On our two-week South India tours we visit the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. So, we are going to the real south, to tropical India. This region is still regarded as a real insider tip among experts of the country.
Pricing
| - Prices for the dates - | |
| 17.01.2024 - 30.01.2024 | |
| 17.11.2024 - 30.11.2024 | |
| 01.12.2024 - 14.12.2024 | |
| per rider in shared twin/double room incl. Royal Enfield Classic (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | €2,200.00 $2,407.79 ? |
| per pillion passenger in shared twin/double room (pillion passengers can only book along with an accompanying rider) | €1,900.00 $2,079.46 ? |
| per person single room (surcharge, only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | €300.00 $328.34 ? |
Included
| 13 x overnight stay in hotel |
| 12 x breakfast |
| 12 x dinner |
| Rental Motorcycle (Royal Enfield Classic) |
| Petrol / Oil |
| Service vehicle |
| Mechanic Service |
| Tour guide |
| Airport transfer in India |
| Tour guide on own motorbike |
| Everything that is not listed under features |
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| It is recommended to take out travel cancellation insurance, travel health insurance and travel interruption insurance. |
More details
| Total distance approx. 1145 km |
| Level of difficulty: Medium |
| min: 4 - max: 12 riders |
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| Visa: |
| Swiss, Austrian and German nationals require a visa to enter India. Your passport must be valid for at least another six months. Obtaining a visa is relatively uncomplicated. A visa valid for six months or an e-Visa valid for 30 days is sufficient. |
| Driving licence: |
| You need a valid German and an international driving licence of class 1 or A. Please note that the international driving licence is only valid in combination with the national driving licence. |
| Minimum number of participants: |
| As organizers we have a right of withdrawal if the minimum number of participants has not been reached 6 weeks before the start of the trip. In this case, we will refund the amounts paid on account. |
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| In practice, however, we always try to do things in your best interest and, if you agree, we try to carry out the trip even with very few participants. In this case, there is no service vehicle available and there is a small group surcharge: |
| 1 participant: 10% of the travel price |
| 2 participants: 5% of the travel price |
| 3 participants: 2,5% of the travel price |
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| Half double room: |
| For single travellers we offer the possibility to share a double room with another traveller. If there is no "half" double room available at the time of your booking, we will charge the single room supplement. You will be refunded as soon as a double room partner is found. |
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| Language: This offer is usually suitable for English and/or German speaking participants. Please enquire for language options. |
| Mobility: The offer is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for more information. |
Description
Kerala
The starting point of our tour is Varkala, a small fishing and pilgrimage town with a beautiful beach, about 50 km north of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. Kerala is the most southwestern state of India, a narrow, fertile coastal strip on the western escarpment of the Western Ghatts. Even though people in India tend to exaggerate, one can only agree when the inhabitants speak lovingly and proudly of "God's own country", trying to put Kerala's indescribable beauty into words.
Our tours take us through the diverse and very different regions of this state, high altitude (up to 2,400 m) vast forests, large wildlife sanctuaries with elephants, tigers, buffaloes, monkeys, leopards, and other wildlife, palm-fringed canals of the backwaters, tea, and spice plantations. We visit the towns of Varkala, Alleppey, Munnar, and Cochin to name a few.
Tamil Nadu
The land of the Tamils and the 1000 temples. 2000 years of Indian tradition characterize this fascinating state. Far away in the south, it remained untroubled by the invasions, occupations, and plundering of foreign conquerors, who repeatedly visited the north of India. We find in Tamil Nadu the most beautiful temples of India with their huge gopurams, the gate towers through which one enters the temple premises. On our route are Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), the southernmost point of the Indian peninsula, and Madurai with its gigantic temple complex.
Biking
Just as varied as the cultural highlights are the routes we cover with our Enfields. In total, we will cycle about 1.300 km. No day is like the other. Well-built highways in Kerala stretch along the coast through endless palm forests and past the canals of the backwaters. Little-used mountain roads wind in narrow serpentines steeply up to the Western Ghatts and we are rewarded by incredible views over these almost unknown mountains. Long country roads, some in need of some repair, take us through the rolling plateaus of Tamil Nadu. There is something for every taste. We will ride almost exclusively on asphalt so that every reasonably experienced motorcyclist can master the routes without effort.
Relaxing
A motorcycle trip through India is not a relaxing holiday at the Baltic Sea or a package tour to Mallorca. The unusual climate, the overwhelming cultural impressions, and the Indian traffic demand a lot from the traveler. In order to make your adventure in India as pleasant as possible, we have placed great emphasis on cleanliness and comfort when selecting hotels. In addition, a boat trip in the backwaters as well as optional relaxation days at the beginning and end of the trip in Varkala, with the possibility to be pampered in one of the numerous Ayurveda resorts that offer enough opportunity to acclimatize and recover from the exertion of the tour.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
Your journey begins today with a flight to India. The destination airport is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of Kerala. The arrival usually takes place in the middle of the night or early the next morning. We pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hotel in Varkala (about 50 km).
Day 2: Varkala
The beach invites you to sunbathe and swim. If you feel like it, you can have a custom-made Indian shirt made by one of the numerous tailors or just hang out in one of the many nice beach cafes.
Day 3: First ride (approx. 50 km)
Now it's time to get the Enfields out of the garage and everybody can choose his / her bike. We give you a short briefing on handling motorcycles and explain to you how the Indian traffic "works". Then we start. Along dreamy coastal roads, through a short sandy stretch, and finally, on the highway, we get to know the Enfields.
Day 4: From Varkala to Kanyakumari (approx. 150 km)
A ride to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin): Most of the time we move on small coastal roads. On our way, we visit the Kali temple and the royal palace in Padmanabhapuram. In the evening we hope for a spectacular sunset and end the day with a pooja in the temple of the goddess Kanya Kumari. From the hotel, we have a direct view of the Bay of Bengal. For dinner, we have Thali, a South Indian specialty.
Day 5: Kanyakumari - Madurai (approx. 245 km)
A ride to Madurai: Shortly after Kanyakumari we cross a gigantic wind turbine for kilometers. After about six hours we reach Madurai. In the evening we visit the Meenakshi temple, one of the largest temple complexes in India. Dinner is served high above the rooftops of Madurai.
Day 6: Madurai - Palani (approx. 165 km)
Now curve riders come at their expense. We climb the heights of the Western Ghatts and reach 2,200 meters above sea level. Plenty of curves on a well-built road are a true pleasure. However, we don't stay on the heights but ride to the temple town of Palani down in the valley. There, pleasantly warm temperatures prevail and besides, the visit to the temple is an incredible experience.
Day 7: Palani - Munnar (approx. 135 km)
On our route today there are again some mountain passages, so again a paradise for curve riders. We pass through two wildlife sanctuaries, the Indira Ghandi, and the Chinnar Nature Reserve, and if we are lucky, we may spot a few wild elephants. From the afternoon onwards we are in the land of tea. As far as the eye can see, hills and valleys are covered with spicy-smelling and energy-giving plants.
Day 8: Munnar - Thekkady (approx. 110 km)
The journey continues through endless tea plantations. But then, suddenly the landscape changes, and tea is replaced by cardamom and pepper. We are literally in the "land where the pepper grows". In the early afternoon, we reach Thekkady, an ideal place for shopping. Here souvenir hunters will find everything their hearts desire. We stay in a heritage hotel. It is built in the traditional style of Kerala and offers a cozy atmosphere.
Day 9: Thekkady
We take a well-deserved break day. Thekkady is the ideal place for it. The relatively high mountain location provides a pleasant climate. If you wish, you can book a guided three hours walk through the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and learn about the local flora and fauna from experts. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can embark on a boat trip on Lake Periyar. Numerous Ayurvedic massage centers also offer their services.
Day 10: Thekkady - Kollam (approx. 200 km)
Freshly rested we mount our bikes again. We have a good seven hours of uphill riding ahead of us through lush vegetation. One last time we enjoy the curves in the Western Ghatts. The closer we get to the sea and the lower we get, the warmer it gets until we finally have to get rid of our warm "mountain clothes". On Monroe Island, we find a real little paradise.
Day 11: Kollam - Varkala (approx. 90 km)
Munroe-Island is one of the starting points for a boat trip through the famous backwaters of Kerala, a palm-fringed, partly natural, partly man-made canal system (comparable to Everglades in Florida). For a few hours, we will sail through the backwaters on small motorboats. Around noon we have solid ground under our feet again and set off for the last motorcycle ride of this trip. A little later we are back in Varkala.
Day 12: Varkala
Now it is time to relax. The bikes go back into the hands of our mechanic and are made fit for the next tour, and we will devote ourselves to the strenuous business of doing nothing.
Day 13: Varkala
If you want, you can pamper yourself with a typical South Indian massage for little money in one of the numerous Ayurveda resorts or let the warming rays of the sun burn your belly on the beach. For dinner, we recommend freshly caught fish or the many other delicacies of Indian cuisine.
In the middle of the night, you will be picked up from the hotel and brought to the airport in Trivandrum. If your flight does not leave until tomorrow morning, you can spend another night at the hotel.
Day 14: Namasté and goodbye!
The moment to say goodbye has come. The last night in India is usually quite short, because almost all airlines fly in the middle of the night.
If you liked it, then visit India again with us. This time maybe you can go to the desert state of Rajasthan or over the highest passes of the world, to Ladakh in the Himalayas. India has many faces, and each one of them is different.