Despite being less visited compared to the north, South India is no less exciting and vibrant. Its astonishingly diverse scenery, architecture, culture and the people are a pleasure to experience. This fascinating bicycle journey through India’s tropical south is a perfect holiday for biking enthusiasts and trekkers alike.

Tour Profile

At the southern tip of India the state of Kerala, and to its north, the state of Karnataka, encapsulate everything that is magical about this tropical region; traditional towns, a mix of mountainous and coastal landscape, endless white-sand beaches and sensational south Indian cuisine. Starting out from Mysore and ending up in Trivandrum, this easy-paced cycling holiday provides a great way to explore this colourful part of India. Heading south, the ride passes through the cool heights of the Western Ghats where the sanctuaries at Bandipur and Mudumalai rear wild elephants, tigers and leopards in their jungles and bamboo forests.

After crossing the hill-station of Ooty at 2240 metres in the Nilgiri Hills, a rolling hill-country ride and amazing descent takes us into Kerala, where we cycle round old forts and religious rock shrines as well as through colourful villages where rural life has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Heading south again, we spend a day in the old port of Kochi and enjoy a homestay and an overnight houseboat cruise on the ‘backwaters’, the vast network of channels and lakes, before the final coastal ride to Varkala for a chance to laze on the beach and reflect on an unforgettable experience of rural India.