Internationale groepsreis Cycling through Rajasthan

Peter

Er is geen omschrijving ingevuld

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Intense 2 weeks. Lifelong memories

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing a tiger in Ranthambore Moving from an initial state of terror to inner calm when riding a bike through urban indian traffic.

What did you think of your group leader?

Great fun and extremely professional

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared to drop the odd trip to another fort just to experience some time in the cities, or just to catch up on sleep. It's worth getting up early

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cycling in Rajahstan

Excellent trip with the benefit of a great leader. A full on trip with lots of variations. Only draw back was the lack of "down time". Also needed more shopping time.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing the Taj Mahal

What did you think of your group leader?

Excellent, knowledgeable, calm, clear, fun.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you plan to extend your holiday arrange to stay at the Central hotel in Delhi. ( The Siddarth) rather than the Ashok. It takes an hour to get to the centre of Delhi from the Ashok.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Would seem more sensible to start holiday from central hotel and finish at the hotel nearer the airport. Need at least one free day ( Udaipur would be perfect ) More shopping opportunities.

Fabulous adventure

Just returned from a wonderful cycling trip from Delhi, around Rajasthan, finishing in Agra with the Taj Mahal. Wonderfully organised with plenty of cycling through rural India and some exciting cycling in cities. Bhopesh and Anand were great tour leaders and the support team were also first class. The premium departure meant we stayed in some very beautiful hotels and the leaders arranged evening meals in some lovely restaurants.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing the Taj Mahal was a major highlight of the trip, but cycling through the more rural areas, seeing the real India was probably just as unforgettable.

What did you think of your group leader?

Bhopesh and Anand could not have been more helpful, they were good company, adaptable, knowledgable and fun to cycle with. All arrangements were efficiently organised, time management was excellent, and preparing the group for the days challenge was always well done. Safety was always a priority but this didn't detract from the fun.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

None of our group got any serious tummy problems, we ate Indian all the time. The leaders advised us well on good places to eat, we had street food and regular chai stops but because we were very careful regarding hand gel use and only drinking bottled water we had no problems.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would recommend this tour, some of the cycling was quite challenging if you are not a regular cyclist but there was always the bus and support vehicles behind you if you felt you need it.

Cycling Rajasthan

Nice way to discover Indi by bike.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Cycling through rural India and the Taj Mahal

What did you think of your group leader?

Excellent. Good knowledge, social and funny.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be aware of the traffic in cities.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just go for it. Prefer the cooler month of november and december.

Cycling Rajasthan definitely an experience not a holiday.

Wonderful experience of colours,smiling faces, friendly people,magnificent palaces,forts&temples against the noise,litter,pollution,poverty of millions of people.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Sheer poverty, squalor, litter etc of a so called advanced country. An India in need of birth control and distributed wealth taken from the very rich people.

What did you think of your group leader?

AK was efficient, pleasant but did not seem happy doing this work, a bit surly at times.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take immodium, wipes & expect the unexpected. 6 out 8 had diarrhoea & the other 2 were on antibiotics.Cycling through city traffic very dangerous, I got hit by car & hit a car, luckily survived.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Brought home some good stories

Cycling Through Rajasthan

Enjoyed it a lot - amazing forts and palaces and mostly good cycling (we had one day on really bad roads I could have done without). Only criticism was lack of free time on our own. As we were a small group (6) it was hard not to join in all the time. On the Kerala trip we had whole days free in Cochin and Varkala but there was nothing similar on this trip. I did get tired of the food - chili with everything.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

??? Knowing I could still be out at the front at 69! I loved Udaipur and the hotel there. Feeling the vastness of the cities - especially Jaipur from above at sunset.

What did you think of your group leader?

Very competent and caring.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take your own saddle - women especially.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Some, in fact all, the local guides were not especially interesting - their English was generally laboured. They often managed to say a lot of words without clearly conveying much. I do appreciate that we should be using local guides. More detailed and accurate notes on where we were going would have been helpful. The names of our hotels? in case we got lost. Advice on background reading? I picked up a second hand Rough Guide to India but not really appropriate.

Cycling through Rajasthan

A great 2 week trip visiting many cities, Palaces and Forts in Rajasthan. Great accommodation, variety of activities and fun guides. Cycling is varied and we were well looked after.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Cannot say just one as many days were varied and fascinating places to visit. Agra, for Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Ranakpur was incredible, Jodhpur,Jaipur, Udaipur and Pushkar all different....

What did you think of your group leader?

Bhupesh ( Boo) and Anand (AK ) were very amazing! Very knowledgeable, fun and went out of their way to ensure we had all that we needed!( Including pharmacy, iPhone shop for smashed phone, birthday fireworks treats!)

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

There is some time for shopping built into the trip, however not specifically in your free time, which might be better as not everyone in the trip found this time well spent...

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Standard of accommodation was one of the best for this type of trip and very well received. Would like to see this more often!

Our Indian adventure

An enjoyable holiday, greatly enhanced by sharing it with a fantastic group of like-minded people. A fabulous way to capture the spirit of Rajasthan. With the added bonus of mixing the 'sights' with a glimpse of 'everyday life'. A little disappointing not to have sampled more 'local' food. The leader preferring hotels or 'tourist' type restaurants. Would have liked to have seen more of the sights around Delhi, rather than driving round in circles by bus. Compared to our previous trips, there was a lot of time spent on the bus. The cycling was great. A mixture of easy and more challenging routes. I do however question Exodus's assertion that everyone is able to ride at their own pace. There were no particularly slow people in our group, however there were times when the slowest were pressured to get on the bus, despite the group being happy to wait. Conversely others were required to slow down to keep the group together, this was often frustrating for both ends of the spectrum. This may have been due to there being only two guides cycling, only one of which was of reasonable fitness.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Cycling through the villages were the most interesting and enjoyable times. The sleeper train was a surprisingly enjoyable experience also.

What did you think of your group leader?

The group leader spoke good English and enthusiastically shared his local knowledge with the group. He wasn't however so enthusiastic about the cycling element and lacked cycling fitness which sometimes compromised safety. The assistant leader is more of a cycling enthusiast with the fitness to match but unfortunately showed little interest in the monuments and sights.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take plenty of high energy snacks. Unlike on similar trips, these were not provided or easily bought. Our group were often hungry and energy reserves dipped on some of the more challenging cycling days. We soon learnt to take food from the breakfast buffet to refuel later on. We found we needed more money for food than the trip notes suggest. We were encouraged to tip more than the trip notes suggested also. There are opportunities to get laundry done.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Another great Exodus holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed, however it didn't quite match the standard of other Exodus holidays we have had.

Cycling in Rajasthan

A fantastic experience that lets you get up close to the real India with all its sights, smells and sounds. A great way to have an active holiday whilst a packed itinerary allows you to see many of the iconic sights of India.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Riding through the villages where all the children would come out to line the streets and wave. Wherever we stopped a crowd would gather round to inspect both us and the bikes. I guess strangers, and especially European strangers are a very rare sight in some of these places. Whilst it does take a bit of getting used to, everyone was always really friendly.

What did you think of your group leader?

Everything worked like clockwork, which given my previous experience of India was probably a minor miracle and a testament to the efficiency of our group leaders. Nice guys, always accommodating, flexible and willing to help.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

It can be smoggy in Delhi (they appear to have a real problem with this these days) and it can be dusty in places on the road so do ensure you have something to cover your mouth. A buff kept round my neck worked well for me. Cycling in the cities is not for the fainthearted. Whilst there is a notional drive on the left rule, Indian traffic, people and animals come at you from all directions, and it can be very busy, although generally slow moving. Some element of confidence on a bike will help greatly.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If you don't like curry you may have a problem. Most of our group got a touch of Delhi belly at some point, but nothing serious, so do take plenty of pills with you.

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

To see the world and all that is in it you need to ride a bicycle. Cycle in India and you become part of the explosion of humanity that is that country. And on a bike, there is nowhere to hide!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Tiger watching at Ranthambore - so few of these majestic creatures left on the planet now. I felt excited and humbled to be in their presence. Also, too many "ethnic encounters" to mention!

What did you think of your group leader?

Krishnan and his team were fully professional and attentive. Very kind to me personally when I succumbed to food poisoning!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take an open mind and prepare to steel yourself for some of the things you will see.  India is not for the faint - hearted or those of a sensitive disposition. But you are on a bicycle and thus you are part of the stream of life that is India. The beautiful and the heart - breaking, it is all there.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The only way to experience India is on 2 wheels

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Riding through little villages and stopping at the roadside for chai, with most of the village looking at us!  Being able to smile at people and watch their lives from a bike makes you feel that you are part of the scenery, not just looking at it from behind a bus window.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our 2 Indian leaders, Avtar and Krishna were fantastic.  There was nothing they wouldn't do to make our experience positive.  They gave us a great insight into Indian culture and were always professional, friendly and informative.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring along some antiseptic gel to wash your hands with.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Great trip if you want to discover true India.  Cycling through the rural villages was fantastic and it's so much more fun than sitting on a coach touring round.  Good mix of exercise and also cultural tours.  Very busy itinery so prepare yourself to be tired on a few of the days.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

I love the feeling of the open road, sunshine and the many different people we met along the way.  Taj Mahal is a 'must see' and was as spectacular as I had imagined. 

What did you think of your group leader?

Krishna was extremely professional and well organised.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

A bicycle bell would be a useful thing to bring as the bikes did not have these as standard. Bring some handwash gel to use at the chai stops.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Riding  Some of the bikes needed a little TLC, although I believe these are going to be changed.  Be prepared for some busy traffic, especially on day 2 and 3, but its all part of the fun, and makes you feel part of the whole flow of everything, but after a few days the noise gets to you a bit (horns+++) so you are very glad to get into the countryside, although there is still some traffic on these roads.  Don't be put off by the long distances quoted on some of the days if you are fairly unfit as in actual fact the longest day for us was 72Km, and the actual distance each day was dependant on several factors including daylight length, heat and overall speed of the group - you to stop at each junction to regroup (despite having a map of the route which seem a bit of an overkill as some of the junctions were only 6km from where you had regrouped before), so if you are a keen cyclist and particularly wanted to complete the full distances quoted you may be disappointed.  Some riders also had problems with over enthusiatic children in the villages and we were urged to try and ride as a group but this was virtually impossible to do effectively as of course everyone rides at their own speeds and to forcably ride slower or faster than your comfortable pace would have spoilt the enjoyment. Perhaps a better option would have been for the bus boy to also ridden with the group meaning there would be 3 guides in total actually on the road.  Having said this though there were some incredible moments, fantastic chai stops and a great sense of freedom and enjoyment which only can be had on 2 wheels. Sightseeing If you are a history fanatic, and love the intricate detail you are given by the local guides on the guided tours round the various monuments.  For us as a couple we felt 'overguided' and prefer to have a 10 minute introduction and then be left to wander around by ourselves and soak up the atmosphere.  I did ask the local guide on a couple of occasions if he minded us wandering round by ourselves and this was fine (although I felt quite embarrassed having to ask), so consider doing this if you become bored with dates and details as we did. You also got taken to the usual carpet sellers and also a marble workshop after the Taj Mahal visit which was on Thursday evening as the Taj is shut on Friday - a lot of the group had had enough by this stage (6.30pm when we got to the workshop), so I think visits to these Emporiums should be made more optional - not part of the tour, but the marble workshop was right by the hotel so we just walked back so consider doing this if you would rather a beer after the Taj visit than marble shopping.  If you want to browse round the little shops by yourself there is very little opportunity for this as the only viable free afternoon was after the game drive, and you are in the middle of nowhere unless you get a ride to the local village.  If this is something you really want to do consider missing the Observatory visit as the coach is centrally parked in a town so you can wander off for 2 hours and then meet the group back at the coach. Overall a great trip with many special moments, but more options needed particularly on the sight seeing days.

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Wonderfull trip with plenty of interesting sites. Cylcing through little villages with the colourful scenery to photograph.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We joined in a Hindu festival called Holi where bright coloured powder paints were thrown over you. It was very friendly and the locals loved us joining in with them. My wife ended up with pink hair for the rest of the holiday which caused some laughs. Also having a go at cooking Indian style with the local chef . Learning about the different spices used.

What did you think of your group leader?

Krishna and Pramod were excellent leaders. They had funny anechdotes to tell which kept us all amused. They were very knowledgeable about the wild life and birds which I found particularly good.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take plenty of energy/electrolyte balanced drink to keep your fluid intake up. Be fit for the trip as it paid off not having to struggle in the heat. Wet wipes for hand cleaning before eating anything!!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dress appropriately remembering their customs. Joining in the ethos of the culture with the locals. Being part of the team and doing your share when needed, helping others .

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

From day one the holiday was great fun and it just got better and better. The guides  and crew were brilliant, making sure we got every bit of enjoyment from the trip. 

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

From my point of view the highlight was the cricket match we played in the Sariska tiger reserve,wacky or what!From my wifes point of view it the fantastic colours of the clothes worn by the people in the villages we cycled through 

What did you think of your group leader?

We had two, Harish and Pramod, they were both fantastic and worked so hard for us.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared for early morning starts,but they are worth it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The only problem I have is that Harish refused to be out in the cricket match !!

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

An enjoyable holiday with loads of cycling and an overall great experience which will stay with me for a long time!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The cycling through beautiful landscapes, while avoiding the monkeys sunbathing on the road :-)  and the suicide missions when cycling through towns - brilliant!  Better then a ride in Thorpe Park - I just loved it!

What did you think of your group leader?

Funny, knowledgeable, friendly and helpfull - they made the trip a great time!  And they were fast cyclists - it was funny when one of our guides (Pramood) had to constantly catch us up to ensure that we stop cycling, when we were supposed to stop for a break or for a change back onto the bus :-)   The support crew was just awesome!  Our bus driver with the knobbly knees, Pramood #2 who was always there ready to handout another water bottle or peanuts and Kishur, who can fix every bike or even cycling trouthers!  Great guyes!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take a gel seat cover with you and ensure that your stomach is teflon coated to ensure that you can eat all the great food at the street stalls and together with Massalla chai you will be in food heaven!  Just mingle with the locals, don't be afraid to learn a few words of "Hinglish" and India will be an amazing experience which will stay in your memories for ever!  On the "downside" be prepared to see some extreme poverty (I was prepared and still shocked), like begging children asking for shampoo or pens - it is heard wrenching at times but it is part of India and you cannot close your eyes at this.  We bought pens and other nessecities to hand out.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A great experience and at times I would have liked to cycle a bit longer instead of hopping back on the bus for a transfer, but I guess that the trip length would need to be extended to cover this.  I also would have enjoyed a longer stay in Barathpur to tour the wildlife park for a whole day instead of just 2 hours. The hotel in Jaipur was not great and I would recommend to change this and if homestays could be included in this trip they would add to the whole expereince.  At times I felt too touristy staying in a hotel :-)

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan is a beautiful place to visit especially by cycle. Great experience and would recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure and experienceing the unexpected. The food, people and sights are vast and contrasting form place to place. The colours of Rajasthan are magnficient.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing the Taj Mahal is inspiring and beyond words.

What did you think of your group leader?

HarishKumar and Pramod are two great leaders who were able to provide guidance whenever required. Their in depth knowledge of the trip was extremely helpful and informing. They were always willing to help whenever it was required. I hope I will get the chance to travel with them again. Harish is a person who you can rely on and depend on making the ride enjoyable and the whole experience fascinating.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring warm clothes as it can get very cold at nite. Sweets, pens for the children you will pass on the roads. Beware of spicy food if you have a fragile stomach. Have a great time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

More time for shopping would be advisable. To wonder the shops of Delhi would be nice as in the other major cities visited.

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Really enjoyable trip. Exceeded my expectations both from the trip and the country perspective.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

I have lots of great memories ranging from cycling in rush hour traffic in Delhi which was akin to cycling round the north circular but somehow safer (The Indians seem to be less agressive than us Brits), to following a scooter round Udaipur with 16 of us in a conga type of Peleton to hoping to find one of five Tigers in 400+ sq miles of National park at 6am!!

What did you think of your group leader?

Both the leader and his deputy were great. They have a lot to cope with. 16 clients all wanting varying degrees of looking after and following the Trip Notes. The other 3 team members were excellent also - bus driver. bike mechanic and the guy who did everyting else.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

It is a cycling holiday - the more used to cycling the more you'll enjoy it but if you are a cycling nut and want to get your head down, think twice. For safety reasons you'll only get about 90mins at a time without an enforced stop. Given the heat and things to see/photograph it shouldn't be a problem (or go and cycle the Alpine passess)! We were a mixed group and fairly typical I would think and we all seemed to cope. There is also lots of sightseeing - more than I expected (and in my case more than I needed). But it is well organised and virtually always with an expert, English speaking guide. There are some longish bus transfers and forewarned is forearmed. Check the actual distances (and allow for heavy city traffic) between the overnight stops to calculate. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Go for it. You'll enjoy. Always make time for a Kingfisher (beer) at the end of each day with the rest of the group.

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

Very enjoyable - covered a lot of ground, saw some amazing (and humbling) sights and had superb support from guides and crew who worked really hard to make this a trip to remember.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

For me the whole trip was about seeing the Taj Mahal and it did not disappoint. We went in the morning (though missed sunrise as it was rather misty) and it really did take my breath away. We had plenty time to wander at our own pace and take it all in. Also thoroughly enjoyed cycling out in the countryside. We took a walk to a local village from the Tiger Reserve and loads of children led us across the fields to explore where they lived, posing for photos, playing with our hair and chatting away though we did not understand a word. It was a lovely experience.

What did you think of your group leader?

Harish and Pramod worked really hard to make sure everyone was happy though we all had different requirements (and demands). They are enthusiastic and knowledgable as well as striking a respectful balance with the locals who were interested in us every time we stopped.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

It got chilly in the evenings in December (especially in the Tiger Reserve, though also in some hotels) - I wished I had more warm clothes. Try to stick with at least one other person when cycling through the villages - we sometimes had youngsters throwing rocks and sticks at us (though I have to say that most of the locals were very friendly!) You won't get much chance for shopping - there are some organised trips to carpet/ marble/ jewellery places but limited opportunities to go round local markets - ask early if this is something you really want to do. We got a better exchange rate for our £ at money-changers in town than at the airport. You won't find ATMs every day and some people struggled to use their cards.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I've travelled in India before but the sights and sounds and traffic and poverty still catch me every time. Take time to take it all in - the rides through the countryside are amazing - seeing people at work and going about their business in brightly coloured clothing and being surrounded by locals within minutes at every chai stop. This trip was the first for me where the locals were armed with camera phones and they were as interested in taking pictures of us as we were in them.  All in all it was a great trip and we used just about every minute of every day. Be prepared for lots of early starts and some lengthy bus transfers - the trip covers a wide area but it's ok if you are expecting them.

CYCLING THROUGH RAJASTHAN

We travelled by bicycle and bus through villages and the countryside. Cycling through the city's was quiet an experience, all traffic blowing their horns and animals slowly crossing the streets. Most people along the streets were very kind and the children sheered. Few people thought it nice to endanger you by pouting a stick in front of your bike.  

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There were more than one inspiring moments, driving over the countryside, the visit to the tiger park, where we did not see any of the 5 tigers that are left there. The evenings at some of the reataurants we went to for our dinner.

What did you think of your group leader?

The group leaders were very kind and helpful. In order to e clear as they were explaining the goings on of the day they repeated themselves in a way that you sometimes got lost in what they had to tell.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring a horn with you for your bike so you can make as much nois as they do. Be patient. Food is rather spicy and a lot is vegetarian.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Go there enjoy yourself and be aware.