Cycling holidays in Kerala
| country: | India | ||||
| location: | Kerala, Kochi | ||||
| trip type: | Moderate cycling holidays | ||||
| departures: | Departures will be on ‘as required’ basis, throughout the year, based on a min of 2 persons travelling. Guaranteed departures: 22 Nov 2010 & 15 Jan 2011 | ||||
| price: | From US $1,750 (14 days) excluding flights.
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| more info: | Includes airport transfers, guide, accommodation, most meals, accompanying vehicle, other travel costs and cycles (Trek/Giant bikes). Peak season surcharge from 20 Dec - 10 Jan | ||||
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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| Holiday Details |  12 reviews |
Cycling holidays in Kerala
This is a cycling holiday for all those looking to explore the green magic of the Keralan countryside. If you are looking for quiet roads, spectacular sceneries and friendly people, then this holiday is for you.
As you cycle through the backcountry roads around the magnificent forests, the magical backwaters and the beautiful beaches, Kerala will mesmerize you. You will be cycling away from the crowded towns and cities and going through the very heart of Kerala - its wonderful villages and people who will greet you with warmth, making this a trip of a lifetime and the best way to take in the real Kerala.
Historical places, dense forested roads, spice gardens, isolated hamlets, manicured tea gardens, the rubber estates of Central Kerala and the magical waterways of the backwaters await you on this journey of discovery.
Accommodation is arranged at well-appointed country homes, heritage villas, eco lodges and luxury tents. Food is ethnic and delicious and your hosts most delightful company. Lunches and refreshments are provided en-route or in Homestays, to give you that special eco-experience.
Highlight include:Cycling Walking Tribal life Wildlife Tea estates
Best time to go: Year-round.
As you cycle through the backcountry roads around the magnificent forests, the magical backwaters and the beautiful beaches, Kerala will mesmerize you. You will be cycling away from the crowded towns and cities and going through the very heart of Kerala - its wonderful villages and people who will greet you with warmth, making this a trip of a lifetime and the best way to take in the real Kerala.
Historical places, dense forested roads, spice gardens, isolated hamlets, manicured tea gardens, the rubber estates of Central Kerala and the magical waterways of the backwaters await you on this journey of discovery.
Accommodation is arranged at well-appointed country homes, heritage villas, eco lodges and luxury tents. Food is ethnic and delicious and your hosts most delightful company. Lunches and refreshments are provided en-route or in Homestays, to give you that special eco-experience.
Highlight include:
Best time to go: Year-round.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | We will start the journey with your arrival at the historical city of Fort Kochi after your flight. The rest of the day is at leisure to see this historic city with its ancient churches, the synagogue, the museums & visit Chinese fishing nets at the Kochi harbour mouth. In the evening we will make it for a classical dance performance of Kathakali. |
| Day 2: | Early in the morning we will make our way to the lowland forests of Thattekkad, set on the banks of the Periyar River. The journey will take you through the spice gardens that have made Kerala famous all over the globe. On arrival you will be staying at the luxury tented Hornbill Camp on the riverside. The jungle camp is the perfect setting for an evening of relaxation as you listen to the sounds of the forest. |
| Day 3: | Early morning we will depart from the Hornbill camp and ride along the side of the river Periyar, through forests, spice plantations, countryside of pineapple plantations & rubber estates till we reach the foothills of the Western Ghats at Adimali. |
| Day 4-5: | Today is a day of climbing to the heights at Munnar at over 1600 meters. We will pass through high altitude forests, manicured tea gardens, cardamom plantations and winding roads as we make it to a family owned resort within a cardamom forest. Munnar is famed for its trekking routes and a refreshing trek is on offer or we can go on a cycling trip through the wonderfully laid tea gardens in absolute serenity through the quiet country roads. |
| Day 6: | We will take the winding estate roads through the tea gardens & sholas (high altitude mountain forests) to the spectacular Lockhart gap overlooking the Bison Valley deep down below. We will have a picnic lunch en-route and reach our destination at Suryanelli by late afternoon. We will spend the night in very comfortably furnished Cottage tents at Suryanelli after a sumptuous barbeque dinner by the camp fire. |
| Day 7-8: | Today is a day of CHALLENGE as we continue our biking around the beautiful Anaerangal lake (literally meaning the 'Lake where the elephants come down') and through 'manicured' tea estates to our destination - the world famed Periyar Tiger Reserve. On arrival, we will take off into the forest or relax at the resort. We will spend the next day on wildlife safaris or visiting the tribal village and spice plantations at Periyar. |
| Day 9: | Vagamon town is set against the grasslands of the Western Ghats and the cycling route passes through spectacular sights of the rolling hills that have made this place so beautiful. We will settle down at a plantation villa overlooking the Western Ghats. |
| Day 10: | We will head down to the plains through the twisting mountain roads to Thodupuzha & arrive at a beautiful farmhouse set against the backdrop of the hills and located on the banks of the Kannadi River. |
| Day 11: | Our ride today ends at the famed backwater town of Kumarakom. The ride through the plains passes through settlements of rubber plantations, farmlands, fruit yards and market places till we reach our destination. In the afternoon we will be ready for the highlight of our tour – a cruise on the world-renowned rice boats – a luxurious way to see the backwaters & see the life in the backwater countryside villages. |
| Day 12-13: | Once again we will make our way through the narrow country roads to a backwater villa on the backwaters near the ancient city of Alleppey - a perfect place to take in a Kerala Ayurvedic massage as we relax in the evening. |
| Day 14: | Transfer to the Kochi international airport. |
traveller reviews for Cycling holidays in Kerala
Cycling through the tea plantations was amazingly beautiful and peaceful. The scenery through the mountains was stunning, and gave us the opportunity to see villages and meet people that other tours just don't offer. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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Cycling is the best way to explore the countryside of Kerala, meeting the local people, enjoying their hospitality and trying to understand their culture and lifestyles – an important aspect of any eco-traveler. Those who undertake this journey will be staying at Homestays, guest houses and camps owned by local entrepreneurs, thus contributing directly to the local economy. As the travelling is on cycles most of the way, it enables you to take in the surroundings without damaging the environment.
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Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
 Reviewed 23 Mar 2006 by Julie Calkins |  |
Cycling through the tea plantations was amazingly beautiful and peaceful. The scenery through the mountains was stunning, and gave us the opportunity to see villages and meet people that other tours just don't offer. (read full review)
| Reviewed 12 Mar 2006 by John Keen | |
All the arrangements went well and we loved the Palace and temples at Mysore and the Sri Meenakshi temple at Madurai including the ceremony where images of the gods are put to bed at night - which has to be one of the highlights of the holiday. (read full review)
| Reviewed 02 Jan 2006 by Hilary Spivey | |
The children in particular were so happy to see us and kept waving and shouting out hello. The scenery was gorgeous, the food was excellent and lots of it, the roads were appalling - and the traffic just plain exciting. (read full review)
| Reviewed 15 Mar 2010 by James Strachan | |
The visit to the highest tea plantation and factory and sampling the delightful organic teas; a Kathakali make-up, preparation, rehearsal and performance; the wonderful nature reserves; the kayaking at Thekaddi; and the relaxing days on the rice-boat on the backwaters - all were memorable. (read full review)
| Reviewed 21 Mar 2008 by Jill Healey | |
Kerala is a beautiful, friendly place to cycle and every day offered something different - scenery, accommodation and food included. (read full review)
| Reviewed 04 Jan 2008 by Catherine Raeburn | |
The holiday was very well organised and I would have no hesitation at all in recommending it to anyone who wants to see the real rural Kerala. (read full review)
| Reviewed 11 Nov 2007 by Claire Roofe | |
Our holiday has surpassed our expectations. There are so many memorable moments - the beautiful scenery of the tea plantations around Munnar and the charming homestay on the Talliar tea estate, the camp overlooking the elephant reservoir in Surynelli... (read full review)
| Reviewed 09 Oct 2007 by Roderick Brodie | |
Seeing the varied scenery, vegetation, experiencing varied climate and weather- all from bicycling; and the smiling and courteous people. Excellent! The itinerary was well-planned and the organisation of the tour efficient. The staff were friendly and helpful. (read full review)
| Reviewed 25 Feb 2007 by Alick Fraser | |
Our holiday mountain biking in Kerala was great. Weeks afterwards we are still commenting on what a wonderful time it was. It really was a magical holiday and the organisation were brilliant. (read full review)
| Reviewed 23 Mar 2006 by Ian Hobson | |
It was all memorable. The vistas were incredible - particularly in the tea plantations and glimpsing the wild elephants in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Food was just superb every time. (read full review)
| Reviewed 05 Mar 2006 by Catherine Ward | |
The home stays are good fun, we met some great people and the properties we stayed at were just that bit more interesting than your average hotel. (read full review)
| Reviewed 21 Nov 2005 by Carole Paish | |
A big thank-you for organising one of the best tours I have done for years - everything was perfect from your brilliant guide Binu, to drivers Peter and Das, the bikes, the vehicles, the food and accommodation. (read full review)
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