Road Cycling India Coast to Coast

Day 1 Arrive in Chennai

Arrive in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. A fascinating mix of modern and traditional, this Indian metropolis has plenty of cosmopolitan and historic diversions for visitors. Feel free to explore some of the city's many temples, colonial churches, museums, and more before meeting up at our hotel in the afternoon for a trip briefing. In the evening, our guide will welcome us to India in true Tamil style with a lavish dinner of South Indian cuisine!

Accord Metropolitan
Dinner

Day 2 Mahabalipuram to Puducherry

Our first cycling day of the tour begins with an hour and a half transfer out of the urban sprawl of Chennai to Mahabalipuram, a coastal town famous for its ancient rock-cut monuments and temples that are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll have some time to peruse and admire some of these thousand-year-old relics before hopping on our bikes and enjoying the first ride of the trip! We'll make our way out of Mahabalipuram, heading inland to the backroads of rural Tamil Nadu. The terrain is mostly flat as we pass through farmland and farming villages, dotted with colourful Hindu temples famous to the region. There's a short and gentle climb at the end of our ride before we reach the coastal town of Puducherry, a former French colony on the coast. Take a stroll to admire the uniquely French colonial architecture in this easy-going town before meeting the group for dinner.

Hotel Atithi
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 85km
+336m
-349m

Day 3 Puducherry to Kumbakonam

It's time to break away from the Bay of Bengal and begin our journey to the other coast! We'll transfer out of Puducherry to begin our ride in the countryside. Though our ride today is long, and the terrain is mostly flat like the previous day's ride, but the scenery is noticeably greener, especially after we cross the Kollidam River. It's a pleasant ride, passing through small but colourful Tamil villages with their many temples and the occasional church. We'll ride directly to our accommodation for the evening, a stunningly designed hotel showcasing traditional Indian and colonial architecture in a lush and serene setting. After the ride, you'll have time to enjoy the pleasant surroundings of the hotel, take a dip in the pool, or enjoy the Ayurvedic spa.

Indeco Swamimalai
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 118km
+564m
-559m

Day 4 Kumbakonam to Pudukkottai

After breakfast, we head out from our pleasant hotel in Kumbakonam, riding east along the Kaveri River. It's a flat ride along the river for roughly 45 kilometres before we head south towards the town of Pudukkottai. There are some very gentle and gradual climbs before we reach our destination, but overall it's a pleasant ride through an area of Tamil Nadu that seldom sees foreign tourists- especially not cyclists! Enjoy the view of authentic South Indian life. After reaching our destination at a rural hotel, you'll have time to freshen up and maybe take a short stroll through the surrounding countryside, including a temple full of horse sculptures honouring Ayyanar, a Hindu deity, before rejoining the group for dinner.

Chettinad Heritage and Wellness Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 128km
+616m
-541m

Day 5 Pudukkottai to Madurai

Today we'll rise early to get a head start on the South Asian sun and heat. Our destination for the day: the ancient city of Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. After 4 days of cycling through Tamil Nadu, today's ride is an easy achievement. The ride begins with a fast and flat warm-up, followed by a gradual climb into gently undulating terrain at around 20 kilometres, passing through small towns and farming villages. We'll have a slow, several-kilometre climb as we pass by the Alagar Kovil Forest Reserve, before making a smooth descent into the city of Madurai. Our accommodation is a beautiful boutique hotel that is centrally located for our sightseeing day off the bikes tomorrow. Take a dip in the pool, sip a drink at the bar, or get some laundry done before rejoining the group in the evening for dinner.

JC Residency Madurai
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 102km
+442m
-408m

Day 6 Madurai Rest Day

Spend today out of the saddle and soaking up the experience of walking among the two-thousand-year-old streets of Madurai. One of the oldest cities in India, the history of this truly ancient metropolis speaks for itself with its towering temple complexes and monuments. After breakfast, we'll head out into the city to see some of the most famous sights, like the Meenakshi temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess of the same name, and adorned with thousands of colourfully painted sculptures. Explore this vast sacred site and its beautiful works of art, a peaceful oasis amid the teeming city. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring, with lunch and dinner at your leisure. Your guide will be happy to provide suggestions, and you are also welcome to spend your day relaxing at the hotel. Be sure to rest well for a big day tomorrow!

JC Residency Madurai
Breakfast

Day 7 Madurai to Chinnakanal

After a day off the bikes, we're well-rested and ready for a big day in the Western Ghats, the storied mountain range that provides water for the state of Tamil Nadu. We'll transfer out of busy Madurai to our start point among the quiet villages with picture-perfect views across the farmland to the mountains. The ride starts with a flat and steady warm-up for 40 kilometres as we head west - straight for the Ghats! Our journey today is a long climb. The terrain can be quite tough, with sustained ascents that go on for 20 kilometres. Be sure to keep your bidon topped-up and take breaks when necessary, or just stop to admire the view. After we reach the top of the climb, we'll enjoy a nice downhill that takes us straight into lush Kerala Province, a sudden change of landscape from the arid to the verdant. The last 10 kilometres are rolling hills, with a final steep ascent to our accommodation for the evening, situated firmly within the Western Ghats. Tonight we'll enjoy a hearty dinner to fuel up for a final day of riding in these impressive mountains!

The Siena Village
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 95km
+1952m
-811m

Day 8 Chinnakanal to Vagamon

Ride out into the soft morning sunlight on the perfect rows of tea fields. A series of plateaus separated by steep climbs takes us deeper into the Western Ghats on winding mountain roads, with some winding descents into plunging gorges. We'll get a break from the South Indian heat, with cool mountain air and forested slopes offering some shade on our ride, especially as we skirt the edge of Mathikettan Skola National Park with its gigantic trees and rushing rivers. Today's climbs are less gradual, and your legs will be tested on short but steep gradients across the rugged landscape, backdropped by mountain panoramas and waterfalls, all the way up to our destination for the day- the hill station of Vagamon. Our accommodation for the evening is a hotel perched amid these serene natural surroundings, the perfect place to get a good night's sleep after a challenging day!

Foggy Knolls Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 89km
+1766m
-2240m

Day 9 Kolahalamedu to Kumarakom

We'll bid farewell to the Western Ghats on our ride today. The ride begins with a long and smooth spectacular 20-km descent out of the Vagamon hill station. Watch the scenery change from pine-lined ridges to tropical forest as we descend over 1,000 meters almost back to sea level. Welcome to Kerala! After the descent, it's an undulating ride through the lush countryside of Kerala province, including stops at historic churches and corner stores, where we can taste fresh buttermilk, a local specialty.. There are hills to watch out for, but nothing we won't be able to handle after our last two days of climbing! We'll pass through the town of Kottayam before a final stretch through the peaceful backwaters to Kumarakom, famous for its houseboat lifestyle and bird sanctuary. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at our resort, located on the shores of Vembanadu Lake (a lagoon off the Arabian Sea). Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at our resort, located on the shores of Vembanadu Lake.

Abad Whispering Palms Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 77km
+712m
-1657m

Day 10 Kumarakom to Kochi

Our final cycling day is a treat: a scenic joyride through the serene backwaters of Kerala as we make our way to the Arabian Sea. The first half of our route takes us through lush coconut plantations and backwater fish farms tended by fisherman and stalked by a wide array of birdlife. The road is dotted with temples, churches, countless schoolchildren on all manner of bicycles, and local women in vibrantly coloured saris that stand out like flowers against the green surroundings. Around halfway through our ride, we meet our goal - the sandy shores of the Arabian Sea! We'll stop for lunch before completing our journey on a coastal road, all the way to Kochi. After checking into our hotel in the old town, you'll have time to pack up your bike, freshen up, enjoy the pool or go for a stroll through this laid back beach town before joining the group once again for a final South Indian feast. We'll trade stories and congratulate ourselves on the tremendous accomplishment of cycling through India from Coast to Coast!

Abad Dutch Bungalow
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 62km
+218m
-219m

Day 11 Departure

After breakfast, you're free to explore Kochi or head to the airport for onward travel. We recommend extending your stay in charming Kochi or exploring more of Kerala and its scenic backwaters, and SpiceRoads will be happy to make the arrangements for you.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.