Redesigned

Kerala Heritage by Bicycle

Day 1 Meet in Kochi & Into the Kerala Spice Belt

Welcome to Kochi, the bustling gateway to the state of Kerala. Please arrive a day before the tour starts and stay near the airport to avoid lengthy transfers to and from the city (we are happy to book a partner airport hotel for you). Don't worry — we’ll return to Kochi on Day 8 for a deeper exploration! This morning we pick you up near the airport and drive approximately two hours into the heart of the so-called ‘Spice Belt’ of Kerala, where the coastal flats give way to the rugged foothills of the Western Ghats. This is a fertile rural region where ancient spices like nutmeg, pepper and ginger thrive alongside vast estates growing rubber trees and pineapples. We base ourselves in one of the area’s plantation homestays: family-owned, working farms that moonlight as boutique lodgings nestled amidst the rich agrarian bounty of the Keralan hinterland. A late morning guided walk around the property introduces us to the diversity of the estate's crops and traditional cultivation practices, while a post-lunch bike ride gives us our first taste of the midland hills on two wheels. In the evening we convene for a welcome dinner.

Plantation Homestay
Lunch, Dinner
Ride 15km
+211m
-211m

Day 2 Ride to the Periyar River

Today we enjoy a lovely point-to-point ride through the midlands of Kerala, where swift rivers descending from the Western Ghats carve through a lush terrain of rolling hills and valleys. We take a gentle pace, soaking in scenes of local life in the rice paddies, coconut groves, rubber plantations, tropical fruit orchards and lively towns. We also stop by India’s largest pineapple market in Vazhakulam and encounter Kerala’s two dominant faiths, Hinduism and Christianity, as we pass by temples and churches. Our destination is a peaceful resort on the banks of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or walk along a trail to the Paniyeli Poru Rapids, a scenic spot of natural rock formations and river cascades surrounded by dense mahogany and teak forests.

Whispering Waters Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 47km
+487m
-505m

Day 3 Ride to the Chalakudy River

Starting our ride from the hotel, we pedal around 10 km to an elephant rescue centre tucked away in the forest along the Periyar River. Elephants are inextricably linked to the cultural heritage of Kerala, though their conservation in the wild faces major challenges in the modern world. We’ll greet the gentle giants residing here in peace before crossing the Periyar River and, at around 20 km, settle in for an undulating ride at the edge of the Western Ghats foothills. We cycle through rubber and teak plantations on quiet roads, gently rising and falling with the contours of the terrain, before reaching the valley of the Chalakudy River — another of the state’s vital waterways. The final 20 km take us across the plain dotted with oil palm trees, where we also pause for the thrill of walking across a suspension bridge. Our ride ends at a tranquil nature retreat where urbanites (and sweaty cyclists like ourselves!) come to rejuvenate with Ayurvedic treatments and healthy, farm-to-table vegetarian cuisine.

Rasa Gurukul or Back to Roots Ayurveda Retreat
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 60km
+640m
-648m

Day 4 Ride to Thrissur

Today’s ride takes us north into a densely populated area in Central Kerala where it is often difficult to tell where one village ends and the next begins! But linking them is a network of backroads slicing through a colourful cross-section of daily life in the communities, markets, and rice paddies of the Malabar Plain. We end our ride with lunch at a local restaurant after 40 km and drive a short transfer into the city of Thrissur. Late this afternoon we hop into iconic Indian tuk-tuks (motorised rickshaws) and zip through the streets to discover Thrissur’s landmarks. First up is the Our Lady of Dolours Basilica, an Indo-Gothic marvel whose soaring white spires and 79-metre Bible Tower dominate the city skyline. Next, we head to Vadakkunnathan Temple to admire its monumental stone gateways and sweeping copper-clad roofs. While only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, we can still catch a glimpse of the heady atmosphere from the surrounding parkland as devotees come to pray to Lord Shiva. Tonight we sleep in a sleek modern hotel in the heart of town, giving ourselves a change of pace from the upcountry lodgings we’ve enjoyed so far.

Radisson Thrissur East Fort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 40km
+303m
-307m

Day 5 Keralan Art & Ride to Ottapalam

We spend the first half of the day at Kerala Kalamandalam, the state’s premier academy for the preservation of Kerala’s traditional performing arts rooted in ancient temple rituals and the grand storytelling of Hindu epics. Located an hour’s drive north of Thrissur, this vast campus invites visitors for a behind-the-curtains look at Keralan classical theatre and dance. Led by knowledgeable staff, we are guided through classrooms to witness students mastering the precise hand gestures, intense facial expressions, and rhythmic footwork accompanied by the thunderous beats of temple drums. The visit ends at 13:00 (1 pm), the perfect time to switch from Kerala’s artistic to its culinary traditions, treating ourselves to Sadhya, a quintessential vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf. To help with digestion, we’ll round off the day with a slow-paced afternoon ride through the scenic rice basin sprawling along the banks of the Nila River. We spend the night at a bespoke farmhouse in Ottapalam, a laid-back town renowned as a major filming location for Malayalam cinema due to its unmistakable Old-World charm.

Kalappura Farm House
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 33km
+366m
-349m

Day 6 Ride to Guruvayur

From Ottapalam, we fast-track ourselves a little further west via a 30-minute vehicle transfer. Our ride today is a longer-distance effort as we begin our transition from the Kerala Midlands to the Malabar Coast. We are in no hurry and take a relaxed pace, savouring the scenery of the rice paddies that sprawl along the plains of the mighty Nila River, tackling a few hills and refuelling with fresh fruit like mangoes or jackfruit (depending on the season). The last few kilometres get busy as we enter the high-energy temple town of Guruvayur, home to one of India’s most revered places of worship dedicated to Lord Krishna. We stay at a cosy hotel catering primarily to pilgrims just around the corner from the complex, perfect for an evening stroll through the market that surrounds the massive gateway where, at dusk, thousands of oil lamps are lit. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, make sure to try some of the local treats on offer, such as neypayasam, a rich ghee pudding.

Lilac Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 65km
+597m
-634m

Day 7 Ride to Cherai Beach

Today is the longest ride of the tour but as we’re now firmly in the coastal plains of Kerala, the terrain is flat. Upon weaving out of Guruvayur, we ride past the whitewashed façade of a church believed to have been founded by St Thomas in the 1st century AD. As a little-known fact in world history, Christianity arrived and took hold in India at that time as the apostle travelled to the Malabar Coast along the spice trade maritime routes. This two-millennia-old legacy lives on in the many Syriac Christian communities dotted along today’s route. By the 20 km point, we arrive at the shores of the Arabian Sea and enjoy a long stretch of coastal cycling, passing beaches, towering palm trees, and a labyrinth of lush coconut groves. After crossing a bridge over the wide estuary of the Periyar River, our ride concludes with a final jaunt to Cherai Beach. Sitting on a narrow strip of land wedged between the ocean to the west and a lagoon to the east, Cherai Beach is one of the state’s best-kept tourism secrets, with scenically positioned wellness resorts making the choice to stay here all too easy.

Akanta Ayurveda & Yoga
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 69km
+257m
-264m

Day 8 Ride to Fort Kochi

Time for the home stretch! We dart off from Cherai Beach and head inland through the backwaters of Kerala, an aquatic world of river mouths, interlocking lagoons, prawn farms and the hustle and bustle of Keralites on the move. After around 30 km we reach the shores of Vembanad Lake and hop on a ferry to cross over to Fort Kochi where we embark on a heritage-focused biking loop. As a bustling maritime port since ancient times, Fort Kochi’s townscape reflects a rich cosmopolitan history, showcasing influences from Chinese, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch, and British cultures. With much to see, our loop is designed to be flexible, with possible stops at the old harbour area, St Francis Church, the Dutch Palace, Santa Cruz Basilica, Vasco House, and the ornate Paradesi Synagogue. We’ll also visit the massive and iconic Chinese fishing nets. We draw our Keralan cycling journey to a close with a final lunch together and say our goodbyes. We recommend extending your stay in Fort Kochi for at least one night to fully soak in its charm. If you need assistance with post-tour hotel bookings or airport transfers, please let us know.

Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 48km
+209m
-207m

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.