Description
General Information
Tour Highlights
- Bike under the palm trees along South India’s rural roads
- Cycle among tea estates to the famous hill station of Ooty
- Head to fascinating Hindu temples
- Board on a cruise trip through Kerala’s backwaters on a houseboat
- Unwind in the laid-back beach resort of Varkala
Tour Details
Duration: 14 Days/ 13 Nights
Start/ End: Bangalore / Varkala
Tour Route: Bangalore – Mysore – Bandipur National Park – Mudumalai National Park – Ooty – Guruvayur – Cochin – Alleppey – Varkala
Tour Type: Tailor-made tour
Tour Customizable: Definitely! Tell us your interest
Vehicle: private air-conditioned vehicle and licensed driver
Guide Service: private English-speaking guide
Tour Departure: No fixed departure. Anytime you wish!
Brief Itinerary
Day 01: Bangalore Arrival – Transfer to Mysore
Day 02: Cycling Tour Begin | Discover Mysore
Day 03: Mysore – Bandipur National Park
Day 04: Bandipur National Park – Mudumalai National Park
Day 05: Mudumalai National Park – Ooty
Day 06: Ooty – Guruvayur
Day 07: Discover Guruvayur
Day 08: Cycling Tour | Guruvayur – Cochin
Day 09: Discover Cochin
Day 10: Ride from Cochin to Alleppey
Day 11: Discover Alleppey
Day 12: Ride from Alleppey to Varkala
Day 13: Unwind in Varkala
Day 14: Departure
Full Itinerary
Day 01: Bangalore Arrival – Transfer to Mysore
Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to warmly welcome and escort you to the hotel in Mysore. Once you’ve settled in the hotel, relax at leisure.
In the afternoon, we head to the central bazaar and the 19th-century Amba Vilas Palace aka Maharaja’s Palace.
Later, in the evening, freely discover Mysore your way. Overnight in Mysore.
Day 02: Cycling Tour Begin | Discover Mysore
In the morning, ride north to Srirangapatna, towards the ruins of Great Emperor Tipu Sultan’s capital. It was largely destroyed by British forces in 1799, and the ruins stand on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River. Once over the bridge, you can cycle around the old ramparts to visit Colonel Bailey’s Dungeon and Ranganathaswamy Temple. Also, on the island is the impressive Jama Masjid mosque, and Dariya Daulat Bagh, which was once Tipu Sultan’s summer palace.
Ride back to Mysore for lunch. Then, in the afternoon, cycle up Chamundi Hill to see the statue of Shiva’s bull, Nandi, carved from a single block of granite. Spend the night in Mysore.
Cycling distance: 25 miles
Day 03: Mysore – Bandipur National Park
After breakfast, ride south on country roads to Srikanteshwara Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. Stop for lunch, then head to the forested foothills of the Western Ghats. Once the hunting preserves of Mysore’s maharajas, they’re now a tiger reserve and part of Bandipur National Park. In the late afternoon, take an open-bus safari through the area.
Cycling distance: 56 miles
Day 04: Bandipur National Park – Mudumalai National Park
It’s up to you what you’d like to do this morning. Maybe you’d like to join a safari in an open bus to see gaur (Indian bison) and wild elephants? Or you could spend the few hours after breakfast relaxing before cycling south, spotting deer and monkeys along the way, as you head to Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu. In the afternoon, relax, and maybe explore the Nilgiri Hills and Mudumalai jungles that surround your accommodation.
Cycling distance: 20.5 miles
Day 05: Mudumalai National Park – Ooty
Today’s ride to the hill station of Ootacamund (7,350 feet above sea level), commonly known as Ooty, is one to remember. Thirty-six hairpin turns, with amazing views at every bend, is what you’ll experience as you cycle. Known as the “Queen of the Hill Stations,” Ooty sits in the Nilgiri Hills and is stunningly beautiful. In the afternoon, explore the town and sample cardamom tea before heading to your accommodation for the night.
Cycling distance: 15.5 miles
Day 06: Ooty – Guruvayur
Your ride today takes you through the tea plantations of the Nilgiri Hills. The views will be stunning as you cycle from the Western Ghats to Gudalur, which sits at the junction of the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. Stock up on fresh fruit before continuing your descent to a roadside restaurant in Kerala. Transfer to Guruvayur, about three and a half hours away, to spend the night.
Cycling distance: 53 miles
Day 07: Discover Guruvayur
Today, after breakfast, ride out to the Indian coast at Chavakkad Beach, where colorful fishing boats haul their catch directly onto the sand. Pedal quiet roads to the peaceful Thrissur region and its beautiful villages. In the evening, see the ceremonial elephants of Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. At the nightly prayer service, the place comes alive with the scent of burning incense.
Cycling distance: 34 miles
Day 08: Cycling Tour | Guruvayur – Cochin
Following breakfast, cycle a coastal road southward through groves of mango, coconut, and palm trees. Have a quick dip in the sea before a Keralan lunch of fresh seafood. Then cycle to the local port to catch a ferry to the historic city of Cochin to spend the night.
Cycling distance: 53 miles
Day 09: Discover Cochin
Start the day at Fort Cochin, which was colonized by the Portuguese in 1503, and discover the local delicacies on offer at the nearby food stalls. After lunch, tour Mattancherry Palace, which was built as a gift to the Raja of Kochi by the Portuguese. Check out the city’s 16th-century synagogue and the famous St. Francis Church. In the evening, go to a Kathakali performance — it’s a form of traditional dancing that’s unique to this state.
Day 10: Ride from Cochin to Alleppey
Pedal along the skinny strip of land between the Laccadive Sea and Kerala’s gorgeous backwaters, stopping in at little fishing villages along the way. Have lunch in Cherthala, which is known for its large Christian church, then continue the journey along the old coastal road to Alleppey. Here, we explore a traditional Keralan house that looks out to Vembanad Lake before turning in for the night back in Alleppey town.
Cycling distance: 37 miles
Day 11: Discover Alleppey
Following breakfast, explore Alleppey and Kerala’s famous backwaters by bike or on foot. Around midday, board a fabulous backwater houseboat for a peaceful trip among the palm trees to Kollam.
Day 12: Ride from Alleppey to Varkala
Have breakfast on the houseboat as it travels toward your disembarkation point and the final leg of your cycling journey. From there, you’ll follow the coastal road south to Valaazhikal, where you’ll cross the river on a local fishing boat. There’ll be time to pop into Amma’s Ashram before taking the main road to Quillon. Stop for lunch in the city of Kollam before following quiet roads to the chilled-out beach town of Varkala, where yoga schools and great coffee shops abound. Spend the night in Varkala.
Cycling distance: 54.5 miles
Day 13: Unwind in Varkala
Spend an entire day relaxing in this laid-back beach town, where the sea is backed by red cliffs and the market stalls are home to every souvenir you could ever want. Fill up on all the seafood and local dishes you can at the restaurants that line the waterfront before bedding down for the night.
Day 14: Departure
Time to say goodbye India. Breakfast and morning at leisure until getting escorted to the Trivandrum Airport for a flight coming home. The trip ends. Hope you had a fantastic time together and wish that Multi Country Asia Tours could serve you next time in India.
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