Western Ghats Mountain Biking Kerala Wander

Description: Arrive at Kochi International Airport. You will be met and transferred to the foothills of the Western Ghats, near the deep forests of Athirapilly, where the Chalakudy River thunders down Kerala's biggest waterfall. Your resort is located within hearing distance of the waterfall, in an area that is one of the 36 biodiversity regions of the world. After check-in, no activities are planned. In the evening, check out your cycles for the trip starting the next day. There is an optional walk through the forests with local community or tribal trackers, which supports their livelihood and is part of successful Participatory Management of Forests.

Activities: Briefing, fitting out cycles, and optional forest walks.

Meals: Dinner (D).

Accommodation: Casa Rio.

Description: Start early today, cycling through rubber and oil palm plantations where elephants are common. Look out for the majestic Malabar Pied Hornbills flying through the forest canopy. Your ride takes you along narrow country roads beside the Periyar River, flowing down to the plains. Forests, spice, rubber, and firewood plantations abound on one side of the river, making for a calming experience. This section of the river was once home to 'bamboo runners'. Stop to cool your feet in the water, refresh yourselves, and enjoy the scenery, with possibilities of spotting elephants on the opposite banks. Continue cycling to Thattekkad, one of South India's best birding locations, a region of lowland forests with diverse amphibian, bird, and butterfly species, many of them endemic. Here, you can kayak through the rainforests or walk through local villages to see farming communities.

Activities: Cycling 65 kms, mostly flat with some small climbs. Optional kayaking & walks (if time permits).

Meals: Breakfast at Athirapilly (B), lunch en-route (L), and dinner at Thattekkad (D).

Accommodation: Tapovan Green Country.

Description: Today is the first challenging ride of the tour. Making the best of the early morning weather, you'll be cycling through village roads along the banks of the Periyar River. Soon, you'll cross the spice trading town of Neriamangalam and turn onto an old road built in the 1960s for hydroelectric dam construction. You'll pass through some of Kerala's most scenic routes with forests, deep gorges, and small spice-growing hamlets of settlers. The route also follows lakes and dams like Lower Periyar and Kallarkutti. These isolated communities will welcome you as you ride today's challenging terrain, gaining an average of over 3000' in 60 kms. Your stay will be at a beautifully located resort amidst the mountains.

Activities: Cycling 60 kms, most of it uphill.

Meals: Breakfast at Thattekkad (B), lunch en-route (L), and dinner at Chithirapuram (D).

Accommodation: The Leaf.

Description: Continue cycling through the midlands along undulating mountainous terrain, experiencing rural Kerala at its best – villages, small towns, farmsteads, and ubiquitous chai shops serving tea and local delicacies. You'll find welcoming communities sharing stories. The 'migrants' from the plains have thrived here through hard toil. You will cycle around mountain roads past a beautiful lake near Ponmudi (meaning Golden Peak), then ride up a steep slope to a resort overlooking the lake.

Activities: Cycling 45 kms, with major climbs. Optional Ayurveda.

Meals: Breakfast at Chithirapuram (B), lunch en-route (L), and dinner at Ponmudi (D).

Accommodation: Ragamaya

Description: Your destination today is the cardamom capital of the world. The terrain is undulating, with major climbs and gentle descends, allowing you to take in the sights and sounds. As you move to higher ranges, the scenery shifts from paddy fields and rubber plantations to spice plantations and thickly wooded landscapes. You'll see cardamom bushes, nutmeg trees, pepper vines on coconut trees, and coffee shrubs. Roads become narrower, curling through forested patches where you might spot endemic Nilgiri Langurs or Giant Malabar Squirrels. Roadside eateries offer delicious local snacks and hot chai. Nearing Vandanmedu, the altitude rises to around 4000', opening up vistas of valleys quilted with tea gardens. The cycling routes are spectacularly scenic and enjoyably challenging. Arrive at Carmelia Haven, nestled in a lush cardamom plantation, offering warmth and hospitality reminiscent of early settlers.

Activities: Cycling 60 kms, undulating with major climbs. Visit a cardamom plantation. Optional Ayurveda.

Meals: Breakfast at Ponmudi (B), lunch en-route (L), and dinner at Vandanmedu (D).

Accommodation: Carmelia.

Description: Today is another challenging ride around the large Idukki lake. You will ride through the Idukki wildlife sanctuary and around the massive lake, looking out for elephants grazing amidst the grasslands. Soon, you'll experience a major descent, reaching in line with India's largest arch dam. After rest and refreshments, a major climb awaits until you reach Kulamavu dam, one of the three dams holding this massive water body. Retire for the day after a walk to the resort's viewpoint for panoramic views of the plains below.

Activities: Cycling 65 kms, undulating with major downhill & climbs.

Meals: Breakfast at Vandanmedu (B), lunch en-route (L), and dinner at Kulamavu (D).

Accommodation: Greenberg.

Description: Today is the last cycling day, an absolute stunning experience. First, a big descent to the plains, then through rubber plantations to the trading town of Pala, which marks the end of your ride. You will then be transferred to a resort located on the banks of the massive Kumarakom Lagoon. After lunch at the resort, go on a sunset cruise through the lagoon followed by a celebratory dinner.

Activities: Cycling 55 kms, major downhill & undulating. Sunset cruise. Celebratory dinner.

Meals: Breakfast at Kulamavu (B), lunch and dinner at Kumarakom (L, D).

Accommodation: Lakesong.

Description: You will be dropped off at Kochi.

Activities: Departure.

Meals: Not specified.

Accommodation: No accommodation.