Exclusive Kerala - Community Oriented -

Duration: 12 Days

Location: Cochin, Munnar, Periyar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Marari

Kerala Experience

This itinerary takes a traveler through the cross section of Keralan community and many sustainable initiatives we promote. Every activity offered in this itinerary has a close connection with the local community and the economic results are being shared to the discerning local community members. It can be a special school, a classical art theatre or a local home where you have a farm lunch. Nature conservation is also an integral element in the tour. Our experts will be happy to customize such itineraries for your exclusive experience.

Day 01: Arrival Cochin

On arrival at Cochin International Airport, you will be received to drive to Fort Cochin, the colonial hub of Kerala. Check into your hotel/homestay. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Cochin.

Fort Cochin still keeps its colonial remnants reminding us about the presence and passing of various invasions and historic moments. Fort Cochin & Mattancherry, the twin cities closely connected are great examples of the sustainable preservation of a cultural heritage which still chills a curious traveler.

Day 02: Cochin-Poothotta Village (01 Hour Drive)

After breakfast, you will be driven to a serene backwater island village-Poothotta for an exclusive experience which is a part of our Community Based Responsible Tourism. On arrival at the other side of the island, the local host along with a guide will receive you to cross the river in a canoe. Further you will be taken through some breath-taking narrow canals and village activities like coir making. You will be offered a home cooked meal by the local family.

This is an exclusive experience offered to our travelers as a part of our community support imitative and the economic benefits go to the host family which eventually support the local circular economy and sustainable living.

Afternoon, drive back to Cochin for a guided sightseeing covering the historic monuments and cultural heritage. Highlights will be St Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets, Dutch Museum, Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town. We will also include a tuk-tuk ride experience which is again an opportunity for community support and cultural interaction and exchange. Evening visit a traditional Kathakali Theatre to watch the Dance Drama of Kerala-Kathakali.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03: Cochin- Life, Livelihood and Lifestyle

A day to explore the local life. After an early breakfast, you will be brought to a fishing harbor to watch the livelihood pattern of fishermen. Also walk through the public market and broadway where common man come for shopping. Later visit a special school for differently abled children. Spend some time with the students and teachers. We may plan a lunch with the students, if you wish. Later visit a local family to experience a live cookery show followed by an early dinner with the family. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04: Cochin-Munnar (4 Hours )

After breakfast, drive to Munnar, a lush green tea plantation hill station. You will be driving through small farming villages known for its diverse crops like rubber, aracknut, pepper, cardamom, and pineapple. On arrival in Munnar, check into your hotel.

Afternoon, you will go for a guided soft trek through tea gardens and grasslands for approximately 3 hours. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05: Day trip to Marayoor & Chinnar

After an early breakfast, drive to Marayoor to walk through a tribal village to watch many farming methods, sugarcane units, sandalwood forest, and Dolmens. You will have a traditional lunch at the village home. Afternoon drive to Chinnar wildlife sanctuary for a guided walking safari for 2-3 hours. Evening return to Munnar for overnight stay.

Day 06: Guided Shola walk

After breakfast, you will be taken to a Shola forest (Wet evergreen) for a guided trekking through the forest. There will be chances to sight wild animals, birds etc. along with the unique flora and fauna.

Afternoon, return to Munnar to visit a Tea Museum to understand the tea making process. Evening free for shopping fresh tea from the factory outlets. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: Munnar- Periyar (4 Hours Drive)

After breakfast, drive to Periyar, a destination known for Periyar Tiger Reserve and sprawling spice farms. On arrival, check into your hotel. Afternoon go for a guided spice farm visit. Evening watch a live martial art show -Kalaripayattu at a local theatre. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 08: Periyar-Guided Walking Safari in the Sanctuary

Full day trekking in the Sanctuary. It will be a guided program by the forest Department and there are chances of closure of the Sanctuary between April & June due to the fear of wild fire /heavy rains. At 0730 AM we have to report at starting point. Once you reach the starting point ,you will finish the registration formalities and collect leech socks, packed light breakfast & a proper hot lunch etc. The program is from 8 AM till 4.30-5 PM. This will be a nice program to watch possible wildlife in the sanctuary. Only physically fit travelers can do this full activity. Children below 13 years are not allowed to do the program. Packed breakfast and lunch are a part of the package. Evening return to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

This is one of Kerala’s first Responsible Tourism Programs as a part of rehabilitating the tribal people who lived inside the Sanctuary and sometimes Poachers and hunters. With the help of an Eco Development Society (EDS), these people are now the guards of the forest for the best conservation and the best guides for tourists because they know the forest very well including the movement of wild animals. The revenue from these programs helps the Government to give back to the Community to enable them to have decent living.

Day 09: Periyar- Alleppey Houseboat (4.5 Hours Drive)

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Alleppey to board your exclusive houseboat for a cruise through the Vembanad Lake followed by overnight stay on board. Your meals will be freshly cooked and served on board. Overnight stay on board Houseboat.

Houseboat in Kerala backwaters was one of the most community-oriented projects in tourism as this industry created a huge employment opportunity for the local people. The traditional culinary heritage is being conserved and sustained to offer the regional Alleppey/Kuttanadan cuisine on board the Houseboat. The interesting part is that all cooks on Houseboats are men. Houseboat also gives an opportunity to the local fishermen and other vendors to sell their products. Even when the local farmers had many climatic chaos-like floods which resulted in heavy crop loss, at least the availability of employment to many on Houseboats was a great boon to the local community. Two consecutive floods followed by the Pandemic have made the living in this region a real livelihood issue. During your cruise, you may see the new houses coming up which are all built on raised pillars in fear of floods during Monsoon. As the crew are from the local community, with proper training, now they are taking a special interest on keeping the waters clean and garbage free.

Day 10: Kumarakom-Marari Beach (1.5 Hours Drive)

After breakfast on board, you will be dropped at Kumarakom, a Sustainable Tourism Village which bagged the UNWTO Ulysses Award for the Best Responsible Tourism Destination in the world. You will go for a guided village experience tour organized by the local villagers. The tour will take you through the village houses and their livelihood jobs. The best part of the tour is that you can interact with the local people who are a part of the tourism activities in the region. Later have a lunch from the local restaurant run by a Women Self Help Group which is again a part of the Community Based Tourism in the Region.

Later drive to Marari Beach, a serene fishermen village known for its life and livelihood activities. On arrival, check into your hotel/homestay on the beach. Overnight at Marari Beach.