Kerala Cycle Holiday

The holiday starts and finishes in Cochin, nicknamed Queen of the Arabian Sea which was once an important spice trading centre. The tour will have a daily mileage of around 60km – some longish ascents (and descents!) in the Ghat mountains, impressive tea terraces, and plenty of stops for refreshments and photographs. This moderately challenging trip is suitable for all regular cyclists. We stay in some lovely hotels and, on the backwaters, a houseboat. As we make the return journey towards Cochin we will be cycling along the Old Beach Road, an exotic experience definitely not to be missed. The weather will be pleasantly warm, around 23 to 25 degrees, providing a perfect antidote to the British winter.

India High Places began in India in 1987 when our very first trip set off to trek in the Garhwal Himalayas in north India. If you are looking for an authentic and active holiday in India, we are certainly the specialists.

Highlights

• Cycle through Western Ghat Mountains, known for their biodiversity and World Heritage site status.
• Tea gardens: if you like a cuppa then you will be spoilt! There is something mesmeric as well about how the tea plantations curve around the hillsides like contour lines.
• Cycle along backwater lagoons, and an overnight in Houseboat.
• Experience a very different culture and many languages: English is spoken less in Kerala, and not even Hindi is commonly spoken.

Mostly flat with a couple of hilly days at the start. Tarmac, off road (conditions can vary).