A MALABAR ESCAPE
Cochin – Kottayam – Thekkady – Munnar – Backwaters – Neeleshwar
A 13 DAY TOUR enquire nowTOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the highlights of Cochin with it’s Portuguese architectural heritage
- Enjoy a performance of the classical dance of ‘Kathakali’
- Cook a delicious meal with a famous local celebrity chef
- Cruise through the ravishing backwaters on the Malabar coast
- See elephant in the wild in Periyar National park
- Visit a spice plantation
- Learn all there is know a….bout the work that goes into making your daily cuppa at a Tea Museum.
- Enjoy ayurveda spa treatments.
- A chance to see the endangered Olive Ridley Turtle.
This tour will take you along the famous Malabar Coast of India. Start your journey with what once was a Portuguese colony in Fort Cochin, and enjoy a traditional Kathak performance. Stay in a typical backwaters farm at one of our favourite homestays. In Periyar, where you’ll be surrounded by spice plantations take a game drive in the hope of seeing wild elephants. See the endangered Nilgiri Tahr in Eravikulam National Park in Munnar, as well as enjoying the tea traditions in Asia’s highest tea growing region. Finish your holiday in Neeleshwar in North Kerala, with a 2 night backwater cruise followed by a chance to just unwind on the beach.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Day |
Activity |
City |
Accommodation type |
|
1 |
On your arrival at Cochin airport you will be met and driven to the hotel for check-in. |
Cochin |
Luxury / Boutique / Heritage |
|
2 |
Sightseeing of Fort Cochin including the old Jewish Synagogue. Enjoy a cooking class and lunch with a local celebrity chef. This evening see a Kathakali Dance performance. |
Cochin |
Luxury / Boutique / Heritage |
|
3 |
Transfer 2 hours to Kottayam and check-in to your wonderful homestay for the next 2 nights. |
Kottayam |
Philipkutty’s farm |
|
4 |
The day will be at your leisure. Explore the farm or choose to just relaxing at this lovely homestay. In between you get the opportunity to interact and learn some of the traditional family recipes in the cooking demonstration. |
Kottayam |
Philipkutty’s farm |
|
5 |
Drive to your next destination (approx 4-5 hours) at Thekkady. This region is full of spice gardens growing pepper, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and Ayurvedic medicinal plants. On arrival check-in at your resort and relax. |
Thekkady |
Luxury resort |
|
6 |
Explore Periyar National Park. Nature trails traversing diverse habitats form the hiking routes which you’ll explore with your local tribal guide. If time allows visit a spice garden. |
Thekkady |
Shalimar Spice Garden |
|
7 |
Drive to Munnar (aprox 5 hours) and check in to your hotel, located on a working tea estate. |
Munnar |
Luxury / Boutique |
|
8 |
Walk in a nearby cardamom plantation; explore the city of Munnar and also visit the Eravikulam National Park to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Take in a visit to the Tea Museum which traces the history of the area. |
Munnar |
Luxury / Boutique |
|
9 |
Transfer to Cochin airport (4 hours) for your flight to Kannur. On arrival at Kannur airport, met and escorted to the jetty point on the Tejaswini River where you will board The Lotus – a stylish converted rice barge for your 2 nights cruise along the northern backwaters. |
Backwaters |
Lotus Houseboat |
|
10 |
Cruise and relax on the boat, walk around the little hamlets/villages by the water. They are all friendly and love to see you and invite you to their homes. |
Backwaters |
Lotus Houseboat |
|
11 |
Today morning you will be driven to Neeleshwar Hermitage- a wellness resort located on the beach. At leisure |
Luxury / Boutique |
|
|
12 |
At leisure |
Luxury / Boutique |
|
|
13 |
Transfer to Mangalore airport (2 hour drive) for your flight back home via Mumbai or Bangalore. |
Travel home |
|