God's Own Country Group Tour of Kerala

Day 1 - Arrive in Cochin

Your Authentic India Tours representative will be waiting at Cochin International Airport to welcome you to Kerala and to transfer you directly to your hotel.

In the evening, cruise along the harbour past Cochin’s island shores in a motor boat to see the majestic cantilevered Chinese fishing nets silhouetted in the orange and pink sky as the sun sets.

End your first day in style with a delicious welcome dinner hosted by your tour leader in the hotel.

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature, Cochin

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Day 2 - Cochin

Today you’ll have the chance to explore fascinating Cochin, where a variety of cultures, religions and nationalities collide. Visit St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and the lavish 16th-century Jewish Synagogue. Afterwards, head to the Dutch Palace to learn about the history of Cochin and to see colourful painted murals of the ancient Indian poem Ramayana.

In the evening, watch a Kathakali dance show, the traditional expressive dance drama of Kerala performed in vibrant costumes. Take your seat early and watch the dancers apply their bold makeup!

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature, Cochin

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Cochin to Munnar

After breakfast, we will head to majestic Munnar, a stunning hill station amidst the magnificent mountains of the Western Ghats. Along the way, you’ll pass vibrant green tea plantations and striking sandalwood forests.

We will stop for a home-cooked lunch at a traditional estate bungalow set in over 100 acres of multi-crop plantations. The rest of the day can be spent at your leisure, relaxing in your room or gazing across the captivating landscape.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4 – 5 hours, 150 km

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature, Munnar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 4 - Munnar

Experience the beauty of Munnar and learn about the tea-making process from crop picking to flavour adjustment on a visit to a tea estate. Follow the tea trail through green carpeted tea fields, meet the tea pickers, and visit the tea factory. We can arrange the walks to be at your own pace, from 30 minutes to up to four hours.

Before heading back to the hotel, you can enjoy a hot picnic lunch at the plantation, accompanied by a cup of tea if you wish!

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature, Munnar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 5 - Munnar - Periyar

After breakfast, the tour continues to Periyar, home of amazing spices and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s best-kept wildlife reserves. Along the journey, you will pass through winding mountain roads that wrap around emerald-green tea plantations and fairytale forests.

Learn all about the different spices grown in the local area including cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, nutmeg, pepper and vanilla on a tour from the owner on their private plantation. Let the heady aromas of the spices stun your senses and inspire your culinary skills!

Approximate travel time and distance: 3 - 4 hours, 100 km                      

Accommodation: Greenwoods Resort, Periyar

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Periyar

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places in South India to spot wildlife, and if you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of elephants, Sambar deer and Indian bison.

Early in the morning, we will head to Lake Periyar, where you can try bamboo rafting and have a go navigating a raft whilst looking out for elephants at the shore having a drink or bathing. Then grab your binoculars and camera and spend time in the Reserve where there is an abundance of wildlife you might see.

Spend the evening at your leisure, perhaps trying the local cuisine in the hotel or in a wide choice of nearby restaurants.

Accommodation: Greenwoods Resort, Periyar

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Periyar - Alleppey

After breakfast, we will drive through the hills and visit tea and rubber plantations on the way to Alleppey, known as the 'Venice of the East' for its narrow canals, lagoons and Vembanad Lake.

On arrival, it’s time for the magical experience of staying overnight on a luxury houseboat. After boarding your private houseboat, you can sit back and relax as your crew steer you across Vembanad Lake and along the narrow backwater canals. As you cruise by, you can catch glimpses of village life and maybe spot electric-blue kingfishers, snake birds and herons.

Dine on Keralan delicacies infused with spices, aromatic curry leaves and fresh coconut served up by your onboard cook, who will cater for your every need. When the boat moors for the night, you can gaze at the stars in the clear skies before the sound of water and the gentle rocking of the boat will send you blissfully to sleep.

Accommodation: Private Houseboat

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 8 - Alleppey

After a leisurely breakfast, you will disembark from your houseboat at the boat jetty for the Uday Backwater Resort.

You can spend the remainder of the day at leisure to relax by the backwaters, or enjoy the facilities at the hotel.                

Accommodation: Uday Backwater Resort

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Alleppey - Kumarakom - Alleppey

Spend a fascinating morning on the Village Life Experience tour at Kumarakom. This fantastic tour gives you an authentic taste of village life, as well as showcasing community-based tourism products and services. The slow ride through the narrow canals on a country boat operated by the local villagers, lets you see everyday life along with way, including workers in the paddy fields, children swimming in the lake, people fishing and women weaving coconut palm fronds. You might get the chance to try your hand at fishing, weaving leaves or spinning coconut yarn!

Later, take a stroll through the narrow village paths to visit an 'Anganwadi', a government-run school and see villagers engaged in traditional jobs like screw pine weaving, broomstick making and 'toddy tapping' (collecting coconut sap). You can also visit the handicraft unit run by the villagers who specialise in Snake Boat models. After lunch, you can return to the resort for a final afternoon of relaxation.

In the evening, a farewell dinner will by hosted by your tour leader to reminisce about your holiday and share memories.

Accommodation: Uday Backwater Resort

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 10 - Transfer to Cochin Airport

In plenty of time, you will be transferred to Cochin International Airport to board your return flight.

Approximate travel time and distance: 3 - 4 hours, 100 km

Meals included: Breakfast

Beach extension

If you would like to extend your holiday by staying 2 nights or more at the Mararikulam Beach please let us know.

Price starts from £340 per person for two nights on twin sharing at Xandari Pearl Marari Beach and £375 per person for two nights at Marari Beach Resort.

Please contact us for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.