spiritual side of India. Other great moments were visiting the local markets and meeting the very warm and friendly people. The food was a great highlight too. We ate in a lot of local restaurants and the food was always fantastic.What did you think of your group leader?Avtar Singh is great! He was a fantastic leader and nothing was ever too much trouble for him to arrange. His humour and good nature helped an instant bonding across the group. The stories he told were always fascinating and I learnt so much about the culture and way of life in India. Always he tried to ensure we got a bit of extra 'spice' and this made the tour very special indeed. It was a real privilege to have him as a leader.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go with the pace of life there (it's much slower than London certainly) and open your eyes to new experiences. I enjoyed the early mornings when we were in the countryside as the wildlife was amazing at this time of day. The food in local restaurants was superb and while sensible precautions were taken most people did not suffer any ill effects. The people are very friendly and it was great to have the opportunity to speak to them in the markets and towns.Is there anything else you would like to add?I'm a fan of India now, and hope to return soon to enjoy some more of this incredible country!
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  Trip date: April 2011