Family Kerala Vacation Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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This two-week adventure in Kerala features family-friendly properties, a variety of activities and short travel times, a great way to explore the best of ‘God's own country’ without spending all the time in a car. You will get to enjoy a diverse array of landscapes, flora and fauna and rural and urban habitats throughout Kerala, accompanied by your driver and English speaking guides in each place.

Ease into your holiday with a stay along the peaceful River Periyar before making your way to the lush hill station of Munnar for some trekking and visits to the stunning tea and cardamom plantations that make this hills station such a pull. Explore the jungles and water bodies of Periyar National Park and then head to Kumarakom to experience life on the famous and unique backwaters. Your holiday winds up in the historical and cosmopolitan city of Cochin, after time on the beach, visiting its well-known sites and lesser explored backstreets.

Highlights Include:

Enjoying the peaceful environment of the River Periyar with many activities on offer.
Hiking and rafting along the river in Periyar National Park, looking for wildlife in the surrounding forest-clad hills.
Exploring the narrow channels of the backwaters to get an insight into village life.
Unwinding on the palm-fringed, sandy beaches of Mararikulam.
Discovering Cochin on a tuk tuk tour of its back streets and narrow lanes - parts of the city not often explored by tourists

DAY 1: DEPART UK

Depart the UK on your flight to Cochin.

DAYS 2 & 3: WINDERMERE RIVER HOUSE RURAL LIFE

You will be met at Cochin airport by your driver who will be with you by the end of the trip. You’ll transfer straight to the Windermere River House on the banks of the River Periyar, a secluded and traditionally Keralan property offering a unique insight into rural life.

This is an ideal place to completely chill out, or a great base from which to explore the remote surrounding area where locals still live a traditional way of life. Depending on your interests, during your stay you will have the opportunity to fish, swim or even canoe in the River Periyar, visit a local village school, a remote forest temple and beautiful spots to catch the sunrise or sunset. Cycling, hiking and cooking classes are also on offer, and, if you’re a twitcher, the variety of birdlife in the area is amazing, so bring your binoculars!

DAYS 4 & 5: MUNNAR TEA & TREKKING

Today you will journey roughly two-and-a-half hours into the lush tea plantations of Munnar where you will stay at Spice Tree for two nights. The hill station of Munnar, a major centre for tea production, sits high in the Western Ghats. Surrounded by rich flora and fauna, here you’ll also find rolling hills of coffee and cardamom.

There are plenty of activities to keep you occupied at Spice Tree. Cooking classes are available to introduce you to the variety of flavours Kerala has to offer, along with tea tasting in nearby plantations where you can learn about the different herbs and spices the region is home to. With plenty of relaxed treks around the resort, more strenuous ones further a field are available, too. As well, visits to local villages and expeditions with trained naturalists can also be arranged.

DAYS 6 & 7: PERIYAR WILDLIFE & ADVENTURE

After a four hour drive, you will arrive in Periyar National Park, a protected area in southern Kerala that is home to a broad range of wildlife. Spend the first afternoon relaxing around your hotel

Here you’ll spend a full day hiking and rafting day through some of the richests forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Wander through forests rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrels and Nilgiri langur before rafting for about three hours. Spot gaur, sambar deer and a profusion of birdlife at the water’s edge amongst the stunning panoramic views of the forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. If you’re very lucky, you may even get a glimpse of the elephants that reside in the interior of the park!

DAYS 8 & 9: KUMARAKOM BACKWATERS & VILLAGES

On an early morning jungle trek led by tribal trackers, you will traverse the diverse habitats of Periyar, observing birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Later, you will be transferred roughly 4 hours towards Alleppey, for your stay in Kumarakom for two nights. In the afternoon, cruise the backwaters on a houseboat towards the Thottappaly region, revealing the expanse of the waterways and village life alongside the water.

The next morning, take a short cruise on a houseboat along an expanse of Lake Vembanad before exploring the more narrow channels of Kumarakom, passing through hamlets and villages where you can witness fishing and toddy tapping in the heart of the backwaters. You’ll experience two contrasts of the same area, giving you a real insight into local life all from the comfort of a beautiful boat.

DAYS 10, 11 & 12: MARARIKULAM RELAXATION

After just a 30 minute drive this morning, you will arrive in Mararikulam for a relaxing three-night stay. Originally a small fishing village, you’ll find in many ways, the way of life here has hardly changed. Spend the next few days at your leisure exploring the long stretch of beach dotted with fishing communities or relaxing in your hotel, by the pool

DAYS 14 & 15: COCHIN HISTORIC & COSMOPOLITAN

Your driver will transfer you approximately 1.5 hours today to your final destination, Cochin, for a two-night stay. On a sunset cruise, you will be introduced to the city, witnessing the lovely views of the famous Marine Drive, surrounding islands and the Cochin Harbour before ending at the iconic Chinese fishing nets.

The following morning, board a local tuk-tuk with your driver to explore the backstreets and narrow lanes of Fort Cochin, experiencing a side to the city not often seen by tourists. Visit the spice bazaar and laundrette where everything is still done by hand, before taking a local ferry across the harbour to the business hub of Ernakulam. Here you’ll see the former royal offices, markets and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

DAY 16: FLY HOME OR STAY!

Depart Cochin on your flight home or continue on to your next destination.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

Since every traveler is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 or use the quote request form below for your personalised vacation itinerary.

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
Meals as described
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom

Coconut Lagoon is a tropical sanctuary in picturesque Kumarakom. Come here for luxury, tranquillity, and traditional Keralan cuisine.

Secret Garden, Cochin

A charming hotel in the heart of Fort Cochin, this lovely hotel has a relaxed intimate atmosphere with a pool.

Shalimar Spice Garden, Periyar

Peaceful thatched cottages set amongst spice trees and surrounded by wildlife.

Spice Tree, Munnar

Nestled in the picturesque Munnar Hills, this charming little boutique hotel is the perfect nature retreat with lovely rooms and a great pool.

Windermere River House, Neriamangalam

An intimate, relaxing property set amongst tranquil gardens along the River Periyar.

Xandari Pearl, Mararikulam

Spacious, contemporary villas amongst 18 acres of gardens set back from the beaches of Mararikulam.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Bamboo Rafting & Hiking, Periyar

This is a dawn to dusk hiking and rafting day through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Cruise the Keralan Backwaters, Kumarakom

Explore the Keralan backwaters on a smaller vessel for a day cruise, and get right out into the smaller tributaries.

Periyar Nature Walk, Periyar

Get back to nature and spend the day exploring the easy trails and trekking routes of Periyar National Park.

Tuk Tuk Tour of Fort Cochin, Cochin

Take an alternative view of Fort Cochin by Tuk-Tuk and explore rarely visited Ernakulam.

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Customer Protection

The air holiday packages shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9324. Please see our booking conditions for more information.