Enchanting Kerala

Welcome to India! On arrival at Kochi airport, you’ll be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel in Fort Cochin. Spend the afternoon exploring this historical area, known for its colonial era architecture, galleries, cafes and boutiques. In the evening we’ll wander down to the Chinese fishing nets, where the local fishermen will let you have a go for a small tip. For a truly local experience you can buy fresh seafood and take it to a nearby shack to be cooked before enjoying it as you watch the sun going down.

After breakfast we’ll take a heritage tour of the local area. Fort Cochin is a maze of older style southern Indian houses and colonial era buildings, and we’ll visit important landmarks including Fort Immanuel, the Dutch Cemetery, Santa Cruz Basilica and Saint Francis Church (believed to be the oldest European church in India). We’ll then visit Mattancherry, the old bazaar district and home to the famous spice warehouses, along with Mattancherry Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555. We’ll explore Jew Town, home to an interesting synagogue as well as antique and curio shops. We’ll stop for lunch in a local café before heading back to our hotel. In the afternoon you can relax with an optional Ayurvedic massage. Ayurveda is a holistic form of medicine established over 3000 years ago in India and is the perfect way to unwind after a busy day of exploring. In the evening don’t miss the opportunity to catch a traditional Kathakali dance performance.

After a leisurely breakfast we’ll take a scenic 4 hour drive up the Western Ghats Mountain range to Munnar hill station. We’ll check into our accommodation and enjoy the fresh air of South India’s largest tea growing region. In the afternoon we’ll drive up to the Top Station (1880 m above sea level) for picturesque views of the Western Ghats and the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. There is a good chance that we’ll see wild elephants wandering through the lush hills and jungles on our way.

Today we’ll trek through the tea plantations around Munnar. The mountain scenery is breathtaking, and we’ll often be above the clouds or amongst veils of mist. Along the way we’ll stop to discover the sheer variety of the fresh local produce on offer at the many tea and spice plantations.

After breakfast we’ll drive to Thekkady via the Cardamom Hills. The three-hour drive follows a route lined with plantations of tea, cocoa, tapioca, bamboo, coconut, banana, and of course cardamom. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park, which is home to tigers, elephants, primates and deer. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or wander the village exploring the local markets. You may also wish to enjoy an optional extra such as a guided hike, a national park safari, a therapeutic Ayurvedic treatment or a traditional South Indian cooking class.

In the morning we’ll take a scenic walk through the spice gardens before visiting the fragrant and colourful spice markets where you can purchase fresh spices. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a wildlife cruise on Periyar Lake. This is a great opportunity for wildlife spotting, and you are likely to see wild deer, boar, otters as well as many varieties of birdlife.

After an early breakfast, we’ll depart for Alleppey (4 hours’ drive), where we’ll board our houseboat for a trip along the backwaters. Local houseboats are made in the traditional Kettuvalam rice barge style and are luxuriously fitted out with bedrooms, a dining room, an open lounge and a deck. A captain and cook will be on hand to look after our every need. We’ll spend the afternoon cruising the backwaters, drifting along coconut lined canals and past small villages. Enjoy the delicious South Indian food and the peace of sleeping on board a boat. For many people this is a highlight of their time in India.

After a delicious breakfast, you will be dropped at your homestay on a backwater island. Your homestay is with a local family in a picturesque village surrounded by lush rice paddies. The homestay is situated on a car-free island and the only way to get around is on foot, bicycle or by boat. Do all three or just chill in a hammock watching life pass by at a snail’s pace. You can also take the optional extra of trying out a South Indian cooking class.

After breakfast transfer to either Kochi or Trivandrum airport for your onward flight.