Francis is a biker always venturing out on the road to uncover new routes with as much passion as he has telling stories. He is an enthusiast and knows our itineraries like the back of his hand.
A unique crossing that links two mythical cities: Fort Kochi and Pondicherry. Some 720 miles away from the mainstream routes, this itinerary is a discovery of the riches of Southern India. Aboard your Royal Enfield, savour constant diversity. From Kerala’s tea plantations to the jungle of Tamil Nadu, we’ll reveal our secret roads and boutique hotels. Admire the distinctive architecture of multi-coloured Tamil temples and the palaces of the Chettinad region. This motorcycle trip through Southern India ends with a bang in Chennai!
Period January to March
Duration 13 days incl. 9 days' riding
Level Intermediate
English-speaking tour leader
Accommodation Charming or confort
From €2,890/pilot
You’re met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. We’ll explore the charming old town, historic Fort Kochi (where we’ll stay) and discover its beautiful colonial past with an eclectic mix of Dutch and Portuguese architecture, centuries-old churches and a vibrant, appealing way of life. Far from being a boring walk through history, Fort Kochi is one of the most pleasant neighbourhoods to live in.
You can spend the day visiting the old Kochi, which has an eclectic mix of influences: medieval Portugal, Dutch colonial and the British countryside with Malabar’s tropical coast as the backdrop. Discover the country’s oldest Christian church, winding roads lined with mosques and 500-year-old Portuguese houses, Chinese fishing nets, a sixteenth-century synagogue, and a Portuguese-built palace. We get used to our Royal Enfield motorcycles and take a short ride to the seafront.
Our first real biking day! We cross the backwaters, a network of lakes and canals, and then we cross the plains and have lunch, before approaching the winding roads of the western chain through the Vagamon Hills, surrounded by lush nature. The area is famous for its wildlife, but is especially known for its fantastic spice farms, which produce one of Kerala’s major resources.
In the morning, we visit a spice garden. We then head north and gradually gain altitude on beautiful mountain roads through verdant tea plantations. We find ourselves on the highest mountain in South India, which stands at an impressive 2,700 m altitude. Munnar is a commercial center in the heart of some of the highest tea plantations in the world.
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.
You board a traditional "house-boat" for a cruise through Kerala's jungle. You receive a warm welcome from your crew for a night on board (double cabin with bathroom) and cruise along canals, lagoon and on Lake Vembanad. You disembark at the end of the morning after breakfast onboard.
“Vintage Rides delivered as they said they would, from the initial booking and liaising (which was all done via phone and internet as I am based in Australia) to the actual trip. There wasn't one thing that I could fault, the bikes were great and suited to the riding conditions, accommodation was great for the region, food was always plentiful and high quality. Our Guide, Mechanic and Support Driver were great and a fun part of the group and also very helpful and supportive. I enjoyed Vintage Rides that much that I am planning another trip in the future as it was that much fun.”
“Simply great!”
“Experience of a life time, challenging at times but would not have missed this for the world. Well organised and professional company.”
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