Cycling along the trails of Kerala

Today, after breakfast, we are driven to Veli.

From Veli, we continue by bike towards the estuary. The lagoon, which is a shallow body of water separated from the ocean, welcomes several fishermen on boats that we can observe lowering their nets. We visit the fishing village of Anjuthengu and we stop at the Fort of Anjengo, the first British trading post established on the Malabar coast, built in the 17th century by the British East India Company. Later, we head towards Varkala, a coastal town with many temples. It is a famous pilgrimage site where thousands of Hindus come to pray at the Janardhanaswamy Temple. Varkala attracts many hikers and tourists from around the world drawn by its magnificent cliff overlooking the coast and the serene atmosphere of the town. Upon arriving in Varkala, we enjoy the beautiful fine sand beaches of the Arabian coast and the splendid sunset, followed by a delicious dinner at a restaurant in town. For this day, we covered a distance of approximately 36 km.

Today, we cross stunning blue lagoons lined with palm tree avenues. During the journey, we visit a few villages to discover the traditional art of coir transformation (coconut fibers, which are used to make carpets and mats) and fishing. Kollam is located on Ashtamudi Lake, on the southwest coast of India, bordering the Laccadive Sea to the west and surrounded by coconut trees and cashew nut plantations. Kollam is also known for its cashew nut production industry. The houses found in Kollam are typically built in wood from the Kerala style and are all located at the southern end of the backwaters. This makes the city of Kollam an ideal place to explore canals and lagoons.

Upon arriving at Kollam Jetty, we begin our bike ride heading south, following coastal roads in the shade of palm trees for 16 km. We cross a river on board boats that will carry our bicycles. Today, our bike tour covers a distance of approximately 22 km. Later, we visit The Manarasala Serpent Temple by bus, near Thottappally station. After visiting the temple, we enjoy a good traditional lunch served in a family restaurant, with food served on banana leaves. After lunch, we explore the surroundings on board a motorized boat passing through the backwaters to the residence where we are staying. It takes a few hours but it's the best way to explore these waterways, which extend over 1900 square kilometers. The boat is an integral part of the daily life of villagers who use it as a means of transport but also as a means of delivery for mail, harvests and other goods. Soon our boat rides come to an end and we head to the guesthouse, in the old trading town of Alleppey. We spend the night in the village in the traditional way. We experience something unique by interacting with villagers while discovering their culture, their cuisine and their daily life. Most houses have guest rooms, and some also have private bathrooms. The rooms are quite simple and offer double beds.

Our day will combine cycling and driving to reach our destination and leave behind the magnificent landscapes we discovered. Erattupetta is well known for its rubber production since the 19th century. The weather becomes slightly cooler and we continue to pedal in the shade of rubber trees. As we stay with a local family, we have the opportunity to learn more about traditional food and the importance of curry. We begin a long walk through nature across the gardens and swim in a natural pool. The farmers' lodges are composed of two floors, a well-appointed and comfortable house. Most rooms do not have air conditioning, but they are bright and quite spacious. The houses are surrounded by lush gardens with rubber trees that shelter many birds that can be observed. (Ascent: 636 m; Descent: 628 m) (Cycling 35 Km / 4.5 h)

Today, we take steep roads by car before starting the cycling tour to Thekkady. Our cycling circuit passes through Wagamon and we enjoy the cool weather, tea fields and hilly region. Our cycling itinerary includes many rubber plantations and spice gardens. Later, we meet tea pickers in the fields and discover the beauty of the region. Thekkady offers many spice shops and travelers from around the world come here to buy from them. This is why Thekkady is nicknamed the spice center of Kerala. A delicious Aroma fragrance floats in the air of Thekkady, also known for its cardamom hills. At the end of the day, we head to Connemara tea factory

This morning, we will enjoy a bike tour over a distance of 30 kms. We take a very beautiful road to Kuttikkanam.

We continue our bus journey to Kochi Port (Kochi port is one of the largest ports in India). From the British era, the city Kochi has been influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and English style, it is also famous for its kathakali dancers. You can find many kathakali dance centers in the region. These dancers take approximately 3 to 4 hours to paint their faces. These describe the events of Ramayana and Mahabharata, an Indian epic.