Cycle the Coast of Kerala

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Adventure starts in Kochi

   Your adventure begins in Kochi (also known as Cochin), a historic port city on the Malabar Coast. With its multicultural heritage, Kochi is now the bustling commercial capital of Kerala. Warehouses filled with tea, rickety bikes and hand-painted trucks line the narrow streets, while food stalls tempt you from every corner.
   
   Late this afternoon, you’ll have a bicycle fitting, allowing time for any necessary adjustments and safety checks before your cycling adventure begins.
   
   Around 6pm, say namaste to your tour leader and fellow travelers as you gather for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
   
   Your tour leader then ensures you receive a warm welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

   • Casino Hotel
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Explore Kochi by bike and on foot

   Today is a great opportunity to get used to your bike as you explore the historic town of Kochi on two wheels and on foot.
   
   Most of the major sights are in the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas. Visit St Francis Church, close to your hotel, where explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried, before heading to the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Built by the Portuguese in 1568, it was gifted to the Maharaja of Kochi before being taken over by the Dutch.
   
   Nearby, discover Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568 for Jewish members of the local trading communities. Inside, admire the hand-painted Chinese tiles and elegant Belgian chandeliers, donated by wealthy merchants. The surrounding Jew Street is a heritage zone filled with antique shops and handicraft stores. You can also visit the fish market near the iconic Chinese fishing nets.
   
   Kochi is a hub for Keralan arts, so this evening, enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, a traditional form of religious dance and theatre unique to Kerala.

   • 9.3 miles
   • 570.9 ft
     570.9 ft
   • Casino Hotel (or similar)
   • Breakfast
3. Day 3Cycle to Muhamma, past old Portuguese villas and through fishing villages

   Riding out of Fort Kochi, you pass 500-year-old Portuguese villas, a striking contrast to the tiny fishermen’s huts dotted along the beach road. Wooden boats rest beneath the palm trees, while fishing nets hang out to dry. Many of these fishing villages are Christian. At Arthungal, take a break in the shade of the coconut trees, sip tea and admire the old stone church.
   
   Continue along the coastal road towards the backwaters of Muhamma. Kerala is renowned for its backwaters, a network of canals and lakes that you’ll explore later in the trip on a traditional rice barge. Tonight, stay at a backwater resort overlooking Vembanad Lake. Relax on the veranda or wander through the gardens as you watch everyday life unfold along the water.

   • 32.3 miles
   • 88.6 ft
     88.6 ft
   • The World Backwaters
   • Breakfast
4. Day 4Continue riding along the coast to a backwater village in the Alleppey region

   Continue along the coastal road towards Alleppey, another popular starting point for backwater trips. Your ride takes you through Kainakary village before reaching Chennamkary, a traditional village in the Kuttanad backwater region. Arrive in time for lunch and spend the night at a local homestay.
   
   This is a wonderful opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality and get a glimpse of everyday village life. In the evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration showcasing local flavors, followed by  dinner.

   • 21.7 miles
   • 85.3 ft
     85.3 ft
   • Gabby World Community Homestay
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Optional morning village ride; board houseboat

   Enjoy a laid-back morning at your homestay. You can relax or opt for a short bike ride to explore the village before boarding your houseboat at midday for a backwater cruise to Thrikkunnapuzha.
   
   These converted rice barges feature twin-share cabins with private bathrooms and an onboard cook. Depending on your group size, you may be split across two or three boats. With your bikes secured along the side of the boat, you’ll be saddle-free for the next 19 hours, giving you plenty of time to unwind and watch everyday life unfold along the waterways.
   
   Boats of all sizes navigate this network of canals and lakes, with smaller vessels ferrying passengers and goods between tiny communities on narrow strips of land. Along one side of the canal, vast paddy fields stretch into the distance, while the other is lined with fishing nets and coconut trees.
   
   As the sun begins to set, the boats moor together and you gather on deck to enjoy sundowners and dinner, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of Kerala’s backwaters.

   • 8.7 miles
   • 68.9 ft
     68.9 ft
   • Houseboat Accommodation
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Characterful houseboats

     Stay in a beautiful houseboat for one night of the trip

   • 

     Floating accommodation

     A unique experience during the tour

6. Day 6Disembark houseboat; cliff-top ride to the laid-back beach town of Varkala

   Enjoy breakfast on your houseboat before disembarking and setting off on a scenic coastal ride to the laid-back beach town of Varkala. Follow quiet coastal roads towards Karunagapally, passing Amritanandamayi Ashram, better known as the Hugging Mama Ashram, a spiritual retreat overlooking the backwaters. Stop for lunch along the way before arriving in Varkala, where you’ll spend the next two nights near one of India’s finest beaches.
   
   With coffee bars, shops and yoga schools perched along its red sandstone cliffs, Varkala is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a slower pace of life.

   • 24.9 - 23.6 miles
   • 75.5 ft
     75.5 ft
   • Sajjoys Hotel
   • Breakfast and Lunch

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     Varkala beach

     Spend time at the laidback Varkala beach during the tour

7. Day 7Short morning ride to the surrounding coastal area; afternoon free to relax and enjoy Varkala.

   After breakfast, enjoy a short morning ride to explore the surrounding coastal areas. Return to your hotel by lunchtime, leaving the afternoon free to make the most of its beachside location. Why not visit one of the beach shack restaurants, known for their excellent seafood? You could also try tandoori dishes, with clay ovens giving the breads and curries a distinctive, authentic flavor.
   
   Tonight, you have the option to join your fellow travelers for a final group dinner at the hotel restaurant, which serves a variety of traditional Keralan dishes.

   • 18.6 miles
   • 557.7 ft
     557.7 ft
   • Sajjoys Hotel
   • Breakfast

   • 

     Varkala beach

     Spend time at the laidback Varkala beach during the tour

8. Day 8Adventure ends in Varkala

   The trip ends after breakfast and check-out.
   
   

   • Breakfast

   • 

     Varkala beach

     Spend time at the laidback Varkala beach during the tour