kerala
india
NOV 2026

WESTERN GHATS LOOP

[ WHAT IS IT? ]

A small-group adventure ride through South India

Ten days built around movement.
Long days on the bike. Hairpins, heat, forest roads, chaotic traffic, and long quiet stretches where the road finally opens.

About 1,300 kilometres, where pace, timing, and judgement matter every day. Some sections are ridden together. Others are spaced out, with room to ride your own way.

Evenings are simple, shared meals and proper rest, with a small crew.
Early nights if you want them.

You leave tired in a good way. Lighter. Clearer. More alive.

Good Road Way // how we do it

A few principles that shape how the ride works, on and off the bike

Proper preparation
Routes are ridden ahead of time, then adjusted on the ground as conditions change

Small groups, by design
Groups stay small, and people are chosen with care. The dynamic matters, so the riding stays fluid and the experience works for everyone

Shared responsibility
You carry your own kit and ride your own ride. The group works because people pay attention to themselves and each other

Calm decision-making
When plans shift, we slow down and choose what makes sense. No rushing. No forcing it

Space, without pressure
Nothing is required in the evenings beyond food and rest. Some nights are talkative. Others aren’t. Both have their place

The route and the roads

This is a loop through the Western Ghats in India, linking forest roads, hill sections, towns, and long connecting stretches.

■

The exact route flexes with weather and conditions, but the character of the riding stayS around...
60% Ghats, hairpins, ridgelines
25% rural connectors, plains, and farmland
15% forest corridors, recovery miles, and the run back toward Kochi
This isn’t technical off-road riding, but it is demanding. Long days, constant decisions, and varied conditions mean riders need to stay switched on.

Hill roads and hairpins

Much of the riding takes place on narrow hill roads with frequent hairpins. Surfaces vary, visibility changes, and pace is dictated by the road rather than speed.

Forest sections

Shaded stretches through forest corridors, often quieter and cooler. Expect mixed surfaces, fallen debris after rain, and moments where attention matters more than momentum.

Towns and traffic

Indian traffic is part of the ride. Busy towns, slow-moving vehicles, horns, and unpredictability are all in the mix. These sections reward patience and awareness.

Open connecting roads

Between the tighter sections are longer, flowing stretches where the road opens up. These are the moments to settle into a rhythm and let the miles pass.

Changing conditions

Heat, rain, roadworks, animals, and the unexpected all play a role. Routes are chosen with this in mind and adjusted day by day as needed.

What’s included:

  • Motorcycle hire
    For the full duration of the ride

  • Accommodation throughout the trip
    Private rooms. Chosen for rest and comfort, not luxury

  • All organised group meals
    The meals that bring the group together at the start and end of the day

  • Lead rider
    Sets the rhythm of the day, briefs the group, and helps things run smoothly on the road

  • Route design and on-the-ground decision-making
    Routes are ridden ahead of time, then adjusted as conditions change

  • Navigation setup
    A pre-planned route shared on a minimalist satnav, allowing space to ride at your own pace and drift off when it suits you

  • Mechanical support
    Local support is on hand when needed, using established contacts to get bikes fixed and back on the road quickly

  • Pre-ride documentation & call
    An introduction to riding in India, what to expect, and a clear day-by-day outline of the route and riding conditions

What’s not included:

  • Getting to the start point
    Flights and transfers to and from the starting location.

  • Travel insurance
    You’re responsible for arranging your own cover

  • Riding gear
    We strongly recommend bringing your own helmet, jacket, boots, and protective kit. Limited gear can be sourced locally, but quality & availability vary

  • Personal expenses
    Anything outside the planned group meals. A drink, a coffee, a yoga class, or something you spot along the way

  • Most lunches
    Midday stops are flexible, with space to stop when and where it suits the day

  • Being managed every mile
    You’re supported when it matters. The rest of the time, you ride your own ride

[ TELL ME MORE...]

Location

Ten riding days, with one full rest day built in

Trip Distance

Group Size

Experience Details

Duration

Motorcycle

Riding Experience

Date

Western Ghats, South Indian
Fly into Cochin International Airport

Approximately 1,300 kilometres

Small by design. Final numbers depend on fit.

Royal Enfield motorcycles, motorcycle license required.
Model details shared ahead of the ride.

Confident road riders who are comfortable with long days, changing conditions, and making their own decisions

Cost

November 2026

£2,500
Includes everything listed above. Excludes what’s noted in “What’s not included

Your Guide

■

Max

“ I started riding when I was eight. I grew up around bikes. My dad rode, my brother rode, and I spent years on the back of a motorcycle before I ever had one of my own.

By my mid-twenties, I’d ridden across Europe a few times, looped the UK more than once, and spent long stretches riding solo. I’ve ridden across Japan and Australia, gone all the way around Sri Lanka, crossed India east to west in a rickshaw, then later rode through the south of the country on my own.

I’ve wild camped across the Alps. I’ve ridden in heat, rain, traffic, and places where plans stop working. Altogether, it’s been a lot of kilometres, mostly self-supported.

What draws me to this kind of riding is taking people somewhere unfamiliar. Not reckless, but not comfortable either. Places that ask for attention and give something back if you stay with them.

Long days on the bike narrow things down. You’re dealing with what’s in front of you. The road, the conditions, the next decision. People tend to come back from that kind of riding more alert, more alive, and with a better sense of themselves and the world they’ve just moved through.

That’s the kind of riding I care about. And that’s the shape these trips take. ”

[ FAQ ]

Common Questions

  • No.

    Some sections are ridden together.
    Others are designed to give space without splitting the group.

    You’ll have room to ride your own ride, without disappearing or being rushed.
    We regroup daily. Nobody gets left behind.

  • Because the group matters.

    Riding in demanding places only works when expectations, riding styles, and judgement line up.
    One person riding unpredictably or bringing ego into it can affect everyone.

    The application is there to make sure the week works for the whole group.
    It’s about fit, not status.

  • There are a few optional, low-key check-ins across the trip.

    Nothing heavy. Nothing forced.
    Some people talk. Some don’t. Both are fine.

    Most of what happens comes from the riding itself.

  • Yes, in structure. No, in feel.

    It’s a proper ride, done in a small group. Routes are planned and tested. Logistics are handled.

    But the riding itself isn’t sanitised or stage-managed.

    You’re trusted to ride.
    The road does the work.

  • Riders who:

    • ride with awareness, not bravado

    • take responsibility for themselves and their bike

    • are comfortable riding their own pace

    • don’t need to prove anything to the group

    It works best when people pay attention, communicate clearly, and adjust when conditions change.

    If you enjoy tight packs, racing other riders, or being the loudest presence in the group, it probably won’t suit you.

  • Small, 10 capped.

    It feels like a crew, not a crowd.
    Small numbers reduce pressure, admin, and ego, and make it easier to ride well.

  • No.

    “Ride your own ride” is a real rule here, not a slogan.
    If you want to drop back, you drop back.
    If you want space, you get space.

    The routes and rhythm are designed so pace differences don’t become pressure.

  • Things will go wrong. That’s part of riding.

    When they do, we don’t panic.
    We slow down, adjust, and deal with what’s in front of us.

    No heroics. No drama. Just judgement and shared responsibility.

  • Riding in unfamiliar places always involves risk.

    What we control is preparation, decision-making, and standards.
    Routes are tested.
    Pacing is realistic.
    Group size is kept small.
    Ego is not tolerated.

    We prioritise calm riding, good judgement, and getting everyone home in one piece.

  • Comfortable, not luxury.

    You’ll have your own room and space to rest properly.

  • Yes, at times.

    Days can be long. Conditions can be challenging.
    You’ll be tired, usually in a good way.

    This isn’t about pushing to extremes, but it does ask something of you.

  • That’s fine.

    This isn’t designed to suit everyone.
    The right people usually recognise it quickly.

    If you’re unsure, the application call is there to talk it through honestly.

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