Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in Kochi • Optional afternoon harbour cruise around Fort Kochi and explore historic spice port
The adventure begins in Kochi (also known as Cochin), a historic port city on the Malabar Coast. There is an optional harbour cruise around Fort Kochi this afternoon for those who can arrive by 1pm.Otherwise at around 6pm, say namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.Want more time in Kochi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Sightseeing around Kochi
Today we take a sightseeing tour of Kochi, taking in the adjacent historic neighbourhoods of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. In Fort Kochi, we’ll visit St Francis Church, where Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama died in 1524; see Santa Cruz Cathedral, originally used as a warehouse by the British; and wander past fishing nets lining the harbour entrance, which were introduced by the Chinese in the late-14th century.In Mattancherry, we visit Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in the mid-1500s in a traditional Keralan style, and Jew Town, once home to a Jewish community and now a great place to peruse antique shops and warehouses. Those interested can visit Thomas Chettan in the Little Queen Embroidery shop to learn about hand lace work, a dying art using bobbin lace.There is the option in the late afternoon to see a Kathakali dance performance. Please note, a similar show is also available in Periyar on Day 8.
Meals: Lunch
Day 3
To Munnar • Afternoon visit to Srishi, a social service organisation for tea pickers
After breakfast, we drive away from the coastal plain to Munnar, which is set among the highest mountains in Kerala. The drive is 100mi (160km) and should take approximately five to six hours.Munnar is a beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats, once a summer resort for the British government. It is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams (Mudrapauzha, Naliathanii and Kundala) and is surrounded by lakes, reservoirs, forests and several tea estates. Anamudi, the highest peak in southern India at 9,725ft (2,695m), dominates the skyline and the many smaller peaks are a walker’s paradise.In the afternoon, we visit Srishti, a charitable trust aiming to improve life for people with disabilities from the tea planter families of Munnar. They are trained for three industries – deli (bakery), aranya (cloth dyeing) and atulya (paper making). It’s wonderful to see their work and learn about the organic products used for dyeing and making paper. Please note, the Srishti organisation is closed on publiceligious holidays and may also close at short notice due to operational reasons. Your tour leader will update you on any changes to the itinerary in these instances.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Morning trek through tea plantations and the Munnar hills
After an early breakfast, we take a short drive through old Munnar and travel down to the tiny village of Nagarmudi, where we start our trek accompanied by a local guide. It begins with a long, gradual ascent winding through tea plantations and then climbs into the Seven Malai Hills. Our hard work is rewarded with spectacular views over Chittrapuram Dam, Changulam Lake, Anamudi, Munnar and other villages (weather dependent). We then descend back to our vehicle. Please note, there are a couple of steep ascents and descents on this trek, but the pace is slow and steady with plenty of rest stops along the way.In the afternoon, there is also an optional visit to a tea museum followed by an optional tea-tasting session.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
To Madurai • Optional closing ceremony at the Sri Meenakshi Temple
Leaving Kerala, we drive 100mi (165km) through the hills to the colourful temple town of Madurai, in Tamil Nadu. The drive should take approximately six to seven hours, arriving mid-afternoon.After an early dinner, you can join an optional tour to witness the nightly closing ceremony at the Sri Meenakshi Temple. You are whisked into the city centre in a tuk tuk convoy, led by your local guide, to a historic Hindu temple on the bank of the River Vaigai dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareshwara. The ceremony can happen at any time after the temple closes for the night (approximately 9.30pm), so you may need to wait for an hour or so to witness the extraordinary procession but it’s well worth it. Your local guide will walk you through the temple explaining the purpose of the ceremony and bringing the temple history and culture to life. We recommend applying mosquito repellent before leaving for the temple (including feet as you are barefoot inside). You will likely be back at the hotel, depending on the ceremony time, between 10.30pm and 11pm.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Dawn city walk with Sri Meenakshi Temple visit • Afternoon Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, Gandhi Memorial Museum and flower market tour
We rise early morning for what many consider a highlight of this trip! Walking in small groups through Madurai as the sunrises and the city wakes, we observe the community going about their everyday life: milking cows, creating kolams (intricate artworks on the floor) and preparing breakfast at roadside food stalls. Along the way, try local drinks and a snack to keep you going. Ending the morning walk at the most famous landmark in the city, we visit the Sri Meenakshi Temple, an outstanding example of Vijayanagar temple architecture, built between the 16th and 18th century. It is a hive of activity and the scene of an almost continuous religious festival. We return to the hotel for a late breakfast and relax.This afternoon, we delve back into the city, this time taking in the Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, built in 1636 in the Indo-Mughal style by the Nayak dynasty, and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, where you can see a visual biography of Gandhi containing photos, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and copies of his letters. After the memorial visit, we stop at the local flower market before returning to the hotel.In the evening, there are many restaurants to visit; some of the best are on rooftops with fantastic city views.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
To Thekkady • Cooking demonstration in local family home
Leaving Madurai in the morning, we drive to the small bustling village of Thekkady. The drive is spectacular as the road climbs through the Western Ghats and we have fantastic views across Tamil Nadu (driving time approximately four to five hours). In the afternoon, we have free time to explore the village and bazaar, where we can visit shops selling cardamom, vanilla, peppercorns, turmeric and other spices.The whole area is a centre for spice growing, and this evening there is a short walk around a spice garden, where we see many different spices growing. In evening, we then have a special dinner and cooking demonstration with a local family in their home, where we learn firsthand from our host about the local culture and cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 8
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary • Optional boat trip on the lake
Before breakfast, we join our local guide for a nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest parks in India (approximately two to three hours) and return to our hotel for breakfast.In the afternoon, there is the option to join a boat cruise on the lake, in which you could spot elephants, otters, wild pigs and buffalos. There is also an abundance of bird life – kingfishers, storks and hornbills are the most spotted. Your onboard guides can help you capture great photos, using clever techniques with their binoculars. Tickets can be purchased online in advance (approximately 900 rupees/US$10.90 per person, minimum four people). We recommend doing this to avoid a long wait at the ticket office. Please inform your leader on Day 1 if you wish to book this in advance as it’s also popular with domestic tourists and last-minute booking requests may lead to disappointment.Other optional activities today include an Ayurvedic massage, Kathakali dance show, and a martial arts performance.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9
To Kumarakom • Walk through rubber plantation • Traditional Keralan meal with local family
We head to Kumarakom today, a cluster of small, picturesque islands around Vembanad Lake. The journey takes around 3hr 45min, but we stop en route at the Kanjirapally Plantation Bungalow, which sits within a serene rubber plantation. Here we take a walk through the estate and watch a rubber-tapping demonstration, before a traditional Keralan lunch with the resident family.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 10
Interactive walk through Manjira village • Visit Coir Museum • Houseboat cruise
We start before breakfast today (approximately 6am) to embark on a village exploration in the cool morning air. The journey begins in a shikhara boat, cruising to the banks of Manjira village. Through our local guide and the community, we learn about many of their practices and products, including the art of climbing a coconut tree and coconut leaf weaving. We also see a skilled fisherman cast his net and enjoy a stroll by the green paddies. For a light refreshment, try a freshly cut coconut before learning about (and sampling) fresh Kerala toddy, a specialty of the area.Return to the hotel for breakfast before checking out and continuing our journey. Stopping en route, we visit the Coir Museum, learning how coconut husks were historically manufactured and how so many products we use daily are created.At midday, we board a houseboat and journey along the Kerala backwaters and open lakes – one of the trip highlights! These enchanting boats, built of anjili (wild jack) wood and bamboo, transported goods for hundreds of years; now, they have been decorated and made into comfortable cruise boats. As we meander through tropical vegetation, we can see prolific bird life and gain a different perspective on village life. The cruise takes us along shallow, palm-fringed canals where coconut fibre, coconut meat, and cashews are loaded onto dugout canoes and then opens up to broad lakes, where you can spot and photograph a wide variety of birds. In the evening, we anchor by a bank and watch the sun set over the paddy fields.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 11
Drive along the Malabar Coast to Kovalam beach town • Visit Mannarasala temple
After breakfast, we leave our houseboat in Alleppey and drive (approximately six hours) along the scenic Malabar Coast to the beach town of Kovalam. We visit Mannarasala temple en route, which is decorated with more than 100,000 snake images.Couples seeking fertility come here and your tour leader will explain the origin of snake worshiping. Continuing, we stop in Quilon for a tea break before arriving at our destination. Once a relaxing hideaway on the old hippie trail, Kovalam has now been discovered, but the influx of tourism has not diminished this beautiful setting. Our hotel is on a cliff with easy access to the beach below.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Free day to explore the coastal town Kovalam or join an optional trip to Kanyakumari
Today is free to unwind on the sandy beach or visit the shops for last-minute souvenirs. This is a great chance to enjoy fresh seafood from one of the many small beach restaurants. Try tandoori dishes – the clay ovens add an exquisite taste to bread and curries.You could also join an optional day’s sightseeing from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, the end point of India where three oceans meet: the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. If it’s open, the trip can also take in the old wooden palace at Padmanabhapuram (extra cost), a wonderful building with fantastic wood carvings, and the Hindu temple at Suchindran, with amazing stone carvings. This trip can be booked and paid for locally. Please note, it is a long day (approximately 8am-6pm) and roads can be prone to traffic delays, but it’s always a popular activity.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13
Morning at leisure • Afternoon tour of Thiruvananthapuram
This morning is free, allowing you the chance to make use of the hotel pool or unwind on the beach. Alternatively, you could join an optional excursion to Vizhinjam. A trip to this popular harbour and fishing village gives you the chance to see fishermen readying and repairing their nets and taking part in the fish auction.In the afternoon, we explore Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Here, we see the impressive golden façade of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the richest temples in India. We also visit the Kuthiramalika Palace, built in 1840 for maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma; the Napier Museum, an art and natural history museum, and the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, which showcases the work of Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma and more.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14
Adventure ends in Kovalam
The adventure ends today. Begin your return journey home or, if you’d like a bit more time to explore Kovalam, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
The included meals are detailed on the day-to-day itinerary. Allow at least 1,650 rupees (approximately US$20) per day for lunch and dinner where these are not included. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount.
In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western-style foods. If you are a vegetarian, India is probably one of the best destinations to visit. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap but a large bottle of beer is approximately 500 rupees (US$6). Please note, due to Kerala state laws, alcohol licenses are limited to one or two bars in each area and not all hotels are permitted to serve alcohol. The first day of every month and certain holidays in India are dry days, when no alcohol is permitted for sale.
Mineral water is available in the bus in large containers so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.
Fort Kochi Harbour Cruise
Cruise the harbour around Fort Kochi for a waterside perspective on this historic Malabar Coast port. Look towards its shoreline and working waterways while getting a sense of the maritime setting that helped make Kochi a centre for spice trade.
This optional afternoon experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. It is available to travellers who can arrive in Kochi by 1pm; confirm arrangements with your tour leader.
Kochi Welcome Gathering & Group Dinner
Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers in Kochi for an introduction to the journey through Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Share plans, ask practical questions and get to know the small group over a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.
This hosted gathering offers a first taste of the easygoing atmosphere of India’s tropical south. Kochi’s long history as a spice-trading port provides a fitting setting for the conversations ahead.
Fort Kochi & Mattancherry Heritage Tour
Explore Kochi’s historic port neighbourhoods, visiting St Francis Church and Mattancherry Palace and seeing the waterfront fishing nets, Santa Cruz Cathedral and Jew Town. The tour brings together streets shaped by local communities and centuries of maritime trade.
St Francis Church is associated with Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524; Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century in a Keralan style. If available, interested travellers can also meet a local craftsperson to learn about traditional bobbin lacework.
Srishti Community Visit in Munnar
Visit Srishti in Munnar, a charitable trust supporting people with disabilities from local tea-planter families. See work across its bakery, cloth-dyeing and papermaking initiatives, and learn how organic materials become dyes and handmade products.
The visit offers insight into the people behind a region often celebrated for its green tea estates. Srishti may close on public or religious holidays, or at short notice for operational reasons; your tour leader will advise of any changes.
Guided Munnar Tea Plantation Trek
Trek with a local guide from Nagarmudi through Munnar’s tea plantations and into the Seven Malai Hills. A gradual climb gives way to steeper sections and, in clear weather, views towards Chittrapuram Dam, Changulam Lake, surrounding villages and Anamudi.
The walk reveals the scale of the Western Ghats beyond the neatly planted tea slopes. There are steep ascents and descents, but the group keeps a slow, steady pace with rest stops along the way.
Madurai Dawn Walk & Sri Meenakshi Temple
Walk through Madurai as the city wakes, observing morning routines such as cow milking, the making of intricate kolam floor designs and breakfast preparations at roadside stalls. Sample a local drink and snack before visiting Sri Meenakshi Temple.
Dedicated to Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, the temple is a living centre of worship, not simply a historic monument. Its richly decorated architecture and constant activity make a striking contrast with the quieter residential streets encountered on the guided walk.
Madurai Palace, Gandhi Museum & Flower Market
Discover three sides of Madurai on a city tour that visits Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and a local flower market. Examine the palace’s grand Indo-Mughal design, explore displays documenting Gandhi’s life and encounter the colour and bustle of the flower trade.
Built in 1636 for a ruler of the Nayak dynasty, the palace reflects Madurai’s royal past. The museum’s photographs, manuscripts and other exhibits connect the city visit to India’s independence movement.
Thekkady Spice Garden & Family Cooking Experience
Walk through a spice garden near Thekkady to see plants associated with the region’s spice-growing traditions. In a local family home, watch a cooking demonstration and share dinner while learning directly from your hosts about their cuisine and everyday culture.
Seeing spices where they grow gives context to their place in Keralan cooking. The home-hosted meal makes this more than a tasting: it is a chance to observe techniques and talk with the people preparing the food.
Guided Nature Walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on foot with a local guide during a nature walk of approximately two to three hours. Move through the reserve’s forest environment while looking and listening for signs of the wildlife that inhabits this protected landscape.
Periyar is known for its elephants and rich birdlife, though wild animal sightings cannot be guaranteed. Walking rather than viewing the reserve from a vehicle allows closer attention to its plants, sounds and smaller details.
Kanjirapally Rubber Plantation & Family Lunch
Walk through a rubber plantation at Kanjirapally Plantation Bungalow and watch a demonstration of rubber tapping. Share a traditional Keralan lunch with the resident family in the estate’s leafy surroundings.
The demonstration shows how latex is collected from rubber trees, adding a tangible agricultural perspective to the journey through Kerala. Eating with the family offers a more personal introduction to local food and the people connected to the plantation.
Manjira Village Boat Trip & Community Walk
Travel by shikhara boat to Manjira village and explore with a local guide and community members. See coconut-tree climbing and leaf weaving, watch a fisherman cast his net, and walk beside green paddy fields.
Sample a freshly cut coconut and learn about Kerala toddy, a local drink made from palm sap. These encounters connect the waterways and palms of the backwaters with the skills, products and daily routines of village life.
Kerala Coir Museum Visit
Visit the Coir Museum to learn how the fibrous husk of a coconut is processed and turned into useful products. Exhibits explain the traditional methods behind a material found in everyday items.
Coir production is closely tied to Kerala’s coconut-growing landscape and backwater communities. The museum gives context to the craft and labour behind familiar goods, complementing the village encounters and palm-fringed scenery that characterise this part of the region.
Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Cruise & Overnight Stay
Cruise Kerala’s backwaters aboard a traditional-style houseboat, travelling through palm-fringed canals and across broader lakes. Watch for birdlife and observe waterside villages, canoes and paddy fields from the deck before the boat anchors for the night.
These houseboats are based on kettuvallam rice barges, once used to carry goods through the waterways. With an onboard crew and Keralan meals, the overnight stay offers time to experience the backwaters at an unhurried pace.
Mannarasala Temple Visit
Visit Mannarasala Temple in Kerala, a Hindu shrine associated with serpent worship and decorated with a remarkable number of snake images. Your tour leader explains the traditions connected to the site, including why couples seeking fertility come here.
The visit offers a window into a form of worship distinct from the grand temple architecture elsewhere on the journey. Its wooded setting and serpent imagery make the cultural meaning of the shrine especially visible.
Thiruvananthapuram Temples, Palaces & Museums
Explore Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, seeing the exterior of Padmanabhaswamy Temple and visiting Kuthiramalika Palace, the Napier Museum and Sree Chitra Art Gallery. The route combines sacred architecture, royal history, natural history and Indian art.
Kuthiramalika Palace was built in 1840 for Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, while the art gallery displays works by Raja Ravi Varma among others. The temple’s golden facade is viewed from outside; temple entry is not part of this tour.
Kathakali Dance Performance
Watch a Kathakali performance during your time in Kochi or Thekkady. This classical Keralan dance-drama uses expressive gestures, elaborate costumes and distinctive facial make-up to bring stories to the stage.
Attention to the performers’ hand movements and expressions reveals how character and emotion are communicated. Shows are offered as optional activities in both locations, so there is a choice of where to experience the tradition. Performances are at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Munnar Tea Museum & Tasting
Visit a tea museum in Munnar to learn more about the crop that shapes the hill station’s landscape and working life. An optional tasting offers the chance to pay closer attention to the flavours of the tea grown and produced in this region.
Set among the Western Ghats’ tea estates, the experience adds a production and tasting perspective to the sight of the planted hillsides. The museum visit and tasting are at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Sri Meenakshi Temple Night Ceremony
Witness the nightly closing ceremony at Madurai’s Sri Meenakshi Temple on an optional guided visit, travelling into the city centre by tuk tuk. Walk through the temple barefoot as your local guide explains its history and the meaning of the evening procession.
Dedicated to Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, the temple remains an active place of worship. The ceremony’s timing can vary and may involve a wait. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Periyar Lake Wildlife Cruise
Take a boat cruise on Periyar Lake for a chance to observe wildlife along the water’s edge. Elephants, wild pigs, otters and buffalo may be seen, alongside birds such as kingfishers, storks and hornbills; sightings are never guaranteed.
Onboard guides can help you look for animals and photograph them using binoculars. The cruise is at additional cost and bookable on tour, but tickets are popular; ask your tour leader about advance arrangements early in the trip.
Ayurvedic Massage in Thekkady
Choose an Ayurvedic massage during your stay in Thekkady. This optional treatment offers time away from sightseeing to experience a wellness practice associated with India’s longstanding Ayurvedic traditions.
Treatment details and duration depend on the local provider, so ask your tour leader what is available before booking. It is a distinct alternative to the area’s wildlife and performance activities. The massage is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Thekkady Martial Arts Performance
Watch a martial arts performance in Thekkady for an introduction to a different aspect of Kerala’s performance culture. Observe the performers’ control, movement and carefully practised techniques in a staged local show.
Kerala is associated with the martial tradition of kalaripayattu; ask your tour leader for details of the particular performance available during your stay. This optional show is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Kanyakumari Day Trip
Travel from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of mainland India, for a day of sightseeing where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meet. The coastal setting gives the excursion a striking geographical focus.
If open, the outing may also take in Padmanabhapuram Palace, noted for its woodwork, and the Hindu temple at Suchindram, known for stone carvings. This is a long day, and palace entry carries an extra charge. The trip is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Vizhinjam Fishing Village Visit
Visit Vizhinjam’s fishing harbour near Kovalam to see a working coastal community. Depending on activity at the time, watch fishermen readying or repairing nets and observe the local fish auction.
Rather than a beach stop, this excursion focuses on the labour and trade behind the seafood found along Kerala’s coast. Harbour activity varies, adding to the sense of encountering everyday life as it unfolds. The visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
