Classic Kerala and the Beach

Welcome to Cochin!

Upon arrival in Cochin, your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in and briefing on your trip.

In the afternoon, you will take a city tour that begins with a visit to the Fort Kochi area, where you will see bright green, yellow and blue warehouses filled with teas and spices; old-rickety bicycles and hand-painted trucks full of merchandise; and food stalls on every corner. You will also visit the Cochin coast to see local fishermen and the Chinese fishing nets. Next, you will see St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India, built in 1503.

Then, you will take a tuk-tuk to Dhobi Khana (laundry station). Then, continue through the narrow streets of Mattancherry to see the Mattancherry Palace, built as a gift by the Portuguese to the King of Kochi, as well as the synagogue and spice market.

In the evening, you will have the opportunity to take a cooking class with a local family.

Munnar

In the morning, you will drive to Munnar, a hill station located in the Western Ghats, approximately 5,250 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level. Spend the rest of the day exploring Munnar and enjoying the famous hill station serenity.

Coffee Plantations

After breakfast, you will go to a nearby small town, where you will start your hike with a local guide. The trail will take you on a gradual ascent through the tea plantations and up to the Seven Malai Hills. You will trek through cardamom and coffee plantations on your way to the top, where you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding peaks, lakes, and villages.

After the trek, return to the hotel to rest a bit. Later in the afternoon, you will have the option to visit the Tea Museum.

Alleppey and Board a Houseboat

Today, you will head to Alleppey. Once you arrive, you will board a kettuvallam, a type of houseboat with furniture, running water, bathrooms, bedrooms, and a living room. These flat-bottomed barges traditionally known as rice boats were used to haul tons of materials, with a small area covered in bamboo and coir that served as a kitchen and rest area for the crew. Coir or coconut fiber is produced in the area.

On board the kettuvallam, you will discover the incredible backwaters of Kerala, a network of canals and lagoons dotted with small fishing and agricultural villages, as well as rubber and spice plantations.

Marari Beach

After breakfast, leave the houseboat behind and drive to Marari Beach, about an hour away. Once you arrive, you will check into your hotel and have the rest of the day to relax on the beach. Make sure to watch the sunset off the coast.

Marari Beach

Today you will have a free day to enjoy Marari beach. You can relax, swim, or get an Ayurvedic massage. Other options include a bike tour of the many nearby towns where people make hand-spun coconut coir, visiting craft markets, or sampling some of the fresh and spicy fish Marari is famous for at one of the many restaurants next to the beach in the area.

Goodbye Kerala

Today, you will depart from your hotel and your guide will take you to the Cochin airport for your flight home.