| Distance: |
Map
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| 2.400km |
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| Highlights: |
India at the peaceful pace of coastlines and
Ghats. An incredible diversity of tropical landscapes.
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Days
1-2: Arrival at the Kochi airport and transfer
to Mariri Beach. Let's have a swim for the first
day of vacations! Day 2 : In the morning, we get
the motorcycles and visit the city, a strange mix
of middle-aged Portugal, Holland and British countryside
with the Malabar tropical coast as a background.
Discovery of the eldest church of the country, sinuous
roads surrounded by mosques and 500-year-old Portuguese
houses, Chinese fishing nets, a XVIth century synagogue,
a Portuguese-made palace… In the afternoon, short
stop at the beautiful Marari beach where you can
have a swim.
Day
3: Departure to the banks of Vembanad Lake,
located in the middle of a plain with its rice fields
and coconut trees as far as the eyes can see and
its peaceful villages. Stroll along the banks of
the lake and the amazing net of lagoons that surrounds
Allepey. Then we leave the place and climb up the
hills of the Western Ghats to reach the Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary, located at the frontier between
Tamil Nadu and Kerala..
Day
4: In the morning, ride on a boat on Periyar
Lake, from where you may see wild elephants on the
banks. We drive then on sinuous tiny roads in the
hills across wonderful green landscapes and the
lake formed by the Idukki dam, built in the middle
of tea plantations and which offers a sensational
view. Arrival at Munnar, trade center of tea plantations
that contain one of the highest tea trees in the
world, surrounded by the highest mountains of Southern
Indian that can reach 2600 m high. Arrival at the
hotel. Visit of Munnar and its plantations.
Day
5 : We are quickly back in Kerala plains and
drive towards the North, to the city of Trissur
which was known as the cultural main city of Kerala
for long time. Arrival at the hotel. Visit of the
temple and the cathedral.
Day
6: On the road again to Calicut across the countryside.
Visit of this city before reaching Kannur along
the coastline and through the former French enclave
of Mahe. Arrival at a B&B close to the beach where
you can have a swim.
Day
7-8: Beginning of a day off ! Enjoy a rest on
the beach. A small optional ride will be possible
with the tour leader. Day 8 : We drive then through
the rice fields and reach the hills of the Western
Ghats to enter the state of Karnataka. Arrival at
the Madikeri resort. Stroll along the city and its
surroundings made of green hills, vineyards as well
as cardamom and coffee plantations.
Day
9: In the morning, walk through the plantations,
visit of the Madikeri Palace and of the raja's tombs.
In the afternoon, we go towards the North to Hassan,
the only town in the area that offers various accommodation
possibilities.
Days
10: Visit of the small villages of Halebid and
Belur, 25 miles (40 Km) away towards the North and
out of the common routes, to visit its wonderful
temples. Then we drive across the Deccan area and
reach the Bhadra Tiger Reserve.
Day
11-12: Long day to reach the coast. Stop at
the great Jogg waterfalls. Arrival at Gokarna, an
amazing sacred place next to the sea. Day 12 : Relaxing
day in Gokarna to enjoy its beautiful beaches.
Days
13-14: Last long ride of the itinerary to Morjim.
After passing the frontier Karnataka - Goa we have
lunch on Palolem beach. Then we drive again to reach
the nice beach of Morjim. Day 14 : Transfer to the
airport and flight to Bombay, Bangalore or Chennai
(not included). End of our services.
