Enchanting Kerala

Welcome to God’s Own Country! Upon arrival, you will meet our local representative and private driver and be transferred to your hotel in the heart of Old Cochin. 

Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Your boutique hotel is brilliantly located in the heart of the old Fort area which, in comparison to most Indian cities, is very sedate and walkable. From the hotel, it’s an easy stroll to explore cafes, art galleries, shops, and restaurants in the immediate area.

This morning you will accompany your private local guide on a half-day tour of Cochin. Kerala’s state capital was the first European settlement in India, and you’ll witness the influences left by a wide range of visitors who have passed through this quixotic port city over the last few centuries. 

This will include St. Francis Church, the original burial place of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama; the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry; the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Saturday); and the famous and very picturesque Chinese fishing nets. 

Return to the hotel in the afternoon to relax or continue exploring. Cochin is an easy place to discover: try an auto ride, saunter around the streets at your leisure, or why not just spend some time sitting and watching the world go by at one of the local cafes or restaurants?

This morning you will leave Cochin behind and head ‘up country’ to the tea plantations and former British Hill Station of Munnar. As you climb up the winding roads, you’ll appreciate the stunning scenery and cooler weather which both make this destination perfect for tea production and the perfect escape from the summer heat for the British. 

Check into your hotel in the early afternoon, which is situated within a working tea and cardamom plantation. The rest of the day will be at leisure to admire the views whilst sampling this classic drink made from the leaves of the tea bushes that surround you.

Today you have the full day to discover Munnar with your private driver, with its old Hill Club and bungalow cottages of this former hill station of the British Raj. 

Just 3 km from Munnar are the Letchmi Hills: seven small summits surrounded by forests and plantations. Embark on a half-day trek (of around 8 km) through upcountry nature, forests, and tea plantations, learning about tea as you go! The summit offers mesmerizing views across Munnar.

After breakfast, your driver will continue your journey across the hills, over the state border into Tamil Nadu, and into the temple town of Madurai. 

This holy city couldn’t be further removed from the tranquillity of the tea plantations! Madurai has the legendary Sri Meenakshi Temple at its heart, whose towering gopurams (gateways to the temple) are a profusion of hundreds of colorful figures. Thousands of pilgrims flock here daily to worship the goddess Meenakshi and her consort Sundareswaran, a form of Shiva.

Check into the hotel and then, in the early evening, head into the temple to watch the evening ceremony where, amidst great fanfare, the gods are put to bed at the end of the day.

This morning you will enjoy a guided walk through the enticing markets of Madurai. The fruit and vegetable markets in India are a profusion of sites and colors, sounds and smells, and full of unusual vegetables that we may not be used to…and Madurai is no exception. In addition, there are countless stalls selling coconuts and other items needed as offerings to the gods.

In the afternoon head back into the Meenakshi temple, for a full tour of the vast complex. This living temple is a hive of activity, littered with bustling markets and stalls, and lots of people bargaining for items in a cacophony of sounds. All around the temple people gather, meet, and chatter, while small and deeply individual acts of worship take place right beside. Meenakshi is a profusion of people, noise, and color and is endlessly fascinating to explore. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

This morning your driver will transfer you back across the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and through the hills to Thekkady. This region is most famous for its lush spice and rubber plantations, and nowadays also known for the Periyar Tiger Reserve at its heart, a key part of India’s ‘Project Tiger’ aiming to restore Tiger populations. 

In the afternoon, you’ll be taken on a private guided walk around a spice garden. You may consider buying spices here: they are definitely fresher, more pungent, and therefore more flavorful than any you will previously have experienced. On the way, you’ll see plenty of rubber trees and your guide will be able to show you how they are tapped and how rubber is made.

Early this morning you will be taken for a nature walk in the buffer zone of Periyar Reserve. There are a range of well-established trails on offer, most ranging an easy-going 5km, passing through evergreen and deciduous forests as well as marshy grassland. Keep a keen eye out for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife while enjoying the sights and sounds of the forest. 

Return to the hotel and check out, and then transfer by road down to the backwaters of Alleppey. Arrive early afternoon at your charming homestay: right on the edge of one of these beautiful, Backwater canals. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax, get to know your hosts, soak in the surroundings, and plan your activities for tomorrow. As the sun dips you may opt for a gentle sunset cruise out onto the backwaters – the perfect introduction to this lush region.

Today is at leisure to relax at your upmarket homestay and explore the beautiful backwaters. Your hosts have lots of ideas on how best to discover this unique region.

You may opt for a canal cruise to catch a glimpse of the backwater villages and way of life, or take an escorted walk to learn about farming on land below lake level! There’s the option to take a cookery class to learn the nuances of Keralan cuisine, then go on a cycle ride to discover the coconut groves, paddy fields, canals, and villages further afield. For bird watchers the backwaters and the farm offer the chance to spot a wide variety of avian life.

After breakfast, you may choose to partake in one more local activity at the farm before you enjoy one last home-hosted breakfast and then are taken by road to Marari Beach Resort. This is a very short transfer of approximately 45 minutes. Check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at this beautiful beach location.

These days are free to relax in South Indian tropical paradise. Take wonderful strolls along the beach, casual games of cricket, and local fishermen at work, or head out to cycle through the placid surrounding villages. Alternatively, enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment at the hotel spa, or simply kick back by the pool with a good book. 

Sadly, your adventures in Kerala have come to an end. At the appropriate time, you will be collected from your beach hotel for your private transfer back to the airport for your onward flight.

Please speak to your consultant to arrange extensions to this tour or further transport arrangements to facilitate your journey home.