Kerala Singletrack Tour Info
Our Kerala MTB tours are designed by mountain bikers for mountain bikers so it’s as much singletrack and trail that we can fit into 11-Days. We ride our trails because its great mountain biking. The trails are technical in parts so experienced mountain bikers familiar with red and black trails will have loads to get their teeth into. However if you are a recent convert to mountain biking, like a challenge and want to work on your skills we can build up your riding ability as the tour progresses.
You need to be in Cochin by 08.30 on the tour start date. We can arrange pre and post tour accommodation if required.
Our Kerala tours use Kochi/Cochin airport for pick up and transfers. Emirates are usually the best with 30kg weight baggage allowance. Many airlines serve this route including Emirates, Qatar, Etihad amongst others. If you are having difficulty getting flights to Cochin please feel free to contact us for other possible options.
You can apply for an E-Visa with a 30 day stay-limit
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
If you are visiting India for a longer duration then a 6 month tourist visa could be worth considering but they are more expensive.
In the UK the link is below.
Get in touch with your GP well in advance of your departure for latest information on vaccinations and any other medical considerations.
For additional information please visit: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
Get insured. It is a condition of our trips that you are adequately insured. Policies must cover mountain biking and the potential risks of a mountain bike holiday. If your usual insurance doesn’t cover mountain biking then consider specialist coverage such as
https://www.snowcard.co.uk/single-trip.php
We need a copy of your insurance ready for us on arrival or send us on a copy via e-mail prior to the trip.
As ever make sure your bikes are in tip-top condition before bringing them out. If you are unsure a part will survive the trip then replace or get it serviced by a bike shop. Performance bike parts are hard to obtain in India but we do have small stocks of spare parts.
Let us know before you come about what bike you are bringing out and if there is anything specific to your bike that we might not have spares for.
Bringing your own bike then bring…
Spare Mech Hanger
2 spare sets of brake pads
2 Tubes
Spokes specific to your bike
Multi tool
Trail Pump
Tyre levers
Hydration pack with space to store extra cycling layers.
A waterproof in case of showers.
If you have any doubt on what you need to bring out with you as spares then just let us know.
We have a range of great bikes available from Nukeproof so contact us now for details with bike hire from £250 for the full tour.
Please bring your own pedals and compatible shoes if you renting one of our bikes and are riding SPD. All bikes are supplied with saddles which might be a bit on the sporty side so it could be worth bringing your own if you have a comfortable saddle that your are used to.
Please also bring your own ride kit/helmet/gloves etc.
Best to ride in traditional riding attire so that’s MTB all the way along with a mix of long sleeve and short sleeve tops, temps can vary day by day but rarely cold, long sleeve tops can come in handy for sunburn and when sections are lined with brambles. Best to bring shoes that you can also walk in so if your are not riding flats then non-exposed cleats and non-aggressive tread patterns works best; so comfortable for photo stops, the odd walk out to view points and tackling the odd tricky sections if you don’t fancy riding them.
Head torch in case of power cuts
A set of warm clothes for nights spent in mountains
Light waterproof
Mix of long sleeve and short sleeve riding tops in case of sunburn
Universal electric plug
Mosquito Repellent
High factor sun-cream
Sunglasses
Lip salve
Sandals/flip flops
South Indian food is a highlight of any trip and will make up the majority of our lunches when we are riding. In the bigger towns there is also a wide choice of western food and north Indian dishes. If you have any specific dietary requirements let us know. It’s easy enough to pick up a beer or two for a post ride drink at all our hotels or there are a range of local drinks including the legendary Toddy that refreshes parts you didn’t realise you had.
Temperatures on the plains will be around 30c during the day and remain warm at night time. In the mountains it’s usually still warm but nights can be cooler.
All accommodation
All scheduled transfers
All breakfasts/lunches
Vehicle support
Personal travel insurance
Snacks, soft drinks etc
Personal expense
Tips, gratuities
Evening meals
ATM’s are available in all our destinations. Visa is the most widely accepted. Food items, snacks, gift items are all well priced so expect to pay £5 for an evening meal or just over £2 for an alcoholic drink.
Airport exchange rates are usually very poor so if you are exchanging money here then just change small amounts. There are money changing facilities in Fort Cochin/Kumily and Munnar but not in Kuttikanam
(GMT +05:30)
230/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. 2 pin type.
There are recharging facilities at all the hotels, the electricity supply is not 100% reliable but it is usually only off for short periods of time.
Our tour driver and local guides do not expect tips from our Mountain bike Kerala guests but they would greatly appreciate them. Feel free to tip at your discretion if you feel the service has been good.
We have a great range of MTB clothing available including long sleeve and short sleeve tops, t-shirts, buffs, shorts and socks all in our great looking shop. All our riding gear is designed and made by our in-house greenfrogindia.com team and is available both on tour and from our online shop so you can buy anytime before or after the trip. Look out for these and our great range of cycle-recycle products including great looking wallets, passport holders, pouches and phone protectors made from reclaimed inner-tubes.
