Classic Kerala Luxury Bike Tour

Meet your trip leader at the hotel around 14:00hrs and head out to see Fort Kochi by bike and foot.

One of the foremost trading hubs on the western coast of India, Fort Kochi drew colonial interest with its aromatic spices. Along with traders from China, Portugal, Arabs, and Holland came a cocktail of religions, cultural practices, and diverse food. Kerala owes its cosmopolitan vibe to the traders who braved the seas to come to this land.

Fort Kochi is dotted with remnants of the past, which you can discover by bike and foot. Step out to see the Vasco Church, Basilica, Dutch Cemetery, Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue, and the famous Chinese fishing nets, which lie within a 2km radius.

In the evening, we convene over dinner tonight at a seaside restaurant known for seafood and Indian delicacies.

Our guide meets you at your hotel at 07:30hrs. This morning we start with a shuttle transfer to get out of traffic-clogged roads. We start cycling along the canal route to Thattekad. This first tryst with Kerala on the wheels will enthrall you. A scenic route, this smooth road along a canal is perfect to see birdlife and the verdant environs of real Kerala. Our destination is the Windermere River House, situated on two acres of lush garden right on the banks of the Periyar River.

Thattekad has always been on the list of places to visit for any serious birding enthusiast. If you have birds you want to cross off your list, this is the place to do it. You’re also likely to spot Elephant and Barking Deer, and if you’re lucky the elusive Loris, Travancore Flying Squirrel, or the Painted Bat.

Today we ride into the countryside and follow the Periyar River. A scenic route, along a river, is perfect to see birdlife and the verdant environs of real Kerala. The gradual rising trail winds its way through rubber and pineapple plantations to the Idukki forest reserve. We continue our gradual climb toward our lunch stop at a local restaurant.

Post lunch, bike amongst enormous grass plants, and eucalyptus trees, and past alpine tea plantations in the rugged Munnar hills to your hotel and be greeted by a long stretch of the gradual climb. For miles ahead, you can only see a ridiculous amount of green! Seeing this, you are sure to forget the weary legs. We stop cycling as the climbs start to challenge us and take a transfer to Munnar. As the hills of Munnar start emerging, you will be simply amazed to see the neat hills and mountains carpeted with tea bushes.

We head straight to the British-styled farm retreat, Windermere Estate. Stylish cottages with their plantation ambiance intact are inviting after a hard day of cycling. Enjoy the copious cups of tea, relax in the library or if you are feeling energetic enough, head out for a plantation walk. Enjoy a good night's rest here so you are ready to explore Munnar the next day.

Munnar is a pleasant contrast to the beach-lined destinations or lagoon backwaters of Kerala. A hill station, which has been immortalized by movies, Munnar is great to cycle in. The routes are undulating and sometimes challenging, but you will find an equal amount of downhill slopes to bring relief to steep climbs.

Enjoy a morning of Yoga if you please and head out to Top Station, a viewpoint of great touristic eminence. The riding stretch to Top station is one of our favorite cycling routes in Kerala. As we ride all the way up to Top Station, you will be stunned by a brilliant view of the stacked mountains and deep valleys below. After this ride, you would have certainly earned yourself a hot crisp cup of tea.

Roll down the hills to then visit the Tea Museum – this is a historic treasure and takes you through the journey of Munnar’s metamorphosis as a tea destination in the late 1800s when A.H. Sharp planted the first sapling. You can also pick up handmade jam, tea leaves, and recycled paper products as souvenirs.

We bid adieu to Munnar and head towards the cardamom hills of Kerala, a small town of Kumily. We take in the spectacular views of tea-clad western ghat mountains, near Lockhart Gap. As you are riding, the 360 degrees view of the lush tea plantations will be forever etched in your mind. The smell of cardamom draws you quickly from the tea-lined mountains to the unmanicured mish-mash of cardamom plantations, interjected by pepper vines clinging to silver oak trees. The last stretch is covered in the shuttle before we reach the wonderful award-winning property of Spice Village.

Eco-conscious nuances of Spice Village seamlessly bound with modern comforts are what makes Spice Village special. If you have the energy, head out for a short spice plantation walk. Else, you can relax by the pool or get a drink at the historic library bar of the resort.

You can explore the small town of Kumily at your own pace today. We recommend that you try and spend as much time at the Periyar National Park in Thekkady. One of the best managed in India, the national park is known for its innovative sightseeing options. Here you can take a short Nature Walk through Periyar National Park, which gives you a glimpse of the wildlife in the area.

This is going to be a beautiful ride – from the Cardamom Hills to the tea gardens of Vagamon. A hilly ride, with both dips and steep climbs, but the cool weather helps you grapple with this challenging ride better. Vagamon is an enchanting hill station where we will stop for lunch.

From Vagamon, we take a van transfer to Kumarakom. Kumarakom is one of the finest backwater destinations of India, as it lies at the edge of the massive Vembanad Lake.

Trade bike with the boat today that takes us through hyacinth carpeted canals, which meander close to the villages; a great way to see the backwater countryside and habitat near the water.

This is not a hectic day except for the humidity in the air, which may exhaust you a bit. For a leisurely final morning, consider taking a stroll along the beach and seeing the sights of the fishing village nearby. If you have time and wish to relax for a few more days, we recommend extending to Marari Beach before departing from Kochi.

Enjoy the last day a classic coastal ride along a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach on one side and unevenly spread serene backwaters on the other. Ride through small fishermen villages, lush coconut trees, and plentiful fish farms. The ride finishes at Fort Kochi.