Cycle the Coast of Kerala
Cycle the Coast of Kerala
Cycle the Coast of Kerala
8 Days Starting in Kochi (Cochin) and ending in Varkala
Visiting: India
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MIA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 14
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishActivities:
Tour Overview
Kerala is seemingly tailormade for an easy-going cycling adventure: an idyllic coastline, tranquil backwaters, and a welcoming population always ready with a wave or a smile. On this guided adventure, we cycle from the old spice port of Kochi (Cochin) to the sweeping beaches of Varkala. That’s balanced with time to experience the local culture: sampling South Indian cuisine, spending a night in a village homestay and cruising the backwaters on a traditional houseboat.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Kochi (Cochin); Bike Fitting
The trip starts in the old spice port of Kochi, formerly Cochin. The Portuguese established a base here in the early 1500s, followed by the Dutch, who were forced to hand it over to the British in 1841. With a multicultural heritage, it is now the bustling commercial capital of Kerala. Warehouses still smell of tea, rickety bikes and hand-painted trucks fill the narrow streets, and food stalls stand on every corner.
We get to explore this fascinating city properly tomorrow. Today, once the group has gathered, we can test and fit our bikes, ready for the adventures ahead.
Accommodation: Casino Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 : Explore Kochi By Bike And On Foot
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is a good opportunity to get used to the bikes, exploring the historic town of Kochi by bike and on foot.
Most of the major sights are in the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas. We visit St Francis Church, close to the hotel, where explorer Vasco da Gama was first buried, then head to the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Constructed by the Portuguese in 1568, it was gifted to the Maharaja of Kochi before the Dutch took it over. Close to the palace is Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 for the Jewish members of the local trading communities, it is adorned with hand-painted tiles from China and elegant Belgian chandeliers, all donations from wealthy merchants. The area around the synagogue, called Jew Street, is a heritage zone with many antique and handicraft shops. The fish market near the Chinese fishing nets is also worth a visit.
Kochi is also a hub for Keralan arts, so this evening we enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, a form of religious dance and play unique to Kerala.
Accommodation: Casino Hotel (or similar)
Maximum elevation: 174ft (53m)
Day 3 : Cycle To Muhamma, Past Old Portuguese Villas And Through Fishing Villages
Meals Included: Breakfast
Riding out of Fort Kochi, we pass 500-year-old Portuguese villas, a striking contrast to the tiny fishermen huts dotted along the beach road, with their wooden boats pulled under the palm trees and nets hung out to dry. Many of these fishing villages are Christian. At Arthungal, we can rest under the shade of the coconut trees, sip tea and admire the view of the old stone church.
Continuing along the coastal road, we head towards the backwaters of Muhamma. Kerala is renowned for its backwaters: a network of canals and lakes that we cruise on a traditional rice barge later in the trip. Tonight, we stay in a backwater resort overlooking Vembanad Lake. The veranda and the gardens are excellent spots for relaxing, while backwater life unfurls before us.
Accommodation: Deshadan Backwater Resort (or similar)
Maximum elevation: 89ft (27m)
Day 4 : Continue Riding Along The Coast To A Backwater Village In The Alleppey Region
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue along the coastal road towards Alleppey, another start point for the backwater trips. Our ride takes us through Kainakary village, eventually reaching Chennamkary, a traditional village in the Kuttanad backwater region of Alleppey. Spend the night here in a homestay, arriving in time for lunch. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality and we enjoy a cooking demonstration in the evening, followed by dinner.
Accommodation: Gabby World Community Homestay (or similar)
Maximum elevation: 85ft (26m)
Day 5 : Optional Morning Village Ride; Board Houseboat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We have a laid-back morning. You can either relax at the homestay or go on an optional short bike ride to explore the village. At midday, we board our houseboat for a backwater cruise to Thrikkunnapuzha. These converted rice barges consist of two-berth cabins with private bathrooms and have their own cook; depending on your group size, you may be divided over two or three boats. We stack our bikes on the side of the boat (we are saddle-free for the next 19 hours), a chance to unwind as we watch the world pass. Vessels of all sizes use the network of canals and lakes, with smaller boats ferrying passengers and goods between tiny communities on narrow spits of land. On one side of the canal, we see vast paddies, and on the other side are fishing nets and coconut trees. As the sun begins to set, the boats are moored together and we unite on the deck for sundowners and dinner.
Accommodation: Houseboat
Maximum elevation: 69ft (21m)
Day 6 : Disembark Houseboat; Cliff-Top Ride To The Laid-Back Beach Town Of Varkala
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is taken on the houseboat before we disembark, then enjoy a cliff-top ride to the laid-back beach town of Varkala. We set off along a quiet coastal road to Karunagapally, passing Amrithanadamayi Ashram, better known as the Hugging Mama Ashram, a spiritual retreat overlooking the backwaters. We stop for lunch en route before spending the next two nights at Varkala, staying close to one of the best beaches in India.
With coffee bars, shops and yoga schools perched along the red sandstone cliff-top, this town is an excellent place to relax.
Accommodation: Sajjoys Hotel (or similar)
Maximum elevation: 75ft (23m)
Day 7 : Short Morning Ride To The Surrounding Coastal Area; Afternoon Free To Relax And Enjoy Varkala
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a small morning ride after breakfast to explore the surrounding coastal areas. Returning to the hotel by lunch, there is time to enjoy the beachside location and perhaps try one of the beach shack restaurants, which serve excellent seafood. We recommend trying tandoori dishes, the clay ovens give a more authentic taste to the breads and curries. Tonight, there is the option to enjoy a final group dinner at the hotel restaurant, which serves a variety of Keralan dishes.
Accommodation: Sajjoys Hotel (or similar)
Maximum elevation: 558ft (170m)
Day 8 : End Varkala
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends after check-out. Start your return journey home or, if you’d like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. -
Explore the old spice town of Cochin
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Experience warm hospitality in a village homestay
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Cruise the backwaters on a traditional houseboat
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Relax on the sandy beaches of Varkala
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Visas and vaccinations
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Single supplement
Food
All breakfasts, four lunches and two dinners included.
Where food is not included, allow at least 1,650 rupees (approximately US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Please note, service in restaurants can be quite slow.
Lunches on riding days are usually taken in roadside cafes, allowing us to sample South Indian dishes such as poori (deep-fried bread served with curry) and dosa (thin pancake made with fermented rice and lentil batter). South Indian food is heavily influenced by the tropical landscape: creamy coconut dishes enlivened with delicate spices, served on a banana leaf. It’s also an ideal destination if you are vegetarian.
Tea and soft drinks are very cheap; a (large) bottle of beer is approximately 410 rupees (US$5). Due to Kerala state laws, alcohol licenses are limited to one or two bars in each area and not all hotels are permitted to serve alcohol. The first day of every month and certain holidays in India are dry days, when no alcohol is permitted for sale.
Drinking water is provided in the support vehicle, where you can fill your bottle from the containers.
Accommodation
Accommodation on this cycling adventure in Kerala includes five nights in hotels with pools, one night on a houseboat and one night in a homestay.
The accommodations typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a few of the notable places we stay on this trip.
Chennamkary: Gaaby World Community Homestay (night 4)
Go beyond the traditional hotel with an experiential night at this welcoming homestay. Accommodation is spread across several houses owned by different families. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality, plus we enjoy a cooking demonstration in the evening, followed by dinner.
To Thrikkunnapuzha: Houseboat (night 5)
No trip to Kerala is complete without a houseboat stay. Typically, the boats are converted barges (known locally as kettuvallam), once used to transport rice from farm to market. All cabins have private bathrooms and the staff will keep you well fed. The houseboats have a deck and dining area, although the style/layout varies between boats. There is a cook, driver and assistants for each boat and the food is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. Houseboats have two to five twin-bedded rooms. Larger groups may be split over several boats; however, the group reunites at riverside stops and the overnight anchor point where your leader is available.
Varkala: Sajjoys Hotel (nights 6-7)
On a clifftop, Sajjoys has stretching ocean views just a few moments away. Additionally, the area is consistently popular with our group: Varkala is laid-back and less touristy than other nearby coastal towns. The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant serving Keralan cuisine and international dishes.
Worth knowing
Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are really only a couple of months in the year when the weather can be cooler. You can, however, request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter.
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.