Things to do in India

Always the best way to slow down and really see a place, the choice is vast. Cycling vacations take you along the Konkan Coast, from the Western Ghats to Goa, or through the tea plantations and backwaters of Kerala. You can stretch yourself a little further into the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, and cycle from Chennai down to the reward of the Kerala coast in Kochin. Or combine cycling with safari in the extraordinary northeast region of Meghalaya, heading through a wonderscape of waterfalls and luscious forest, natural swimming pools and Khasi villages bordering Bangladesh. You can even cycle coast to coast in the south if you want, on a tour from Fort Kochi on the west coast to Mahabalipuram on the east. Cycling through these contrasting landscapes allows you to connect with both people and place, staying in everything from houseboats to homestays, plantation houses to eco lodges.

Few people associate Kerala with mountains, the Himalayas monopolizing the western desire for elevated landscapes. Although they may not appeal to the serious explorers out there, the Western Ghats range is rapturous for most ramblers. And mountain bike riders. A good starting point is the town of Munnar, with the backdrop of Anamudi, Kerala's highest peak at 2,695m.