• HIGHLIGHTS OF KERALA (1 WEEK)

This tour includes all highlights of Kerala in just one week. You will witness the colonial heritage of Fort Kochi (Cochin), the beautiful hills of the Western Ghats with it's abundancy of spices and green tea plantations, and the serenity of the Backwaters. You will end your tour with a day of relaxation on the pristine beach at Cherai.

The best time to visit Kerala is September to March. In April and May it gets very hot and June, July and August see the monsoon rains. South India witnesses a second smaller monsoon for about 6 weeks in and around November.

• A LOOK AT EACH OF OUR 8 DAYS:

1. Cochin
Most flights from the West arrive at Cochin airport late evening or early morning. A representative of Indian Rose Tours will welcome you at the airport and will hand over all the documents you will need during your tour. You will also meet the driver who will accompany you this week. He will take you to your hotel.

If you are already in India before beginning this tour, you will meet the driver at the point of entry into Cochin.

Cochin - also called Kochi - is the cultural capital of Kerala. For the past 3000 years traders have been flocking to the coast of Kerala to get their share in the spice trade. The Greeks, Romans, Chinese and the Arabs traded with the Keralites on this famous stretch of Malabar coast, and the Travancore Empire managed it all from this iconic peninsula. The Europeans have been dominating this lucrative trade since about 1500AD. The Portuguese, the English and the Dutch have all left their footprints in Cochin, which is evidencedt in the many colonial buildings and in the dominant religion, Christianity. You'll be staying in a heritage hotel run by the local clergy.

Accommodation:

Standard: Gama Heritage

Superior: Rossitta Castle

Heritage: Madurai Grande Residencia

Heritage: Killian's Botique Hotel

2. Cochin
Auto Rickshaw City Tour: You have the option of taking a tour with an auto rickshaw wallah, who will take you around all the sights of Cochin you might want to visit. The friendly driver will know if a festival is being celebrated and if so, where. Also, he can take you to the best markets and shops and he knows where, for example, ginger is being dried in the sun or the fish are just coming in from the Chinese nets.

Cochin is a big city, but the wide streets see very little traffic. The major sights are fairly central to each other, and it is easy to walk around this old fort town in an afternoon and feel the same pace a trader might have experienced 200 years ago. A visit to the Chinese fishing nets at the end of the day can be an equally timeless moment, not to be missed.

Kathakali Dance: Your visit includes a showing of this most classical of Kerala art forms, the theater-dance Kathakali. The actors will first put on their make-up and give a demonstration of what the different hand movements and facial expressions signify, the art of communicating whole chapters in a single motion. It takes many years of training before one becomes a Kathakali dancer and you'll see why. As these professionals take the stage to show you their art, you will be able to share in a piece of truly unique historical performance.

Accommodation:

Standard: Gama Heritage

Superior: Rossitta Castle

Heritage: Madurai Grande Residencia

Heritage: Killian's Botique Hotel

3. Munnar
From Cochin, you will drive about 6 hours east to Munnar, situated in the cool hills of the Western Ghats. Munnar has an elevation of 1500 metres and is surrounded by green tea plantations, where the rolling hills and cool skies will make you feel at ease immediately.
Your hotel is a little out of town in a quiet spot surrounded by tea plantations.

Accommodation:

Standard: Hill View

Superior: Kaivalyam- Recommended.

Deluxe: Seina Village Resort

4. Munnar
Trekking Munnar: You can do a trek through the green tea plantations. The guide will take you up to a viewpoint with stunning views of the Western Ghats.

Sightseeing Munnar: Munnar is a small town with a distinctly Tamil feel to it and a lively market. There are a few few lovely Hindu temples. Munnar is also a good place for Ayurvedic massage.

Accommodation:

Standard: Hill View

Superior: Kaivalyam- Recommended.

Deluxe: Seina Village Resort

5. Thekkady
The road from Munnar to Thekkady may well be the most scenic route in South India. This 5 hour drive will take you through gorgeous tea plantation after gorgeous tea plantation before winding its way through forested mountain scenery and finally finding its destination in friendly Thekkady. Also known as Kumily, Thekkady is reputed for its quality spice gardens and the beautiful scenery surrounding this touristy village.

Spice Plantation Tour: An informative guide will explain everything you always wanted to know - and more! - about the many different spices Kerala is so famed for. How many nutmegs could kill a man? Why is vanilla so expensive? What are the Queen, King and Princess of Spices? At the end of this tour you will have all the answers!

Elephant ride and elephant washing: A half hour ride through a spice plantation on the back of an elephant is followed by washing the beautiful animal. The elephants get treated really well and it's good fun. Expect to get wet!

Kalarippayat Martial Arts: In the late afternoon you can witness a Kalarippayat show, which according to the Malayalis (inhabitants of Kerala), is the oldest form of martial arts in the world. It at times resembles a kind of dance, almost an Indian version Capoeira. The fighters use real (and sharp!) weapons. Don't try this at home!

Accommodation:

Home Stay: El Paradiso

Superior: Wildernest

Deluxe: Cardomom County

6. Backwaters
It will take about 5 hours to get to Alleppey where your boat will be waiting for you. Not long after you have left the shore your crew will serve you a sumptuous Keralan lunch. The Backwaters is a network of waterways just behind the Keralan coast, the most extensive populated inland water system in the world. People live on small pieces of land and live from fishing, aquaculture, cashew farming, coir-making (making ropes from coconut fibre), and other traditional trades. Life here has hardly changed over the centuries, and you can feel the pace of time slow down as you ease your way through these waters.

You travel by and spend the night on traditional kettuvallam boats. You will have your own crew of three at your disposal and your room has its own bathroom. On the way you can make a stop where you can buy king prawns (all food on the boat, except for the fish you buy yourself, is included in the tour price). Your chef will prepare the fish any which way you desire....gorgeous!

Accommodation:

Traditional Kettuvalam Boat

7. Cherai
After having enjoyed breakfast on the boat, it will take less than 3 hours to get to Vypeen Island just north of Cochin. But before you go to your beautiful beach side resort, you could ask your driver to take you to the ancient Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha. This important 9th century temple dedicated to the God of Love attracts many pilgrims from all over Kerala, especially widows and young families with newborns. Often overshadowed by the backwaters and beaches, most tour itineraries miss out on the striking beauty of temples here, where 56% of the population is devout Hindu. Kerala temple architecture uses a lot of wood and has its own distinctive style.

This afternoon you can work on your tan on the tranquil beach of Cherai and swim in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Cherai Beach Resort is hemmed in by the beach on one side and the Backwaters on the other side. This beautiful resort is run by Ayurvedic doctors and the Ayurvedic massage on offer here may well be the best in Kerala! 

You can gorge on some delicious fish tonight while enjoying the sun setting on the Arabian Sea.

Accommodation:

Deluxe: Cherai Beach Resort

8. Cherai / Departure
After a lazy morning sleeping late and chilling on the empty stretch of beach, your car will take you to the airport. You can keep your room untill 10 pm. Cochin airport is about 2 hours driving while Trivandrum airport is 6 hours away.

If you are staying on in India your car can drop you at the railway station or the bus stand.

Accommodation:

Deluxe: Cherai Beach Resort

Please send us an e-mail if you would like to know more about the suggested accommodation. We are happy to change the itinerary to suit your personal wishes. The tour can be adjusted to fit your budget and to accommodate any specific needs you may have (e.g. add domestic flight(s), upgrades of hotels, changes in itinerary, include more excursions, etc). If you so wish, we can arrange for a knowledgeable and experienced Tour Leader to join you for the duration of the tour. If Micha is available you can request him to lead your tour. This will definitely be worthwhile in case your travel party consists of 6 or more people.

The price will depend on your choice of accommodation, the number of people in your travel party, when you are travelling, which excursions you would like to see included, and how many train journeys and/or flights you would like us to book for you. We have earned a reputation for having the most competitive prices in the market combined with the best and most personalized service.

Always included:
Meeting and assistance on arrival & departures • Clean and reliable accommodation • Daily breakfast at your hotel • All transfers, excursions and sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary • Petrol / gas costs, toll tax, parking, and vehicle insurance • Experienced English-speaking local guides for sight-seeing and excursions • General Info on travelling in India including handy tips on a wide range of subjects • Detailed day to day program • City Info of all places you will visit • All applicable taxes