Pamper yourself and be inspired in Kerala

TAILOR-MADE INSPIRATIONS to

INDIA, NEPAL, BHUTAN & SRI LANKA

Crafting responsible holidays, together

This inspiring holiday enables you to see some of the very best that Kerala has to offer! You will be able to enjoy the architecture, history and charm of Kochi and the sloping mountains and tea estates near Periyar as well as its unique flora and fauna. A relaxing stay by beautiful Vembanand Lake will totally refresh you with the option of being indulged with world-famous Ayurveda health treatments. You will experience overnight the magical backwaters while gliding along on a houseboat after which you will spend two days relaxing on beautiful Marari Beach. You will return home fully appreciating why Kerala is known as ‘God’s Own Country’! 

Outline Itinerary: Kochi (2 nights) – Thekkady (2 nights) – Kumarakom (7 nights) - Houseboat (1 night) – Mararikulam (2 nights)

Other Tour Highlights:

• Sunset motor-boat Kochi harbour-cruise
• Heritage walk of Fort Kochi
• Kathakali dance show in Kochi
• Nature walk in Thekkady
• Visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Cooking demonstration

This tour will be led throughout by Neil Basnett

“Have you always wished to travel to India but have been worried about travelling there on your own? I shall be leading this tour to take all those worries away from you, leaving you to just relax and to enjoy wonderful moments. India is a totally different travelling experience from anywhere else: it is best to completely forget the life that one has at home and to be fully prepared to embrace the craziness in the cities and on the roads, the charm of the people, the culture and the beauty of the landscapes.

To my mind, Kerala is India’s ‘best kept secret’. I have been there 4 times and can’t wait to show you why I have fallen in love with this destination! I have put together a varied itinerary, taking in some of Kerala’s prime locations. We will be staying at some of Kerala’s finest properties, all of which pride themselves in their efforts to maintain the environment. For our stay at beautiful Coconut Lagoon, you have the option of having a one-week wellness programme that will leave you feeling totally refreshed. For those who don’t wish to include this Ayurveda package, there is much to see and do around the lake and the nearby villages or you can just relax in the grounds of this beautiful hotel.

The maximum group size will be just 12 participants meaning this will ensure that the holiday remains a personal experience for you. I look forward to showing off Kerala to you!”

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The holiday will be based around a departure date in September 2022 - further details will be advised as soon as everything has been confirmed

Flights will be available from a choice of UK Airports. Prices for these options are available on request as well as the supplement for travel in Business Class.

DETAILED PROGRAMME:

Arrive Kochi (Cochin)

Having arrived at Kochi (Cochin) International Airport at 08h30, our small group will be met and given assistance before we are transferred to our hotel.

Sunset motorboat harbour-cruise

Kochi, in the south Indian state of Kerala, is an idyllic retreat on the Arabian Sea. Serene backwaters, lagoons with feathery coconut palms and picturesque islands make it an attractive tourist destination. Quaint cantilever Chinese fishing nets, the beautiful Malabar Coast and the setting sun make a perfect background for a cruise on the sea. This is one of the finest natural harbours in the world and it was once a major centre of trade and commerce with the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and the British. We will enjoy a sunset motorboat harbour-cruise with spectacular views.

We have an overnight stay at Brunton Boatyard.

Kochi

Today, we take a morning Heritage Walk of Fort Kochi to experience the life of this historic city,  which is brimming with tales of a myriad of sea-faring visitors who came here to trade. The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, which was until then a land-locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for traders from all over the world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15^th Century. The walk will take us you through the nooks and crannies of this area: we will see the age-old Chinese fishing nets which are still in use, the historic St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica. We will get plenty of opportunities to mingle and  interact with the locals.

We will also visit The Jewish Synagogue and The Dutch Palace. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, almost 1,500 years after the beginning of the Jewish connection with Kerala. It was built on the land adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace, given by the erstwhile king of Cochin. The Dutch Palace, also known as Mattancherry Palace, is a two-storied structure, built on the traditional Kerala Naalukettu (quadrangular) model, with four separate wings opening into a central courtyard. While the central courtyard houses a temple of the royal deity Pazhayannur Bhagavathi, the two other temples situated on either side of the palace are dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva.

We will then have the afternoon free to relax.

In the evening, we will witness a Kathakali dance performance. This will enable us to enjoy India's most spectacular Dance Drama, based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers, elaborately made up with paint and masks, will be accompanied with drummers and musicians.

We have a second overnight stay at Brunton Boatyard.

Kochi - Thekkady (an approximate 5 hour drive)

After breakfast, we will be driven to Thekkady. On arrival, we will check-in to our hotel. 

In the afternoon, we will visit a Spice Garden to see cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, coffee and other plants growing in their natural habitat. Periyar, at an altitude of 1,000 metres above sea-level, has an ideal climate for spice growing.  Vasco de Gama was the first European to land at the Malabar Coast in 1498 in search of spices. In those days, pepper was known as ‘Black Gold’ because it was exported against an equal weight of gold.

We have an overnight stay at Spice Village.

Thekkady

Today, we have a morning guided Nature Walk in Periyar National Park (about a 3 -4 hours’ walk).

This walk, led by a trained tribal guide, offers an excellent opportunity to sight elephants, wild boar, monkeys, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails pass through evergreen and deciduous forests, interspersed with marshy grasslands and it is a gentle trek. Please don't expect to see any tigers although there are some in the park!

We will then enjoy the afternoon at our leisure.

We have a second overnight stay at Spice Village.

Thekkady - Kumarakom (an approximate 4.5 hour drive)

After breakfast, we will be driven to Kumarakom. On arrival, we check-in to our hotel.

While staying at Coconut Lagoon, some (or all of us) can take the opportunity to rejuvenate and recharge ourselves at the Ayurveda Centre. The doctor will arrange our week’s Ayurveda treatment plan based on our individual body type and our own exact requirements. A combination of massages, yoga and diet schedule will be prepared specifically for each of us.  

We spend our first overnight at Coconut Lagoon.

Kumarakom

We spend these days totally relaxing at the resort or being rejuvenated at the Ayurveda Centre. For those not wishing to have Ayurveda treatments, the resort offers a range of opportunities to explore.  Vembanad Lake abounds in many species of bird, quite a few of which can be seen at the property.

You can cruise along the multiple canals of Kumarakom to experience life on the backwaters or you can take a canoe ride to explore Coconut Lagoon's canals. One of the best ways to enjoy the lake is to take the sunset cruise - an hour-long idyll with flute accompaniment. Water lovers might also enjoy taking an oar or punt-boat out on to the lake with one of the local fishermen, both for company and a steadying hand on the tiller! Within minutes, you're in a very quiet watery universe.

The resort has its own butterfly garden with many species migrating in from miles away. There are also 54 species of dragonflies and damselflies to be seen.

During our stay on one of the evenings, we will attend a Cooking Class by the hotel’s Chef. Kerala is home to some of the best quality spices on earth and the influence of these spices is quite visible in their cuisine. Another important ingredient is Coconut of which pulp, milk and oil are liberally used in cooking. We will learn how to prepare some popular dishes and later we may be able to savour them!

We spend these nights at Coconut Lagoon.

Kumarakom - Alleppey

Today we board a traditional, thatch-roofed 'Kettuvallum' (houseboat) for an overnight cruise on the magical backwaters of Kerala. The houseboat sails across the vast expanse of Vembanad Lake and through narrow canals to show us the local life from a close quarter. We can take a walk past paddy fields and small village markets as well as inter-acting with locals. The houseboat sails during the day and is anchored in the evening around sunset until the following morning.

We have an overnight stay on a Spice Route Houseboat.

Alleppey – Mararikulam (an approximate 30 minutes' drive)

Following breakfast, we dis-embark from our houseboat before we are transferred to our hotel.

We then have the rest of the day to relax and to enjoy the serenity and the beach.

We have an overnight stay at Marari Beach Resort.

MARARIKULAM

We spend a final whole day at leisure in Marari.

We have our final overnight stay in Kerala at Marari Beach Resort.

Mararikulam - Kochi & Departure Kochi

Today, we will be collected from the hotel in good time before we are transferred back to Kochi International Airport (an approximate 2 hours’ drive) where we board our homebound  flight.

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                                    Accommodation included on tour:

                             DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS

A deposit of £250.00 per person will be required with the balance due 10 weeks prior to departure. 

                           EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT

TBA

TOUR PRICES WILL INCLUDE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC SERVICES:-

Return flights, based on travelling in the ‘Economy Class’ cabin. Current levels of Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges will be included. Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance and full financial protection, under the ATOL scheme administered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), will be also included.

For travel in Business Class, there wll be a supplement. Flights will be also available from  other UK Airports to connect with the onward flight to Kochi and return. Prices and supplements are avilable on request. 

RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:-

• Expenses of a personal nature such as table drinks, telephone calls, laundry etc.
• Camera fees (still or video)
• Gratuities to drivers, local guides and hotel staff
• Travel Insurance cover
• Any services not listed in above inclusions

Earthen Experiences courtesy inclusions:

Complimentary bottled water during the trips

Free WiFi on the vehicle