14 days tour

Southern India Coast To Coast Ride

$ 3,900 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $3,900.00

Southern India Coast To Coast Ride

This tour includes:

Accommodation

On this cycling adventure in southern India, we spend 10 nights in hotels, one night on a houseboat, one night on a plantation and one night in a heritage property. The accommodations typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a few of the notable places we stay on this trip. Chettinad: Chettinadu Mansion (night 5) Stay in a 100-year-old property within Kandukathan, which was named a Heritage Village by the Indian government. The property extends some 80,000sqft (7,430sqm) but there are only 12 bedrooms, providing plenty of space to sprawl. The dรฉcor reflects the style of 1900s India, plus thereโ€™s an antique museum and swimming pool. Vagamon, near Kottayam: Vanilla County Plantation homestay (night 9) Experience the many charms of rural Kerala with a stay at this family-run plantation in the Mavady Hills. It has a flower-filled garden, plunge pool amid the greenery, and Koffi, the friendly labrador. The accommodation here is spread out, so some of the group stays in the main house and others in permanent Swiss cottage tents. These each have a raised bed and mattress, an attached veranda and toilet. To Muhamma: Houseboat (night 11) No trip to Kerala is complete without a houseboat stay. Typically, the boats are converted barges (known locally as kettuvallam), once used to transport rice from farm to market. All cabins have private bathrooms and the staff keep you well fed. The houseboats have a deck and dining area, although the style/layout varies between boats. There is a cook, driver and assistants for each boat and the food is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. Houseboats have two to five twin-bedded rooms. Larger groups may be split over several boats; however, the group reunites at riverside stops and the overnight anchor point where your leader will be available. Worth knowing The single supplement does not include the night at the Vanilla County Plantation on Day 9 and cannot be guaranteed on the houseboat due to limited rooms. Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple of months in the year when the weather can get cooler. You can, however, request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter.

Guide

Our Indian team of leaders has proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country.

Others

Local bike hire

Meals

All breakfasts, 11 lunches and eight dinners are included. Lunches on riding days are usually in roadside cafes, allowing us to sample typical south Indian dishes such as poori (deep-fried bread served with curry) and dosa (thin pancakes made with fermented rice and lentil batter). South Indian food is heavily influenced by the tropical landscape; creamy coconut dishes enlivened with delicate spices, served on a banana leaf. Itโ€™s also an ideal destination if you are vegetarian. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap but a (large) bottle of beer is approximately 410 rupees (US$5). Please note, due to Kerala state laws, alcohol licences are limited to one or two bars in each area and not all hotels are permitted to serve alcohol. The first day of every month and certain holidays in India are dry days, when no alcohol is permitted for sale. Generally, you can eat out very cheaply in India. Where food is not included, you should allow at least 1,650 rupees (approximately US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow. Drinking water is provided in the support vehicle, where you can fill your bottle from the containers.

Transport

All your luggage and personal belongings are carried by the support vehicle. Transfers are done in the support vehicle or a separate vehicle depending on the group size. The support vehicle follows the riders most of the time, allowing you to cycle as much or as little as you like. The whole group can be accommodated at all times. On occasions, it is not possible for the support vehicle to follow the group, but we still meet the vehicle at regular intervals to replenish water supplies etc.

Not included:

Others

โ€” Travel insurance โ€” Visas and vaccinations โ€” Single supplement โ€” E-bike hire

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Southern India Coast To Coast Ride

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Chennai; Transfer To Pondicherry Via The Shore Temples Of Mahabalipuram (Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrive Chennai; Transfer To Pondicherry Via The Shore Temples Of Mahabalipuram (Lunch,Dinner)

      Those who are on the group flights will land in Chennai early in the morning. Those not on the group flights, we recommend you are at Chennai Airport in time to join the group transfer. If not, please be at the Pondicherry hotel for 1pm to meet the group. From the airport, itโ€™s a 3hr 30min drive to Pondicherry. Those on the group transfer take a break at Mahabalipuram, home to shore temples and rock carvings. Carving in stone is still a living art here and we see stonemasons chipping away along the roadside, practicing skills that have flourished for centuries. On arrival in Pondicherry, we assemble the bikes and explore this former French colony on a 4mi (6km) ride, before an evening briefing about our cycling adventure. Accommodation: Hotel Atithi (or similar)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Circular Ride Passing The Spiritual Commune Of Auroville. Enjoy Lunch In The Old Quarter. (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Circular Ride Passing The Spiritual Commune Of Auroville. Enjoy Lunch In The Old Quarter. (Breakfast,Lunch)

      We take a circular ride to Auroville, a new-age spiritual commune. Founded in 1968 by The Mother and named after her Guru Sri Aurobindo, it promises a more balanced way of living. Revitalised by some earthly fruit juices, we ride the 9mi (15km) back into town, seeing fishing communities and cycling along the promenade, which retains some Gallic charm. Depending on time, lunch may be at Auroville or in Pondicherry, and the rest of the day is free to explore. Accommodation: Hotel Atithi (or similar)

  • Day 3 Day 3: Pleasant Ride Along Village Roads To Experience Rural Life. Afternoon Ride To Chidambaram (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Pleasant Ride Along Village Roads To Experience Rural Life. Afternoon Ride To Chidambaram (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Starting from our hotel, we ride out of Pondicherry and soon leave the city bustle for quiet backroads, experiencing rural life where simple mud huts contrast with the brightly coloured saris worn by local women. In true Indian style, we stop at a roadside restaurant for a tea break. Back on our bikes, we cycle another 41mi (66km) to Chidambaram. Staying in the grand mansion of the village, we sleep in the extended family villa; with its own temple, itโ€™s almost like stepping back in time. Accommodation: Lakshmivilas Heritage Resort (or similar)

  • Day 4 Day 4: Riverside Ride To The Old Nayak Capital Of Thanjavur; Afternoon Visit To The Town And Royal Palace (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Riverside Ride To The Old Nayak Capital Of Thanjavur; Afternoon Visit To The Town And Royal Palace (Breakfast,Lunch)

      We have a scenic morning ride following quiet roads and tracks alongside the Cauvery River to Thanjavur. A capital between the ninth and 13th centuries, it regained its status under the Nayaks in the 16th century who rebuilt the Royal Palace, Durbar Hall and libraries. After lunch, we take a vehicle transfer to the Thanjavur hotel. Late afternoon, we visit the palace, which houses one of the finest collections of bronze sculptures and stone carvings in southern India, and the vegetable market at Tanjore followed by a visit to the Brihadishwara Temple, one of the largest in India and known locally as the Big Temple. Accommodation: Hotel Parisutham (or similar)

  • Day 5 Day 5: Long Ride Through The Tamil Nadu Heartland To Chettinad (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Long Ride Through The Tamil Nadu Heartland To Chettinad (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Leaving the city by the old road, we head into the Tamil Nadu heartland, visiting the oldest clay horse temple en route, to an area renowned for impressive mansions built by wealthy traders known as chettiars. Some of these palatial houses have been converted into boutique hotels, offering a glimpse of the past. The grand interiors of Burmese teak and elaborate plasterwork retain much of the traditional architecture of a bygone age. But itโ€™s from the kitchens, tucked at the rear of the house, that the real flavour of India is found. Chettinad cuisine is as traditional as its buildings; the piquant curries are slow cooked in copper pots over a wood stove to produce unforgettable meals. Accommodation: Chettinadu Mansion (or similar)

  • Day 6 Day 6: Scenic Ride To Madurai, A Highlight Of Any Trip To India (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Scenic Ride To Madurai, A Highlight Of Any Trip To India (Breakfast,Lunch)

      We have a scenic ride to Madurai. En route, we pass a rocky outcrop thatโ€™s said to be the sacred abode of Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and also known as Skanda, the most revered god in Tamil Nadu. Staying at Madurai, we avoid the worst of the busy traffic. Accommodation: JC Residency (or similar)

  • Day 7 Day 7: Morning To Explore Madurai. Transfer To Lunch; Ride Past Indian Vineyards; Final Ascent Into The Western Ghats And Thekkady (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Morning To Explore Madurai. Transfer To Lunch; Ride Past Indian Vineyards; Final Ascent Into The Western Ghats And Thekkady (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      We have the morning to explore the old city and Sri Meenakshi Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in India and one of the highlights of Tamil Nadu. Here, thousands of huge stone pillars, each adorned with different deities, are said to represent the gods of the Hindu cosmos. A constant flow of worshipers, offering pujas (rituals performed by the temple priests to the various deities) add to the heady atmosphere of incense and camphor smoke, and make this an unforgettable experience of Hindu culture. Blessed, we leave the heat of Madurai for the cool air of the Cardamom Hills. We transfer by vehicle to our lunch stop at Theni. After lunch, we are dropped at Cambam, from where we ride to Kumily. Hidden behind a banana plantation are the vineyards of southern Indiaโ€™s new venture into wine making. These give way to the forested slopes of the Western Ghats and a slow but beautiful ascent up through the rainforest to Thekkady, a small town close to the entrance of Periyar National Park and our accommodation for the next two nights. Accommodation: Abad Green Forest (or similar)

  • Day 8 Day 8: Free Day To Relax Or Visit Periyar National Park (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Free Day To Relax Or Visit Periyar National Park (Breakfast)

      Today is free to relax and explore Thekkady or, perhaps go on a guided nature walk or boat safari to the nearby Periyar National Park. Centred around a human-made reservoir, it is possible to see wildlife year-round, although the best time is the dry season (March-May) when elephants graze by the lake shore; if you are very lucky, you may even see a leopard or tiger coming down to quench their thirst. Please note, activities in Peryiar National Park must be pre-booked as early as possible due to limited availability. If you are interested in either or both the guided nature walk or the boat safari please let your leader know within the first few days of your trip so he can secure your booking. Accommodation: Abad Green Forest (or similar)

  • Day 9 Day 9: Ride Through Tea Estates; Tea Factory Stop; Continue To Vagamon (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Ride Through Tea Estates; Tea Factory Stop; Continue To Vagamon (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Riding from the hotel, we cycle through cardamom and tea estates, stopping mid-morning for tea and to visit the local tea factory, learning more about the tea-making process. Refreshed, we continue along hilly tea plantation roads. We have a lunch break at a small roadside restaurant en route to Vagamon, an area of outstanding natural beauty and one of the most scenic roads in Kerala. We end the ride with a superb winding descent on a quiet road and stay at an old plantation bungalow. Accommodation: Vanilla County Plantation homestay (or similar)

  • Day 10 Day 10: Cycle Through Rubber And Spice Plantations To Kottayam (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Cycle Through Rubber And Spice Plantations To Kottayam (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we ride through rubber and spice plantations en route to Kottayam, known as the Syrian Christian heartland of Kerala. Here, grand churches dot the landscape and we break at Palai to visit St Thomas Church, its whitewashed facade and distinct gilded ceiling predates its Portuguese renovation. Roads converge into Kottayam, but we avoid the city by following country roads and stop for a lunch break at Erttumanoor town. Accommodation: Whispering Palms Lake Resort (or similar)

  • Day 11 Day 11: Morning To Explore Or Relax By The Lake; Board A Houseboat (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Morning To Explore Or Relax By The Lake; Board A Houseboat (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      We have the morning to relax and enjoy the lake view. Alternatively, embark on an optional ride to the nearby Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary followed by a sightseeing ride along the lakeshore. Midday, we board our houseboats for a stunning backwater cruise. The houseboats, converted rice barges, have a captain, cook and crew; we just sit back, sip long drinks and watch the world pass. Accommodation: Houseboat

  • Day 12 Day 12: Final Ride Along The Coast Road To Fort Kochi (Breakfast,Lunch)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Final Ride Along The Coast Road To Fort Kochi (Breakfast,Lunch)

      In the middle of the morning, we disembark at Muhamma. Riding along the backroad, we cross over to the coastal road to Arthingal Beach for our first view of the Arabian Sea and, finally, know weโ€™ve cycled across India from coast to coast. We then ride to Fort Kochi for lunch. After lunch, you may wish to visit the synagogue whilst in the area. Built in 1568 for the Jewish members of Kochiโ€™s trading communities, it is adorned with hand-painted tiles from China and elegant Belgian chandeliers, all donations from wealthy merchants. The area around the synagogue is also excellent for shopping and home to some of the last traditional lace makers, happy to demonstrate their skilled techniques and intricate designs for those interested. Accommodation: The Dutch Bungalow (or similar)

  • Day 13 Day 13: Free Day In Kochi (Breakfast,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Free Day In Kochi (Breakfast,Dinner)

      We have a free day to explore Kochi, its bazaars and old harbour area at leisure. Warehouses filled with the smell of tea and spices are limewashed bright green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes and handpainted trucks piled high with goods fill the narrow streets; and food stalls stand on every corner. Further along the road, youโ€™ll come to Mattancherry and the Dutch Palace. For food, try the fish market near the Chinese fishing nets, where you can buy the dayโ€™s catch and have it cooked to your taste. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities here. Accommodation: The Dutch Bungalow (or similar)

  • Day 14 Day 14: End Kochi (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: End Kochi (Breakfast)

      The adventure ends today and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if youโ€™d like the adventure to continue, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Challenging

Long and challenging experience. Youโ€™ll be required to have good physical fitness to go on it. In some of these activities you'll need previous experience on similar activities.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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