Kerala Encompassed

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.