Goa Cycling Tour

Tour Overview

The Bangalore to Goa Cycling Tour is a 14 day cycling tour at the end of which you reach the golden beaches of Goa, travelling through the mountains of the Western Ghats, the long coastline and places of historical significance. From the royal city of Mysore, to the magnificent forests at Coorg, through the historically important towns of Belur & Halebidu, India’s highest waterfalls at Jog, through the beach rides at Gokarna, Karwar and Goa, this tour has it all! Your accommodation would be at homestays, atmospheric resorts, wildlife lodges and plantation bungalows

Goa Cycling Tour

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Day 1: Mysore: You will be met at Bangalore & transferred to a hotel at Mysore - 4 hours away. After checking out your cycles & the mandatory briefing by your guide, you will have a tour of the city of Mysore, the official seat of the Wodiyar dynasty, the former royal family of Mysore. A visit to the Palace & the Chamundi hills is part of the tour besides a look at the frenetic Mysore markets before retiring for the night.
Day 2: Coorg: You will be transferred by our vehicle a short distance away from the city to avoid the morning traffic. The tour begins with a leisurely ride to the foothills of the Western Ghats and onwards towards the beautiful Coorg countryside with coffee estates, tea gardens and forests that cover the entire area. Your stay would be at a homestay in this tranquil getaway of mist-covered cardamom and coffee plantations, famed for the hospitality of its people.
Day 3: Hassan: Today, you pedal through country roads shaded by the ‘Flame of the Forest’ trees and the occasional Banyan and coconut groves. You get to witness the beauty and unique culture of rural India first-hand on this ride to the historic town of Hassan, where you will be staying at a beautiful theme resort.
Day 4: Mudigere: Today’s cycling route has two very special stopovers, Belur and Halebid. Belur is home to the Chennakeshava temple, which is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture with Halebid, the capital of the Hoysala Empire. The temples, Hoysaleshwar and Kedareshwara, built in 1121 AD, stand testament to the architectural excellence of the Hoysala Empire. The elaborately detailed carvings in stone adorning the temple facade and the monolithic Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva ‘guarding’ the entrance, and the detailed carvings that even showcase the jewellery and dance positions of the dancers are some of the fascinating features of these temples. These temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Once you have had your fill of architecture, you will continue cycling to Mudigere in the hills. Here, you can experience the unspoilt countryside with its rolling mist covered hills, thick forests, coffee plantations, farmsteads around which wild flowers grow in abundance and also spot beautifully plumaged Orange Minivets and Ioras during your lazy walks here. You will retire for the night at a well-appointed homestay here.
Day 5: Mudigere: You will stay on at Mudigere, and go on a round of cycling through the undulating countryside of rural Karnataka. You have two options here. One, a biking trip will take you on a 30 kilometre ride through the beautiful tea plantations here. The other will take you 50 kilometres cycling through the forested pathways. After lunch at the homestay, you will tour the coffee plantations, watch the harvesting & preparation of coffee or go bird watching in the areas around the homestay, if you are a bird enthusiast.
Day 6: Chikamagalur: You will start cycling to Chikamagalur, the Coffee capital of Karnataka. The ride today will be challenging, with a gradual climb till we reach the Taj, perched on the gentle slopes of the Sahyadri mountains, surrounded by flower-filled gardens that evoke memories of the era of planters who made this place the coffee capital of India. The ride is peaceful and beneath a green forest canopy and the agreeable climate. You will stay at the Taj, a luxurious place, to unwind in the evening.
Day 7: Lakkavalli: Today’s ride is through the mountain paths cut through the coffee plantations. The first 10 kms of the ride is uphill, and then through undulating terrain and finally flat roads as we reach the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area with the primary intention of tiger conservation under the ambitious Project Tiger Programme. The sanctuary has a wide range of flora and fauna. Over 30 tigers are estimated to be residents of this wildlife sanctuary. Other mammals in the sanctuary include elephants, gaur, sloth bear and leopards. Here you will go on a jeep safari through the sanctuary, trek with a naturalist and spend the evenings in the ‘Gol Ghar’ exchanging stories about the day’s events.
Day 8: Koppa: You will start today’s ride near the Bhadrawathi dam and go a short distance uphill through thick forests for 25 kms. Thereafter, there is a fascinating ride downhill, towards your destination Koppa, a small town famously known as the Kashmir of Karnataka for its gentle weather and fascinating scenery. Encircled by the Western Ghats, this is a lovely place located at a height of 800 meters above sea level. You will stay at a small homestay, which is basic but very welcoming.
Day 9: Baindur: Next day, your ride will progress through Agumbe village, famous for large population of King Cobras. The ride is a long one; hence you will be riding part of the way & then transfer to your destination. You will cycle till Kundapura town which is surrounded by water from three sides. Towards the north lies the Panchagangavali River. Towards the east lies the Kalaghar River. Towards the west lie the Kodi back waters and the Arabian Sea, south side is the only side as the main connecting land mass. From Kundapura, you will be transferred to Baindur and you will be staying in WIld Wood, a nature resort in Western Ghats surrounded by thick forest, waterfalls and small streams.
Day 10: Gokarna: You will pedel down the mountains & join the coastal roads, towards Gokarna, a small and remote holy town, with four of India's most secluded and pristine beaches nestled nearby. Gokarna's main attractions are its beaches, where people come to chill and soak up the sun for months at a time. You will ride on this day along the coastal route, heavily scented with the smell of the sea and sand, to reach the resort. At night you will savour delightful dinner at a special restaurant.
Day 11: South Goa - Palolem: Once again, you ride along the scenic beach side with cliffs dropping off to the beautiful beaches below. This is also known as the ‘mango’ belt for the delicious ‘Alphonso’ Mangoes that grow in profusion here. Karwar an ancient site of sea trade frequented by the Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese, French and later the British is historically significant. The picturesque Sadashivgad Fort is located by the Kali River on which Karwar stands. From here you will ride into the beautiful beaches of South Goa.
Day 12: Sunny Goa: Today the last day of cycling is also the last day when you can take in the beauty of Goa. Your ride takes you to the Northern parts of Goa. En-route you will also visit the villages of interior Goa, temples, churches, historic bungalows. You can also take time off to visit the Bom Jesus Cathedral, an expression of Portuguese sovereignty for 400 years colonial rule. You will finish the ride & delicious Goan cuisine and the laid back ambience awaits you.
Day 13: Depart: Depart with fond memories of a great land.