Redesigned

India's Malabar Coast Heritage by Bicycle

Price from
US$ 2,225
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Distance
320 km
Tour Code
IND-DHB
Next departure
04-Jan-2026
Number of Cycling Days7
Average Distance Per Day: 46
0
150 Km
Average Climbing Per Day: 439
0
2,250 m
Accommodation
Basic
5 Star
Total Cycling Distance320 kilometres
Bike HireMountain Bike: Included
Single SupplementUS$ 470 to US$ 545

About this Cycle Tour

Formed from Dravidian and Persian words for “mountain” and “country”, the name Malabar itself evokes a wonderful fusion of elements from India and beyond. From here, intrepid Indian sailors long plied the Arabian Sea on the monsoon winds, trading with Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Africa. They brought with them not only precious silks, spices, and gems from their homeland, but also new philosophical concepts. In turn, the ports of the Malabar Coast saw an influx of wealth and ideas from those distant lands: the region’s Jewish community and the first Christian church in India were both established as early as the 1st century CE. All this cultural richness is fed by the mighty rivers that flow down from the Western Ghat Mountains, giving rise to the fertile soil and abundant fisheries of the deltas. The commingling of diverse threads, borne on the forces of nature, makes the Malabar Coast a fascinating and illuminating land to travel by bicycle.

This tour reveals the region's many aspects in depth, all linked together with terrific cycling. To begin, you can be picked up at your hotel near the Kochi airport, or the airport itself. Transferring to the countryside, we will discover the region’s agriculture with a guided tour of a thriving farmstay (and of course a lunch made from local ingredients). Our cycling begins on the second day, at a local market, then on to a forestry reserve with tigers and elephants among the inhabitants. The following day, we’ll have the chance to spot many bird species en route to our vegetarian cooking school and wellness resort. The next morning’s ride is easier, with arrival by noon at our boutique resort, which is strongly linked with the local village community, allowing us for a wonderful experience enjoying a special vegetarian feast and returning to the resort by canoe. We continue apace on the fifth day, with performances of traditional temple theatre and dance, and later, the traditional Hindu creation of intricate artworks from coloured powders. The riding distances increase once more on Days 6 and 7, though we will still have plenty to see; we will visit both an ancient temple to Krishna in Guruvayur, and the site of India's first Christian church, while making our way to the final stretch of the tour on the sandy beaches of the Arabian Sea. Riding into Fort Kochi on the final day, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial influences come to the fore. We’ll conclude the tour with lunch in this pleasant ambience, full of recollections of our cycling journey.

Join us on this in-depth 8-day cycling tour through the very best of the Malabar Coast’s history, nature, and culture!

Book Your Cycling Holiday

Itinerary

Day 1

You are picked up in Kochi and brought to the lush, serene countryside of Thodupuzha. Explore the farm where we will stay the night, with a guided walking tour, and of course a delicious lunch made from the local ingredients; it’s a tasty introduction to the region’s culinary and agricultural traditions!

Day 2

Browse the vibrant morning market, then ride deeper into this land of rivers and jungle. Visit a rubber plantation, then continue to the Sholayar Forest Reserve, where tigers and elephants live alongside countless species of birds and other wildlife. Stay the night across the river from the reserve and observe the natural splendour on display.

Day 3

We ride along the edge of the forest reserve, then along the Chalakudy River, a vital and biodiverse waterway of the region. After lunch, transfer to our wellness resort and vegetarian cooking school. Unwind in the ayurvedic spa or walk through the beautiful gardens. Later, we’ll gather for dinner prepared by masters of traditional Keralan cuisine.

Day 4

Cycle into Thrissur district, the region’s cultural hub, on an easygoing ride. Lunch is a showstopping traditional Sadhya banquet served on banana leaf. Later, take a leisurely ride to a local temple to learn of local rituals, then return to our idyllic resort by canoe.

Day 5

Pedal riverside to an education centre preserving traditional Keralan arts, and view a performance of temple theatre and dance. Continue pedaling to our Hindu homestay, over 300 years old! After resting on arrival, view the creation of intricate, ephemeral sacred designs using coloured natural powders, which are then given to us as a talisman.

Day 6

Glide along the Bharathapuzha River, whose banks have long given rise to academic luminaries. Our ride takes us to Guruvayur and its sacred temple, said to be Krishna’s abode on Earth, which contains an ancient idol to the god. Take in the temple and its surroundings from our centrally-located hotel.

Day 7

We ride our way to the storied coastline of the Arabian Sea. Stop at the site of the first Christian church in India, dated back to around the 1st century CE. Leafy sideroads lead to a long string of sandy beaches. Take a plunge in the surf, or in the pool of our comfortable seaside resort!

Day 8

Cycle a maze of paths through the fishing ports, backwaters, and islets of Kochi. We end our journey in colonial Fort Kochi with its Portuguese, Dutch and British influences intertwined with the indigenous cultural richness. Here, we’ll have lunch together; you may then choose to stay longer in Kochi, or head to the airport for your outbound flight.

Elevation Profiles

Day 2 - Thodupuzha – Paniyeli Poru Ride 30-51km. +594m / -607m.
Day 2 - Thodupuzha – Paniyeli Poru Ride 30-51km. +594m / -607m.

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