Chennai Tours and Trips

Had a great time in Kerala, with a fabulous bunch of fellow Explorers and a very knowledgable guide in Sam. Weather was kind, despite rain being forecast for the whole trip, only one heavy shower which was quite welcome in the very hot and humid conditions which made the cycling a little tougher. Accommodation was of mixed standards, had more cold showers than hot! Often welcome tho. A/C or fans throughout and much needed. Backwaters just as expected, lush and green, teeming with flora and fauna, binoculars useful, also enjoyed blowy coastal rides and the start of the trip in hippie vibe resorts of Kovalam and Varkala, excellent restaurants overlooking beach and lots of shops selling clothing and fabrics. Trip ended in Fort Cochin, iconic fishing nets ‘Cheena Vala’ didn’t disappoint along with architecture left by Dutch and Portuguese, nice feel to the place - an excellent trip with lots of good and cheap food, a few G and Ts too.

Great trip covering highlights of Kerala. Fabulous tour leader and support team. The rides started easy and flat, and became progressively harder with increasingly longer hills as we headed into the mountains. The slow pace suited my ability. The spinning classes I did as preparation definitely paid off. The heat and humidity were challenging! Road conditions were better than expected. The bikes could have been in better condition- the mechanic was great in sorting out issues on the way. Most of the participants missed their various connecting flights arranged by Explore, including us! Arriving at 5am and having to be prepared to cycle at 8.30am wasn’t fun! Explore really need to consider this as I think it’s a regular occurrence!

The southern India trip itinerary offers a nice variety of things to see and do. One day you are at a magnificent temple and the next day you are on a safari looking at a tiger. Be aware that there are long drives to get from one city to the next but this trip gives you a nice taste of the southern region which has a totally different feel from the northern and central areas.

A very enjoyable 2 week trip. The tour leader was excellent as was our driver and the local guides. The highlight of the trip was seeing leopards and a tiger in the Bandipur Tiger reserve but there were lots of other memorable moments from the evening "bed ceremony" at the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai to the Kathakali dance performance in Kochi and the train ride up to Ooty.

A very interesting tour packed with variety, colour and contrasts. Some long driving days but always plenty to see. The city sights were magnificent, and I particularly loved the night on the Kerala backwaters, also Bandipur and the bird reserve. Seeing a tiger was the icing on the cake. Our guide Abhi went out of his way to ensure we made the most of every day.

This was full on trip to visit major sights in S India. Expect a lot of travelling as there is a lot to see. Our tour leader Jojan was excellent. He was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, well-organised with a good sense of humour and keen to showcase his country. Highlights included the Mamallapuram Shore Temples, the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, Kochi, the wildlife drive at Bandipur where we were lucky to see a tiger and Mysore Palace. A great trip with wonderful food.