Cycling holidays in Kerala, mountain biking in Kerala, India

14-Day Kerala Cycling Holiday

Day 1. Kochi. On arrival we will check into the Old Courtyard Hotel, Fort Cochin - 200 year old Portuguese building, centered around a cobblestone courtyard. After a chance to relax and freshen up we have lunch, and then the rest of the afternoon to discover a little of this amazing city. Kochi (Cochin as it was known in colonial times) is a major port on the west coast of India, set on a cluster of islands surrounded by sparkling blue lagoons and backwaters. Its historic links can be seen in the Colonial Bungalows, an old Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, the oldest European Church in India and a medieval Portuguese Palace. We finish the evening with a Kathakali dance performance.

Day 2 Thattekkad. After breakfast we start off on our cycle challenge making the most of the early morning coolness heading towards the foothills of the western Ghats towards the lowland forests of Thattekkad. We will start a little off the city limits enabling us to avoid the morning city traffic and reach a quiet countryside where the roads are mostly level throughout the morning. We pass through scenic countryside of temples, spice gardens, paddy fields and rubber plantations. After a leisurely lunch en-route we will cross the ferry on the River Periyar to reach the Kuttanpuzha Creek where we will settle into the Hornbill Camp by the riverside.

Day 3 - Adimali. The ride passes through the Periyar river bank & dense low altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam. It also passes through rubber estates, pepper estates, cardamom estates and finally tea – all this as the altitude goes up gradually to 5000 feet msl (1600 m). Stay at a Plantation Bungalow.

Day 4, 5 - Munnar. We will make our way to Munnar (the hill country) after breakfast. Once a favourite summer resort town of the British, the hill town of Munnar is set amidst dramatic mountain scenery: craggy peaks, tall red wood trees, and some of the world’s highest tea plantations. On arrival at Munnar, we will check into the Tea Estate Bungalow.

Day 6 – Suryanelli. We will take a ride through the famed tea gardens at Munnar through the Grahamsland Estate, through the old headquarters of the administration at Devikulam and through the daunting mountain pass “ Lockhart Gap”. We will arrive at Suryanelli, where we will stay in comfortable cottage tents.

Day 7 & 8– Periyar. Our destination today is the morning ride to Periyar passing through forests, tea gardens, mountain villages and spice plantations. We will reach the Forest Eco Lodge – The Bamboo Grove just after lunchtime where we can relax our legs or take off into the jungle. Periyar is one of the best wildlife reserves in India and has large herds of Asiatic elephants, Indian Bison as well as tigers. For the ornithologists it has over 330 species of birds including the majestic Great Hornbill. Today we see a little of the tribal population and their lifestyles before we eat and retire for a fine nights sleep. Stay at a resort.

Day 9 – Vagamon. Vagamon town set against the rolling grasslands of the Western Ghats and the cycling route passes through spectacular sights of the tea gardens interspersed with pristine forests that have made this place so beautiful. We will settle down at a resort overlooking the Western Ghats mountains.

Day 10 – Kumarakom. We will take the descending roads through the foothills of the Western Ghats through the rubber country of Palai and to Kumarakom, the gateway to the backwaters. We will embark one of Kerala’s most luxurious forms of accommodation – the Houseboat. The houseboat is a converted rice-barge and you will be cruising along the backwaters. Reclining on cushions and drifting through quiet canals, you’ll pass through paddy fields grazed by ducks, floating markets, local toddy shops, temples and churches.

Day 11 – Alleppey. We’ll make our way to Emerald Isle. Here we will be met Vinod and taken to his family home stay on Emerald Isle, an island of 400 homes. You can take it easy here - reading in the hammock, dangling your toes in the water, taking massages, and trying out the local tea shop. You can also visit the fruit and vegetable market, the ancient Bhagawati temple or the local pottery factory; go cycling through the necklace of villages of Kuttanad; take evening walks or go bird watching through the paddy fields and homesteads; take fishing lessons; and learn to cook in the family kitchens.

Day 12, 13 – Marari. Our journey today will take us to a Heritage villa on a spectacular beach where we will spend the next 2 days relaxing in the village ambience at the Arakkal Heritage. You can also spend your time waking through the rustic village, visit the local temples or farmlands.

Day 14 – Depart.

Tariff: £ 675.00 p.p. (ex. flights) based on minimum 2 persons traveling.

For Inclusions & Exclusions, please see General Information