Cycle South India - Tamil Nadu to Kerala

Our tour starts today in Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry, a former French colonial outpost on India's southeast coast. Known for its tree-lined boulevards, colonial-era villas and lively markets, the city blends French architecture with Tamil traditions, giving it a charming seaside atmosphere. For those arriving in time for the 10am joining time, we'll transfer together from Chennai International Airport (approximately three-and-a-half hours). We offer one compliementary transfer from Chennai airport which will depart at 10am. To join this departure, your flight should arrive no later than 9am. Customers making their own arrangements should aim to be at the hoel in Puducherry by 4pm. En route, we'll stop in Mamallapuram, a UNESCO site where intricately 7th and 8th century carved shore temples and roadside stone workshops showcase a craft that has thrived for centuries. We'll take a quick visit to Ajunta's Penance before having lunch and continuing on to Puducherry. After checking in, we'll meet the tour leader at the hotel lobby around 5pm to get set up with our bikes ready for our first day cycling tomorrow.

This morning, we'll set off form the hotel as we cycle to Auroville. The first stretch will involve riding on a road which we'll be sharing with some of the morning traffic, before following the quieter backroad. There is a brief stretch on the main road before we reach Auroville. Auroville is an experimental township founded in 1968 whose aim was for everyone to live in harmony. Created with human unity in mind, the spiritual commune was developed by Mirra Alfass, also known as 'The Mother', whose idea was to create a place for all people, regardless of their gender, nationality or religion, to live together in harmony. Today, Auroville is recognised for both its giant golden meditation dome, the Matrimandir, and for being one of the most famous ashrams in India. You will find people of different nationalities and ages call Auroville home. After exploring Auroville's visitor center and learning about the community's philosophy, we hop back on our bikes and cycle back to Puducherry in time for lunch. In the afternoon, our tour leader will take us on a city tour on foot, starting with a visit to Puducherry's colorful market. Here you will see everything from local produce to flower garlands, to kitchen utensils and clothes being bought and sold. From there, we'll head towards the heart of this French colonial area, exploring the European-style buildings of the French Quarter. We'll learn why the French colony settled in Puducherry in the 18th century, whilst walking past the colourful colonial houses. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 19 kilometres / 12 miles on flat terrain.

After breakfast, we take a one-hour transfer out of Puducherry to avoid the city's busy traffic. At our starting point, we meet the crew and support vehicle with our bikes before beginning today's ride. We follow quiet backroads towards Chidambaram, passing through small rural settlements and agricultural land, experiencing rural day-to-day life in Tamil Nadu unfold. We should expect to see an array of migratory and endemic birdlife on our ride today as we pass through lakes and waterways which these birds call home. As we reach a big lake towards the end of our ride, we'll stop for a picnic lunch under a shaded tree before meeting our bus for the drive into Chidambaram. On arrival in the city this afternoon we use our vehicle again to avoid the busier urban sections, then check into our hotel. Tonight we'll be staying in a heritage property located in a small village outside of Chidambaram town. The afternoon has been kept free to relax after today's long ride. For those who want to stretch their legs, your Tour Leader can take you for a walk around the local village where hopefully you will see clay pot ovens being made. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 53 kilometres / 32 miles on flat terrain. Total cycling time should be around 5 - 6 hours.

After breakfast, we set out on our bikes from the hotel and will follow quiet country roads as we head towards Thanjavur. As we cycle through the Tamil countryside, we will see local life unfold as school kids walk to school, farmers tend to their rice fields, or women do their laundry near the streams. Known as the 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu', as it boasts some of the most fertile lands in India, producing vast quantities of rice, Thanjavur is also famed for its Chola dynasty temples and rich cultural heritage. At the end of our ride we complete the busier section of road into town in our vehicle. Thanjavur was the former heartland of the Chola dynasty, an empire that originated in the fertile valley of the Cauvery River and ruled for over four centuries, from the 9th to the 13th century. Its power stretched beyond the borders of India, to as far as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and parts of Southeast Asia, thanks to its maritime presence. Besides their enormous influence in establishing trade connections between India and Southeast Asia, the Cholas were also great patrons of Tamil arts. This afternoon, we will take a visit to Thanjavur Maratha Palace before continuing to the UNESCO-listed Brihadeeswarar Temple, an outstanding example of Chola architecture with its 66-metre-high vimana (tower) and large stone Nandi bull statue. Brihadeeswarar temple is also affectionately known as 'Big Temple'. We'll aim to visit the temple for sunset, arguably one of the best times of the day to visit, to see the colours of the temple change as the sun sets for the day. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 58 kilometres / 36 miles (total 265 metres or 870 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling today should take around 5 hours.

This morning, we leave the Chola heartland of Tamil Nadu as we head further south into the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Known for its impressive mansions built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by wealthy traders known as Chettiars. This community amassed their wealth primarily as indigenous bankers and moneylenders across South and Southeast Asia, filling a credit gap left by colonial banks. They also traded precious stones with other countries. Sadly, overseas trade and lending were impacted by the Second World War, which resulted in many of these mansions being abandoned as the traders of the Nattukottai Chettiar community fled the country. Despite many of the mansions being abandoned and left to ruin, in more recent years, some of the mansions have been restored as boutique hotels, offering guests the chance to glimpse into the past. We'll finish up our ride for the day by taking a 45-minute transfer into the town, avoiding the highway, where we'll check into our hotel and head to lunch. This afternoon, we'll drive a short distance to Athangudi town, famous for its tile making. We'll visit a local tile maker who will show us the detailed process of how the beautiful tiles are poured and polished, all by hand - a process which has remained virtually the same for generations. From here, we will continue to Athangudi Palace, which showcases these tiles, along with intricate Burmese teak woodwork designs. Aside from its impressive Chettiar mansions, the Chettinad region is also renowned for its famous cuisine. This evening, we'll enjoy a cooking demonstration to discover why this part of Tamil Nadu is so celebrated, sampling a couple of regional dishes. Such as the famous Chettinad chicken (or vegetarian curry) and chutney. Please note in Chettinadu Court Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be arranged in Chettinadu Mansion, which is approximately 30 metres from Chettinadu Court. The hotel will provide a buggy to collect you, alternatively you can enjoy a short walk between hotels. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 45 kilometres / 28 miles on flat terrain. Total cycling today should be around 5 hours.

We leave Chettinad this morning and will be making our way to Madurai. We'll cycle past granite quarries and mason workshops who are responsible for carving temple pillars for over 2,500 years. Our ride will take us past local villages until we reach the main highway. Here our vehicle will meet us, where we will pack our bikes up and head to our lunch spot for a Sadya lunch, served on a banana leaf (cutlery optional!) On the way to our hotel, we'll take a stop at the flower market in Madurai. The market is a colorful feast for the eyes (and nose!) where you'll see piles of jasmine, marigolds, and roses, to name a few, being bought and sold for weddings, celebrations, and worship. This afternoon will be spent exploring the old city of Madurai, starting with Madurai Palace. From the palace, we'll hop on rickshaws and weave our way through the city to Meenakshi Temple, stopping to look at the markets along the way. Sri Meenakshi- Sundareshwara temple, is arguably one of the most beautiful and atmospheric temples in Southern India. The Hindu temple is one of the biggest temple structures in India and is an iconic sight in Tamil Nadu. Thousands of huge stone pillars line the hallways, each adorned with different deities, and are said to represent the 3,333,333 gods of the Hindu cosmos. As with all the temple visits over these days, it is a great opportunity to strike up conversations with the many local pilgrims. Please note - Meenakshi temple is currently under restoration. The main gopuras (entrance towers) are currently covered in scaffolding. However, the works are expected to be completed by end of 2026. Mobile phones, cameras, large bags, food, and leather items are not permitted in the temple. These will need to be stored at the temple's cloakroom for a small fee. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 61 kilometres / 38 miles (total 200 meters / 655 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling time today should be around 5 - 6 hours.

After breakfast, we leave behind the hustle and bustle of Madurai and drive towards the Western Ghats. Our bus journey of around two hours takes us through changing landscapes, from fertile plains into rolling fields of sugarcane and coconut palms. From Theni, we begin our ride passing by banana groves, vineyards, corn fields and ivy gourd plantations before we begin our slow but steady ascent up to the Western Ghats. Our time in Tamil Nadu comes to an end today as we cross into Kerala. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend wandering around Thekkady visiting the many spice stores or trying some freshly-fried banana chips. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 51 kilometres / 32 miles (total 605 metres / 1985 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling today should be around 3 - 4 hours

We'll head out on a guided walk in Periyar National Park bright and early today. Led by a trained forest department tribal guide, the trek will take us approximately 3 hours through a dense forest of teak, rosewood, sandalwood and mango, where we will keep our eyes peeled for birds, butterflies and wildlife. Returning to the hotel in time for a late breakfast, the rest of the day is free for you to relax at the hotel or, for those who want to keep busy, to do an optional boat safari in the park. The boat safari is a great opportunity to spot Gaur, deer, monkeys, and, from March to May, herds of elephants. Otherwise, you have the option of an ayurverdic massage at your hotel, a spice plantation tour in the afternoon or an evening traditional martial arts show. Please see the budgeting section for more information. No cycling today.

Today we continue our journey through the Cardamom Hills with a short transfer before reuniting with our bikes. We'll pause for a welcome tea stop at a local factory, learning about the tea-making process and the history of the industry in India. Please note, if the tea factory is closed during our visit, we will substitute it with a spice plantation tour. From here, we continue our ride, ascending towards Vagamon, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The road winds through tea plantations, offering some of the most scenic cycling of the journey before we begin our descent. Tonight, we stay at Planters Homestay, an 80- year-old two-storey family mansion set in a rural village. Built by her husband's family, our gracious host, Grace, has lived on the plantation for many years, and shares her home with her daughter and her grandchildren. Although the property is on the simple side, it will allow you to learn about local life in South India and spend time with the lovely family. All rooms are bright and airy with en-suite facilities, and some (but not all) have air conditioning. Wifi is available on the property also. Hot water is heated by solar panels, so it can be a little intermittent. However, the cooler showers offer some welcome respite from the humidity in Kerala. The house is surrounded by lush gardens with tropical fruit trees, tall teaks, and lots of bird life. Your Tour Leader can offer a gentle stroll around Grace's plantation, where you can see how she grows turmeric, bananas, coconuts, and even rubber! This evening, you will have the opportunity to help our lovely host, Grace, prepare dinner using ingredients grown in her plantation. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles (total 690 metres/2,264 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling time today is approximately 3 - 4 hours

Today we leave our homestay and head towards Kerala's famous backwaters. We cycle the first 17 kilometres before stopping for refreshments and boarding our support vehicle for an approximately one-hour transfer to the start of the second section of today's ride. Today's route takes us through scenic countryside dotted with rubber and pineapple plantations, alongside traditional Keralan villages. For most of the day we'll ride on quiet roads with light traffic, although there is a busier 4-kilometre section as we pass through Kallara Town. Around 8 kilometres of today's ride is on unpaved, uneven dirt roads, as this section is currently under construction. It may be worth wearing sunglasses and a buff to help keep dust out of your eyes and face. This stretch passes through paddy fields, where there is a chance of spotting migratory and resident birdlife, before we arrive at our accommodation in Kumarakom. This afternoon is free for you to relax at your hotel, where you can enjoy the pool or a massage. Otherwise, there is the option to do a Keralan village activity where you can learn about thatch roof weaving, coir weaving (rope making using coconut fibres) and local life. The activity is run by the Kerala Government as an initiative to create more income for rural villages. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 51 kilometres / 32 miles (total 280 metres / 918 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling time today is approximately 5 hours.

This morning, we are up early for our second-to-last day of cycling as we ride towards the embarkation point of our houseboat. For the first part of the ride (around 16km/10miles) we will be sharing the road with local commuters in the form of buses, bikes, mopeds etc so it is busy to start off. En route, we will pass a fish auction, where fishermen sell their catch of the day to the highest bidder. The fish sold at the market are caught in Vembanad Lake and in the open sea, so you might see anything from King Fish to lobsters and mussels. We'll board our houseboat around midday for our journey, lazily chugging along as we head out onto the lake. We'll dock before dusk and watch the sun go down on the horizon. The Kerala Backwaters are a remarkable 900km network of lagoons, canals and lakes, formed where the flow of rivers from the Western Ghats meets the Malabar Coast and Arabian Sea. The houseboat is perfect for observing locals who rely on it for transportation, fishing and farming going about their daily lives, as well as switching off and enjoying serenity and natural beauty. The houseboats we use are simple, converted rice barges which have en-suite rooms and an area to relax and watch riverside life as we go by. Whilst the engine is running, there will be some power supply to charge cameras, but the air conditioning will be limited to night-time only. Houseboat sizes range from two to five-bed barges; therefore, larger groups will likely be split over several boats. Please note that your main luggage will be stored in the vehicle tonight and you will be bringing only an overnight bag on board with you. Our total optional cycling distance today is approximately 41 kilometres/26 miles (total 65 metres/213 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling time today is approximately 3 hours.

Disembarking at Alleppey after breakfast, we'll travel by bus on the coast road north to Marari Beach, where we'll catch our first glimpse of the Arabian Sea. We'll continue to Andhakaranazhi, where the backwaters flow into the Arabian Sea, forming a strip of land called the "Azhi". From here, we'll ride the final stretch. Our ride will follow the coastal and beach roads, before connecting with inner village roads where we'll weave through local communities, including the Kanichukulangara Temple area. We'll cycle past scenic backwater-fish farming regions, where Sea Bass and Pearl Spot fish are farmed, before we approach into historic Fort Kochi. We will be staying in a two-hundred-year-old heritage property located in the heart of Fort Kochi. The hotel is a great jumping point to explore Kochi, but for those who want to relax, the property has a rooftop pool to unwind in. The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure to relax and celebrate the conclusion of a memorable ride. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 52 kilometres/ 32miles (total 90 metres/295 feet accumulated ascent and descent). Total cycling time today is approximately 4-5 hours.

Today is completely free to explore Fort Kochi at our own pace. Our tour leader can arrange an orientation walk of the city for those who are interested. Kochi was founded on trade, originally with the arrival of the Chinese, Arabs and Phoenicians in the 2 millennium BC. Its links to Europe strengthened in the 16th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese, closely followed by the Dutch and the English. This has produced an eclectic mix of styles and influences. You can find both the oldest European church and the oldest synagogue in India amongst its winding streets, and elsewhere, Chinese fishing nets vie for space alongside Portuguese houses and Dutch palaces.

Our tour of Kerala ends at our hotel in Kochi. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Cochin International Airport (COK), which is roughly an hour and a half from the hotel.