Meals

All breakfasts, four lunches and two dinners included. Where food is not included, 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. Lunches on riding days are usually taken in roadside cafes, allowing us to sample South Indian dishes such as poori (deep-fried bread served with curry) and dosa (thin pancake 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. It’s also an ideal destination if you are vegetarian. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap; a (large) bottle of beer is approximately 410 rupees (US$5). Due to Kerala state laws, alcohol licenses 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. Drinking water is provided in the support vehicle, where you can fill your bottle from the containers.

Others

Local bike hire

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.

Accommodation

Accommodation on this cycling adventure in Kerala includes five nights in hotels with pools, one night on a houseboat and one night in a homestay. 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. Chennamkary: Gaaby World Community Homestay (night 4) Go beyond the traditional hotel with an experiential night at this welcoming homestay. Accommodation is spread across several houses owned by different families. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality, plus we enjoy a cooking demonstration in the evening, followed by dinner. To Thrikkunnapuzha: Houseboat (night 5) 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 will 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 is available. Varkala: Sajjoys Hotel (nights 6-7) On a clifftop, Sajjoys has stretching ocean views just a few moments away. Additionally, the area is consistently popular with our group: Varkala is laid-back and less touristy than other nearby coastal towns. The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant serving Keralan cuisine and international dishes. Worth knowing Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple of months in the year when the weather can be 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.

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Others

— Travel insurance — Visas and vaccinations — Single supplement

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Kochi (Cochin); Bike Fitting
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Kochi (Cochin); Bike Fitting

The trip starts in the old spice port of Kochi, formerly Cochin. The Portuguese established a base here in the early 1500s, followed by the Dutch, who were forced to hand it over to the British in 1841. With a multicultural heritage, it is now the bustling commercial capital of Kerala. Warehouses still smell of tea, rickety bikes and hand-painted trucks fill the narrow streets, and food stalls stand on every corner. We get to explore this fascinating city properly tomorrow. Today, once the group has gathered, we can test and fit our bikes, ready for the adventures ahead. Accommodation: Casino Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Explore Kochi By Bike And On Foot (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Explore Kochi By Bike And On Foot (Breakfast)

Today is a good opportunity to get used to the bikes, exploring the historic town of Kochi by bike and on foot. Most of the major sights are in the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas. We visit St Francis Church, close to the hotel, where explorer Vasco da Gama was first buried, then head to the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Constructed by the Portuguese in 1568, it was gifted to the Maharaja of Kochi before the Dutch took it over. Close to the palace is Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 for the Jewish members of the local 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, called Jew Street, is a heritage zone with many antique and handicraft shops. The fish market near the Chinese fishing nets is also worth a visit. Kochi is also a hub for Keralan arts, so this evening we enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, a form of religious dance and play unique to Kerala. Accommodation: Casino Hotel (or similar) Maximum elevation: 174ft (53m)
Day 3 Day 3: Cycle To Muhamma, Past Old Portuguese Villas And Through Fishing Villages (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cycle To Muhamma, Past Old Portuguese Villas And Through Fishing Villages (Breakfast)

Riding out of Fort Kochi, we pass 500-year-old Portuguese villas, a striking contrast to the tiny fishermen huts dotted along the beach road, with their wooden boats pulled under the palm trees and nets hung out to dry. Many of these fishing villages are Christian. At Arthungal, we can rest under the shade of the coconut trees, sip tea and admire the view of the old stone church. Continuing along the coastal road, we head towards the backwaters of Muhamma. Kerala is renowned for its backwaters: a network of canals and lakes that we cruise on a traditional rice barge later in the trip. Tonight, we stay in a backwater resort overlooking Vembanad Lake. The veranda and the gardens are excellent spots for relaxing, while backwater life unfurls before us. Accommodation: Deshadan Backwater Resort (or similar) Maximum elevation: 89ft (27m)
Day 4 Day 4: Continue Riding Along The Coast To A Backwater Village In The Alleppey Region (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Continue Riding Along The Coast To A Backwater Village In The Alleppey Region (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Continue along the coastal road towards Alleppey, another start point for the backwater trips. Our ride takes us through Kainakary village, eventually reaching Chennamkary, a traditional village in the Kuttanad backwater region of Alleppey. Spend the night here in a homestay, arriving in time for lunch. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality and we enjoy a cooking demonstration in the evening, followed by dinner. Accommodation: Gabby World Community Homestay (or similar) Maximum elevation: 85ft (26m)
Day 5 Day 5: Optional Morning Village Ride; Board Houseboat (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Optional Morning Village Ride; Board Houseboat (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

We have a laid-back morning. You can either relax at the homestay or go on an optional short bike ride to explore the village. At midday, we board our houseboat for a backwater cruise to Thrikkunnapuzha. These converted rice barges consist of two-berth cabins with private bathrooms and have their own cook; depending on your group size, you may be divided over two or three boats. We stack our bikes on the side of the boat (we are saddle-free for the next 19 hours), a chance to unwind as we watch the world pass. Vessels of all sizes use the network of canals and lakes, with smaller boats ferrying passengers and goods between tiny communities on narrow spits of land. On one side of the canal, we see vast paddies, and on the other side are fishing nets and coconut trees. As the sun begins to set, the boats are moored together and we unite on the deck for sundowners and dinner. Accommodation: Houseboat Maximum elevation: 69ft (21m)
Day 6 Day 6: Disembark Houseboat; Cliff-Top Ride To The Laid-Back Beach Town Of Varkala (Breakfast,Lunch)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Disembark Houseboat; Cliff-Top Ride To The Laid-Back Beach Town Of Varkala (Breakfast,Lunch)

Breakfast is taken on the houseboat before we disembark, then enjoy a cliff-top ride to the laid-back beach town of Varkala. We set off along a quiet coastal road to Karunagapally, passing Amrithanadamayi Ashram, better known as the Hugging Mama Ashram, a spiritual retreat overlooking the backwaters. We stop for lunch en route before spending the next two nights at Varkala, staying close to one of the best beaches in India. With coffee bars, shops and yoga schools perched along the red sandstone cliff-top, this town is an excellent place to relax. Accommodation: Sajjoys Hotel (or similar) Maximum elevation: 75ft (23m)
Day 7 Day 7: Short Morning Ride To The Surrounding Coastal Area; Afternoon Free To Relax And Enjoy Varkala (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Short Morning Ride To The Surrounding Coastal Area; Afternoon Free To Relax And Enjoy Varkala (Breakfast)

Enjoy a small morning ride after breakfast to explore the surrounding coastal areas. Returning to the hotel by lunch, there is time to enjoy the beachside location and perhaps try one of the beach shack restaurants, which serve excellent seafood. We recommend trying tandoori dishes, the clay ovens give a more authentic taste to the breads and curries. Tonight, there is the option to enjoy a final group dinner at the hotel restaurant, which serves a variety of Keralan dishes. Accommodation: Sajjoys Hotel (or similar) Maximum elevation: 558ft (170m)
Day 8 Day 8: End Varkala (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End Varkala (Breakfast)

The trip ends after check-out. Start your return journey home or, if you’d like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

8 days tour

Cycle The Coast Of Kerala

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cycle The Coast Of Kerala

Day 1: Start Kochi (Cochin); Bike Fitting

Day 2: Explore Kochi By Bike And On Foot (Breakfast)

Day 3: Cycle To Muhamma, Past Old Portuguese Villas And Through Fishing Villages (Breakfast)

Day 4: Continue Riding Along The Coast To A Backwater Village In The Alleppey Region (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 5: Optional Morning Village Ride; Board Houseboat (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: Disembark Houseboat; Cliff-Top Ride To The Laid-Back Beach Town Of Varkala (Breakfast,Lunch)

Day 7: Short Morning Ride To The Surrounding Coastal Area; Afternoon Free To Relax And Enjoy Varkala (Breakfast)

Day 8: End Varkala (Breakfast)

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