Cycling Kerala's Backroads
Cycling Kerala's Backroads
Cycling Kerala's Backroads
14 Days Starting and ending in Kochi
Visiting: Kochi, Thattekad, Munnar, Munnar Hill Station, Munnar Road, Top Station, Periyar, Thekkady, Mavady Estate, Kottayam, Vembanad Lake, Fort Kochi, Alappuzha
Tour operator:
Tour code:
IND-DKE
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
Min age:18
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Kerala — a narrow South Indian state wedged between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats Mountain Range — is a world of its own. A network of backroads weaves through its tropical backwaters, filled with rivers and lagoons, and meanders up and down highlands draped in evergreen forests, tea estates, and spice fields. Over 14 days, we’ll explore the best of what Kerala has to offer by bike, enriched by the fiery spirit of South Indian culture, cuisine, and hospitality!The adventure begins on the outskirts of Kochi, where we ride east into the foothills of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the planet’s most significant biodiversity hotspots. We’ll experience this richness early on as we glamp by the riverside within Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. Next, we ascend to the Munnar Hills for two days of cycling along meandering mountain roads above tea fields, followed by a jeep ride to Kolukkumalai, the world’s highest tea estate! After a scenic ride through the spice-filled Cardamom Hills, we reach Periyar National Park, where a free day lets you explore its wildlife habits and, if you’re lucky, spot elephants and tigers. On Day 9, we descend back to the lowlands, passing the white-washed facades of Syrian Christian churches before arriving at Lake Vembanad. Here, an unmissable Keralite experience awaits: a day and night cruise aboard a converted rice barge through blue lagoons and rice-paddy and coconut grove-lined canals. The tour’s final stage takes us along the Kochi coast, where we relax on the palm-fringed beaches of Mararikulam and explore Fort Kochi’s centuries-old cosmopolitan charm. The tour ends in Kochi.Join us in cycling Kerala’s backroads and discover South India in style!
Highlights
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Fully Guided
Experienced local English-speaking guide on this tour.
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Meals
As detailed in itinerary.
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Water bottle,Snacks and drinks
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SpiceRoads jersey
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Support vehicle
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Entrance fees
What's Not Included
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Additional Services
Tips service are not included.
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Airport pick up and drop off service are not included.
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International Travel
International flights are not included.
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Visa fees
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Alcohol
Bike Hire
Mountain Bike: US$ 350
Single Supplement
US$ 1,100
Mode of Transport
Bikes
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are well-known makes of hybrid or mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Bike Repairs
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This tour is classed as HARD. Off-the-beaten-track destinations don’t come easy, and our Hard trips explore mountainous, remote, and high altitude destinations by bike. Confident cyclists looking for a consistently challenging trip will find it, with many daily distances of over 75 kilometers and frequently steep, hilly terrain. Road surfaces are often rough with potential to go off-road entirely. Cycling experience, including off-road, and regular training are highly recommended for our Hard trips.
You should be comfortable with long rides and long climbs. Aim to ride three times a week, with a longer, more challenging ride on the weekends. Climbing preparation is key- go for rides in hillier areas or take a spin class if you live in a mostly flat area. Get some experience riding off-road or on trails - have fun with it! -
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, Local English speaking guide on this tour.
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What is the maximum group size?
The max group size is 16 peoples.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is US$ 1,100.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour. An electronic visa (e-visa) is available for passport holders of 150 countries including Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and citizens of EU countries, with the application and the fee submitted at least 4 days before date of arrival. Fees vary depending on nationality. The visa is valid up to 60 days from the date of arrival. Visit here to apply and for the full list of eligible countries. For citizens of countries not specified a visa must be acquired before arriving in India. Please contact your local Indian embassy to receive a standard tourist visa.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in itinerary.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport pick up and drop off are not included.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes, Entrance fees are included.
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Are flights included in this tour?
Domestic and International flights are not included.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no compulsory vaccinations although it is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against Typhoid, and Hepatitis A and B. Tetanus and polio vaccinations should also be up to date at the time of travel. Please speak to your doctor/physician for the most recent information
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Yes! SpiceRoads insists that all clients must take out good travel insurance before joining one of our tours. There are inherent risks involved in cycling and mountain biking and we will not be liable for your medical expenses or evacuation in case of an accident. This insurance must include adequate coverage for any personal accident, medical expenses, injury, death and repatriation. Insurance should also provide coverage for cancellations or curtailment of the holiday. Clients should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for any dangerous or unusual activities that might be included in their tour. If you join the tour without adequate insurance you may be disallowed from continuing on the tour without the right of refund. Clients are solely responsible for arranging their insurance and they should ensure that they are covered for the full duration of their tour. Your tour leader will ask for copies of your insurance before allowing you to join the tour. This protects both you and us.
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Is the trip guaranteed to depart and does it require a minimum number of people?
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please contact us.
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Why hire a bike from SpiceRoads?
SpiceRoads bikes are never just "fit for duty" but a key component of our riders’ tour experience and satisfaction. For tours with bike hire option, renting one of our bikes saves hassle, not to mention precious luggage allowance. All SpiceRoads tours use well-known makes of mountain, hybrid or road bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes or disc brakes and Shimano components. Mountain bikes all have front suspension. We renew bikes in our fleet every two seasons. When in use, our bikes are well-cared for, including full service before each trip and daily cleaning while on tour. SpiceRoads tour support vehicles carry plenty of spares and extra tubes for every emergency.
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Do you have E-Bikes?
Electric "pedal assist" e-bikes are available on select tours. E-bikes can help manage long distances and climbing terrain through the use of a pedal-activated electric motor. Unlike other e-bikes, "pedal assistedr" e-bikes feel more natural to the rider. We recommend e-bikes for riders interested in tours that might normally be too challenging for them, or for groups of riders with mixed ability. E-bikes provide assistance for long distance or more challenging terrain, but they can’t do all the work for you! Always chose a tour within the range of your own abilities to ensure your own enjoyment when exploring a new destination. Contact us for a complete list of e-bike available tours.
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What do I need to bring if I rent a SpiceRoads bike?
Bikes rented for tours always come with a helmet, a single water bottle cage, and a standard saddle. If you prefer to bring your own saddle (just the saddle, not the seat post), additional water bottle cage, or SPD pedals, we will fit them to your bike for the tour. Don’t forgot to bring your shoes and cleats if you bring SPD pedals! Women specific seats are recommended for longer tours. We have a limited supply of gel seat covers to soften the ride, and of strap-on toe cages. Please enquire about adding these during your booking.
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Do you have details of the SpiceRoads fleet?
In Thailand we have a fleet of Verve city bikes, TREK 4300 and X-Caliber 7 mountain bikes, TREK 7.2 X, FX 3 and 7200 hybrid bikes and Trek 2.1 C, Domane 2.0, Lexa SL and carbon Émonda S5 road bikes. We also carry Giant 2019 Explore E+ 3 e-bikes. Our bicycles are available in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 22 1/2 inches or 47 cm to 62 cm. Please note that a certain frame model is not guaranteed. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, baby seats, tag-alongs, and child bikes for children are available. In Bangkok the single-wheeled tag-along bike attach to the seat-post of an adult bike, allowing a child to pedal along behind the adult. There's no age limit to the tag-along bike, but there is a 36 kg weight limit. Bike hire is include in the tour price for short tours, while longer tours offer bike hire as a supplement, as many riders opt to bring their own bike for our cycling tours. Depending on the destination, length of tour, and type of bike, hire costs vary.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
SpiceRoads Cycling allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform spiceroads cycling, 40 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
SpiceRoads Cycling requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of spiceroads cycling charges.
At 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 0% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.