TOUR OVERVIEW

For those who love to explore on two wheels, India is just about the perfect destination to indulge in your passion. A combination of good roads, cross country options, dirt tracks, back country roads make exploring the country on two wheels a wonderful experience.

Motorbike safari is catching up as a thrilling adventure sport. People, who love bikes and travelling on it, keenly take an interest in this motorbike safari. Motorbike Safari usually involves exploring the unexplored regions. But it's also a chance to check out places, which usually become a little off the way when you are on a planned tour trip. On an off road journey you'll witness spectacular sceneries, encounter wildlife that's not possible to even check out on a jeep safari trip inside the jungles and the warmth of the local people, who are always there to help visitors and shower them with the hospitality.

Discover the main highlights of Kerala. Cruise on a houseboat, and then unwind in a beachfront resort. A classical combination encapsulating the essence of this numinous region, providing a full insight to the rich and diversified culture, unspoiled natural beauty.

The unbelievable richness of the region, with its changing landscape- lush green fields to the dreamlike beauty of the backwater, the long stretches of beach stepping out of thick coconut palm to spice and bamboo plantations, all of it-serene, gentle and stunning!

Arrive in Cochin, the colonial port town of Cochin whose diverse architecture acts as a reminder of the foreign traders who came over the centuries to buy spices. Portuguese, Dutch and British influences combine to bring a colonial twist to a city that is cosmopolitan and absorbing.

Drive next to the hills of Munnar, known for its spice & tea plantations. Continue next to Periyar, the Spice Capital of India and famous for its breathtaking Cardomom hills & plantations. roceed further to Kumarakom, the backwaters paradise

DETAILED TOUR PROGRAM :

DAY 01 ARRIVE IN COCHIN BY INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AT TBA HRS
Arrive at Cochin International airport following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, a TRAVELXS representative would meet at the exit and transfer you to hotel. (approx 01 hour).

Kochi formerly known as Cochin is a fascinating city on the north Kerala coast. It has seen settlers arrive here including Chinese traders, Jewish settlers from Palestine, the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Now one of India's largest ports and an important naval base, the city has been built over a peninsula and several islands, of which the largest is Willingdon, linked by road bridges and ferries to Ernakulum on the mainland. Arrive in Kochi and check-in to your hotel.

DAY 02 IN COCHIN
his morning you we'll meet our back up team, motor bikes (equipment) & get some important instructions for biking in Kerala. Enjoy a short bike check out ride.

This morning enjoy an orientation tour of Kochi. Visit Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday & Saturday) built in 1568. Scrolls of the Old Testament and a number of copper plates inscribed in Hebrew script are preserved here. The building was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662 and rebuilt by the Dutch two years later. Also visit the Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555. The Palace was presented to the Raja of Cochin as a gesture of goodwill. This was also known as the Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday), resulting from substantial renovation by the Dutch after 1663. The central hall was the Coronation Hall of the Rajas. Their dresses, turbans and palanquins and murals from Hindu mythology are all beautiful and worth seeing.

On the beach near the church you will see the so-called Chinese Fishing Nets, strung out along the tip of the peninsula. These are used at high and low tides, but not whilst tides are ebbing or flowing, and operate by a system of counterweights. It is said that this style of net was introduced to Kochi by traders from the court of Kublai Khan. Evening enjoy Kathakali dance show.

The most spectacular forms of dance-drama in India, the origins of Kathakali go back 500 years, and full performances start in the evening and last through the night. The shorter shows put on for visitors last about one-and-a-half hours. Kathakali is much more than a dance: it includes music, yoga, mime, use of gestures and facial expressions. The performance is preceded by an intensive make-up process that uses only natural materials. Dancers use powdered minerals and tree sap for facial make-up, and burnt coconut oil for black paint.

Meals: breakfast Overnight

DAY 03 COCHIN - MUNNAR
Drive to Munnar covering a distance of 135 kms in approximate 5 hours. This is the start of the proper tour. We'll ride throughout the busy streets of Cochin (Kochi) and gradually we'll accumulate the height into the hills Munnar, which is remarked for its tea plantation. The best Indian tea comes from this part of India, as it's the first day so bikers are requested to be easy on the road. On arrival at Munnar we'll check into the hotels and afternoon we'll have a wonderful walk in the tea plantation,

Meals: breakfast Overnight

DAY 04 MUNNAR - PERIYAR
In the morning we will make our way from the hotel to 'Top Station'. The 40km road to 'Top Station' is one of the best that we have ever ridden in India. Fantastic road surface, stunning scenery, twist and turns and then the fantastic vista when you arrive at Top Station. From 'Top Station' you will get a brilliant view of Anamudi (The Elephant Peak - 8,842ft).

The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India and is amongst the most picturesque wild life sanctuaries in the world despite the tragic loss of the richly vegetated valley due to the dam and the 21 sq. mile reservoir. Since boat travel is the only way of travelling through this sanctuary, one can cover large areas in a short time and experience the wilderness like never before. There is probably no sanctuary in the world where elephant behaviour can be watched in such absolute comfort and safety.

Arrive in Periyar by afternoon and check in at your hotel. Late afternoon, enjoy a visit to Spice Plantation. See various species of spices and other aromatic plants/herbs. The guide will explain about the usage of different spices in Indian cuisine.

Meals: breakfast Overnight

DAY 05 PERIYAR
We'll have a fat morning as it's the ideal place to rest, after breakfast we'll have a jeep safari or boat safari to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar is a Project Tiger Nature Reserve - it also abounds with elephant, leopard, monkeys and reptiles. Evening you have an option to visit Kalaripaytu demonstration.

DAY 06 PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM (Day cruise Houseboat)
This morning drive to Kumarakom embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it's the life along the coast that adds a touch of exotica to this experience. Enjoy an authentic local meal on board. Post lunch, disembark from your house boat and drive to Check into the hotel. Evening free to relax in the backwater resort.
Meals: breakfast Overnight

DAY 07 KUMARAKOM – COCHIN AIRPORT
A TRAVELXS representative will escort to International airport for your flight back home.
Meals: breakfast Overnight