PEDALLING ACROSS KERALA
Day 1: Kochi Arrive in Kochi. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Day 2: Kochi After breakfast, you will attend a welcome briefing session conducted by your cycling expedition leaders. They will brief you about your cycling tour through Kerala.
Afterwards, you will set out to explore the city’s prominent sights and attractions, beginning with the Jewish Synagogue. One of the oldest in India, the interior of the synagogue is decorated with 18th century blue hand-painted ceramic Cantonese tiles.
Next, you will visit the Dutch Palace or Mattancherry Palace, which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights.
Also on the tour, will be a visit to two prominent Christian churches – St Francis’ Church and Santa Cruz Cathedral.
You will then return to your hotel and the afternoon will be at leisure.
Day 3: Kochi – Kothamangalam – Munnar: After breakfast, you will drive to Kothamangalam, the starting point of your cycling expedition (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops).
From here, you will cycle along the Periyar River to the world renowned tea plantations of Munnar (approximately 2 hours, excluding stops).You will cycle through misty mountains, thick forests, hills covered in tea and cardamom plantations, deep valleys, sparkling streams and waterfalls.
On arrival in Munnar, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 4: Munnar – Top Station – Munnar: TThis morning, you will cycle to Top Station (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops), the highest point in Munnar. Top Station offers splendid panoramic views of the majestic Western Ghats.
You will return to your hotel for lunch and the remainder of the day will be at leisure.
Day 5: Munnar – Thekkady: After breakfast, you will mount your cycles and ride through thick forests, coffee, tea and cardamom plantations to Thekkady (approximately 3.5 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 6: Thekkady – Paradisa: After breakfast, you will ride your cycle to Paradisa (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops). En route, you will visit a local church atop a hill which offers a breathtaking view of the countryside.
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at leisure.
Day 7: Paradisa – Kumarakom – Backwaters: After an early breakfast, you will mount your cycle and ride through the grasslands of Vagamon to the state highway. Here, you will be met by your chauffeur who will drive you to Kumarakom (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival at the Kumarakom jetty, you will board an exclusive air-conditioned deluxe houseboat to sail up Kerala’s famed backwaters.
Lunch, snacks and dinner will be served on board.
Day 8: Backwaters – Kochi – Onward Destination: After an early breakfast, you will disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kochi airport (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops), where our Peirce & Leslie colleague will assist you to check-in for your flight to your Onward Destination.
Day 2: Kochi After breakfast, you will attend a welcome briefing session conducted by your cycling expedition leaders. They will brief you about your cycling tour through Kerala.
Afterwards, you will set out to explore the city’s prominent sights and attractions, beginning with the Jewish Synagogue. One of the oldest in India, the interior of the synagogue is decorated with 18th century blue hand-painted ceramic Cantonese tiles.
Next, you will visit the Dutch Palace or Mattancherry Palace, which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights.
Also on the tour, will be a visit to two prominent Christian churches – St Francis’ Church and Santa Cruz Cathedral.
You will then return to your hotel and the afternoon will be at leisure.
Day 3: Kochi – Kothamangalam – Munnar: After breakfast, you will drive to Kothamangalam, the starting point of your cycling expedition (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops).
From here, you will cycle along the Periyar River to the world renowned tea plantations of Munnar (approximately 2 hours, excluding stops).You will cycle through misty mountains, thick forests, hills covered in tea and cardamom plantations, deep valleys, sparkling streams and waterfalls.
On arrival in Munnar, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 4: Munnar – Top Station – Munnar: TThis morning, you will cycle to Top Station (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops), the highest point in Munnar. Top Station offers splendid panoramic views of the majestic Western Ghats.
You will return to your hotel for lunch and the remainder of the day will be at leisure.
Day 5: Munnar – Thekkady: After breakfast, you will mount your cycles and ride through thick forests, coffee, tea and cardamom plantations to Thekkady (approximately 3.5 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 6: Thekkady – Paradisa: After breakfast, you will ride your cycle to Paradisa (approximately 1.5 hours, excluding stops). En route, you will visit a local church atop a hill which offers a breathtaking view of the countryside.
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at leisure.
Day 7: Paradisa – Kumarakom – Backwaters: After an early breakfast, you will mount your cycle and ride through the grasslands of Vagamon to the state highway. Here, you will be met by your chauffeur who will drive you to Kumarakom (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
On arrival at the Kumarakom jetty, you will board an exclusive air-conditioned deluxe houseboat to sail up Kerala’s famed backwaters.
Lunch, snacks and dinner will be served on board.
Day 8: Backwaters – Kochi – Onward Destination: After an early breakfast, you will disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kochi airport (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops), where our Peirce & Leslie colleague will assist you to check-in for your flight to your Onward Destination.
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