Cycle Kerala - 13 Days

Our tour of Kerala starts in Kovalam, a small coastal town with palm-backed beaches, a busy fishing harbour and a lighthouse. If you arrive early, you might want to walk along the Vizhinjam harbour and watch the fishing boats at work or relax in one of the cafes that overlook the sandy beach. There are no activities planned for today, so you're free to arrive at any time. Our tour leader will meet us in the reception area of the hotel at 3pm for a welcome meeting. If you arrive later, they'll catch you up as soon as possible. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Trivandrum International Airport (TRV), a 40-minute drive from Trivandrum airport to Kovalam hotel.

This morning, we'll try out our bikes and make any necessary adjustments before pedalling off for a test ride through some of the local fishing villages. There's the option to extend your ride up to 32kilometres/19.8miles along an inland village road but the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. You might like to walk along the sandy beaches and take on the pounding surf of the Arabian Sea. In the evening, there are plenty of beachside cafes to enjoy the vista of fishing boats sailing out for their evening catch. Kerala is also well known for herbal care and there are lots of places to unwind with an Ayurvedic massage. Our total cycling distance today is 10 kilometres/6 miles and the route is graded as leisurely (total ascent of 205 metres/673 feet and descent of 175 metres/575feet).

After breakfast this morning, we'll take the bus to Veli, from where we'll cycle 20kilometres/12.4miles to the estuary which is a leisurely ride. The lagoon is a large lake, separated from the ocean by the narrowest of sand spits, where fishermen can be seen working on their boats and nets or poling across the lake with sand-filled barges. We'll visit the fishing village of Anjuthengu, where we'll stop by the Anjengo Fort, built by the British East India Company in the 17th century as the first British trading post on the Malabar coast. After our visit, we'll carry on our ride towards Varkala, a temple town renowned throughout the region as a pilgrimage centre for the millions of Hindus who come here to worship at the ancient Janardhana Swamy Temple. These days, Varkala is Kerala's most popular backpacker hangout thanks to its beautiful clifftop setting and relaxed vibe. On arrival, we should have time to relax by the beach or wander amongst the palms and enjoy the sunset before a well-earned dinner at one of the local restaurants. Our total cycling distance today is 37 kilometres/23 miles and the route is graded leisurely (total ascent of 320 metres/1045 feet and descent of 295 metres/965 feet).

This morning's leisurely ride takes us alongside palm-fringed shores and beautiful blue lagoons, with the chance to spend a little time on Kollam beach. Kollam is surrounded by coconut palms and cashew tree plantations. Its old wooden houses are typical of the Keralan style and its situation at the southern end of the backwaters makes it an ideal spot to begin exploring the network of canals and lagoons. Your accommodation this evening is one of the simpler options in our itinerary. Our total cycling distance today is 36 kilometres/22 miles and the route is graded as leisurely (total ascent of 300 metres/985 feet and descent of 325 metres/1065 feet). Please note, the last few km of today's cycle will be on a busy road.

After a short drive along the highway this morning, we'll get back on our bikes and cycle further north along coastal roads shaded by palm trees. We'll cross the river by Valiyazeekal bridge where we'll get the chance to stop for refreshments and take in the fantastic view from the bridge. We will continue our ride for about 22kilometres/13.6 miles to the Manarasala Snake Temple. After visiting the temple, we'll rejoin our bus for the short drive to our lunch stop. From there we will drive a further 40-minutes to Thottapally. We'll then spend the afternoon exploring Kerala's famous backwaters by motorboat. These boats are a lifeline for the villages, acting as taxis, delivering mail, and even carrying the harvest - it's not unusual to spot pyramids of coconuts or even buffalo being carried in this time-honoured fashion. We will disembark at our hotel in Alleppey which is 12km away from the town, surrounded by lush greenery and paddy fields. This evening you're free to explore the town or make the most of the hotel's pool. Our total cycling distance today is 39 kilometres/24 miles and the route is graded leisurely (total ascent of 310 metres/1010 feet and descent of 310 metres/1010 feet).

After breakfast, we take a short 10 minute motoboard transfer to Kanjipadam where we'll begin our cycling. Our route takes us through the villages of these myriad backwaters and there'll be plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals and visit churches and temples. We'll take to the waters in a traditional boat made out of Anjili wood, passing by villagers tending to their animals and gardens. This afternoon you'll have the option of heading back back to the village for a walk or a sunset canoe ride through the backwaters. Our total cycling distance today is 35 kilometres/22 miles and the route is graded is leisurely (total ascent of 225 metres/740 feet and descent of 235 metres/770 feet).

Leaving the backwaters behind us, we'll hop between bus and bike. We take a one-and-a-half hours transfer to Pampady where we'll begin cycling to Erattupetta.This area is famous for its rubber plantations, which date back to the early 19th century. Up in the rolling hills, you'll notice the climate is cooler as we cycle in the shade of the rubber trees. Tonight, we'll stay with a host family, where we can watch them cook up a traditional curry, take a walk through the gardens or go for a swim in some natural rock pools.

Planters Homestay, a 55-year old comfortable two-storey family mansion located in a small rural village. All rooms are bright and airy with en-suite facilities, and some (but not all) have air conditioning. The house is surrounded by lush gardens with tropical fruit trees, tall teaks, and lots of bird life.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 33 kilometres/21 miles and the route is graded as moderate (total ascent of 655 metres/2155 feet and descent of 650 metres/2125 feet).

This morning, we'll take a stroll through a local plantation and learn about the numerous fruits and medicinal plants. Depending on the season, we might be able to relax in the rock pools before an optional visit to see the outside of Poonjar Palace, the 600-year-old residency of the Maharajah and his family. The palace was built around 1400 AD and is a well-preserved example of traditional Keralan architecture. Our total cycling distance today is 9 kilometres/5.6 miles and the route is graded as leisurely (total ascent of 266 metres/873 feet and descent of 160 metres/525 feet). There's an optional ride of 32 kilometres/20 miles if you'd like more of a challenge.

Taking the meandering roads through the high ranges, today we'll drive the steeper sections of road, before transferring to two wheels to continue our journey to Thekkady. Our cycle route is through a region called Wagamon, where the cooler climate helps us through the seemingly endless tea plantations and rolling hills. We'll pass rubber plantations, and through varied spice gardens. Further on, we might have the opportunity to meet local tea pickers in the plantations and get a feel for how people live in this beautiful region. Thekkady is the spice hub of Kerala and the town has many spice shops - the aroma in the air lets you know why this region is called the cardamom hills. Our total cycling distance today covers 36 kilometres/22 miles and our route is graded as moderate (total ascent of 1175 metres/3860 feet and descent of 1505 metres/4940 feet). Please note, the last 10 kilometres/6 miles of today's ride is on a busy road.

Today we'll take a well-earned break from our bikes to visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Whilst Periyar is known as one of the 16 tiger reserves in India, it's probably better known for its elephants. Just 40 tigers live in the 923sq kilometre/ 575 square miles park and as they are solitary creatures, seeing them is rare. We'll set out on a walk in search of other wildlife such as wild boar, giant Malabar, porcupine and flying squirrels. The park itself hosts a variety of habitats with open grasslands and semi-even and tropical forests. The ecosystem in the jungle is diverse - trees grow up to 40 metres/131 feet high, creating a canopy that blocks the sun, meaning species such as ferns, orchids and airplants flourish. No cycling today.

This morning, we'll take the stunning cycling route down the winding roads of Kuttikanam where we can enjoy a freewheel ride of nearly 20 kilometres/12 miles. We will visit a tea factory en route before continuing our journey by bus (a 3-hour drive) to bustling Kochi, a port city on India's Malabar Coast. Also known as Cochin, it's been a port since 1341, when it was used by Arab, Chinese and European merchants. Built across several islands with criss-crossing waterways, the city has a relaxed feel that speaks to artists and artisans from across the globe. Our total cycling distance today is 30 kilometres/18.6 miles and the route is graded as moderate (total ascent of 540 metres/1772 feet and descent of 1524 metres/5000 feet).

Today after breakfast, we'll drive through the old town of Fort Cochin which will take approximately 40-minutes. From there, we'll begin our cycle through the old town of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery. Kochi was founded on trade, originally with the arrival of the Chinese, Arabs and Phoenicians in the 2 millennium BC. Its links to Europe strengthened in the 16th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese, closely followed by the Dutch and the English. This has produced an eclectic mix of styles and influences. You can find both the oldest European church and the oldest synagogue in India amongst its winding streets and elsewhere Chinese fishing nets vie for space alongside Portuguese houses and Dutch palaces. After spending the day touring the town, we'll take transfer back to the hotel before a sunset cruise around the surrounding islands. Our total cycling distance today is 10 kilometres/6 miles and our route is graded as leisurely.

Our tour of Kerala ends at our hotel in Kochi. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Cochin International Airport (COK).