In a strategic initiative to revitalize tourism and restore traveler confidence in Wayanad following the tragic 2024 landslide, Arjun Tours Bangalore, South India’s leading Destination Management Company, is organizing “Wayanad Calling”, a three-day super bikes ride from February 20-22, 2026.
The event, organized in association with Klov Resort & Spa, Thirunelli, Wayanad, and Big Bison Chapter Cochin, will bring together over 80 riders from eight states across India, showcasing Wayanad’s natural beauty, adventure tourism potential, and resilience as a premium destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Pan-India Participation and Influencer Engagement
The “Wayanad Calling” ride has attracted passionate biking enthusiasts from Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kerala, demonstrating strong interstate interest in Kerala’s adventure tourism offerings. Several social media influencers specializing in travel and adventure content will also accompany the riders, ensuring extensive digital visibility and authentic storytelling about the Wayanad experience.
The carefully curated route will take participants through some of South India’s most scenic landscapes, covering Bangalore, Mysore, Coorg, and culminating in Wayanad. Accommodation has been arranged at premium properties including Sheraton Grande Bangalore Brigade Gateway, Kapila Riverfront, and select properties in Wayanad, ensuring riders experience both adventure and comfort throughout the journey.
Biking Tourism: An Emerging Segment
Speaking about the initiative’s significance, Mr. Ravi M, Managing Director of Arjun Tours, explained the growing importance of motorcycle touring in India’s adventure tourism landscape.
“Biking or motorcycle touring is becoming increasingly popular in India among adventure seekers. It offers an immersive experience of local culture, authentic regional cuisine, and the opportunity to explore offbeat destinations on two wheels that larger vehicles simply cannot access. The natural topography of Wayanad – with its winding hill roads, river crossings, and forest trails – makes it an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking both challenge and natural beauty,” Mr. Ravi stated.
He emphasized that initiatives like “Wayanad Calling” serve dual purposes: boosting sustainable tourism while showcasing Wayanad as a destination offering much more than conventional leisure travel. “This is about positioning Wayanad in the adventure tourism segment, attracting a demographic that seeks experiential travel, active engagement with destinations, and authentic interactions with local communities,” he added.
Tourism Revival Following 2024 Tragedy
The initiative carries particular significance in the context of Wayanad’s recovery from the devastating landslide that struck in 2024, causing severe damage to property, infrastructure, and tragically claiming human lives. The disaster created widespread apprehension and insecurity about traveling to Wayanad, with many potential visitors expressing concerns about safety despite the district’s broader areas remaining unaffected and fully operational for tourism.
Mr. Ravi acknowledged this challenge directly: “The tragic 2024 landslide created a sense of panic and insecurity about travelling to Wayanad, despite the fact that the incident was localized and the vast majority of the district remains pristine, safe, and welcoming. Initiatives like ‘Wayanad Calling’ help break this psychological barrier and encourage travelers to venture back into this slice of heaven, boosting tourism and supporting the growth of the local economy that depends heavily on visitor spending.”
By bringing riders from eight different states and documenting their positive experiences through social media influencers, the event aims to counteract negative perceptions and demonstrate that Wayanad is not only safe but remains one of India’s most compelling nature-based tourism destinations.
The Adventure Appeal: Roads, Hills, and Adrenaline
The event’s tagline captures its essence: “Chasing horizons on two wheels: The perfect blend of Wayanad’s winding roads, misty hills, and pure raw adrenaline.”
Wayanad’s geography provides ideal conditions for motorcycle touring. The district’s elevation ranging from 700 to 2,100 meters above sea level creates dramatic terrain changes, challenging hairpin bends, and spectacular viewpoints. Dense forests flanking many routes offer shade and biodiversity observation opportunities, while the cooler climate compared to lowland Kerala provides comfortable riding conditions even during warmer months.
The roads connecting Bangalore to Wayanad via Mysore and Coorg traverse some of South India’s most scenic highways, including sections through coffee and spice plantations, wildlife corridors, and traditional villages where riders can interact with local communities and experience authentic regional culture.
For the adventure tourism segment, these characteristics transform a simple journey into a memorable experience combining physical challenge, natural beauty, cultural immersion, and the camaraderie that develops among riders sharing the road and overcoming its demands together.
Strategic Partnerships and Hospitality Integration
The collaboration between Arjun Tours Bangalore, Klov Resort & Spa, Big Bison Chapter Cochin, and premium accommodation partners reflects a strategic approach to adventure tourism development. Rather than treating biking as an isolated activity, the initiative integrates quality hospitality, destination showcases, and experiential elements that appeal to riders who seek adventure but also value comfort, safety, and professional organization.
Klov Resort & Spa in Thirunelli, Wayanad, serves as a key partner, providing riders with wellness and relaxation opportunities after long days on the road. This combination of adrenaline-driven activity with wellness experiences represents an emerging trend in adventure tourism where physical challenge is balanced with recovery, rejuvenation, and holistic well-being.
Big Bison Chapter Cochin, a biking community and club, brings organizational expertise, safety protocols, and community engagement that ensures the event maintains professional standards while fostering the social and experiential aspects that make group rides memorable.
The inclusion of Sheraton Grande Bangalore Brigade Gateway and Kapila Riverfront ensures riders experience diverse accommodation styles and service standards, showcasing South India’s hospitality excellence across different segments and locations.
Economic Impact and Community Benefits
Beyond immediate event economics, “Wayanad Calling” generates multiple layers of economic benefit for local communities. Riders will patronize local restaurants, purchase handicrafts and regional products, utilize local guide services, and potentially return for future visits, bringing family and friends based on their positive experiences.
The social media coverage generated by participating influencers extends Wayanad’s visibility to thousands or potentially millions of followers interested in travel, adventure, and experiential tourism. This organic, authentic content often proves more effective than conventional advertising in influencing travel decisions among younger, digitally connected demographics.
For Wayanad’s tourism stakeholders – hotels, homestays, tour operators, adventure activity providers, and cultural experience creators – events like this demonstrate market demand for adventure tourism, encourage investment in appropriate infrastructure and services, and provide networking opportunities with DMCs like Arjun Tours who can channel future business to the destination.
Setting a Precedent for Adventure Tourism Development
“Wayanad Calling” represents more than a single event; it establishes a precedent and potentially a model for how destinations can leverage adventure tourism to diversify their appeal, attract new visitor segments, and build resilience by not depending exclusively on traditional leisure tourism.
As motorcycle touring continues growing in popularity across India—driven by improved road infrastructure, rising disposable incomes, adventure culture promotion through media and social platforms, and desire for authentic, self-directed travel experiences—destinations that proactively develop products, partnerships, and events catering to this segment position themselves advantageously in a competitive tourism market.
For Kerala specifically, known globally for backwaters, Ayurveda, and cultural tourism, developing adventure tourism offerings provides important diversification, extends average length of stay by offering varied experiences, and attracts younger demographics who may become long-term repeat visitors as their travel preferences evolve over their lifetimes.
As the “Wayanad Calling” super bikes ride prepares to roll out on February 20, 2026, it carries hopes and aspirations beyond the participating riders’ personal adventures. For Wayanad, it represents renewed confidence, tourism revival, and recognition that the district’s natural assets – the very hills, forests, and winding roads that define its landscape – can be both preserved and shared through sustainable, responsible adventure tourism that respects local communities and environments while generating economic opportunities.
For Arjun Tours Bangalore and its partners, successful execution could establish “Wayanad Calling” as an annual signature event, creating anticipation, building brand equity, and positioning the organizers as leaders in adventure tourism curation and destination marketing.
And for India’s growing community of motorcycle touring enthusiasts, the event affirms that extraordinary riding experiences exist within the country, accessible without international travel, supporting local economies while satisfying the universal human desire to explore, challenge oneself, and create memories that last far beyond the journey’s end.
“Wayanad Calling” is more than a ride – it’s a statement that Wayanad is back, beautiful, and ready to welcome those who seek the perfect blend of natural splendor, cultural richness, and the pure exhilaration of chasing horizons on two wheels through one of India’s most captivating landscapes.
