The multi-centre luxury Kerala holiday provides a 9 day tour of Kerala filled with magical sunsets and beaches, tranquil backwaters, the heights of Periyar and the historic magnificence of Cochin. Starting from Cochin, a merchant gateway into the region complete with stunning historic sites and a bustling harbour, the tour takes you through Fort Cochin, to the Jewish Synagogue and the Dutch Palace, providing a vibrant overview of the port city’s multicultural past.
The tour then heads towards Periyar, allowing you to immerse yourself in the town renowned for its spice. Afterwards, you travel to the village of Kumarakom, located on the picturesque Vembanad Lake, where you will have a chance to soak in the tranquillity of the area. The final stop is the fishing village Mararikulam, located on the beach. There you can spend a couple of days relaxing on the quiet sandy beach or in the luxury of your beach resort.
Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this tour is just an example to help inspire you. If you would like we can also arrange your flights for a fully ATOL protected holiday. Contact the team for more information on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com
Sightseeing tour of Cochin
Upon your arrival at Cochin International Airport, you will be met by your Authentic India Tours representative for the transfer to your hotel.
You will be staying in the Brunton Boatyard, an elegant colonial style hotel which is conveniently located in historic Fort Cochin and overlooks the harbour, guaranteeing stunning views.
In the evening, enjoy a boat trip past Cochin’s island shores. As the sun sets, you will see the famous cantilevered fishing nets. It’s fascinating to watch the fishermen skilfully dip the hammock-like nets into the water, silhouetted against the orange and pink sky.
Cochin has been one of the primary gateways to the region for distant merchants and travelers since 1413, and that’s reflected in the city’s rich and diverse architecture.
On today’s sightseeing tour of Fort Cochin & Mattancherry, you can explore remnants of Cochin’s multicultural past by visiting St Francis’ Church and the local fish market. Later, proceed to Mattancherry to see the Jewish Synagogue and the Dutch palace which houses murals depicting the Ramayana.
In the evening, you will witness a traditional Kathakali dance performance – we suggest arriving early if you want to experience the elaborate make-up preparation.
Today, you will take a scenic route inland to Periyar National Park, with stops to visit rubber and tea plantations on route. In fact, Periyar boasts the perfect natural environment for growing an array of spices including cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and vanilla, as it’s located in the Western Ghats, a kilometre above sea level.
In the afternoon, you can explore the spice town at your leisure, or immerse yourself into the tribal village setting of your first class Spice Village hotel. In the early evening, learn more about the spices grown in the region with a visit to a spice garden. Most evenings there is also a cookery demonstration at the hotel.
When you think of Indian wildlife, the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is probably what you imagine. Before breakfast, the more fearless travelers will have the chance to discover the Periyar Tiger Reserve on foot with a local tribal tracker, whose unique expertise in the area will make this trek a wonderfully rewarding experience.
Then, in the late afternoon, we will take a boat ride on Lake Periyar for a chance to see various species of wildlife in their natural habitat without disturbing their way of life. From the comfort of a covered boat you can look out for wild elephants, bisons, sambar deers, nilgir langurs, malabar giant squirrels and a wide variety of birdlife.
Today, you will descend from the Western Ghats through the lovely countryside to the small village of Kumarakom, hidden in the backwaters off the South Eastern end of Vembanad Lake and Kerala’s backwater canals.
You will be transferred to your heritage hotel, Coconut Lagoon, via a short boat trip. In the evening, enjoy a sunset cruise on the picturesque Vembanad Lake, upon which your accommodation is set.
You can take this day to relax and soak in the tranquility of this beautiful area by taking a gentle stroll along the lakeside, or simply enjoying the facilities of your gorgeous hotel.
Alternatively, you can visit the butterfly garden, go bird watching at Kumarakom bird sanctuary or try your hand at paddle boarding. For those wishing to experience the wonders of an authentic ayurvedic therapy, this is also a great opportunity.
In the late morning you will travel the short distance to Mararikulam – a quaint little fishing village located on a quiet beach just north of Alleppey.
We recommend staying at the Marari Beach Resort, an ethnic style first class beach resort, modeled on the fishermen dwellings of Mararikulam. The resort offers standard villas with open roof style bathrooms. If you favour more private luxuries, you can choose one of the pool villa cottages, which are suite-style and have a secluded walled courtyard with a private pool all for yourself. Remainder of the day you can spend at your leisure.
Today is a full day dedicated to your leisure. Relax and soak up the serenity and tranquillity of this quiet, undeveloped sandy beach. Try unwinding in a hammock under a palm tree or indulging in a rejuvenating ayurvedic massage at the Ayurvedic spa.
Like all good things, your tour in Kerala must come to an end, but you can carry the memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience home with you. In good time you will be transferred to Cochin International Airport for your homebound flight.
The price guide for this 9 day Kerala Holiday is
The prices do not include flights.
Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.
This is a private tour and can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, length of tour, accommodation & season. Reductions are normally available for groups of three or more. Some hotels operate an additional peak pricing rate during busy times which is normally from mid December to mid January.
Please get in touch with your dates and we will be pleased to provide you with your personal itinerary and accurate quote.
The price does not include:
Prices mentioned above are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication may be subject to change, based on your date of travel and local market fluctuations. You will be informed of any price differences prior to booking.
For a quote based on your dates of travel, any alternative accommodation or changes to this itinerary, please call us on 01792 315499 or email us at info@aitholidays.com
Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this Kerala tour is just an example to help inspire you.
This tour can be combined with a range of options such as a stay in Marari Beach, a tour of the Golden Triangle or a visit to some of the World Heritage Sites in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. For more information please email info@aitholidays.com or call our India specialists on 01792 315499.