Treasures of Malabar Coast Tour

Upon arrival at Cochin International Airport, you will be welcomed by your Authentic India Tours representatives who will transfer you to your hotel, located in the city’s historic district, Fort Cochin.

The port city of Cochin (also known as Kochi) offers a captivating mix of cultures and is a wonderful place to explore.

In the evening, enjoy a boat trip past Cochin’s island shores. As the sun sets, you will see the famous cantilevered fishing nets. It’s fascinating to watch the fishermen skilfully dip the hammock-like nets into the water, silhouetted against the orange and pink sky.

Approximate travel time and distance: 90 mins, 45 km

Accommodation: Brunton Boatyard, Cochin

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you get to explore Cochin a melting pot of cultures, religions and nationalities. You will see St Francis Church, which is the oldest European church in India, as well as the lavish 16th century Jewish Synagogue. Then you can explore the Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace due to its colonial influences. It also houses colourfully painted murals depicting the ancient Indian poem Ramayana.

The afternoon is at leisure, so you may wish to wander around the quaint cobbled streets which house a number of interesting antique shops.

This evening you will experience a traditional Kathakali performance, a Kerala classical dance famed for its colourful costumes and athletic movements.

Accommodation: Brunton Boatyard, Cochin

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, it’s a scenic drive to Athirapally Waterfalls. Watch the landscape and vegetation change as it drifts past you.

Once you arrive at your accommodation, you could stretch your legs with a hike to the base of the waterfall – a magnificent sight to behold and often referred to as India’s Niagara falls. Or you could visit a nearby tribal settlement to get a taste for the local culture. The village people embrace a life of hunting, fishing and traditional cooking which hearkens back to a bygone era.

Approximate travel time and distance: 2 hours, 65 kms

Accommodation: Rainforest Resort

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, your adventure takes you further North to verdant Wayanad in the Western Ghats. Once again, this transition provides a vast change in landscape as you gain elevation and gradually find yourself surrounded by lush green plantations and low hanging clouds.

Approximate travel time and distance: 6 hours 45 mins, 245 kms

Accommodation: Tranquil Plantation Homestay, Wayanad

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Your hosts at Tranquil Plantation Homestay are keen to exhibit the best of what their region has to offer, in line with your interests. A vast array of birdlife can be found on the grounds and a number of short walks will lead you through varying vegetation and crops.

You can visit a cardamom plantation or take a dip in one of the local natural springs. Your hosts will be more than happy to walk with you to the nearest village and explain more about the traditional customs and industries of the area.

You can also visit the nearby Edakkal Caves, where drawings carved into the cave wall date back to 6000 BC.

Accommodation: Tranquil Plantation Homestay, Wayanad

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, your tour takes you to the coast to Thalassery.  Thalassery is fairly unknown to most tourists, so you can experience the charms of a Keralan seaside town without the hubbub of tour operators.

Your hosts at Ayisha Manzil take hospitality seriously and are keen to show you the best their region has to offer.

Approximate travel time and distance: 3 hours 30 minutes, 180 km

Accommodation: Ayisha Manzil, Thalassery

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wake early to join your host and walk down to the local fish market, a hive of morning activity. Afterwards, wander around the spice shops, beedi-making and handloom weaving units, where your capable host will be able to explain the local industries.

Or treat yourself to a lie-in and then visit the famous Parassinikadavu Temple and witness the rich Hindu ritual Theyyam.

Later, why not join your hostess for a cookery lesson; she is an expert in local cuisines and by now you will have experienced her exceptional cooking!

Accommodation: Ayisha Manzil, Thalassery

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After a relaxing morning it’s a short 2 hour drive will take you to Sulthan Canal.

Early afternoon you will board your The Lotus Houseboat, a private luxury boat for a 2 nights cruise through the backwaters of Malabar.

Once you have boarded The Lotus and enjoyed a welcome drink from the crew, you will be taken to your room to relax and settle in. After lunch you start cruising through the tranquil backwaters of Malabar coast visiting local temples and villages along the way.

Accommodation: Private, Luxury Houseboat

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Explore the unspoilt backwaters and villages of Malabar with an experienced crew, who double up as cooks and navigators. Enjoy authentic meals on board as you cruise the backwaters of North Kerala. And along the way you’re likely to see unspoilt villages, hidden temples and shrines, small fishing harbours and birds like egrets and orange-breasted kingfishers with iridescent wings.

Accommodation: Private, Luxury Houseboat

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After a short cruise this morning, you arrive at Lotus Point and a ten minutes transfer by road will take you to the beach resort of Nileshwar

Nileshwar, is a beautiful seaside town known for the sacred groves or Kavus. Your accommodation here offers exceptional ayurvedic treatments so you may be tempted by a massage when you arrive.

Accommodation: Neeleshwar Hermitage Hotel, is a first class boutique beach resort

Meals included: Breakfast

Over the next couple of days it’s time to relax. Spend some time on the beach, take a yoga class or participate in a guided meditation. As with so many spots on this tour, Nileshwar is perfect for bird-watching, so dust off your binoculars and see what you can find.

You can also enjoy some trips such as to the nearby Bekal Fort, first constructed in the 17th Century. This is the perfect place to watch the setting sun.

Accommodation: Neeleshwar Hermitage Hotel, is a first class boutique beach resort

Meals included: Breakfast

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

Approximate travel time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Pricing and Inclusions

The price guide for this 11 day Malabar Coast tour is

• £2095 in low season (May – September inclusive)
• £2925 in high season (October – April inclusive)

The prices do not include flights.

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.

This is a private tour and can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, length of tour, accommodation & season. Reductions are normally available for groups of three or more. Some hotels operate an additional peak pricing rate during busy times which is normally from mid December to mid January.

Please get in touch with your dates and we will be pleased to provide you with your personal itinerary and accurate quote.

Included with this Malabar Coast tour are the following:

• Authentic India Tours meet & greet assistance on arrival
• All transfers and sightseeing tours using air-conditioned Toyota Innova
• Accommodation for 13 nights on twin sharing basis
• Standard category rooms at all hotels unless otherwise mentioned
• Meal plan: Ayisha Manzil and Lotus Houseboat on full board; Tranquil on half board; Bed & Breakfast elsewhere
• English speaking guide for sightseeing tour of Cochin
• Tickets for Kathakali dance show in Cochin
• Entrances at all national parks, museums and monuments as per the itinerary
• Mineral water on all days of travel

The price does not include:

• International flight tickets
• Travel insurance and visa
• Expenses of personal nature like laundry, tips, beverages etc
• Meals other than mentioned in the above meal plan
• Camera & video fees at national parks, museums & monuments

The prices mentioned above are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication may be subject to change, based on your date of travel and local market fluctuations. You will be informed of any price differences prior to booking.

For a quote based on your dates of travel, any alternative accommodation or changes to this itinerary, please call us on 01792 315499 or email us at info@aitholidays.com

Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this Malabar Coast Tour is just an example to help inspire you.

For more information please email info@aitholidays.com or call our India specialists on 01792 315499.

ABTA and ATOL Protected Tour Package

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.