South India
South India : Kerala by bike off the beaten track
Another way to discover India far from pressure and crowds. A sunny heaven, Kerala. Touring on a bike will allow you to discover the local traditions and very welcoming people.
Reference
I1101
- Itinerant trip
- 11 days
- Easy
- October to April
- Minimum age 16
From
Prices
1300€ / pers.
- Itinerary
- Accommodation
- Bikes, luggage and documents
- Practical information
- Reviews
You won’t see India the same way, forget the stress and the crowds. Kerala, a quiet sunny heaven from Octobre to April welcomes you for an extraodinary trip and breathtaking landscapes. Go on the roads of South India by bike and enjoy a route adapted to your request, for more comfort and tranquility Touring on a bike will allow you to discover the local traditions still preserved and to meet very welcoming people. And to breath, that’s all!!
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Quote on request
Accommodations are selected on request, personalized quote.
For more information, contact us by mail : bonjour@levelovoyageur.com
For more information, contact us by mail : bonjour@levelovoyageur.com
* Example of the type of accommodation
The bikes
"Giant" mountain bikes adjusted to your size. Only men bikes are available.Luggage and documents
Because of his density of population and his sometimes chaotic organization, India does not pedal with a simple map as it can be done in Europe.
You are accompanied throughout the trip by an English speaking driver-guide. He will follow the itinerary by car in order to offer more flexibility and optimal safety conditions. He will open the
roads, tell you where to go to the next meeting point, customize itineraries according to your expectations and conditions on site. To facilitate communication with the driver-guide, it is
necessary to speak a minimum of English without being an expert. Guides are used to interacting with strangers who are not native English speakers.
The car is equipped with a bike rack that can collect 3 bikes if either of the participants does not want to make the whole itinerary by bike.
When to leave ?
• As many Asian countries, India is a touristic destination dependent of its climate and different seasons (fresh, dry, wet). In South India, the tropical climate dominates so temperatures are high all year (30° to 35°).
• The best period for cyclists still remains the fresh season which spreads from November to March. Indeed, the precipitations are limited.
• From April to June, the temperature rises in South India. From June, the monsoon brings strong humidity.
• Don't leave during the wet season! Even if tourists are fewer, the period from July to October is marked by the rainy season (heavy and sudden rain) and high temperatures.
=> Vélo Voyageur's advice: prefer winter to extend summer!
Country:
• India is one of the South-Asian countries bordered from one side to another by Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. Since a long time ago, India was the image of a country without a real economic growth. Nevertheless, from 2010 the country experiences an economic boom especially in the agricultural sector (the world's forth agricultural power) and thanks to the dynamism of international exchanges. The industrial sector thanks to the automobile industry experiences an incredible economic growth (investments and internal market development). Tourism also participates to this dynamism especially thanks to medical tourism. The cinema still remains the image of India and the city of Bombay (called Bollywood) where numerous movies were produced.
• India is the country of several religions. In fact, Hinduism (80%), Muslim religion (13%), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are significant of the religious diversity of this country. Those are at the origin of numerous conflicts and mark the daily life of Indian people.
Formalities:
• A visa is compulsory to go to India. A simple visa of tourism with "several entrances" is necessary if you stay a maximum of 30 days in the country. The visa must be effective six months after the emission date. You can get it at the Embassy of your own country. Do not miss to consult the required documents to obtain the visa.
• You must also have a passport effective six months after the return date for French people. Concerning the other nationalities, please ask for more information at the embassy of your country.
Your flight to South India:
• The most suitable period to visit the country remains the fresh season, but it is also the most expensive one for international flights. Consequently, we advise you to book earlier your flight (we are not able to book the flight for you). The price ranges from 650€ to 1000€ depending on the selected companies.
• South India has got several international airports as Cochin or Bangalore. To join South India (Cochin or Bangalore) from Paris, the direct journey lasts about 10 hours of flight (including the time difference) and between 14 hours and 20 hours for indirect journey (one or two correspondences in India in Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai).
Health and safety precautions:
• Compulsory vaccines are not necessary for Europeans. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended for tourists to be vaccinated against typhoid (important in India), tetanus, pertussis and hepatitis A and B.
• Prevention measures against malaria are highly recommended if you are going to stay in rural areas during your holidays but are not necessary in the heart of the main touristic destinations.
• We recommend you to buy in South-India or before leaving, a product against mosquito (Odomos brand) very effective and cheap.
Practical life:
• The jet lag in India in relation to Greenwich Meridian is 5h30 but the local hour is the same in Mumbai and Kolkata. When it is midday in France, it is 4.30pm in India in winter (+4h30) and 3.30 in summer (+3h30).
• India counts 18 official languages and English. English is usually used by locals (5% of the population) who can easily understand you. Moreover, Dravidian languages constitute one of the main language groups in the southern and the eastern region of India.
• The Rupee (Rp) is the official currency of the country. Nevertheless, most of the payments are made in USD (dollars). The payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard) is more and more used in shops, hotels and restaurants.
• Depending on the regions, the quality of the water changes and is more and less vector of diseases. We highly misadvise you to drink tap water. You can easily buy bottles of water.
• The country has got an electrical system of 220 volts. Nevertheless, plugs are not similar to the French ones. Consequently, we advise you to buy a universal adapter. Moreover, in some regions, the electricity sometimes doesn't work (frequent power cuts), so we recommend you to take a flashlight before leaving your own country.
• As many Asian countries, India is a touristic destination dependent of its climate and different seasons (fresh, dry, wet). In South India, the tropical climate dominates so temperatures are high all year (30° to 35°).
• The best period for cyclists still remains the fresh season which spreads from November to March. Indeed, the precipitations are limited.
• From April to June, the temperature rises in South India. From June, the monsoon brings strong humidity.
• Don't leave during the wet season! Even if tourists are fewer, the period from July to October is marked by the rainy season (heavy and sudden rain) and high temperatures.
=> Vélo Voyageur's advice: prefer winter to extend summer!
Country:
• India is one of the South-Asian countries bordered from one side to another by Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. Since a long time ago, India was the image of a country without a real economic growth. Nevertheless, from 2010 the country experiences an economic boom especially in the agricultural sector (the world's forth agricultural power) and thanks to the dynamism of international exchanges. The industrial sector thanks to the automobile industry experiences an incredible economic growth (investments and internal market development). Tourism also participates to this dynamism especially thanks to medical tourism. The cinema still remains the image of India and the city of Bombay (called Bollywood) where numerous movies were produced.
• India is the country of several religions. In fact, Hinduism (80%), Muslim religion (13%), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are significant of the religious diversity of this country. Those are at the origin of numerous conflicts and mark the daily life of Indian people.
Formalities:
• A visa is compulsory to go to India. A simple visa of tourism with "several entrances" is necessary if you stay a maximum of 30 days in the country. The visa must be effective six months after the emission date. You can get it at the Embassy of your own country. Do not miss to consult the required documents to obtain the visa.
• You must also have a passport effective six months after the return date for French people. Concerning the other nationalities, please ask for more information at the embassy of your country.
Your flight to South India:
• The most suitable period to visit the country remains the fresh season, but it is also the most expensive one for international flights. Consequently, we advise you to book earlier your flight (we are not able to book the flight for you). The price ranges from 650€ to 1000€ depending on the selected companies.
• South India has got several international airports as Cochin or Bangalore. To join South India (Cochin or Bangalore) from Paris, the direct journey lasts about 10 hours of flight (including the time difference) and between 14 hours and 20 hours for indirect journey (one or two correspondences in India in Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai).
Health and safety precautions:
• Compulsory vaccines are not necessary for Europeans. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended for tourists to be vaccinated against typhoid (important in India), tetanus, pertussis and hepatitis A and B.
• Prevention measures against malaria are highly recommended if you are going to stay in rural areas during your holidays but are not necessary in the heart of the main touristic destinations.
• We recommend you to buy in South-India or before leaving, a product against mosquito (Odomos brand) very effective and cheap.
Practical life:
• The jet lag in India in relation to Greenwich Meridian is 5h30 but the local hour is the same in Mumbai and Kolkata. When it is midday in France, it is 4.30pm in India in winter (+4h30) and 3.30 in summer (+3h30).
• India counts 18 official languages and English. English is usually used by locals (5% of the population) who can easily understand you. Moreover, Dravidian languages constitute one of the main language groups in the southern and the eastern region of India.
• The Rupee (Rp) is the official currency of the country. Nevertheless, most of the payments are made in USD (dollars). The payment by credit card (Visa, MasterCard) is more and more used in shops, hotels and restaurants.
• Depending on the regions, the quality of the water changes and is more and less vector of diseases. We highly misadvise you to drink tap water. You can easily buy bottles of water.
• The country has got an electrical system of 220 volts. Nevertheless, plugs are not similar to the French ones. Consequently, we advise you to buy a universal adapter. Moreover, in some regions, the electricity sometimes doesn't work (frequent power cuts), so we recommend you to take a flashlight before leaving your own country.
Memory of the trip
4.33 / 5
“ Superbe découverte ”
On the 2018-01-09 by Bénédicte
Un magnifique séjour dans le Kerala en dehors des itinéraires touristiques classiques. De belles rencontres , des hébergements de qualité. Merci Velo Voyageur !
“ aventures au Kérala ”
On the 2014-02-09 by catherine et Charles
Nous avons beaucoup aimé découvrir le Kérala par les chemins de traverse, le long des canaux des back-waters, au détour des villages peuplés de visages souriants et accueillants; Nous avons fait de magnifiques rencontres et découvertes ; nos guides, originaires de Kérala, toujours enthousiastes et heureux de nous faire découvrir leur pays; les haltes nocturnes toujours dans des endroits improbables et enchanteurs.....Un très beau voyage !!
“ Incredible Kerala ! ”
On the 2013-03-17 by Marie et Danièle
Nous avons été enchantées par notre voyage dans le Kérala.
Le trajet proposé et le fait de se déplacer à vélo nous ont permis de découvrir à notre rythme de nombreux paysages, et aussi la vie quotidienne et la gentillesse incroyable des habitants.
Ainsi, les enfants sur le bord des routes étaient toujours présents pour soutenir nos efforts à vélo d'un "Hello ! ". Nous avons pu profiter du calme et de la beauté pure des Backwaters, être émerveillées par toutes les couleurs (paysages, saris des femmes ...) découvrir les travailleurs locaux, la flore et la faune (même un éléphant sauvage !), assister à des fêtes locales dans des temples, discuter et partager de bons moments avec certains hôtes dans les Guest House, et puis déguster de fabuleux plats indiens ....
Un vrai enchantement de chaque instant.
Incredible India !
