On arrival in Kochi, we are transferred to our hotel. After a chance to relax and freshen up, we will enjoy a group lunch, before our bike fitting and will finish the evening with a briefing and welcome meal to sample some Keralan delights.

Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel

After breakfast, we will start off on our cycle challenge making the most of the early morning coolness heading east, towards the foothills of the Western Ghats along the quiet roads that are mostly level throughout the morning. We pass through the scenic countryside of temples, spice gardens, paddy fields and rubber plantations to the lowland forests of Thattekkad. Our spectacular eco-lodge on the banks of the Periyar river in the late afternoon is a welcome sight and here we have time to relax in a magnificent jungle setting.

Meals: B, L, D Accom: Camp

Today after breakfast, we will set off along the Periyar riverbank, through dense low-altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam where reed is extracted for the manufacture of traditional household items like baskets and mats. As the scenery slowly changes, we glimpse rubber, pepper and cardamom estates and finally tea plantations. The ride will be a shock to the system as the climbing starts early, but the stunning views we get to admire will make it completely worth it. We will stop at Adimali for lunch and continue our riding into the afternoon. As evening approaches, we end the ride and make the rest of the way in our support vehicle to the hill station of Munnar – a hill town famed for its vast swathes of tea plantations. Munnar, a favourite summer resort town, is set amidst dramatic mountain scenery, craggy peaks, tall redwood trees and some of the world’s highest tea plantations. The evening will end with an evening meal before getting some much-needed rest.

 Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel

Today is a tough challenge but may be one of the most exciting. After breakfast and our 40km transfer, we start our undulating morning ride that is mostly downhill to the dam at The Kallar Bridge, passing through forests, tea gardens and spice plantations. At approximately midday, we will stop along the route to enjoy some lunch before continuing our adventure in the afternoon. This afternoon we have hard climbs out of the valley to Puttady. From here its 15km of descent to Periyar which has one of the best wildlife reserves in India with large herds of Asiatic elephants, Indian Bison as well as tigers. For the ornithologists, it has over 330 species of birds including the majestic Great Hornbill. We end our day at our Periyar Hotel where we can relax our tired legs by the pool after a good evening meal.

Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel

After a good breakfast, we will cycle the winding roads down through perfect mountain cycling country with great scenic views of spice-growing hamlets dotting the landscape and undulating roads (ups & downs!) through tea estates and forests. Along the route, we will stop at a suitable time to enjoy some lunch and admire the jaw-dropping scenery surrounding us. As we continue on our journey, we will see the famous arch dam of Idukki on the way and cross the beautiful Kulamavu dam just before reaching our destination on the edge of the Western Ghats: Our resort is set amidst the tea estates and is a perfect quiet retreat after a hard day of cycling. The evening will conclude with another well-earnt evening meal and rest.

 Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel

Today, we will be taking a downhill ride through the mountain passes to the plains and from there through the rubber country of Palai to the backwaters of Kerala. Our cycling takes us through varied terrains giving us an opportunity to have a glimpse of the rural Kerala. The terrain will be mainly plains with small undulations in some sections. We will stop along the route to enjoy some lunch before continue our cycle to our accommodation for the evening.

Meals: B, L, D Accom: Hotel

A visit to Kerala, ‘God’s Own Country would not be complete without a cruise on board one of Kerala’s most luxurious forms of accommodation, a converted rice barge houseboat. After a morning trip, we disembark and re-join our bikes for the backwater cycling ride as we ride through a stunning landscape of emerald paddy fields and refreshing rivers. We encounter a succession of fishing villages as we draw ever closer to the finishing line on the white sandy shores of the Arabian Sea. Leaving the villages behind we will hit the beaches and cycle up along the coast to our beach resort for our final evening as a group.

Meals: B, L, D Accom. Hotel

After breakfast, we will transfer to Cochin airport and board our flight for the UK.

Meals: B