The Big Crossing

You will enjoy this day around Munnar, in the midst of its abundant tea plantations and generous nature. Today, or tomorrow morning, we can visit a tea factory. The Tea Museum in Munnar is also worth a small catch. Since we are on the border of the Eravikulam National Park, many suggestions to fill this stage will be proposed to you, there are so many possibilities here!

We go from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, on the eastern side of the Western Ghats. The climate is less humid and the cultivated countryside contrasts with the Kerala forest. We enjoy many more mountain roads with views over spectacular bodies of water. We briefly drop back down to the warm Tamil plains, only to climb back up to the Kodaikanal region, with the welcome fresh mountain air of the Palani hills. An English hill town, popular for its large cedar and eucalyptus forests.

The road goes back down to Coimbatore’s vast plains, offering wonderful views, but before that, we treat ourselves with a last puff of these forests, where grow coffee, pepper and cardamom. We cruise through coconut groves and wheat fields and arrive in Madurai, one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. Overnight stay at hotel.

We spend the morning visiting the famous Meenakshi temple in Madurai, and we experience the atmosphere around the sanctuary. Then, easy and pleasant routes take us to Chettinad, a region famous for the many luxurious residences of the Chettiar community, some of which have been transformed into hotels of beauty, and whose refinement will seduce you. Night at the hotel.

We leave early and ride through the Chettinad countryside, where we take a few breaks to admire other splendid achievements of Chettiar and the amazing little fort of Thirumayam. We ride on little roads throughout this stage between cotton fields, coconut trees, and rice paddies. Once in Thanjavur, we visit Brihadeshwara temple, which is over 1,000 years old, and stroll through the old town. Overnight stay at hotel.

Today’s our last day on the bikes! We take a scenic ride to Kumbakonam, where we visit Darasuram temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue northeast and arrive at the Bay of Bengal coast. We stop and sleep a few miles south of Pondicherry to avoid the congested roads entering the city. We can enjoy a dip in the sea (or in the pool) if we want.

A private vehicle takes us to Pondicherry, where we spend the day exploring the city and its coast. There is nowhere else like Pondicherry in South India with its seafront promenade, wide boulevards, pockets of French culture and architecture. The city still holds a certain "je ne sais quoi" from the days of the French East India Company, a stark contrast with its typically Indian atmosphere and way of life.

Morning relax, then we will leave lunch in the utopian "city" of Auroville, a typical New-Age project of the sixties. From there, departure for the big city of Chennai. On the way, we stop in Mahabalipuram to visit its famous temples carved into the rock. Arrival in Chennai in the late afternoon.

Today we have lunch in Chennai, and then we transfer you to the international airport according to your flight schedule. End of our services.