4 days
From US $800
Kerala Backwaters Bike Tour
This cycling trip offers a unique way to experience life around the backwaters of Kerala. We will be cycling through roads flanked by thick forests, breezy seashores, interior backwaters trails, and along the canal.
With routes mostly remaining flat and staying in a mix of beautiful places by the river, lake, and backwater, this cycling tour perfectly suits families with kids and beginner riders.
Fort Kochi | 07:30hrs
Fort Kochi | 18:30hrs
casual
easy
40km or 24mi
Min. 2, Max. 14
Highlights
backwaters
Get to see the backwaters, its meandering canals, the birds and people lifeItinerary
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Fort Kochi to Thodupuzha | John's Farm Stay | L,D | 45km/27mi | cycling |
| DAY 2 | Kumarakom | Lakesong Resort | B,L,D | 50km / 24mi | cycling |
| DAY 3 | Alleppey | Emerald Isle | B,L,D | 40km / 24mi | cycling |
| DAY 4 | Fort Kochi | B | 40km / 24mi | cycling |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Fort Kochi to Thodupuzha
This morning we start with a 1 hr transfer to get out of traffic-clogged roads. We start cycling along the canal route to Oonukal. This first tryst with Kerala on the wheels will enthrall you. A scenic route along a canal is perfect to see birdlife and the verdant environs, passing fertile spice farms and rubber plantations along the way, we make our way to the historic town Thodupuzha, with a short transfer towards the end. Thodupuzha is an ancient town dating back to 300 BC when the Buddhist and Jain religions first made their inroads into Kerala. Our destination today is Madaparambil resort – a beautiful riverside resort.
Day 2: Kumarakom
We ride through vast paddy fields, fish farms, and coconut tree canopies to reach one of the Vembanad lake edges, the largest backwater in Kerala and a habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species. We are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding area as we ride through rubber and spice plantations and finish our ride of the day when we hit the water's edge. What you take back from this beautiful ride is a true village experience spiced up with a few untold local stories. Today look forward to your stay at Lakesong Resort, set in a beautiful natural environment on the banks of the pristine Vembanad Lake.
Day 3: Alleppey
Today enjoy stunning vistas in all directions. Small canals, country canoes, fishermen throwing nets into the water, a coconut climber climbing up the coconut tree, and women working in the rice fields, all come into the scene one after the other.
Our stay today is at a stunning Emerald Isle, a 150 years old ancestral Country House set in 9 acres of secluded grounds in the beautiful waterways and backwater of the Kuttanad region of Central Kerala.
Day 4: Fort Kochi
A classic ride along the Kochi coast with glimpses of unevenly spread backwaters accompanying you all the way. Cycling through small fishermen villages and lush coconut trees, we reach one serene end of the backwaters. Hop on to a kayak and immerse yourself in the beautiful backwater sceneries, while we row together through expansive stretches of backwaters. Enjoy a short break in a village before the tour comes to an end.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
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Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
trip leader
Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.
bike
Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.
shuttle
A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.
meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
refreshments
Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.
entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
Weather
With varied terrain, starting from below sea level in coastal plains to 1900m in the mountains, Kerala has a diverse climate. A typical tropical climate remains cooler in the highlands and hot and humid in the coastal plain throughout the year.
Mid-November to the end of February is the winter time in Kerala, which is best experienced in the highlands with a pleasant climate in the mornings and temperature falling below 10°C at the night. A fleece jacket or warm sweater and long pants may be needed for the cooler evenings and mornings in hill stations. The temperature in plains averages between 25°C to 31°C during this time.
From the beginning of March till the end of May, it is summer. The temperatures go above 40°C during some days in coastal pains and generally remain very hot and humid. The highlands still offer some relief during this time with comparatively cooler climates.
The start of June is the beginning of the Monsoon season in Kerala. Kerala receives two cycles of Monsoon. From June till September, it’s the southwest monsoon, which brings heavy rainfalls till mid of August and it slowly weakens towards the end of September. The second cycle, the Northeast monsoon, starts from the beginning of October till mid-November with light to heavy showers mainly during the evening hours.
Visa
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.
E-Visa has been made available by the Government of India to citizens of certain countries, including the United States of America. Details of the scheme are available on the dedicated website created for this purpose: e-Visa
e-Visa has 5 sub-categories viz. e-Tourist Visa (for 30 days/01 year/ 05 years),
For e-Tourist and e-Business visa, Applicants may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival.
Recent front-facing photographs with white backgrounds and photo pages of passports containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc, are to be uploaded mandatorily by the applicant. Additionally, one more document depending upon the e-Visa type would also be required to be uploaded. The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few tips to avoid getting Delhi Belly while doing this bike tour:
- Always wash your hands before eating anything, even light snacks.
- Do not drink tap water. Drink only bottled water provided by your trip leader or by the hotel/restaurant you're staying or eating in. When buying bottled water from outside, check for seal and the brand. Avoid using ice, since ice is often made from tap water. Soda water, however, is usually safe.
- Avoid eating salads and cut fruits. Peeled fruits such as bananas and oranges are fine.
- Cooked food that is freshly prepared is usually safe to eat. Restaurants and eating joints that are busy are usually safer as the food is fresh and they rarely have anything refrigerated overnight.
Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water in the support van for guests' use.
Yes, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.
We've designed this itinerary such that most of the cycling happens on quieter countryside roads far from busy traffic. The shuttle transfers on this tour have been strategically planned to bypass busy vehicular traffic.
The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on our Exotic India Bike Tour happens on paved roads.
Yes, you may wear riding shorts while riding your bike. When not cycling, it would be advisable to wear comfortable full-length pants. We recommend keeping a pair of comfortable pants handy in you support van.
When visiting temples and monuments, visitors should wear full-length, loose-fitting pants. Holy places of certain religions may also require covering your head. Your guide will inform of the dress etiquette required for visiting specific religious places.
We are not medical advisors, and as such are not qualified to dispense medical advice. However, we recommend consulting the resources below for advice on vaccines and medications:
- CDC portal for travlers from the US
- NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travlers from the UK
- Smart Traveller portal or travelers from Australia.
In addition to the above, you may also refer to the travel advice issued from time to time by your government.
Although your tour price includes most common expenses, except the meals not included in the itinerary, you can refer to the following broad guidelines for extra expenditures:
- US $25 per person per day for tours with stays in casual inns
- US $35 per person per day for tours with stays in premiere inns (luxury bike tours)
Most cities in India have ATMs where you can use your card to withdraw local currency.
No, tips are not included in tour price.
As a general rule, you may tip US$ 15-25 per person per day.
This figure is for the entire crew including the trip leader, the driver, and other support staff.
However, you are not obligated to tip, and you can always tip less or more than the above amount depending on the level of service you received on tour.
It is usually the norm to tip the tour guide, who then distributes the amount among the entire crew. However, you can also tip each individual member of the crew if you so desire.
We generally avoid regions which are prone to outbreaks of malaria and dengue. However, as a preventive measure, you may carry mosquito repellant, and wear full-body clothing.
Consult your medical advisor for any pre-emptive medications or vaccines for the above.
The fitness level required for each trip is indicated by the "level" of the tour, which in turn is mentioned on each tour page right next to the price and the trip duration.
Easy: The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs. Moderate: The terrain is either mostly flat or consists of rolling hills with a few challenging climbs. There could also be a few days with longer riding distances of up to 75 kms (45 miles) Difficult: The terrain is mostly hilly with strong elevation gains and/or has long days on the bike. Such trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced cyclists.
