Private Trip

China Biking

Chennai to Mumbai Luxury Active Trip

Type
Private

X
Scheduled
The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Private
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Custom
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
Support
Daytime Guided

X
Self-Guided
Combines the hallmarks of any B&R itinerary (excellent hotels and beautiful routes) with the freedom of pacing each day exactly the way you like.
Daytime Guided
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
24/7 Guided
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
Hotels
Signature

X
Signature
We use premium hotels that are unique expressions of the region. Often they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle, but in every case they offer an exceptionally comfortable stay.
Bistro
These are stylish 4-star properties that offer a casual and comfortable stay. Often without a 24-hour concierge or room service, they tend to be smaller family-run hotels that are perfect for the region.
Level
Recreational

X
Occasional
“I can’t say I really ‘work out,’ but I’m in good shape and am relatively active.”
Recreational
“I enjoy a good walk or ride, and feel comfortable while on the move.”
Enthusiast
“I get moving at least once a week, and don’t mind a little sweat.”
Avid
“I get moving a few times per week and enjoy some exertion.”
Expert
“I want to feel invigorated each day and going hard is how I like to do that.”
Click here for full details on each activity level »

Through the quilted hills of Southern India

Southern India is truly distinctive from the rest of the country. Pillowy green hill stations are laid out like patchwork quilts, bristling with temples and ashrams. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the North, the pace is slow and the surroundings are tranquil—a perfect recipe for relaxing! The cuisine—subtle yet fiery—is influenced by the sea, replacing the North’s filling meat dishes. On your journey, you’ll experience the grand temples of Madurai, the warm hospitality South India is so famous for, and the Islamic influences in Hyderabad and Chennai.

Trip designed by Travel Expert Karen MacRae

View Karen’s Profile

TRIP DETAILS

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Currency Conversion

Converted from USD based on the latest exchange rate. Final amount and payment will be in USD. Final conversion rate is determined by your bank.

Based on 4 ppl double occupancy
Request your date for exact pricing 12 Days / 11 Nights
Chennai to Mumbai request a
DETAILED ITINERARY

PHOTO & VIDEO GALLERY

How do you want to travel?

Go Private Go Bespoke

China Biking

Ready-to-Book private tours are designed to be enjoyed off-the-rack, but there is room for minor adjustments to fit the trip to your needs. If the gap is too great, then we’d be happy to tailor-make you a Bespoke trip from scratch. Simply tell us a few details about your group and select your preferred date. One of our Trip Designers will spring into action, confirming the details or exploring alternatives, over the next 48 hours.

Best Time to Visit

January	April	July	October
February	May	August	November
March	June	September	December

Request Your Date

Have a custom trip designed exactly to your interests. Like a tailor making a bespoke suit, it will fit you perfectly.

Our Bespoke trip designers are a talented bunch who can craft unforgettable experiences for your specific group—and working within your needs and budget.

Get in touch with a Trip Designer to begin planning your perfect vacation.

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Day by Day

Welcome to the City of Temples! When you disembark from your plane in Chennai, your guide will meet you and escort you through the fast track at immigration.

Head to the city of Mylapore, one of the more interesting and oldest areas of Chennai. Explore the local restaurants and small shops then stop at the oldest temple in the city, Kapleeswar Temple. Later, meet a talented chef and textile hisotian for a home-cooked lunch.

On the way to Pondicherry visit DakshinaChitra, a museum dedicated to South Indian heritage and culture. Then stop at Mahaballipuram to see the UNESCO protected group of monuments.

Explore Pondicherry by bike or foot. Known as the "French Riviera of the East", the combination of sea front, whitewashed residences and ornamental gardens gives this area a distinct Mediterranean feel.

Drive to the heart of Tamil Nadu through the valley of the Kaveri River. Stop at the temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the exquisite Darasuram. We'll explore the area either walking or cycling through villages and farmlands.

Journey to the temple town of Madurai, stopping on the way at the Brihadisvara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in a grove in the forest, the unusual Ayyanar temple is where local villagers come to pray and ask the god for favours.

This morning you will visit the Minakshi Temple, an outstanding structure dedicated to the “fish-eyed goddess,” Minakshi. Later, explore the markets surrounding the temple, housed in the remains of a 16thC ruin.

Journey into a completely different atmosphere, surrounded by lush coffee plantations and forests in the Palani hills. Walk or bike to the nearby villages and coffee plantations to explore the region.

Today is yours to enjoy. Take advantage of one of the quieter, more peaceful spots on our journey. We recommend a stroll through the villages or a visit to the nearby plantations.

Today you’ll drive back to Madurai to catch your flight to Hyderabad. If time allows, you’ll be able to go on a short walk around the city to stretch your legs before dinner—we’ve got something special cooked up for this one!

Explore the Old City! Walk around the four palaces of the Chowmahalla Complex, through the imposing Durbar Hall and then to the colourful and chaotic market.

Before your evening flight to Mumbai, you’ll have time to visit the Paigah and Qutb Shahi Tombs.

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Hotels

The Leela Palace, Chennai Premier

With the largest guestrooms in the city, there is no better choice for a luxury Chennai hotel than The Leela Palace Chennai. This five-star hotel offers modern, state-of-the-art technology to ensure a relaxing and restful stay. Guests can choose from a variety of international dining options. Total decadence and personalized service are the standards at The Leela Palace Chennai. View hotel website »

Palais de Mahe, Pondicherry

The Palais de Mahe is located in the heart of Pondicherry, yet is surrounded by natural environs. This charming property is a peaceful retreat, offering guests the opportunity to rejuvenate at its swimming pool and bar. From the Palais de Mahe, you can see many of the main sights comfortable on feet. View hotel website »

Mantra Veppathur, Madurai

This eco-friendly hotel enjoys a scenic location between the Veera Chozha and Cauverey Rivers in Southern India's Tanjore District.Mantra Veppathur also has Ayurvedic spa treatments and yoga sessions.Surrounded by herbal gardens, elegant cottages and villas come with both air conditioning and ceiling fans. A minibar is included. Attached bathrooms come with a bathtub and rainshower. View hotel website »

Heritage, Madurai

Spacious, airy rooms with detailed sitting areas, luxurious bedrooms and unbelievably vast bathrooms, all decorated with understated elegance. Cleverly transformed light fittings delight you at every turn: a riveting piece that once was a lantern; another, a carriage light; an old diya in new avatar, and the piece de resistance: a sun deck in each villa, that opens out into your own private plunge pool. View hotel website »

Rajakkad Estate, Palani

At 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) above sea level and set in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Rajakkad Estate offers a sense of serenity and tranquillity. Life here has changed very little over the last century. For the traveller seeking a world apart or for the explorer in search of adventure, there can be no better setting. As for those in search of peace, look no further. View hotel website »

Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

This sixty room palace was once the sole preserve of royalty, including King George V and the last Russian Tsar, Nicolas II. Architecturally, the palace is a blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. The Falaknuma Palace houses many treasures, including priceless art and artifacts, ornate inlaid furniture from Kashmir and intricate frescos with English and Indian influences. Each one of these has been meticulously restored to its original glory. View hotel website »

Read about hotels

The best moments were the unscripted ones -- buying masala tea from a roadside stand, bargaining with local villagers for costume jewelry, talking to local school children.

— Lisetta Lavy

Travelers stay in small luxury properties, like the Relais & Châteaux Malabar House in Fort Cochin, and bike 50 to 60 km a day, past coconut and banana trees along the Arabian Sea and through tea and cardamom plantations. Riders go through the Western Ghats and along Vembanad Lake, where they spend the night in a private houseboat and visit local homes to learn about skills like the art of mat weaving.

The New York Times

We never wanted to be the biggest travel company in the world, just the best.
— George Butterfield

Consistently voted one of the World's Best Tour Operators in Travel + Leisure magazine's annual reader survey.

Activity Level What’s Included Gear Extend Your Trip

Recreational

This trip is appropriate for people who enjoy a good walk or ride, and feel comfortable while on the move.

The Traveller

“I enjoy going for a good walk or ride and can even handle an incline or two.”

The Terrain

Relatively flat but will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.

What’s included? Everything you need. Plus everything you’d
want. Plus a few things you never knew you wanted ‘til you got them.

In a word: everything. In ninety words? Signature B&R guides; local experts; unique, unforgettable biking and walking routes; private tours; authentic local cuisine; lessons and demonstrations; local artisanal wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; interesting, fun and like-minded travel companions; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery.

All hotel accommodation
Meals as indicated
Services of private B&R-trained local guide throughout the trip
Support vehicles during bike rides
Use of a customized bicycle and helmet if cycling
Water bottle
All special events and private tours
All transportation from rendezvous to drop-off
All internal flights
Private visits with Historians/Scholars
Porters at airports and hotels

The Bikes

You can’t enjoy a great biking trip without a really great bike. On this trip, we’ll use well-tuned, high-quality, local bikes that provide a good fit to your size and weight.

trip pool Sometimes your B&R trip simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in region either before or after your official B&R trip, and need assistance making those plans, your B&R Travel Advisor can help.

Call us to create an independent travel experience that fits your needs—we can also arrange for a local guide.

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Your dreams—realized.
Your expectations—exceeded.
And your mind? Totally and utterly blown.

We craft extraordinary experiences, tailor made to meet
your every need, with every stitch of every day crafted
just the way you want it. Learn more about Bespoke