A Scroll Through Nature & Culture

An Overview

This is a special story created for discerning family travellers through the Nature of Kerala. Kerala enjoys unique geographical features like an equable climate, serene beaches, tranquil stretches of unique backwater canals, amazing hill stations, exquisite wildlife, sprawling tea plantations, unending spice gardens and many more.

This trail takes you through the most sought-after attractions and experiences through Kerala. You will get to know so close the local community and their lifestyle, varied cuisine and the local traditions. Some exquisite strolls and treks are also a highlight of this tour. You will never forget the local life experiences you come across during the tour.

Tour Highlights:

Kathakali-The Dance drama of Kerala

Colonial tour of Cochin using E bikes

Country canoe cruise with farm lunch prepared by village women

Spice Farm visit with Farm lunch at a homestay

Exclusive visit to the Dolmen site at Marayoor

Visit to the Tribal village

Tea plantation trekking with Tea Factory visit

Traditional lunch at a village home in Marayoor

Full day guided trekking with bamboo rafting in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Boating in Periyar Sanctuary

Guided village tour in Kumarakom as a part of “Better Together” Responsible Tourism Mission project for local village to earn a livelihood from Tourism

Cookery show -The best way to interact with a housewife so close

Organic Farm visit with Farm lunch

Bullock Cart Ride

Tuk-Tuk Ride-Interaction with the normal people in Tourism

At A Glance

09 Nights stay in Kerala

Houseboat lunch cruise with lunch on board

Local community oriented sustainable Tourism activities

Interaction with women entrepreneurs who earn living from Responsible Tourism

Full day Forest activity guided by Tribal converted guides as a part of Responsible Tourism

Activity Level:

Active Leisure with soft treks and experience trails

Day 01 – Cochin (1 Hour Drive)

On arrival at Cochin Airport, you will be met & transferred to your hotel. (Check in time is 1 PM) Day to relax after long flight. Evening visit a traditional Kathakali Theatre to watch a live performance. Overnight at Hotel.

Kathakali is a classical dance form of Kerala.

Cochin the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. A root-conscious people of Kerala have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.

Day 02 – Cochin-Poothotta (1 Hour  Drive one way)

Morning, after breakfast, proceed for a village backwater Cruise with lunch. This village tour is a guided program conducted by the village family where the homemaker is a part of the program and the revenue goes to her. Local women entrepreneurs are the biggest beneficiaries of many Responsible Tourism initiatives in Kerala. (9.30 AM to 1.30 PM) Afternoon back to Cochin for sightseeing. This tour will be a sustainable concept using E Bikes to visit the monuments. (3 PM to 6 PM)Overnight at the Hotel.

 Village backwater Cruise – A  journey in a country boat into the pristine purity of a typical village backwater of Kerala…. goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palms…..watch rare birds….country boat making….a natural fish farm where you can go fishing…. You will witness coir making, toddy tapping before you end up your exclusive experience in our Farm House for lunch -a delicious traditional Kerala dish under a tree…..While scrolling through this amazing village, you will watch the common life of the villagers for their livelihood. You will see them fishing in the river, the women do the coir making, a toddy tapper who does his job as a routine, men climbing the coconut trees to pluck the coconuts, later peeling the same to prepare to dry and make oil extraction possible. Its all about a life experience which you will cherish throughout your life.

Cochin Sightseeing – St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama, is the first European church built in India and is the site where Vasco da Gama was buried. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, Chinese hand-painted tiles are one of the attraction. This, the only Synagogue in India has a nostalgic past of a Jewish Diaspora. The “Dutch Palace” was built in the 1550s; the palace contains excellent mythological murals and a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring – a subtle mix of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites – which gives the effect of polished marble.

Fort Cochin & Mattancherry are twin cities carry a flavour of the colonial era. Jewish, Arabs, Portuguese British all came to Cochin for trading and Mattancherry was the spice trade headquarters due to the proximity of Cochin Port. While Fort Cochin became the administrative headquarters, Mattancherry maintained its trading status. The colonial  stature and buildings still make Fort Cochin a favourite destination for tourists. It’s getting an upgrade once it’s declared as the first heritage city in India. Fort Cochin was also a part of Muziris route. It will be interesting to know that around 13 religious communities are harmoniously living in Fort Cochin and Mattancherry.  Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Jains, Sikhs etc. are few among them.

Day 03 -Cochin – Munnar  (4 Hour Drive)

Morning, after an early breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise . You will drive through Midland crops like Rubber, arecnut, pineapple etc. Enroute stop at Mistletoe homestay for a Spice Farm visit followed by lunch. After lunch drive to a tea factory to watch the tea making process. Later, check you’re your Resort. Overnight at the Resort.

Munnar …breathtakingly beautiful – a haven of peace and tranquility – an idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country with unending expanses of tea plantations… pristine valleys and mountains…exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests…aroma of spice scented cool air. Munnar has all these and more…. It’s the place you would love to visit… It’s the place you would wish never to leave. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities makes Munnar a holiday resort. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower, which bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India – Anamudi – which towers over 2695 M and is an ideal spot for campers who like trekking.

 Day 04 –Munnar

Full day guided trip to marayoor valley to visit the Sandal wood forest, tribal village, dolmen site etc followed by a traditional lunch in the village. Afternoon go for a short trekking through tea plantations. Overnight at Hotel.

Marayoor valley. Visit to a rock cut temple, ancient inscriptions etc. Walk to the Mount of the Dead, a world-famous Megalithic site with dolmens, dolmenoid and dolmenoid cists. Visit to a traditional sugarcane farm and Jaggery (black sugar) manufacturing. Marayoor is famous for its Sandalwood Forest which is protected by the Forest Department.

Day 05 – Munnar – Periyar  ( 4.5 Hours drive)

After an early breakfast, drive to Cumbum Valley to have lunch at Harvest Fresh farms followed by a visit to the organic farm. After lunch continue on your vehicle to Periyar. Check into your hotel. Evening visit watch  a traditional martial arts show at a theatre. Overnight at Hotel.

Periyar – Conjures up images of elephants, chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will see a lot of wildlife and observe the way of life of simple mountain people. Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Harvest Fresh Fam is a certified Organic farm located in the heart of beautiful Cumbum Valley in Tamilnadu State amidst cloud kissed mountains, bubbling streams and lush farmlands. You will stroll among pomegranade, papaya and mango orchards, watch the bees and its saplings, composting methods, livestock and herbal gardens. Climb the watch tower for a commanding view of the valley and to sum up with a sumptuous meal of local cuisine made from home grown or locally sourced ingredients.

Day 06 – Periyar (7.30 AM till 4.30 PM)

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 etc. At 0730 AM we have to report at the bus boarding 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 has around 12 kms of soft hike and 2 kms of bamboo rafting. This will be a nice program to watch possible wildlife in the sanctuary. Only physically fit travellers can do this full activity. Children below 13 years are not allowed to do the program. Evening return to the base to 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 help the Government to give back to the Community to enable them to have decent living.

The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing unique flora & fauna. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers lots of photo opportunities. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake’s edge. Tigers are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.

Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests constitute the major part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The rest of the area is a combination of moist deciduous forests and grasslands. Of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar Tiger Reserve is the oldest in the country and the largest in the State. The abundant wildlife here attracts a lot of visitors. Apart from being a recognised breeding ground for tigers, the reserve has also been identified as the best place for researching elephantine life. The tiger population in the area is estimated to be about 40. Though it is difficult to sight them, visitors often spot pugmarks and scats around the reserve. Thirty-five species of mammals have been identified here. They include rare and endangered species. A boat ride on the lake is a great way to spot the wild elephants, the Gaur, the Sambar and so on. While the Gaur is the largest of the bovines here, the Sambar, the largest deer in India, is the main prey of the tiger and the wild dog. Apart from these, there are wild pigs, Malabar Giant Squirrels, Small Travancore Flying Squirrels, jungle cats, sloth bears etc. The endangered species in the area include Nilgiri Langurs and the Lion-tailed Macaque, that is usually seen only in the evergreen interiors. Nilgiri Tahrs are also found in the reserve, especially in the higher rocky areas. Salim Ali’s fruit bat, one of the rarest bats, is also reported to have been found in the area. The stripe-necked mongoose, usually found in the semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, the extremely rare Nilgiri Marten – the only species of marten found in southern India- and endemic mustelids are also seen here.

There are about 265 species of birds in the Periyar reserve including migrant birds. The birds include raptors, water birds, galliform birds, pigeons, wood peckers, darters,  kingfishers, golden orioles, Brahmini kites, cormorants and passerines, as well as a  large flock of the Great Pied Hornbill and the Ceylon Frogmouth. The endemic species include the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Blue-winged Parakeet, the Nilgiri Flycatcher, the small Sunbird and the White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. Other birds found in the area are the Black Baza, Forest Eagle Owl, Nilgiri Thrush, Little Spider Hunter, Rufous bellied hawk eagle etc. An interesting sight is that of water fowl perched on the dead trees protruding out onto the lake. Other aquatic birds include the Indian Darter and the Black–Necked Stork. Woodland birds, owls etc. can also be seen in the forest.

There are 1966 varieties of flowering plants, including angiosperms. Both dicots and monocots have been included in this count. There are about 171 grass species and 140 species of orchids  in the region. The richness of the flower wealth is so outstanding that it constitutes more than 50 percent of the entire flower wealth of Kerala, which is about 3800 species. Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda, Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and bamboo are some of the trees found here. The three main endemic plants are  Mucuna pruriens thekkadiensis, Habenaria periyarensis and Syzygium periyarensis. Rare plants like the Podocarpus wallichianus, the only South Indian conifer, are also found in the reserve. More than 350 medicinal plants, including trees, shrubs and herbs, have been identified at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, mainly in the evergreen and moist deciduous forests. Plants belonging to the family of Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae are the major ones among them. Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) and Kino Tree (Pterocarpus marsupium) are two plants with medicinal value found here.

Day 07 – Periyar-Kumarakom (4 Hours Drive)

After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom, which is famous for its backwater & scenic beauty, sprinkled with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and Tranquility. You may opt to go for a rejuvenating Ayurvedic Massage. Also, you go for a village walk through the nearby villages. Overnight at the Resort.

The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, it’s never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. And that is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.

Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake and a picturesque, clean village like most places in Kerala. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread across 14 acres, the bird sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist’s paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.

Day 08 – Houseboat

Enjoy your breakfast at the resort. Later check out by 8.30 AM to experience the guided village tour done by the local villagers as a part of the Better Together project by Responsible Tourism Mission. Later drive to Alleppey to board your exclusive Houseboat at 1230 PM for a cruise through the backwater villages followed by overnight stay on board. Your meals are cooked and served on board. Explore the amazing backwater life of Kerala! Overnight at the Houseboat.

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board. The name Backwaters brings you the very thought of Houseboats. Food and leisurely times spent on-board with the feeling and privacy of house as well as enjoying the natural beauty. A Cruise amidst marvellous mangrove forests, captivating coconut canopies, swaying palms, mangrove forests, pulsating paddy fields sprinkled with enchanting waterways and canals decked with white lilies, can be quite a rejuvenating experience for the weary traveller. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living. The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words. It’s to be lived and evolved by yourself.

Day 09 – Alleppey – Marari Beach (1 Hour Drive)

Enjoy your breakfast on board. Later, at 9 AM checkout & drive to a heritage home in Alleppey for a cookery show followed by lunch. Later proceed to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. On arrival check in at the resort on the Beach. Rest of the day at leisure on the beach. You may opt to go for an Ayurvedic Massage or a village walk. Overnight at the Resort.

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine, very unusual and different from the rest of India. Cooking in Kerala is all about discoveries, aromas and colours. Kerala cuisine is very hot and spicy and offers several gastronomic opportunities to those willing to experiment with the local cuisine. Traditionally, in Kerala food is served on a banana leaf. One has to take food with right hand. This cookery demo is not just being in the kitchen, will give you hands on experience, you’ll learn to prepare 3-4 variety of Kerala’s delicacies in a friendly, relaxed, informal environment. Each dish will be demonstrated, prepared and cooked.

Marari originates from “Mararikulam”, one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience the local charm/and traditional Keralan Hospitality at it’s best. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more. An authentic experience of the world of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a recreation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. The village of Mararikulam lies on a forgotten shore, midway up the Malabar coast, where the Indian Ocean finally decides that it has now become the Arabian Sea.

Day 10 – Marari

Full day at the resort. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more… An authentic experience of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a re-creation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. You may opt to take an Ayurvedic Massage…Visit the fishermen villages.. By evening it may interesting to visit the local temple to watch the local crowd coming for worship and socialization. Overnight at Resort.

Day 11– Cochin Departure (2.5 Hours Drive)

Like all good things, your holiday experience comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable experience. Today, you will be assisted and transferred to Cochin International airport for your flight home!!