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Full of excitement and nerves you meet your fellow teammates at the airport. Wave goodbye to family and friends as you set off on your long-awaited adventure to Kerala, India.
A local Charity Challenge representative will meet you on arrival at Cochin airport and escort you to your nearby hotel. There will be a bike fitting after you check in at the hotel. Depending on your flight arrival time, and if time allows, you may then choose to unwind with an ancient and relaxing aryuvedic massage. In the evening there will be a group dinner and full challenge briefing.
Accommodation: Hotel
Saddle up for the first day of cycling! Leave the city behind as you head towards Thattekkad. You will start cycling early each day, making the most of the cool early mornings. Today you will pass through scenic countryside, passing temples, spice gardens, rubber plantations and paddy fields. After a leisurely lunch en-route you will reach our accommodation for the night.
Accommodation: Tented cottage camp
Today you pass through the Western Ghats of south-western India, known locally as the Sahyadri Hills. The route meanders through rich ecosystems, so look out for the endangered Indian elephants, bison, monkeys and birds of prey. Lunch will be taken in Adimali after 55km of cycling and you will have the option wether to cycle the remaining, very steep, 15km to Munnar.
Munnar is the gateway to the mountains and home to some of the world’s highest tea-growing estates and spice plantations, which combined make this former hill station an ideal retreat.
Accommodation: Hotel
Your third day of pedalling takes you to Vandanmedu. Your route follows tea estate tracks through eucalyptus forest and tea bushes, inviting you to interact with many tea pickers along the way, you will pass through the Lockhart gap and overlook the spectacular Bison Valley.
Accommodation: Lodge
Today you will cycle to Periyar, one of best wildlife reserves in India. The reserve, which extends over 777 square kilometres, is home to elephant, Indian bison and tigers. Forest guides can provide an amazing insight into the unique flora and fauna. You will reach Periyar by lunchtime where you can either relax or take part in optional activities which will be offered to you by the local team.
Accommodation: Hotel
A challenging day on the bike, with undulation throughout, and definitely one to remember! The sites are worth the effort today though with spice plantations either side of you and views of the famous arch dam of Idukki. The last section of the day is a tough climb but a worthwhile challenge.
Accommodation: Hotel
Today, you will be taking a downhill ride through the mountain passes to the plains and from there through the rubber country of Palai to the backwaters of Kerala. Here, you will transfer for a short distance (30km) after lunch and cycle to a beautiful beach resort at Marari. In the evening you will celebrate completing your cycle challenge!
Accommodation: Hotel
Transfer back to Cochin Airport for the return flight to London. Be sure to swap details with new-found cycling pals on the flight home.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 6546. Many of the flight-inclusive challenges on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. This ATOL protection only covers challenges that include flights booked by Charity Challenge and that originate in the UK. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate
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