Kerala Encompassed Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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Gain a great insight into the variety Kerala has to offer as you travel south to north over three weeks. You’ll have the opportunity to stay in different types and styles of accommodation, ranging from tea bungalows to a plantation mansion, houseboat, treehouse and tents just to name a few.

Spend your days amongst tea and spice plantations, relaxing in rural settings, spotting wildlife, cruising along the Alleppey backwaters, visiting local markets and getting to know the towns that make Kerala tick. Finish on a remote beach to top off your journey through ‘God’s Own Country’.

Highlights Include:

Get a real feel for life on the backwaters as you cruise through the canalways on a houseboat for two nights, watching local life pass by.
Wake up on the banks of the river Periyar where you’ll have the chance to spot over 120 species of birds from the property alone.
Get under the skin of the oldest European settlement in India - Cochin, as you explore the city on foot and by tuk-tuk and boat.
Have the opportunity to spot elephants and tigers on game drives and boat rides through the Nagarhole National Park.
Cook up a Mopalla feast with your hosts in Tellicherry after buying your fresh ingredients from local markets.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

DAY 1: DEPART UK

Depart the UK on your flight to Cochin.

DAYS 2 & 3: ALLEPPEY RURAL & RELAXING

On arrival at Cochin airport, you will be met by your driver and local rep before making the two - three hour journey south to Purity, right on the edge of Lake Vembanad. During your two night stay, you will have the opportunity to rest, relax and/or explore this tranquil area. There are numerous beautiful and intricate temples to visit nearby, or you can take a day trip to the village of Muhamma to learn the handcrafted process of coir making. A favourite activity is simply to walk through the local rice paddies and breath in the fresh air as locals go about their business.

DAYS 4 & 5: CRUISE THROUGH THE BACKWATERS LOCAL LIFE

Board your houseboat from the local jetty for your two-night cruise through the backwaters. Over the next two days, you will drift past rice fields, coconut palms and the day-to-day rural village life. Hop ashore and meet local villagers, discover picturesque churches or simply lounge on the boat as you watch the world go by.

DAYS 6 & 7: MUNNAR TEA COUNTRY

After disembarking your houseboat, you will head for the hills in Munnar on a four-five hour drive before reaching your accommodation for a two-night stay. The pleasant hill station of Munnar is a major centre for tea production where you have the Western Ghats and the more remote tea estates, learning first-hand the processes involved in the production of tea, from the plucking to the factory.

DAYS 8 & 9: THE BANKS OF THE RIVER PERIYAR RURAL LIFE

Journey around two hours to the Windermere River House situated on the calm banks of the river Periyar for your two-night stay. Set amongst two acres of swaying coconut palms, this small Keralan property offers a unique insight into rural life. During your stay, you can simply chill out, or explore the remote area in which locals still live a traditional way of life. Depending on your interests, you can fish, swim or canoe in the river, visit a local village school, remote forest temple or catch the sunrise or sunset from some lovely spots. For those interested in birdwatching, we recommend bringing binoculars as many species can be spotted from the property!

DAYS 10, 11 & 12: COCHIN BUZZING SEASIDE CITY

Your next stop is Cochin, the charming seaside fort area and buzzing city across the waterways that make up Kerala’s most well known city. Over the next two-and-a-half days, you will really get under the skin of the city. Head out on a sunset cruise and get acquainted with the Cochin from the water as you sail past some famous sights before ending your evening at the Chinese fishing nets.

Day 11 will see you getting to know the city’s history, architecture and cuisine on a tour with a local guide. As the oldest European settlement in India, Cochin features a fascinating blend of many architectural styles and cultures. Visit several churches, temples, a palace, basilica and even a synagogue today before ending the tour with a delicious local lunch.

Spend your last day in Cochin weaving through the backstreets and narrow lanes on a tuk-tuk ride, exploring a side that is not often visited by tourists. After taking in the aromas of the spice bazaar and visiting a launderette where everything is still done by hand, board a ferry across the harbour to Ernakulam, the business hub. Here you’ll find one of the oldest markets in Kerala.

DAYS 13 & 14: THALASSERY RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Your driver will drop you at the train station this morning where you will travel to Tellicherry, arriving after about five or six hours. From here, you will then be taken to your next accommodation, Ayisha Manzil for your two-night stay. Spend your time here getting to know the bustling little town on the Malabar coast and Eranholi River. With its rich cultural heritage, this once important spice port has left an interesting legacy. Head into the local market and fort and, if you’re lucky, your visit may coincide with a mesmeric local ritual - the Theyyam temple dance. If you wish, you can gain an insight into the Mopalla cuisine at a cooking class.

DAYS 15 & 16: WAYANAD EXOTIC PLANTATIONS

After a four hour drive east to the spice plantations of Wayanad, you’ll arrive at your charming bungalow amidst the scenic plantations at Pepper Trail. During your two-night stay here, there are numerous activities available. Tour the century-old plantation and learn about the traditional methods of cultivation and how coffee, tea and pepper are grown, processed and consumed. You can wander along many trails in the area, passing by caves, the natural reservoir and local flora and fauna. Outside the property, serious walkers can climb part of Chembra Peak, the highest in the region at 2,100m.

DAYS 17 & 18: NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE SPOTTING

With two-nights in Nagarhole National Park, you’ll have several opportunities to spot elephants, and tigers, as well as leopards, sambar chital, goar and wild boar amongst many other rare and endangered animals and birds. Explore the park by boat on the Kabini Reservoir, by game drive, or both! Traverse different areas on the game drives, while on the boat rides, you’ll have a greater chance to see birds and animals that are more difficult to spot on the safaris while also getting a different perspective of the sanctuary from the water.

DAYS 19, 20 & 21: NEELESWARAM REMOTE BEACHES

After a five or six hour drive through the hills, you’ll arrive at Neeleswaram for your three-night beach stay. The area is quaint and little-visited by tourists in northern Kerala, making the beaches remote and rivers quiet. During your stay at Kanana Beach Resort, you can venture out to the Bekal Fort, walk through the Western Ghats or cycle through paddy fields, gardens and temples. You will also have a day to spend relaxing at your leisure around the resort and beaches.

DAYS 22 & 23: CALICUT & DEPARTURE

You will be transferred back to Calicut on a four or five hour drive where you will be for an overnight stay before departing the following morning on your flight back home.

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.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

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...

Ayisha Manzil, Thalassery

Ayisha Manzil is an authentic and remote homestay with nostalgic touches, passionate hosts, and loads of charm in beautiful Thalassery.

Ginger House Museum Hotel, Cochin

A quirky, unique boutique property that is just as much a museum as it is a hotel.

Kaav, Nagarhole National Park

A relaxed property in a tranquil setting, on the periphery of the park, with lovely decks to sit out on and a personal service.

Kanan Beach Resort, Neeleshwar

This is a lovely peaceful haven right on the beach in Kerela with simple yet charming rooms and a great pool surrounded by coconut palm trees.

Pepper Trail, Wayanad

A charming and beautiful renovated bungalow amidst scenic coffee, spice and pepper plantations. Check out the luxurious tree houses - amazing!

Windermere Estate, Munnar

Comfortable and incredibly scenic, Windermere Estate is an authentic homestay property situated on cardamom plantations in the spectacular Munnar mountains.

Windermere River House, Neriamangalam

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

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...

A Day in the Tea Lands, Munnar

Explore the picture perfect tea plantations that swathe the sloping hills of the Western Ghats.

Boat Ride on Kabini Reservoir, Nagarhole National Park

See both Nagarhole and Bandipur National Park from a boat ride on the Kabini reservoir.

Elephant Safari , Nagarhole National Park

A magical safari experience at Nagarhole National Park: search for elephants, tigers, bison and much more.

Explore Thalassery Town, Thalassery

Head into Thalassery to explore the local market and fort. If you''re lucky, you're visit will coincide with a Theyyam temple dance.

Remote Backwater Cruise, Neeleshwar

Take a stunning two night cruise in the remote northern area of Nileshwar on the Tejaswini River.

Tuk Tuk Tour of Fort Cochin, Cochin

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

Customer Feedback

The one-on-one guide arranged with Experience Travel Group enabled me to get so much more from my trip to India. As well as the almost compulsory visits to the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, I was shown a variety of busy towns and mall villages, traditional crafts and skills, religious buildings and practices, architecture and wildlife, finishing with a very relaxing stay in Tikli Bottom.

- Heather Hodgson, February 2015

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.