We absolutely loved our trip through Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the Spices Route. With all of our luggage strapped to our bikes, a brilliant tour leader in Dinesh and an excellent RE trained mechanic in Atul, completed with myself and my wife, our little party of four bikes could not have had a better rambling adventure. Some sections of gnarly off road, sweeping switchbacks climbing from searing 100oF heat on the plains up to the balmy coolness of the Nilgiri mountains. Riding through the green velvety perfection of tea plantations, whilst stopping for fresh coconut water at the little roadsides - delightful.
Cannot praise our guide and mechanic enough. We were immersed into the countryside, seeing very few westerners and getting what we hope was a truly authentic experience.
Discussion led us to think on improvements, one of which could be to do the ride in the reverse direction. We undertook a nearly thousand mile journey clockwise. Towards the end we did some really long days on the plains in the heat and maybe getting them out of the way at the start, so that you end in the back waters with a last short day might be a lovely way to end it. It would not affect the experience of the riding. Just a thought.
Regardless we had a fabulous time.