Cycle the Coast of Kerala

Start Cochin. Those on the group flight usually arrive at our hotel in the

afternoon. We'll then have our bike fitting and test our bikes. 



*Comfortable Hotel*

Today is a good opportunity to get used to the bikes, exploring the

historical town of Cochin (Kochi) by bike and foot. The Portuguese

established a base here, followed by the Dutch, who were forced to hand it

over to the British in 1841. With a multicultural heritage, it is now the

bustling commercial capital of Kerala. Merchants began trading spices such as

pepper and cardamom with the Chinese, Arabs and Portuguese more than 600

years ago. Warehouses are still filled with the smell of tea and spices are

lime-washed bright green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes and hand-painted

trucks piled high with goods fill the narrow streets and food stalls stand on

every corner. Most of the major sights are found in Fort Kochi and

Mattencharry. We'll visit St Francis Church, which is close to the hotel.

Built by the Portuguese in 1503, it is the burial place of Vasco de Gama and

his tomb can be found inside the church. We then make our way to the Dutch

Palace in Mattancherry. Constructed by the Portuguese in 1568, it was gifted

to the Maharaja of Kochi before the Dutch took it over. Close to the palace

is Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 for the Jewish members

of Kochi’s trading communities, it is adorned with hand-painted tiles from

China and elegant Belgian chandeliers, all donations from wealthy merchants.

The area around the synagogue, called Jew Street, is a heritage zone with

many antique and handicraft shops and is excellent for shopping. The fish

market near the Chinese fishing nets is also worth a visit. Cochin is also

the centre for Keralan arts, so this evening we'll enjoy a Kathakali dance

performance, a form of religious dance and play unique to Kerala.



*Comfortable Hotel*

Riding out of Fort Cochin, we pass 500 year old Portuguese villas, a striking

contrast to the tiny fishermen's huts dotted along the beach road, with their

wooden boats pulled up under the palm trees and nets hung out to dry. Many of

these fishing villages are Christian. At Arthungal we can rest under the

shade of the coconut trees, sip tea and admire the view of the old stone

church. Continuing along the coastal road, we make our way towards the

backwaters of Muhamma. Kerala is renowned for its backwaters; a network of

canals and lakes which we cruise on a traditional rice barge later on in the

trip. Tonight we stay in a backwater resort overlooking Vambanad Lake. The

veranda and the gardens are excellent spots for relaxing whilst backwater

life unfurls before you. Treatments such as Ayurvedic massages are offered

here.



*Comfortable Hotel*

We continue along the coastal road towards Alleppey, another start point for

the backwaters trips. Our ride takes us through Kainakary Village, eventually

reaching Chennamkary, a traditional village in the Kuttanad backwater region

of Alleppey. We'll spend the evening here in a homestay, arriving in time for

lunch. The homestay is spread across a number of houses owned by different

families. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with their own bathroom. It's a

fantastic opportunity to experience warm Keralan hospitality. We'll enjoy a

cooking demonstration in the evening, followed by dinner. 



*Homestay*

A laid-back morning today. You can either relax at the homestay or go on an

optional short bike ride to explore the village. At midday, we board our

houseboat for a backwater cruise to Trikunnapuzha. These converted rice

barges consist of 2-berth cabins with en suite bathrooms, and are equipped

with their own cook. We stack our bikes on the side of the boat (we'll be

saddle free for the next 19 hours) whilst we watch the world slowly go by.

Vessels of all sizes use the network of canals and lakes, with smaller boats

ferrying passengers and goods between tiny hamlets perched on narrow spits of

land. On one side of the canal we can see vast paddy fields, and on the other

side are fishing nets and coconut trees. As the sun begins to set, the boats

are moored together and we gather on the deck for sundowners and dinner. 



*Houseboat*

Breakfast is taken on the houseboat before we disembark. We then enjoy a

cliff-top ride to the laid-back beach town of Varkala. We set off along a

quiet coastal road to the Valaazhikal ferry crossing, loading the bikes onto

a local fishing boat to cross the river estuary to Karunagapally, where we

meet our support vehicle and transfer to the beautiful beach town of Varkala.

We'll stop for lunch en route. We spend the next two nights at Varkala,

staying close to what is considered one of India's best beaches. With coffee

bars, shops and yoga schools perched along the red sandstone cliff-top, this

town is an excellent place to chill out.



*Standard Hotel*

After breakfast, we enjoy a small morning ride to explore the surrounding

coastal areas. Returning to the hotel by lunch time, there is time to enjoy

the beachside location and perhaps try one of the beach shack restaurants,

which serve excellent seafood. We recommend trying some of the Tandoori

dishes - the clay ovens give a more authentic taste to the breads and

curries. Tonight there is the option to enjoy a final group dinner at the

hotel's restaurant, which serves a variety of Keralan dishes. 



*Standard Hotel*

Those on the group flight will be transferred to Trivandrum airport for their

flight back to London. For Land Only travellers, the trip ends after

check-out.