We have just come back from a visit to India during where we did Kalypso's Multi Activity tour of South India.It was a really great trip!
We picked this tour because of the variety of activities and it did not disappoint. No two days were the same. It took us to some 'tourist' places and numerous casual encounters with the local people. Our favourite moments were when we would stop our bikes at the roadside and talk with folk going about their day. We particularly enjoyed the 'off road' cycling - harder work but you really see the rural life. The accommodation ranged from very good to excellent and all the food was great.
However, the trip was really made by our guides, Roger and Das. They supported us brilliantly the whole time - everything was done to make it good for us. Roger is a very skilled guide - knowledgeable about his country and we felt we were in very safe hands. Das is a fantastic driver and kept us going with snacks and drinks (we did not expect lemonade from freshly squeezed lemons from the back of the van!) Both Roger and Das are expert bike mechanics and kept the machines in great shape.
Other very enjoyable times were the lunches we shared together. They would pick a place they knew and give us the authentic Indian Lunch experience.
In short, this was a fantastic tour made exceptional by two really great guides
IT WAS GREAT!!!
Everything from start to finish was perfect. The organisation of the itinerary, the routes, the places we stayed were all superb and being in the countryside the whole time was lovely. The food everywhere was superb!
All of this was made perfect by Rahul and Matthew - perfect guide and driver. They were friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and always reliable. If they said ‘let’s leave at 8’ that’s exactly what we did. And all the birding was a real bonus! I’m sure we will be back!
Marjorie Gardner | 19-01-2025Honestly, this trip was such a highlight. The guide (Satheesh) and driver (Shyam) treated us with the utmost courtesy on a foundation of sheer professionalism. We host events in our professional lives and they achieved that sought-after balance between maintaining boundaries to ensure health and safety, clarity of message and content engagement, with a warmth and empathy for our needs (when to stop and refresh, introduce options and respond to our ideas). Sateesh gave us timely daily briefings, both at the end of the day in preparation for the following day, repeated at the start, and clarified routes and any locally useful information. He gave us confidence to engage with people locally, ensured that we were content at intervals throughout the day, gave us space to explore as a couple and engaged with us, exchanging cultural experiences so that we could learn more about the people we were meeting. We always felt safe in the landscape, particularly during ascents, and were given guidance on how to wear leech socks, and what to bring to each trek. Shyam, who drove us, managed each journey safely, driving confidently, smoothly and never taking risks. Water was always provided and journeys were broken with interesting pit stops. The itinerary's balance of museums, local performances and nature walks supplementing the treks was perfect. Visiting the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai was as much of a highlight as the treks and worth the detour. Overall, we felt that we had a very special experience, one that perhaps would have been diluted a little had we been with a group as we would then have doubtless 'stuck with our own' and not devoted as much time to getting to know our guide, driver and the specialists and back-up folk they introduced us to on the treks. Thank you Kalypso for the impeccable care and attention to detail. And you have a real gem in Satheesh.
Karen Howard | 17-01-2025My sincere thanks to Kalypso and Deepu for my terrific introduction to Kerala.
The pacing and activities were just right, the vehicle was impeccable and the driving and offers to stop and adjust the program as new opportunities arose were particularly great and I know the most valuable of all this was Deepu's deep knowledge of the places and people we visited. His long history of doing this work and people's high regard for him were obvious. I liked the respect and curiosity he showed for the people we met. He's a great asset to Kalypso and your business is clearly a good one. I won't hesitate to recommend Kalypso Adventures to friends.
Thank you for organising such a marvelous ‘Cultural, Wildlife and Hiking’ adventure. Our driver Deepu was just perfect- courteous, well organised, caring and an excellent driver and good companion. All your guides were passionate about their particular areas. Our walking guide modified walks for us, given my asthma condition, and we were very much able to do the wonderful hikes. The accommodation was better than anticipated. I would certainly recommend Kalpso Adventures to my friends.
Carole Hopper | 28-12-2024Our guide Satheesh was brilliant. Satheesh was very attentive to our needs and led the trek in a calm but very informed way. Everything was very well organised and Satheesh made sure that we had food and snacks on each day. Satheesh and Reghu’s knowledge along the trek meant that we learnt a lot about the local area, the plants, flowers and wildlife. Both Satheesh and Reghu made each day relaxed and fun. And they were patient with us taking so many photos! Matthew, the driver ensured each transfer was safe and efficient. I would thoroughly recommend them to others.
Nick Hibberd | 18-12-2024We Accept
If you are looking for a trekking, walking cycling holiday, kayaking expedition in the backwaters, wildlife & birding or family activity holidays in Kerala & other regions of India, we have a wide range of tours to choose from !
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