Kerala Hike, Bike & Kayak

Tour Overview

Cycle, trek and kayak through picturesque landscapes, wildlife reserves and the meandering backwaters of Kerala on this exciting multi activity holiday in Kerala! Starting from Fort Kochi, you will cycle through the lowlands and the Western Ghats. You will also get to trek through the mountains of Munnar and the Periyar Tiger Reserve as well as kayak through the backwaters near Alleppey, combining the most fun activities and destinations, all rolled together into one exciting trip.

Multi Activity Holiday in Kerala

Day1: Kochi: Your multi activity holiday in Kerala begins at Fort Kochi, where you will stay at a hotel on arrival. Fort Kochi is a part of Kochi, and is known for its cultural and historical charm. Discovering Fort Kochi is a delightful prospect, with its cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses inviting you to walk them through. Its importance as a port for trade is visible in the multitude of churches, colonial bungalows, Chinese fishing nets, a synagogue and a Portuguese Palace. There are plenty of museums that trace the rich history of Fort Kochi that you will get to visit. In the evening, you will be treated to performances of traditional dance forms of Kerala such as Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, signalling the end of the first day of your tour.
Day2: Thattekkad: After breakfast, you will begin cycling towards the foothills of the Western Ghats and the lowland forests of Thattekkad. You will cycle approximately 55 kms, through a countryside that evolves from towns to rubber plantations, paddy fields and spice gardens. You will cycle till the lowland forests at Thattekkad, on the banks of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala and stay at the secluded Hornbill Camp, which is a birder’s paradise and is located on the riverside, surrounded by coconut groves and spice plantations. The Hornbill Camp, where you will stay has large airy cottage tents with comfortable beds and en-suite bath. Your night will echo with the peaceful sounds of the forest, allowing you rest after a day of cycling.
Day3: Munnar - Muthuvankudi: Today, after breakfast, you will set off again, along the Periyar riverbank, through the dense low altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam. These are the forests where reed is extracted for manufacture of traditional household items like baskets and mats. The view is filled with forests, redwood trees and mountain peaks, making it an ideal holiday destination. Towards the end, it’s time for you to challenge yourself as the roads get much steeper. Cycle through different tribal settlements to reach your stay at Muthuvankudi, in a well-appointed Eco boutique resort, bringing you some well-deserved rest after the day’s gruelling cycling. Explore more on this day of your Multi Activity Holiday in Kerala; this village has many stories to tell you. Take a stroll along with our expert guide to learn about the culture, tradition and the spices they are cultivating. You can spot many varieties of birds and fruit trees. Use your opportunity to learn tips from the local people while they prepare food in their traditional methods.
Day4: Munnar - Pothamedu: Pedal towards your next destination after breakfast. Start your journey through the small village roads, then the scenery slowly changes to small farms of spices like pepper and cardamom, tea estates and finally towards the main road heading towards Munnar. “Welcome to the land of Neelakurinji ‘the flower which carpets the hills once in twelve years’ and the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, where you will be welcomed by hills covered in the lush green of tea plantations”. This day of your Multi Activity Holiday in Kerala, pedal all the way up to an altitude of 1600-1800Mts above sea level. Visit the Tea museum in the afternoon, to understand interesting facts about tea plantations and tea production in Munnar. Return to your hotel situated in the lap of nature to retire for the day.
Day5: Suryanelli: Today, your adventure will be a trek through the highest areas of the Western Ghats near Munnar which is home to diverse wildlife. Your trek will begin at an altitude of 1500m, and will gradually climb to 2600m, accompanied by guides and porters. You will pass through the high altitude rain forests of this region, the Sholas (high altitude cloud forests). The Sholas interspersed with grasslands are typical of this area. The wildlife includes elephants, the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, the Sambar deer and the sloth bear. After a good trek, you will be transferred back to hotel.
Day6: Vandanmedu: Start your mountain biking expedition after an early breakfast. You will circle around the picturesque Anaerangal Lake, through the tea estates, to Vandanmedu. On this route, you will be able to set your sights on the cardamom estates that gave these hills their name. The thick aroma of the spice gardens and the beautiful forests will be the highlight of today's ride through the Cardamom Hills. You will spend your night in a magnificent resort at Vandanmedu, set amidst cardamom and tea estates.
Day 7, 8 : Periyar Tiger Reserve: Your next destination is the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is a famous protected area that is home to large herds of Asiatic Elephants, the Indian Bison, and the Tigers that India is renowned for. Periyar cycling involves roads surrounded by spice gardens and tea plantations. The ride is comfortably short and you will reach the reserve in time for lunch. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you can take a walk with the local guides into the rain forest. The reserve is a treat for wildlife enthusiasts and ornithologists, with its rich fauna, which apart from the elephants, tigers and bison’s, also includes over 300 species of birds like the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Blue-winged Parakeet, and the Crimson-backed Sunbird. The Mannans are among the oldest indigenous group of people to inhabit the Periyar Tiger Reserve. As late as the 1940s, they lived in the remotest areas of the Tiger Reserve. Their lifestyles were simple, and they made their living by fishing and cultivating a few crops. Today, they are the main conservators of the forest. You will get to walk and talk with them, as they will help you discover the tropical rain forests and wildlife. You will also gain some insight into their interesting way of life.
Day 9: Kulamavu: The ninth day of your adventure holiday in India has the hill town of Kulamavu as your next destination. Today you will cycle across a beautiful mountainous countryside of forests, small villages and spice plantations. Your accommodation is at a resort that is build 3000 feet above sea level in the western ghats.
Day 10: Alleppey - Houseboat: Today you will ride all the way down to the plains and ride on the flat roads towards Kerala’s famed backwaters. Here a cruise has been arranged for you on a rice boat converted into a houseboat. It is a luxurious way to see the backwaters and the life by the backwaters. You will explore the villages along this region, cruise past ancient temples, paddy fields, lagoons and lakes. You will stay overnight on the rice boat itself, which is quite luxurious, it being air-conditioned and has an en-suite bath and toilet.
Day 11: Kayaking through the backwaters: You will start your kayaking adventure today by paddling through the famed backwaters, exploring the lagoons and the lakes. The vast expanse of water, the friendly people, and their lifestyles which you get to experience up close is bound to create memories that last. You will settle into the backwater villa, which is a small cozy family owned resort in the midst of the backwaters!
Day 12: Explore the Backwater Villages: Today, you will set course after breakfast to a small but beautiful family owned resort situated on the backwaters. As you paddle along these waters, the beauty and tranquillity of the backwaters can be mesmerizing and you may realize why it has become world famous and endeared itself to millions of tourists visiting this area. At noon, you will have a picnic lunch on the way. Once you have arrived at your destination you will be able to relax and enjoy the serenity of this stately place.
Day 13: Depart: This day marks the end of the Bike, Hike and Kayak in Kerala tour and you will be transported to the airport, with fond memories of your exciting multi-activity holiday in India.

Inclusions

Accommodation, most meals, Kayaks/ Cycles, helmets / life jackets, tents/ sleeping bags, accompanying Guide, accompanying vehicle, motor boat support, refreshments & mineral water during activities, local sight seeing at Kochi. This trip can also be tailor-made to suit your interests, time schedules and budget requirements.

Holiday Feedback

We had an amazing time with our team. Every day was a new adventure and we loved all the new experiences we had. The tour kept us busy and everyone who looked after us was brilliant with their enthusiasm, knowledge and patience. We would liked to thank everyone ( Georgie, Anoop, Roger, Praveen and Thomas) for looking after us so well and putting up with our foibles! We saw a fantastic array of wildlife and pushed ourselves out of our comfort zones. It is an experience we'll never forget. Rachel, Caleb and Darren.Caleb Boyden 2016-09-02

Thank you for the lifelong experience. The itinerary designed by Kalypso Adventures allowed for was well thought out and allowed for a multi-facetted experience. We loved the variety of activities offered on this tour “hiking, kayaking, cycling “ and the introduction it gave us to different aspects of the Keralan landscape and culture. Highlights included seeing wild elephants and gaurs in Periyar NP, hiking up the second highest peak in the Western Ghats, visiting the world’s highest tea estate and gaining some insight into village life. Our very knowledgeable guide, Vipin, and our skillful and friendly driver, Manuj, ensured that we had a most enjoyable and memorable time in beautiful Kerala. Jay & Deb 2015-05-10

We had the most wonderful trip to Kerala.The hotels, homestays, bed and breakfasts and houseboat we stayed in were all excellent, and we especially loved Dewalokam Spice Plantation as the perfect place to relax, eat delicious food and find out more about Keralan cooking, spices, rubber plantations etc etc. The tea plantations and landscape in Munnar were stunning, the inland waterways so peaceful and the beach at the end of the trip was a great way to finish up. Everywhere we went the hospitality was so welcoming, warm and friendly. The comfortable minibus which took us from place to place felt really safe and we had an excellent driver. Our guide made sure we got the most out of all the destinations we visited, and was especially knowledgeable on the birdlife. We saw wild elephants in Periyar on Christmas Day, quite a gift! All four of us felt like we’d had an incredibly relaxing yet culturally rich and colourful holiday, the perfect combination for us. Thank you. Anne Wallace 2017-02-03

We would just like to thank Sujith and Anna for helping us plan our 10 multi activity tour in Kerala. Also, a very big thank you to Abid our guide, who was incredibly helpful, very knowledgeable, and genuinely great company. Deepu our driver, was never very far away, always on time and looked after us right up to the end making sure we were in the right hotel before leaving us. Vineeth was also great, very knowledgeable, safety conscious and fun to be with. Last but by no mean least thank you to our boat driver Moni it was a lovely touch having a cup of tea with his family at the end. We would definitely use Kalypso Adventures again (that’s if you’d have us!) and will not hesitate in recommending you. You are the best!!!!! Jeanette Janssen 2019-04-02

On behalf of the Fear team; Terry, Robbie and myself, we just want to sincerely thank you for the wonderful time we have had here in Kerala thanks to yours and Liz’s work in preparing such a fantastic tour that had everything we could possibly want in our trip. Your team of Peter, Neerish and Samuel were superb and we really enjoyed their knowledge of India, their humour and efficiency. Please pass on our deep appreciation for all their efforts on our behalf. We also appreciated the time Francis gave us on our arrival in Fort Kochi. We do not know what is in store for our much loved Liz but she has such a deep love for India and it’s people and it was a special time for us to see India with Liz, and we all take so many special memories of our time together here in your beautiful and diverse country. If you ever come to Australia, please let us know so we can attempt to repay some of the wonderful hospitality shown to us over here. Tracey Fear 2019-11-24

"We feel totally pampered having had nearly two weeks with Kalypso Adventures - cycling, birding, trekking, kayaking and generally having fun in Kerala. Thomas was great, very flexible, and helpful in organising our trip. Vipin was the BEST Guide imaginable and Shameer, safest driver and ace photographer. We were two couples and we had a superb introduction to India, thank you Kalypso!"Theresa Robertshaw 2024-01-10