Kerala Cycling Challenge

Tour Overview

This challenge takes you from the plains of Cochin at sea level through the tea gardens of Munnar at 4600 feet,down again to the rainforests of Periyar at 2500 feet,along the mountain ridges to Idukki and down again to the backwaters and Kerala's famous rice boats at Kumarakom and back to Cochin along the sea. Our challenges are fully supported with lead vehicles, marshals,refreshment teams,CASEVAC SUV's and coaches to seat the entire cyclists. We provide Multi geared performance mountain bikes with highly skilled mechanics and guides to support the cyclist. We provide standard accommodation on twin share basis for the partcipants and have exclusive luggage team to make sure that the partcipats get good rest after a challenging day of cycling.

Day 1,2: Fort Cochin

On arrival at Kochi, we will meet you and assist you in the transfers to the hotel. This will be a 1 hour drive to the historic Fort Cochin. We have planned, half day visit at Fort Cochin on the 2nd day to explore the historic city of Fort Cochin. We will be doing a guided tour to the Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Chruch and the Dutch Palace. We will spend the afternoon fitting the cycles with the supervision of experience mechanics. In the evening, we will have a tour briefing and dinner.  

Day 3: Kochi to Thattekad

After breakfast we will be transferred to the start point. We will start off on our cycles making the most of the early morning coolness heading towards the foothills of the Western Ghats towards the lowland forests of Thattekkad. We will start a little off the city limits enabling us to avoid the morning city traffic and reach a quiet countryside where the roads are mostly level. We pass through a scenic countryside of temples, spice gardens, paddy fields and rubber plantations. After a leisurely lunch en-route, we will reach the spectacular eco-lodge on the banks of the river Periyar.

Day 4: Thattekkad to Munnar

After breakfast, we set off cycling along the Periyar riverbank and through dense low altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam where reed is extracted for manufacture of traditional household items like baskets and mats. As the scenery slowly changes we glimpse rubber estates, pepper estates, cardamom estates and finally tea plantations. We will stop at Adimali for lunch and make the rest of the way in the accompanying vehicle to the hills of Munnar – a hill town famed for its vast swathes of tea plantations. Munnar, once a favourite summer resort town of the British, is set amidst dramatic mountain scenery, craggy peaks, tall redwood trees, and some of the world’s highest tea plantations. 

Day 5: Munnar to Vandanmedu

We will start at Munnar, the tea town situated at over 1500m. We will take the winding estate roads through the tea gardens and forest patches, through the Lockhart gap overlooking the spectacular Bison Valley deep down below We will pass through thick forests, cardamom estates and spice gardens that have made these cardamom Hills world famous. In the evening, check into the magnificent resort at Vandanmedu, set amidst a cardamom and tea estates.  

Day 6: Vandanmedu to Periyar

Our destination today is Periyar, passing through forests, tea gardens and spice plantations. We will reach the forests at Periyar by lunchtime where we can either relax or take off into the jungle. Periyar is one of the best wildlife reserves in India and has large herds of Asiatic elephants, Indian Bison as well as Tigers. For the ornithologists it has over 330 species of birds including the majestic Great Hornbill. 

Day 7: Periyar to Vagamon

On this day of the biking tour, you will take the winding roads down to edge of the Western Ghats at Vagamon. The route is consists of a perfect mountain biking country with a great scenic view that consists of small spice growing hamlets dotting the landscape and undulating roads through tea estates and forests. Your destination is a resort set amidst the tea estates and a quiet retreat after a hard day of cycling. 

Day 8: Vagamon to Alleppey

Today, you will be taking a downhill ride through the mountain passes to the plains and from there through the rubber country of Palai to Alleppey, the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. Here, you will settle into a beautiful resort on the banks of the Alleppey lagoon. 

Day 9: Marari

We have a free day to explore the backwaters onboard the houseboat cruise as an optional activity at Alleppey. Houseboat is the most luxurious forms of accommodation and transport available at the backwaters. Reclining on cushions and drifting through quiet canals, you could explore the paddy fields grazed by ducks, floating markets, local toddy shops, temples and churches. By evening you will be transferred to the beach resort at Alleppey. 

Day 10: Depart

Your Kerala Trekking Challenge ends here.Transfer to Airport. Depart 

Inclusions

 Support Level:
• Accommodation on Twin Share
• Support Vehicles
   Lead SUV
  Support Mini Bus from transfers
  Separate Luggage Transfer
  Support Truck for cycles
• Support Team
  Tour Leader
  Marshals
  Mechanics
  Support Guides
• Hot Lunch(Buffet Arrangement with limited chairs and floor mats)
• Multi- Geared Imported Cycles
   Cannondale, Trek and Merida performance bikes
• Refreshment & Water
   Set refreshment stops every 15 to 25 Kms during cycling, based on terrain.

Note:
• Inclusions based on a minimum group size of 60 pax

Holiday Feedback

FAQs

You may also like...

South India Mountain Adventure

The South India Mountain Adventure takes you from the historic Fort Kochi to the mountains of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Munnar. This is an ideal
More Details