Tamil Nadu to Kerala cycling vacation, India

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This itinerary has been designed with low-impact travel in mind. Cycling is the main form of transport throughout the trip, allowing travelers to keep their carbon emissions low whilst experiencing local life in Southern India up close on two wheels. Out of the 14 days, the group will use their bikes to get from A to B on 10 of them.

When arriving in or leaving larger cities, we use a private vehicle to avoid the worst of the traffic. Transporting the group together in one vehicle is a more efficient option than using multiple smaller vehicles.

Vegetarian and vegan food is widely eaten throughout South India, so meat-free meals will be available every day. Many of the meals are made using locally grown produce, from coconuts, rice and bananas grown in Tamil Nadu to the fragrant spices cultivated in the Western Ghats of Kerala. This helps keep the carbon impact of meals lower, as the ingredients travel a shorter distance from farm to plate.

As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

The tour includes a guided morning walk in Periyar National Park, led by a naturalist guide from the local tribal community. Tourism in the park provides vital employment and income for local communities, while visitors benefit from learning about the region’s flora and fauna from someone with deep, lived knowledge of the landscape. Park entry fees are included as part of the visit, contributing directly to the protection and management of this important wildlife area.

As cycling is the key focus of this tour, we also take practical steps to reduce waste on the road. A large refillable water container is carried on the support vehicle, allowing the group to top up their own reusable water bottles each day rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles. This helps ensure our trips do not add to India’s plastic pollution challenges. We also brief customers on responsible behaviour in natural areas, including staying on marked paths, respecting wildlife and minimising litter, to help reduce our impact on fragile environments.

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Local ownership and community experiences are an important part of this trip. We spend one night in a homestay in Erattupetta, where the group stays with Grace and her family on their 80-year-old plantation. Grace has opened her home exclusively to Explore groups and shares stories about what it’s like to grow up and live in Kerala. Her home is set within a working plantation where she grows turmeric, coconuts, bananas and produces honey, as well as keeping a small number of chickens. Much of the food she serves is grown directly on her land, meaning income from the stay goes straight to her family while giving travelers an authentic insight into rural life.

In Kumarakom, there is also the opportunity to take part in a village visit. This activity is supported and promoted by the Keralan Government to help create economic opportunities for small communities around the backwaters. The visit offers a cultural exchange with residents of Kumarakom, where the group can learn about coir rope making, toddy tapping and day-to-day life in and around the Keralan backwaters. By participating in these experiences, our groups directly contribute to locally run initiatives that support traditional skills and provide supplementary income for families in the area.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

All of the guides on this tour are local guides from India, and we work with a local operating partner based in India. This means the day-to-day running of the trip, from guiding to logistics, directly supports employment within the country. By working with local leaders who know the regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala well, we ensure income stays within the communities we visit and that travelers benefit from genuine local knowledge and experience.
We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.