9 Day "Tropical Twister" Guided Loop Motorcycle Tour in Goa and Karnataka, India

Overview

La Cabana Beach & Spa Ashwem Beach, North Goa 403527 This circuit - Tropical Twister (with lime) - is as heady a mix as the cocktail it's inspired from. The colonial hangover is an oft repeated phrase when it comes to describing India and parts of the sub-continent. We took the literal out of the metaphor and decided to curate a ride that celebrates a region that was crafted through an unmistakable colonial influence that is still visible today. Among many things that happened under the colonial rule, as a Moto enthusiast, our favourite is the unmistakable footprint on the Western Ghats, in the form of plantations - tea, coffee, rubber & spices. Whilst it, unfortunately resulted in large scale decimation of pristine forests, it opened up, to motorists, one of the most spectacular circuits anywhere in the world.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Goa
• Enjoy a relaxed pace of riding
• Ride the Western Ghats, winding hill roads, through rainforest country
• A bulk of the ride is spent in the plantation country of India’s south
• Tarmac terrain with winding curves on fast-paced roads
• 8 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive at Goa - Transfer to hotel (50 kilometers)

   Arrive at the airport and Karma Yatri will transfer you to your beachside hotel in the Northern half of this sun-soaked state. Sun, surf, pristine beaches, nightlife, food, everything that makes the start of a perfect holiday! Meet the Karma Yatri team and the other riders. Take a short spin to check out your motorcycles and get a feel for the traffic. Soak in the first of many gorgeous sunsets and enjoy the gentle surf of the Arabian Sea.

2. Day 2: North Goa - South Goa (60 to 100 kilometers)

   Churches, bridges, islands, and ferries, the first half of today takes you inland to parts of Goa that are less touristy than the beaches, yet offer a diversity of culture and landscape. Perfect for a motorcycle adventure, the roads are in great condition and trace across the countryside in a dark pattern of electric cable-like interconnections. Get on barge-like ferries and cross onto the larger river islands and further cross over to Old Goa’s historic quarter. Riding along stunning architecture, proceed towards the southern extremity of the state, settling down to yet another gorgeous sunse

3. Day 3: South Goa - Jog Falls (260 to 300 kilometers)

   From the ocean to the deep jungle, the twists in this ride are just about to begin. A secret road that takes you through the heart of the forest, onto a dirt track leading to a small stream. You are suddenly at a border checkpoint and as you check, you are informed that on crossing the stream, you have entered the state of Karnataka. You are now in a proper hill country and the associated twisties. Long sweeping bends and sharp flicking switch-backs as you course through low mountains, blanketed in forest cover. Finish the ride in a plantation bungalow in the midst of Beetle-nut palms, surroun

4. Day 4: Jog Falls - Chickmangaluru (210 kilometers)

   Great roads through the lush countryside. An invisible dividing line between manmade cultivation and natural forest, the road bears testament to the slow and steady press of humanity into these once impenetrable forests. You are approaching the historic heartland of coffee, Chikmangluru. This is where the first (smuggled) seeds of coffee were planted in India by the sage, Baba Budan. A special detour onto a road passing through one of the oldest privately held plantations showcases cultivated biodiversity that has been nurtured and managed for over a few centuries.

5. Day 5: Chickmangaluru local (50 kilometers)

   A forest within a forest would be an apt description of this region. The specificity of coffee plantations needing the shade of tall trees ensures that the ecosystem is not a sterile monoculture of coffee bushes. Several high peaks have viewpoints that allow for great riding stretches that are a mix of on and off-road. Enjoy the hospitality of a plantation bungalow and hear tales of generations that have nurtured the lands they live on.

6. Day 6: Chickmanaluru - Malpe (212 kilometers)

   A short road trip to a 5th-century living architecture site, the temples of Belur will transport you to a time of impeccable craftsmanship of art that was patronized by the rulers of this region. One of the iconic sites of South Indian temple architecture, this diversion in the road trip is a reminder of the historic footprint of the land you are traveling through. Another gorgeous stretch of tarmac that traverses the western ghats before you descend towards the coast. A short break by the lighthouse of Kaup before a final stretch along a gorgeous lesser road that’s sandwiched between the ocea

7. Day 7: Malpe - Gokarna (177 kilometers)

   A beautiful highway along a landscape of water, speckled with islands of lush green teeming with birdlife and picture-perfect small boat fishermen practicing an ancient art form that allowed a sustainable existence with the bounty of nature. You are in back-water country which in part is fertile cultivated fields and in part an island of mangrove forest, all interconnected through a series of bridges that provide a fitting viewpoint of this dramatic landscape. Hippie vibes await at Kudle, a reminder that Goa is just a couple of hours away.

8. Day 8: Gokarna - Goa (134 kilometers)

   Ride along Highway 66; it's not a verified fact but this is possibly a take on America's Route 66 or it’s an interesting name coincidence? A brand new, multi-lane expressway that stretches along the West coast from Mumbai to Kanyakumari. The re-entry to Goa is rather nostalgic, like coming back to meet a dear friend. Slowly make your way towards the capital, your journey, a truncated series of stops for chai, coconut water, or a smoke. Somehow an attempt at prolonging this final day, savoring every last bit on the road, reliving this adventure on two wheels.

9. Day 9

   Departure day.

Ride Details

Bike

Rental bike with fuel included (Royal Enfield Standard 500 cc / Himalayan)

Terrain

A mix of Tarmac and Basic Off-roading

Mileage

1233 kilometers / 766 miles

Daily rides

150 - 200 kilometers / 93 - 124 miles

Meals

all breakfasts, lunches, dinners

Accommodation

You will stay for eight nights in various accommodations including hotels and boutique homestays. The start of the trip sets the tone for the rest of the journey and the end of the trip is an intimate moment to reflect, relish, and basically have one big party. The properties Karma Yatri uses at various locations, that serve as start and endpoints of the itinerary, are unique and carefully selected. During this tour, you will be accommodated in premium hotels and homestays at all stops. The properties combine the best in hospitality that the region has to offer, great food, and the ability for you all to behave like a group. Please note that although Karma Yatri provides blankets and duvets,

Food

Food is a mix of local and continental, allowing you to experience the local cuisine but ensuring that your taste buds are not overpowered by the spicy Indian fare. Chai or the omnipresent Indian tea is a very important part of your trip. From early morning starts to your numerous stops by the road, this (often) milky and sweet beverage is like a road trip elixir, providing a much-needed break for the bum sore you will inevitably experience on these roads.

Getting There

Goa is a state, but also a state of mind. Located between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, this beach paradise has a rich culture of seafood, beach culture, coastline roads, small laid back villages, and varied overall visual possibilities on two wheels. Jewels in the form of little known beaches dot the coastline. Their unassuming entrances open up through casuarina, areca trees, and coconu

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