Embark on an exhilarating 16-day motorcycle adventure through the stunning landscapes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India. Experience the thrill of riding through, lush valleys, magnificent hills and vibrant cultural sites. Visit iconic landmarks like Puducherry, Tirivunamalai, Theppakadu Elephant Camp, set in the remote hills of Southern India, and explore the charming towns of Puducherry, Munar, Ooty and Kochi. Immerse yourself in South Indian culture with visits to local temples and traditional markets. Enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals as you savor delicious luscious South Indian cuisine. Each day promises new discoveries and unforgettable memories as you traverse this magical kingdom on two wheels. Get ready for an unparalleled journey through this amazing landscape!
The old French colony town of Puducherry
The old Portuguese colony of Cochin
Warm culture of modest curiosity
Tamil Nadu and Kerala - to of India's most well educated states
Relaxed South Indian Culture
Tirivunamalai
Theppakadu Elephant Camp
Lush valleys and waterfalls
Romantic hill station of Ooty
Beaches on both the Bay of Bangal and the Arabian Sea
Board your international flight.
We will greet you upon your arrival and arrange transport to our hotel in Chennai. Relax and refresh after your long international flight, or, if you're feeling adventurous, explore the city.
Perhaps explore some of Chennai's wonders.
Welcome dinner at the hotel.
We'll rise at a good time, breakfast, and then depart for Puducherry via Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram is an incredible temple complex dating back to the 7th and 8th century ce. It consists of several distinct temple complexes all in the same area and features some of the most fantastic sculptural artwork in India. We'll have time to take all this in before making our way down the coast to the old French colony town of Puducherry.
We should arrive in South Puducherry by mid afternoon to have plenty of time to explore the area or rest up at the hotel.
Puducherry was a French colonial city until 1954 and still retains much of it's French feel. We've designed today so that you can do whatever you'd like - from hanging in our hotel to exploring the coast to wandering the old French Quarter.
You'll have time to do as you please today, but the old French Quarter is worth a visit. 300 years of French history is evident in it's serene, tree-lined streets and quiet, pedestrian-friendly lanes.
It's a short but spirited drive from Puducherry to Tiruvannamalai as we get used to both the bikes and South Indian driving. Tiruvannamalai is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site and home to the Arulmigu Annamalaiyar Temple which sits at the base of Annamalai Hill or Arunachala. The hill is said to be the physical representation of Lord Shiva himself as a column of fire and each full moon thousands of pilgrims walk the circumference of its base.
Tiruvannamalai is quite a bustling town, but our hotel's location should provide us good access to markets as well as the temple complex. We'll arrive with enough time to check out this phenomenal pilgrimage city as well as the temple. The last time I was there, there was even an elephant who offered holy blessings!
Today's ride is a real pleasure as we leave our first temple city stop and cruise the back roads to Thanjavur. The way is lush and green and the roads in typically good South India shape. We're heading into what they call the "rice bowl of India," so expect more flat roads and agricultural views.
Thanjavur is a 10th century capital and culturally significant for being centers of arts, language and dance. It is also home to the 10th century Brihadeeswarar Temple, an architectural wonder dedicated to Shiva.
After a grand nights sleep in Thanjavur, we'll ride to Madurai - often called the 'Athens of the East.' We'll skirt some small hills, but most of the ride is in the flat lands through agricultural fields and cropland. Madurai one of India's oldest continuously inhabited cities, having been in existence for 2500+ years, and served as the capital for the early Pandya rulers around 400 BCE. Madurai even had trade contact with Ancient Greece and Rome. Modern Madurai was built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple (over 2500 years old, though the modern temple was constructed in the 12th century ce) with streets radiating outward from it in concentric rectangles. The city is now known for its fine cotton saris and for a particular variation of jasmine flower that is grown there. Madurai is the second most populated city in Tamil Nadu and is well worth the visit. We'll attempt to arrive with time to explore both the city and the temple around which it is built.
We’ll settle into a country home dinner and the blazing wood stoves at Wangdicholing Lodge.
What would a visit to one of the world's oldest living cities be without a little time to explore? Today offers those of us who want to partake a guided sightseeing tour of the city. We'll visit Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, learn some of the city's ancient history, and possibly visit the Gandhi Museum.
Today's short ride takes us from one of the oldest living cities in the world into a relatively newly founded one. Kodaikanal was founded in the mid 1800s by American missionaries and British officials. It is a typical if somewhat less busy hill station offering gorgeous views of the planes and relief from the plains. We'll arrive in time to explore the town.
After a hearty breakfast we'll descend from the hills for a short time, only to climb again to Munnar. Munnar is a premier British Hill Station and our first stop in Kerala. It is surrounded by sprawling tea estates and set at the confluence of three rivers - from which the Munnar gets its name in Malayalam.
We'll plan to stay in a tea estate to take advantage of both the phenomenal views and the hospitality for which they are famous.
There's lots to do and see in Munnar with numerous tea plantations to visit, as well as the Tea Museum, and as Munnar borders Eravikulam National Park, nature thrives in abundance. Today is yours to do with as you please!
Today's journey has us descending once again from the hills, this time into Kerala's plains. It's a thrilling descent from Munnar, the roads are twisty and delightful and the hill views astound. Once we hit the flats we'll take smaller back roads through lush agricultural lands dotted with rice patties and palm trees.
Palakkad is situated in a 35 or so kilometer-wide break in Western Ghats - the mountains the run up along the western side of the the center of Southern India - called the Palakkad Gap. As such it is ideally placed for agriculture and is know as the Gateway to Kerala and Kerala's Granary as much of the region's rice comes from here. Key attractions of the 18th century Palakkad Fort and the nearby Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.
From Palakkad we'll head north and once again back up into the cool of the hills. Good country back roads lead to twisty mountain lanes as we ascend to what is known as the Queen of the Hill Stations.
One last visit to Tamil Nadu before we are back in Kerala for the rest of the journey, Ooty is a premier Hill Station as well as a prominent tourist destination for foreigners and Indians alike. Long occupied by various indigenous groups, primarily the Toda, Ooty became a hill station in the 18th century when it fell under control of the British East India Company. It later served as a summertime capital for the Madras Presidency.
We'll rise in a leisurely fashion and begin our short ride to our accommodation near Theppakadu Elephant camp. The distance is short but the scenery is spectacular and the destination well worth the visit!
Theppakadu is a dedicated elephant camp inside Mudumalai Tiger Reserve that focuses on elephant rescue and rehabilitation into the wild. Rather than focusing on tourism and offering rides and bathing experiences, one can witness those feedings and bathings and learn about the work they do at the camp and the elephants who live there.
Today's journey brings us through beautiful scenery as we descend from the Nilgiri Hills and down toward the plains. The roads are small and twisty, less trafficked up higher but increasing as we move toward the more populated center of Thrissur.
Thrissur, often called the Cultural Capital of India because of its deep spiritual history and numerous festivals, is considered to be the oldest city on India's west coast having been inhabited as far back as 1000 BCE. It is built around a central hillock topped by the Vadakkumnathan Temple, dedicated to Shiva.
Today's short ride from Thrissur takes us first to the Hindu pilgrimage town of Guruvayar. Guruvayur is situated just inland from the coast and attracts thousands of pilgrims every day to its temples. We'll lunch in the area and then take the coast road down to Vypin island.
Vypin Island is one of the group of islands that forms our destination city, Kochi. It lies between the Arabian Sea and the Kerala backwaters. It is a gorgeous destination known for pristine beaches that are just beginning to be known by tourists. We'll arrive with time to enjoy!
We'll lounge in the morning and then take back roads over small bridges and winding water ways into the city of Kochi. It's a short ride, but the good one, through fishing villages and rice paddies, along both the ocean and the backwaters as we make our way to the evening's destination.
Kochi has been a major commercial trade hub since the mid 1300s the Dutch, Portuguese and British all playing a role in its development at various points. Prior to this is was a spice hub to the Arabs the Greeks and Romans, and even the Chinese since ancient times. Now known for its lovely ocean fronts and peaceful backwaters, Kochi is a destination well worth the wait.
No need to put on the riding gear today! Today is a free day to do as we like! After a long ride across southern India's gorgeous landscape, a rest is well in order. Spend the day on one of Kochi's delightful beaches, wander the markets, relax in our hotel, or do a little of everything!
Kochi boasts some of the of the best in South Indian cuisine, from dosas to curries to a wide assortment of local fish dishes. We'll have our farewell dinner in Kochi where we'll feast, with our support staff and thank them for the hard work they've put into making our trip terrific.
This is it - today we'll transfer you to the Kochi airport where you'll board to connecting flights home. Or, perhaps you'll stick around South India and do some more rest and relaxation or adventurous exploration on your own - it's up to you!
