The Spirit of Kerala

Arrive in Cochin (Kochi) late in the day and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or walk around the old Fort Cochin area. Most of the historic buildings are in the Fort with its narrow streets. A plaque in Vasco da Gama Square near the Customs Jetty commemorates the landing of Vasco da Gama in 1500.

If your schedule permits, consider adding a four-day, three-night pre-trip extension to explore Mumbai and visit Elephanta Caves.  See our website or ask us for details.

Meals: None
Lodging: Vivanta by Taj Malabar or similar

After breakfast, you will take a morning tour of the city. Cochin (Kochi) is spread across islands and promontories in a stunning location between the Arabian Sea and the Backwaters. The city was founded in 1341 when a flood created a safe natural port, which became the principal harbor for Malabar Coast’s spice trade. Cochin was on the main trade route between Europe and China. The rulers invited people of various religions to settle here, attracting Jews and Christians who built places of worship and their own communities. On your tour today, you will visit the Dutch Palace, which has some of India’s most beautiful murals, and the Jewish Synagogue in the heart of an area still called Jew Town. See St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was originally buried, and the Santa Cruz Church with its pastel-colored interior and carved wooden panels. You’ll also have your first look at cantilevered Chinese fishing nets.

In the evening, attend a performance of Kathakali dance, one of the oldest theater performances in the world. This well-developed dance-drama originated in Kerala and features actors depicting characters from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The performance is enacted with elaborate masks and costumes, bringing myth and legend to life in the temple courtyards of Kerala.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Vivanta by Taj Malabar or similar

Today after breakfast, you depart for an excursion to Kumbalanghi Village to get a glimpse of rural Kerala. This charming village is located on the banks of the Cochin lagoons adorned by Chinese fishing nets and beautiful landscape of shady coconut fields, serene backwaters, and lush green rice paddies. Fishing, farming, and boat building are the main income sources for this village. Return to your hotel where the rest of the day is free to relax.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Vivanta by Taj Malabar or similar

This morning, you'll depart for Munnar (approx. 4.5 hrs drive), a beautiful hill station located in the Eastern part of Kerala. This typical Indian town is known for its vast tea plantations.

This afternoon, visit the Tea Museum, created by Tata Tea Estate, displaying a collection of artifacts dating back to the late 1800s. The collection includes machines that were used in the tea-making process and old photographs. The museum also contains a burial urn found near Periakanal that dates back to the second century BC as well as interesting items from the colonial period. In the demonstration room, you'll have the opportunity to sample authentic teas and learn about the tea-making process.

Afterward, visit the town's local vegetable market before transferring to your hotel to settle in for the night.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Sienna Village or similar

You'll have the day free to explore Munnar at your leisure. Munnar is home to the highest peak in South India, Anamudi (8840 ft), and Eravikulam National Park, where you can find the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered mountain goat, as well as the lion-tailed macaque, langur, and elephants if you are lucky. There are plenty of optional activities available ranging in cost from $25-$75 (additional, per person) including:
* Three-hour nature walk
* Jeep ride to Kollukumalai Tea Factory
* A 7-8 hour day hike on Meesapulmalai Peak (8,661 ft)
*A 5-6 hour hike to Top Station, once a shipment hub for tea
* Eight hours biking around Munnar
* A visit to Eravikulam National Park, with the largest known population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Sienna Village or similar

Check out after breakfast for a four-hour drive to Thekkady, the heart of "God's own country" and home to India's largest wildlife sanctuary, Periyar National Park. The sanctuary is spread over more than 300 square miles with a large artificial lake at its center, an important source of water for many wild animals. In the afternoon, you'll explore Periyar by boat. As the boat glides on the still dark waters of the lake, feast your eyes upon the vibrant green of the surrounding foliage. As the boat brushes gently against branches of trees, you'll be transported back to the times when this was the only means of transport. This incredible experience is further enhanced by rare sights of animals drinking water at the edge of the lake. The best time to see the animals is late in the day, just before sunset.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Spice Village or similar

This morning, visit one of Kerela's fascinating spice plantations. Wander through the plantation sections, and try to identify the different spices. Some of the spices cultivated in this area are vanilla, oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, bay leaf, and sage. Being in the heartland, it is not unusual to find the best of fenugreek, white and green pepper, rolls of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, coriander, cloves, and more. You'll have lunch at a local farm, where the cuisine is predominantly Syrian Christian with a strong backwater influence. Most of the dishes served are centered around fish, farm vegetables and fruits, duck, chicken, and occasionally other meats, supplemented with rice and rice-based local breads like appam and string hoppers.
In the afternoon, continue on to Kumarakom, a popular destination near Lake Vembanad, the largest backwater lake in Kerala. The slender coconut palms, the endless paddy fields, the meandering lagoons and backwaters, and the mangroves are filled with nesting birds of a hundred varieties  Afterward, head to your hotel, your base for two nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Coconut Lagoon or similar

In the morning, you'll visit the local market and explore spice shops. Spices have always been more than just ingredients that add flavor and aroma to foods; they are also believed to have medicinal and even magical healing powers.

The afternoon at is leisure for relaxing or doing some additional exploration in the town's many shops and markets on your own. This is an excellent opportunity to buy some souvenir spices that pique your interest.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Coconut Lagoon or similar

This morning, proceed to your houseboat embarkation point for an unforgettable journey along the backwaters to Alleppey, passing through the coconut-palmed canals, serene landscapes, coconut groves, and paddy fields on the way. The term "backwaters" actually refers to the extensive network of rivers, lakes, canals, and lagoons that link the coast and interior south of Kochi. For centuries and even today, these canals have provided a safe and efficient means of transportation for goods and people moving between the heartland and the port towns along the coast.

As you pass by small villages, you can observe the rural lifestyles of the people who bathe and wash their clothes at the water's edge.  The views change frequently as you go past papaya and mango trees, coconut harvesting, and paddy fields. Glimpses of small churches, mosques, and temples are testament to the many religions that co-exist peacefully in this region. The occasional flash of a kingfisher or a parrot add color to the vista.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Deluxe air-conditioned houseboat

After breakfast onboard, disembark your houseboat and drive to Kollam (about 1.5 hours driving time), set on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. Located about 45 miles to the north of Thiruvanathapuram, Kollam is the center of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast, Kollam was once a major port of international spice trade. The renowned Ashtamudi Lake covers about 30 percent of Kollam, also making Kollam a gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. Proceed to your hotel, and then spend the rest of the day as you wish, either exploring or relaxing.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Raviz or similar

After breakfast at your hotel, drive about 1.5 hours to visit the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor. Parthasarathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is also known as Parthasarathy, the charioteer of Parthan. Partha is another name of Arjuna, who is one of the five Pandava princes in the epic Mahabharata. Afterward, late in the day, set off on your 1.5-hour return trip to your hotel in Kollam.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Raviz or similar

After breakfast, drive 1.5 hours to to Thiruvananthapuram (popularly known as Trivandrum), the capital of Kerala. Located at the southwestern tip of India, is bounded by the Arabian sea to the west and Tamil Nadu to the east. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in the eastern and northeastern borders afford some enchanting picnic spots, with a long shoreline, internationally-renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches, and a rich cultural heritage making this district a much sought-after tourist destination. Depending on your flight departure time, you will either head directly to the airport, or you may have a bit of time to explore beforehand.

If your schedule permits, we recommend adding a three-day, two-night post-trip extension to relax at beautiful Varkala Beach in a lovely resort area. See our website or ask us for details.

Meals: Breakfast