Cycle South India From Coast to Coast

Touch down in Kerala and transfer to the harbor town of Fort Kochi. This riverside town blends Dutch, British, and Portuguese influences, where colonial-era churches, spice warehouses, and colorful street life offer a flavor of India’s coastal trading past. Down by the water, you’ll spot the famous Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the Arabian Sea. After meeting your guide and getting set up on your bike, you’ll head out for a spin, with a short warm-up ride to stretch the legs and settle into the saddle. In the evening, get to know your guide and fellow riders over a welcome dinner and hear more about the adventure ahead.

Your first full day in the saddle takes you out of urban Kochi and into Kerala’s green heart. The ride weaves through a patchwork of paddy fields, bamboo groves, and canals, with flat rural roads guiding you past plantations and forests alive with birdsong and butterflies. While the cycling today is relatively easy, the insight into local life will be fascinating as you’ll trace waterways that feed into the Periyar, Kerala’s longest river. The canals and tributaries you pass by are linked to the longest river in Kerala, the Periyar. Steeped in legend, it’s long been revered as a sacred mother figure by indigenous communities, its forested banks lined with ancient temples. Even today, the river is seen as a divine presence, protected by ancestral spirits and forest deities. The day ends at Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, a biodiversity haven home to hornbills, butterflies, and even the occasional elephant. Tonight, you’ll bed down in nature at a serene glamping spot on the banks of the Edamalayar, a tributary of the Periyar.

Today's ride is the most challenging of the trip, climbing steadily into the Western Ghats via a route lined with spice plantations and tea gardens. The scenery changes as you ascend alongside the Periyar River, with dense forests giving way to grassland meadows and shola forests, a unique high-altitude ecosystem found only in South India. You'll pass cardamom bushes thriving in the cool shade, pepper vines twisting skywards, and remote Muduvan tribal villages where life continues much as it has for generations. Stop for a picnic lunch at the Kallarkutty Dam before tackling the afternoon's steady ascent. Everyone can ride at their own pace, with plenty of breaks along the way, and the support vehicle will accompany the group all day so you can always hop in if the climb feels too much. It's a tough but unforgettable day in the saddle, the views just keep getting better and a sunset dip in the infinity pool at your hilltop retreat will be well-earned.

Another leg-burner awaits today, in the heart of the Western Ghats. You’ll ride past pristine lakes like Ponmudi and Anaerangal, whose name means 'lake where elephants come to drink' – so keep your eyes peeled for these majestic creatures! Climb winding mountain roads built by settlers a century ago, passing isolated farming hamlets and spice-growing communities. You’ll pass near Kolukkumalai, the world’s highest tea estate at 7,202ft, where workers once trekked daily up the slopes before roads were built. It’s a day of long ascents, but everyone can go at their own pace, with the support vehicle nearby if you’d like to rest your legs. Tonight, you’ll stay at a boutique mountain resort near the border town of Bodimettu, tucked amid dramatic hills and jungle scenery.

This morning you’ll roll out of the highlands and enjoy a long descent into Tamil Nadu, passing through forest alive with colorful birdlife, from yellow-throated bulbuls to blue-faced malkohas. Stop for a mid-morning break in Theni at the foothills of the Western Ghats before the terrain flattens and the air warms. The ride then opens onto the Tamil plains, a landscape of sugarcane, banana groves and endless paddy fields, punctuated by roadside temples and shrines. Today’s ride is long but mostly downhill and flat, with the support vehicle on hand if the heat starts to bite. After a full morning in the saddle and lunch in Vathalagunda, hop on the bus for a transfer to Madurai, one of India’s oldest cities and home to the magnificent Meenakshi Temple. In the afternoon, marvel at the temple’s towering gopurams and intricately carved 1,000-pillared hall, and wander Madurai's bustling, ancient market.

Start the day with a transfer out of Madurai before riding deeper into rural Tamil Nadu. The road into Chettinad opens onto temple-dotted countryside, mango groves, and wide paddy fields. You’ll pass farmers in bullock carts and grand mansions built by the merchant princes of the Chettiar community. This region is famed for its traditions, vibrant art forms, and distinctive cuisine shaped by centuries of trade. Pause for a picnic lunch near Pallayarpatti, home to the ancient Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest rock-cut shrines. The afternoon ride follows quiet roads lined with mango orchards, tamarind groves, and village temples, with the support vehicle close at hand throughout. The final stretch winds through Chettinad’s heritage villages before a gentle climb into Kanadukathan, where you’ll spend the night in a historic mansion – your Standout Stay of the trip – and enjoy a traditional Chettinad dinner.

On your final leg of biking, transfer to the coast for a ride towards sacred Rameswaram. The route passes through fishing hamlets, small towns, and scattered villages before reaching the picturesque Pamban Bridge, the gateway to Rameswaram. With the ocean stretching out on both sides and the sea breeze in your face, it’s a fitting finale to your coast-to-coast ride. Rameswaram is one of Hinduism’s holiest pilgrimage sites and India’s closest point to Sri Lanka, steeped in history and spiritual significance. After checking into your hotel, rest your legs and watch the sun dip into the sea – the perfect ending to your cycling adventure.

After an unforgettable journey from the backwaters of Kerala to the sacred shores of Rameswaram, you'll tuck into one last breakfast before your three-hour group transfer to Madurai Airport, where you can catch your flight home or continue your travels in India.