Compare Cycle the Coast of Kerala by Exodus Travels vs Kerala Backwater Tour by GeTS Holidays
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 1,950 | $ 575 |
| Price Per Day | $ 244 | $ 82 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | 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. |
6 Breakfasts, 1 Lunches and 1 Dinners |
| Description |
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.Ride gentle routes along the shores and backwaters of southern India, interacting with friendly locals as you go |
Backwaters enhance the elegance of Kerala, charming visitors at first sight. Portuguese and Dutch settlements in port town Kochi reveals the history of ancient foreign inhabitants. Alleppey’s backwaters are peaceful enough to take you to another world, away from noise and stress. Munnar’s green hub is a population and pollution free idyllic hill retreat. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers an exclusive rendezvous with animals and birds. |
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Day 1: Arrive Kochi
Hello and welcome to Kochi. Our representative will welcome you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Overnight in Kochi.
Day 2: Kochi-Munnar (124kms; 3-4hrs drive approx.)
After breakfast , enjoy a half-day tour of Cochin. Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city, also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. The ruler of Kochi allowed the Portuguese to construct a fort next to the waterfront here. Thus, emerged Fort Kochi. Also called Fort Emmanuel, Portuguese planned their livelihood around the church with settlements and churches. St. Francis church, is the first church of the colonial era where Vasco-Da-Gama's body was buried before being taken to Portugal. You'll also come across Dutch cemetery, Santa Cruz Basilica, Indo Portuguese museum and Cochin Thirumala Devaswom Temple, Willingdon Island here.
Later in the afternoon you will drive to Munnar. Upon arrival you will check-in at a hotel and relax. Evening is at leisure for your individual activities or unwind yourself in the beautiful landscape of Munnar. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 3: Munnar
Enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea here has a famous tea museum inside its complex. The museum has photographs and curios which relate to the evolution of tea plantations in Munnar. Also visit Mattupetty, located about 13 kms from Munnar. Mattupetty is known for its dam and the beautiful lake, which offers enjoyable boat rides. Later visit the Kundala tea plantations and Kundala Lake. The shimmering blue lake is the most photographed part of Kundala. Take a stroll in the tea estate, and enjoy the refreshing mountain breeze. Here you can view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of teal eaves to their processing. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 4: Munnar-Periyar (130kms; 3-4hrs drive approx.)
After breakfast in the morning you will check out of the hotel and drive to Periyar. Post arrival at Periyar, enjoy a boat ride in Lake Periyar. We then check-in at the hotel, and have the evening at leisure. Overnight in Periyar.
Day 5: Periyar-Alleppey (140kms; 4hrs drive approx.)
After breakfast, enjoy a walk near the backwater village. Where you get an opportunity for cycling, fishing, and canoeing. Take a houseboat cruise of Alleppey, ""Venice of the East"", which has a large network of canals that meander through the town and surrounding village. The Snake Boat Race held every year in August in the backwaters is a major attraction. The Kerala backwaters are a vital waterway for the transport of goods, people and their produce, and are often the only link between isolated villages and crowded towns.
You’ll come across flocks of ducks swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky. Share the backwaters with country boats of various types carrying passengers from all walks of Kerala's rural life ranging from the milkman and newspaper boy to local politicians, priests and wedding parties.
Later in the evening you will disembark the houseboat and check in at the hotel.
Overnight in Alleppey.
Day 6: Alleppey-Kochi (60kms; 1hr drive approx.)
After breakfast you will have the morning at leisure. Later at noon you will check out of the hotel and drive to Kochi. Upon arrival in Kochi you will check in at the hotel and relax.
In the evening, witness a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is the most recognized dance drama form in Kerala. It dates back to the seventeenth century and is themed from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. A traditional Kathakali dance performance began at dusk and continued through the night, culminating at the auspicious hour of dawn, when Good finally conquers Evil. Now, of course, shorter performances are more the norm! Costumes and makeup are dramatic characteristics of the dance, and the technique involves highly intricate gestures and expressions.
Overnight in Kochi.
Day 7: Kochi departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Kochi airport for your departure flight. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring Kerala with us. Your trip ends here and we wish you a safe, happy, memorable journey back to your home."
