Kerala Village Tour

Day 01 – Arrive Cochin
Arrive Cochin by International flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 – Cochin – Kumbalanghi Village
Morning after breakfast, visit Fort Kochi which is the oldest European settlement in India (1500), and has a mixture of English, Dutch and Portuguese influence. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, but extensive renovations by the Dutch some hundred years later earned it the name the Dutch Palace. It has some of the best murals in India, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other great legends. Later visit the Jew town synagogue where Kochi’s surviving Jewish community come to worship. Nearby are the interesting cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets.

In the early evening we see a performance of Kathakali, which is thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala. Its origins may have come from traditional temple rituals. It is the face make up which makes this dancing so unique. The dancers take more than two hours to paint their faces – facial expressions and eye movements which are important in the dance. The dances usually show the events from the great Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Later transfer to the Kumbalanghi Village which are on the outskirts of city. This beautiful village is appreciate by local government for its work. Upon arrival, check in to the homestay for next 02 nights. Overnight at the homestay.

Day 03 – Kumbalanghi Village
Today morning after breakfast, we will enjoy fishing activity and visit the village to see local handicraft and paintings.

See how harvesting of coconut is done along with how coir fibre is made out of coconut husk. Afternoon visit agriculture farm and followed with a visit to Crab farm. Later, see traditional dance performance by local artist of village.

In evening, we will know about Kumbalanghi cuisines which is famous for spicy and mouthwatering food. Today you will experience how local people eat food on banana leaf. By the help of our local chef, you will witness cooking process and enjoy a traditional Keralan dinner with a local family. Overnight at the homestay.

Day 04 – Kumbalanghi Village – Kottayam – Alleppey
In the morning after breakfast drive to Alleppey (approx. 105kms / 02 ½ hours) en-route visit Kottayam, a town of ancient churches predating the European missionaries by a thousand years. Thereafter, we will continue your drive to the coastal town of Alleppey and we head for the canals and channels that make up the Kerala Backwaters.

Late afternoon enjoy a traditional houseboat for 02hours through the region in the backwaters of Kerala. Sail along these narrow channels to see the life of local people and how they cultivating vegetable gardens. This evening we will stay near the banks of Vembanad Lake. Evening is free for individual activity or relaxation. Overnight at the hotel / homestay.

Day 05 – Alleppey   
In morning, you can also practice meditation and yoga in the calm surroundings of this area.

Later after breakfast, rest of the day is free to explore the village and getting to know our local families. You can go for various Ayurvedic treatments, cooking classes, take gentle walks through the surrounding villages or just relax at the lake. Overnight at the hotel / homestay.

Day 06 – Alleppey – Kanjirapally
In the morning after breakfast drive to Kanjirapally (approx. 70kms / 02hours) to know more about South Indian cuisine. Upon arrival check-in at the heritage bungalow and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. This place is surrounded by spice garden, rubber and coffee.

In the afternoon, walk thru nearby area to explore more and collect vegetables local ingredient from market to prepare meal for tonight with the help of chef. Overnight at the bungalow.

Day 07 – Kanjirapally – Thekkady  
Morning enjoy free time in garden and after breakfast drive through the Western Ghats to Thekkady (approx. 70kms / 02hours), a beautiful area of tea gardens, rubber estates and coffee and pepper plantations, located high in the Cardamom hills. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room.

In the afternoon, visit a spice garden where you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of the spices are grown. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – Thekkady
This morning our route takes us past rubber plantations and varied spice gardens to Periyar wildlife sanctuary. It’s also a one of the tiger reserve but better known for population of elephants.

We go for a walk in search of other wildlife such as the wild boar, giant malabar, porcupine and the flying squirrel. The Park have open grasslands, semi-evergreen and tropical forests with variety of habitats. It’s a tropical evergreen jungle with dense trees which grow up to 40metres.

There are few small villages close to the area. It is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the real life of locals as well as an opportunity to have some delicious home cooked food. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – Thekkady – Munnar
Today morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (approx. 93kms / 03hours). The beautiful hill station of Kerala and the place where the unfolded green carpet is spread over hundreds of kilometres. It’s a best tourist destination in God’s own country with breathtakingly beautiful mountains. Munnar is situated at the altitude above 1600m above sea level and eco- system of munnar is so typical that its home to large numbers of birds, many of them endemic.

Upon arrival check-in at the heritage bungalow inside the tea estate and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room.

Afternoon, we will have a walk along with its tea gardens, which are spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometres. Overnight at the heritage bungalow.

Day 10 – Munnar
Today after breakfast, we will go on a full day tour to Tea plantation of Munnar visiting the green pastures of its massif tea gardens. We will also visit the century-old tea factories where one can taste and pick up the finest tea in the country.

Here, we will have a visit to the Tata Tea Museum where we will witness the tea-processing. Later enjoy free time or walk inside the estate. Overnight at the heritage bungalow.

Day 11 – Munnar – Cochin Airport (Depart)
Today morning after breakfast drive to Cochin (approx. 125kms / 03hours). Upon arrival, check in at the hotel for relaxation OR board your flight / train to onward destination from Cochin.