Kerala Backwaters & Beaches by Bicycle — 12 Days
Kochi to Kovalam: Cycling, Canoe, and Coastal Villages Along India's Southwest Coast
Kerala's geography reads as a series of distinct layers: the spice warehouses and Portuguese colonial architecture of Kochi; the rubber and tea plantations that climb the Western Ghats foothills; the network of lagoons, canals, and coconut palms that define the backwaters; and finally the Arabian Sea coastline with its fishing villages and cliff-backed beaches. This 12-day cycling journey moves through all of them by bicycle and support vehicle, beginning in the port city of Kochi and concluding in the resort town of Kovalam. Daily stages range from 25 to 40 kilometers on quiet backroads and village trails. The route includes a three-hour motorboat journey through the backwaters, a guided forest walk at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, evening activities in Kochi (Kathakali dance, sunset cruise, colonial architecture), and stays at both hotels and family-run homestays. All meals are included, drawing from Kerala's regional cuisine — coconut-based curries, seafood, spiced vegetables, and rice dishes. The pace is moderate, with options to wander by bike or rest at each stop; there is a full free day in Kovalam before an early transfer to the airport.
Highlights
- Kathakali dance performance in Kochi depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata
- Cycling through the backwaters on trails alongside canals lined with coconut palms and traditional wooden fishing boats
- Guided forest walk at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary to spot cuckoos, monkeys, and giant squirrels
- Sunset cruise among the islands of Kochi Harbour and observation of 14th-century Chinese fishing nets
- Canoe trip through the backwaters at dusk, paddled by local fishermen
- Cycling past rubber and tea plantations on the slopes of the Western Ghats, with views of Poonjar Palace
- Three-hour motorboat journey through the backwaters to reach Thotopally and Mannarasala Temple
- Coastal cycling from Varkala to Kovalam along the Arabian Sea with stops at fishing villages and lagoons
- Visit to Anchuthengu Fort, a 17th-century British East India Company trading post on the Malabar Coast
Day by day
1Arrival in Kochi and Kathakali Dance Performancegroup hotel in Kochi · Fort Cochin area · small family-run theatre · restaurant or at the hotel
The tour begins at the group hotel in Kochi. A group transfer is provided from the airport. After a traditional welcome ceremony, participants check in and have time to rest before meeting the tour leader for a pre-trip briefing and lunch at the hotel. The tour mechanic is introduced and bikes are distributed, with opportunity for adjustment and fitting. A short test ride in the Fort Cochin area is available. In the early evening, the group attends a traditional Kathakali dance performance at a small family-run theatre. The dances depict events from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, with performers in elaborate makeup and costume. Dinner follows with the guide at a restaurant or at the hotel.
2Kochi Coastal Cycling and Harbour SightseeingKochi coast · Kochi · Kochi's historic quarters · Mattancherry Palace · Jewish Synagogue · St. Francis Church · Vasco da Gama Square · Kochi harbour
After breakfast, the group meets outside the hotel in cycling gear for a 25-kilometre route along the Kochi coast on paved roads. The morning ride follows low-traffic coastal paths through fishing villages with views of backwaters on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. Colourful boats sit on the sand, with fishermen mending nets nearby. The route includes at least one small ferry crossing between islands in this maze of coastal waterways, cycling past dockyards and large spice warehouses. A break in one of the small villages punctuates the ride before returning to Kochi for lunch.
The afternoon brings a 2–3 hour guided walking tour through Kochi's historic quarters. Founded by the Portuguese in 1503 as the earliest European settlement in India, the city retains colonial character in brightly coloured warehouses, narrow streets, and hand-painted trucks. The group visits Mattancherry Palace, the 16th-century Jewish Synagogue, and St. Francis Church. From the waterfront Vasco da Gama Square, the distinctive Chinese fishing nets come into view—teak and bamboo structures erected as early as the 14th century, still in use by local fishermen.
The day concludes with a short sunset boat tour amongst the islands in the harbour area.
3Inland to Cherukunnam and Cycling to ThattekadThattekad · Cherukunnam beside the Periyar Valley Canal · Periyar Valley Canal · local village
A 90-minute support vehicle transfer heads inland through jungle, farmland, and waterways to Cherukunnam beside the Periyar Valley Canal. From here, the cycling route follows the canal eastward on quiet roads through coconut palms, banana trees, and farmland. The route passes fishermen in small craft and painted houses at the water's edge. Cycling toward higher land offers views of the Western Ghats foothills. The 40-kilometre ride takes approximately 3–4 hours on paved and unpaved roads. Mid-afternoon arrival is at hotel accommodation in Thattekad, set among evergreen lowland forest. In the late afternoon, the group has the option to visit the local village on foot or by bike with the guide.
4Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and Cycle to Erattupetta HomestayThattekad Bird Sanctuary · Thodupuzha · rubber plantations and spice gardens toward Erattupetta · Planters Homestay
After breakfast, a guided forest walk on marked trails visits Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, established in 1983 as Kerala's first protected bird reserve. The sanctuary borders the Periyar River. Common sightings include cuckoo species, monkeys, and giant squirrels. Following this visit, the group transfers by bus southward for 2 hours through the Keralan countryside to Thodupuzha. Beyond this town, the bicycle portion resumes—a 35-kilometre ride on quiet roads winding through rubber plantations and spice gardens toward Erattupetta over 2–3 hours. The cycling stage ends at Planters Homestay, a 50-year-old two-storey mansion with twin-share guest rooms and en-suite facilities set within a tropical garden. Evening exploration by bike is possible if time permits.
5Exploration of Erattupetta, Tea Plantations, and Spice GardensPlanters Homestay · lower slopes of the Western Ghats above Erattupetta · Meemachil River · Poonjar Palace · surrounding plantation farmland · Erattupetti village
This day remains based at Planters Homestay for a second night. Cycling visits the lower slopes of the Western Ghats above Erattupetta on paved and unpaved roads, where rubber and tea plantations dominate. A 25-kilometre ride over 2–3 hours includes a swimming stop at the Meemachil River and a visit to Poonjar Palace, a 900-year-old former residence of the local Maharaja. Riders may return to the homestay by bicycle or use support vehicle transport. In the afternoon, the tour leader leads a walk through surrounding plantation farmland to identify species used locally—coffee, cardamom, and other spice crops. An alternative afternoon activity includes a walk through Erattupetti village, featuring a market street and a white Catholic church. Meals at the homestay feature Keralan cuisine prepared locally.
6Transfer and Cycle from Erattupetta to MancombuErattupetta to Mancombu · Mancombu · Gaaby World Homestay
The group heads back toward the coast via a combination of bus transfer and cycling. After breakfast, the day begins with cycling on backroads through rubber plantation estates, forest, farmland, and small villages over 2–3 hours. A lunch stop punctuates the morning ride. Subsequently, a bus transfer carries the group to Mancombu, a small settlement surrounded by backwaters near the coastal town of Alleppey. The cycling portion totals 35 kilometres. Accommodation is at Gaaby World Homestay, a community-based facility in countryside with simply furnished twin or double bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. This setting provides direct exposure to typical Keralan lifestyle and cuisine.
7Backwaters Cycling and Evening Canoe Tripbackwaters · backwaters landscape · local villages, churches, and small shrines · Gaaby World Homestay
The morning cycling route navigates a network of trails running alongside the lagoons and canals of the backwaters landscape on paved and unpaved roads. The 35-kilometre ride crosses numerous bridges and includes stops at local villages, churches, and small shrines. Interactions with residents provide insight into daily backwater life. The Keralan people maintain ties to water, living beside canals on narrow strips of land where vegetables are grown and water buffalo and chickens are kept. Coconut processing is visible throughout; husks are extracted for coir fibre used in rope and matting. The morning ride takes approximately 3 hours. In the afternoon, the group returns to Gaaby World Homestay before embarking on a canoe trip in traditional wooden boats paddled by local fishermen through the backwaters as daylight fades.
8Backwater Ferry to Kollam by CycleKollam · Thotopally · Mannarasala Temple · small villages · river mouth
In Kerala's water-world, boats often serve as practical transport for residents. This morning, the group boards a local motor-boat—a river-taxi serving as vital transport for residents—for a 3-hour journey south to Thotopally. Upon arrival, a short transfer leads to Mannarasala Temple, a pilgrimage centre dedicated to Nagaraja, the serpent deity. After a brief visit, a 40-kilometre cycle ride to Kollam follows on paved and unpaved roads. The route winds through numerous small villages over approximately 3 hours. Approximately 2 hours into the ride, the group crosses a river mouth by ferry. Cycling continues for approximately 1 hour before a final short transfer takes the group to their hotel positioned close to the Arabian Sea just north of Kollam.
9Coastal Cycling from Kollam to VarkalaKollam to Varkala · Varkala · fishing villages
An optional morning transfer bypasses the busiest section of Kollam before the group continues cycling southward along the Arabian Sea coast on paved roads. The 36-kilometre ride proceeds through palm-groves, past blue lagoons, and along stretches of beach. The route passes fishing villages with colourful boats and nets. Swimming stops are optional. The afternoon arrival is at a hotel in Varkala, a centre of Hindu pilgrimage and traveller destination known for its cliff-top location overlooking a beach. The 3-hour ride allows time to settle early and visit Varkala.
10Coastal Cycling via Anchuthengu and Veli Lagoon to KovalamAnchuthengu · Kovalam · the hotel
The group cycles directly from the hotel alongside the beach toward the fishing village of Anchuthengu, known for its 17th-century fort built by the British East India Company as the first British trading post on the Malabar Coast. A stop allows examination of the historic structure before the ride continues southward for approximately 2 hours on paved roads. The route then reaches Veli Lagoon, separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of beach and populated by fishing boats. At this point, bicycles are loaded onto the support vehicle for transfer to the hotel in Kovalam. The afternoon is free; the 37-kilometre total ride takes approximately 3 hours of cycling. Kovalam offers options to visit the resort, rest at the hotel, watch fishermen, or swim in the Arabian Sea.
11Free Day in Kovalam with Optional CyclingKovalam · villages and farms to Vellayani Lake · Kanyakumari
Kovalam provides a full free day. The resort features a shoreline with a high rocky promontory and two main sandy beaches lined with restaurants, bars, and handicraft stalls. Local fishermen launch boats each evening. Meals are provided at the hotel, though lunch at beach cafes is an alternative. For those wishing to cycle, the tour guide offers a 20-kilometre loop ride on quiet roads through villages and farms to Vellayani Lake. Alternatively, the guide can arrange a day trip by taxi to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India. The group spends a second night at the Kovalam hotel.
12Departure from TrivandrumTrivandrum Airport
Your holiday concludes today with a group transfer to Trivandrum Airport, typically arranged in the very early morning hours to align with flight schedules. Breakfast is provided before departure.
Included
- A professional local English-speaking cycling leader
- Additional cycling guide with groups of 9 or more participants
- Support vehicle with driver and mechanic
- Group airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 12
- Kochi guided sightseeing and Kathakali show and sunset cruise
- Guided morning visit to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
- All land transport involved in the itinerary
- Accommodation as described in the trip dossier
- All meals
- Entrance fees to all attractions listed in the itinerary
- Hire bike
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Indian Visa
- Airport transfers (other than a single group transfer on arrival and departure days)
- Tips for local staff
- Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc
- Bike carriage on flights - please check with your carrier for charges
Activities: Cycle