10 days
From US $2,195
Kerala Escapade Bike Tour
Ride through the God’s Own Route and leisurely float across the backwaters of Kerala on this timeless Kerala cycling tour. With its evergreen mountains, dense forests, swift-flowing rivers, abundant wildlife, extensive backwaters, and blue lagoons, Kerala looks like a fairyland.
This Kerala bicycle tour offers a rich mix of diverse terrains from tall mountains and deep valleys to endless backwaters and wide sandy beaches. You will be cycling through roads flanked by thick forests, breezy seashores, tea & coffee carpeted hills, and a long canal. Apart from the diverse topography, this Kerala cycling holiday will be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Keralan life.
Kochi | 14:00hrs
Kochi | 18:30hrs
casual
moderate
50km or 30mi
8
Highlights
scenic backroads
Ride through the God’s own scenic backroads
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Fort Kochi | Abad Dutch Bungalow | D | ||
| DAY 2 | Thattekad | Hornbill Camp | B,L,D | 35km / 21mi | cycling |
| DAY 3 | Munnar | Tea County | B,L,D | 65km / 40mi | cycling |
| DAY 4 | Munnar | Tea County | B,L,D | 40km / 24mi | cycling |
| DAY 5 | Thekkady | Forest Canopy | B,L,D | 60km / 37mi | cycling |
| DAY 6 | Thekkady | Forest Canopy | B,L | ||
| DAY 7 | Vagamon | Foggy Knols Resort | B,L,D | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
| DAY 8 | Kumarakom | Lakesong | B,L,D | 75km / 46mi | cycling |
| DAY 9 | Alleppey | Emerald Isle | B,L,D | 30km/18mi | cycling |
| DAY 10 | Kochi | B,L | 40km / 24mi | cycling |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Fort Kochi
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.
Day 2: Thattekad
Our guide meets you at your hotel at 07:30hrs. This morning we start with a 2.5 hours shuttle bus 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 outdoor camping facility- The Hornbill Camp.
We check into our snug and comfortable Swiss tents and get ready for an activity-packed day. Hornbill Camp offers Kayaking in the Periyar River, bird watching, and plantation walk around the property. The stay gives you a taste of the wilderness of Kerala along with all the comforts. The camp is situated in the environs of a tropical forest where you have nothing but birdsong for company!
Day 3: Munnar
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 towards our lunch stop at a local restaurant. After lunch, bike amongst enormous grass plants, and eucalyptus trees, and past alpine tea plantations in the rugged Munnar hills to your hotel.
Day 4: Munnar
Munnar is a pleasant contrast to the beach-lined destinations or 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.
We 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 and we end the cycling near Mattupetty dam. A short transfer and we reach Munnar town. If you are interested in visiting markets, the Munnar market is good to explore.
Day 5: Thekkady
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 Tall trees.
After cycling, the last stretch is covered in the shuttle.
Day 6: Thekkady
This morning we take a nature walk in Periyar National Park in search of mongooses, elephants and learn about the flora and fauna in Periyar Tiger Reserve. Later, we head to a garden of spices and learn about the spices from a local farmer.
Day 7: Vagamon
This is going to be a beautiful ride – from the Cardamom Hills of Thekkady to the tea gardens of Vagamon, and that too, through the rubber plantations. 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 you can either relax or indulge in outdoor activities like paragliding, easy hikes, or exploring nature trails.
Day 8: Kumarakom
Start the day with an exhilarating downhill for about 15kms and see the landscape changing from tea plantations to rubber and spice plantations. The next stretch remains largely undulating with the last leg being completely flat and along the backwater and paddy fields. A wholesome day of riding with a variety of terrain.
The ride today takes us near to spectacular Vembanad Lake. After reaching here enjoy stunning vistas in all directions.
Day 9: Alleppey
Today is planned as a semi-rest day. 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 10: 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.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
Single Supplement
From US $550
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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.
Arrival & Departure Details
All major airports in India have prepaid taxi cab booths located inside the airport itself. These are typically situated just before the exit gate of the terminal. You can book a prepaid taxi cab from this booth.
Uber is also available in major Indian cities.
You can exchange local currency from the exchange situated within the airport, or from ATMs situated outside the airport.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Please note that we usually bike around 4-5 hours per day irrespective of the level of the trip.
Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water or RO water in a camper in the support van for guests' use.
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, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.
The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on this bike tour happens on paved roads.
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.
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 travelers from the US
- NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travelers 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.
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.
While your tour price covers most common expenses, a few meals are not included in the itinerary. This allows you the opportunity to dine independently and explore the local cuisine at your own pace. Your guides will be happy to provide recommendations if desired. As a general guideline, you can budget approximately US $100–200 per person for additional expenditures over the course of the trip.
Tips are not included in your tour price.
As a general rule, you may tip US$ 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.
In case you want to tip the staff at a hotel such as porters, you may pay them US $2-3 per day.
You can exchange currency at the airport itself, or at ATMs in larger cities. Most commercial establishments will accept international credit cards for payments, though its good to carry some local currency with you at all times.
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.
Pack your regular riding gear, such as jerseys and shorts. If you’re traveling between November and February, bring a fleece jacket for cooler evenings and early mornings. Additionally, pack a rain jacket or covering in case of rain.
The meeting time on Day 1 is mentioned in your travel planner shared with you. You can arrive either on the morning of Day 1 depending on the meeting time, or book a pre-tour night to arrive a day earlier.
We don't have anything planned for the last day, so you are free to depart at your discretion.
For answers to broader questions, please visit our Comprehensive FAQs section.
