The Spice Route

The Spice Route is a 12-day loop, 10 of them on the bike, that leaves from Kochi and returns there: the backwaters, the spice gardens of Kumily, the tea estates of Munnar, Kodaikanal and Ooty, then the coast up to Vypin Island. The Great Crossing heads from Kochi to Chennai across Tamil Nadu over 13 days. Luxury Tour in Kerala is shorter, about 388 miles, and rated Accessible. Goa, Jungle and Ancient Wonders sets off from Goa toward Hampi.

The tour is rated Intermediate: every stage lasts 5 to 6 hours, day after day, so you should ride regularly and be in good shape. Most of the riding is on small back roads, some badly damaged by the monsoon rains, with a few dirt sections, for instance between Kodaikanal and Palakkad. Certain stages are a long way from medical help, which is why the support vehicle never leaves the group.

Around 839 miles in 10 riding days, from 37 to 134 miles per stage. The roads of the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris wind all the time, and the climb to Ooty counts 35 hairpin turns, so even a short stage takes up the day. At Kodaikanal and Ooty you ride above 6,500 ft, where the air is far cooler than down on the coast.

A Royal Enfield Classic 350: easy to handle, with a low seat at 31.7 in, or 30.4 in on the lowered version. Our mechanic keeps an eye on it for the whole tour, and the spare parts travel in the support vehicle. Whether you are very tall or on the short side, mention it to your travel advisor as soon as you book.

Yes, passengers are welcome at $2,590 each, and the bags go in the support vehicle. Riding two-up, keep in mind the 5 to 6 hour days, the roads that are sometimes in rough shape and the tight hairpins on the way up to Ooty: the rider needs to be at ease with a loaded motorcycle.

Your English-speaking tour leader rides up front on every riding day. Behind comes a local crew: an experienced mechanic and the driver of the support vehicle, who looks after the bags and the gear. We cap the group at 10 motorcycles, or 12 people counting passengers, and our office in France can be reached around the clock if anything goes wrong.

$3,190 per rider and $2,590 per passenger. That covers the motorcycle, gas, the team, hotels, breakfast and dinner from day 2 to day 11, breakfast on day 12 and airport transfers. Left to you: flights, the visa, the international driving permit, meals on day 1, lunches, dinner on day 12, drinks, entrance fees to temples and monuments, tips and a $708 deposit per motorcycle. The $41 registration fee is only charged on your first trip with us.

U.S. citizens need a visa for India: the tourist e-Visa is applied for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, where you can check the conditions and processing times. On the road, carry your motorcycle license and an international driving permit. Entry rules change, so read the State Department’s India page before you go. Steps and timings are in our India documents guide, vaccinations in our India health tips.

The tour starts and finishes in Kochi, so book a round-trip flight to its international airport. On day 1, a private transfer takes you to the hotel in the old town of Fort Cochin. On day 12, the room is yours until 10 am, then a transfer runs you back to the airport. To arrive earlier or spend more time in Kerala, go over the options with your travel advisor.

The season runs from November to March, the dry season after the monsoon. Next published departure: February 16 to 27, 2027; other dates are possible on request through your travel advisor. Expect 68 to 90°F, with cool evenings in the hills, so pack a warm layer. Nights are spent in standard, charming or comfort hotels and guesthouses, from Fort Cochin to the hill towns and out to Vypin Island.