Homestays And Boutiques Kerala

Itinerary

Day 1: Cochin Arrival

Stop At: Kerala Kathakali Centre, near Santa Cruz Basilica K.B. Jacob Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin) 682001 India
On arrival at Cochin Airport, you will be met & transferred to your hotel. Day to relax after long flight.Evening visit a traditional Kathakali centre to watch the exclusive dance drama 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.Overnight at Hotel .
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Francis Residence,a luxury boutique Homestay with the host family staying in the same house

Day 2: Heritage Tour

Stop At: Fort Kochi, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast, proceed for a guided village backwater canoe Cruise at Poothotta followed by lunch at the farm house. Afternoon back to Cochin for a guided sightseeing to visit St Francis Church,Jewish Synagogue,Dutch Palace,Chinese Fishing Nets etc.Cochin still keeps its colonial profile left over by many of the foreign influences by British,Dutch & Portuguese.Evening to walk around Fort Cochin to see the life around. 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....a demonstration on coir making or a village kitchen etc.Your lunch will be prepared by the wife of our boatman with fresh catch from the river.Our guide Peter can tell you many stories about the Nature and life around.

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 flavor of the colonial era.Jewish,Arabs,Portuguese British all came to Cochin for trading and Mattancherry was the spice trade head quarters due to the proximity of Cochin Port.While Fort Cochin became the administrative head quarters,Mattancherry maintained its trading status.The colonial stature and buildings still make Fort Cochin a favourite destination for tourists.Its getting an upgrade once its 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.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch will be prepared by a village homemaker at her home as a part of our Responsible Tourism Initiative
Accommodation included: Francis Residence

Day 3: Royal Story

Stop At: Hill Palace Museum, Hill Palace Rd, Tripunithura, Kochi (Cochin) India
After an early breakfast,you will be taken to a fishing harbor to see the fishermen life connected with the business.Later have a walking tour through Broadway Market followed by Vegetable market visit.Afternoon for an interactive tour through the Royal remnants of Cochin. We provide an alternate narrative to visitors through the Cochin Royal Heritage Trail which tells the story of Cochin through that of the Cochin Royal Family, while still covering Cochin’s relations with the Europeans as well as other communities, thereby sharing a lesser known but very fascinating and important element of Cochin’s history. The Cochin Royal Heritage Trail takes visitors to the erstwhile royal town of Tripunithura and relates stories connected to the Royal Family of Cochin. The trail ends with high-tea with present day members of the Royal Family . Evening visit Pepper Trails Kitchen to witness a cookery show followed by dinner with the host family. Your Hosts Simi & Kishore will receive you at their home to become a part of their home for few hours.Simi will be demonstrating few Kerala dishes and you are also supposed to be a part of cooking your dinner.Overnight at Hotel .
Duration: 7 hours

Stop At: Ernakulam, Ernakulam, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
You will visit the famous Broadway Market,fishing harbour etc in the new city side
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: You will experience a live cookery show followed by dinner with the host family
Accommodation included: Francis Residence

Day 4: Munnar Tea Gardens

Stop At: Munnar, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise . You will drive through Midland crops like Rubber,arecnut,pineapple etc. Enroute stop at a farm House for lunch followed by a Spice farm visit.On arrival in Munnar,check into your hotel.Evening visit Munnar town to buy fresh tea.Rest of the free to relax in the nature. Overnight at the Hotel.

Munnar is set at an altitude starting from 1500 MSL which reaches 2695 MSl at Anamudi,the highest peak in South India.The vast expanse of tea gardens,exquisite flora and fauna are additional attractions to this green beauty.There are many wildlife sanctuaries around Munnar.So the activities in Munnar can be varied from a tea plantation walk,tea making experience,medium or hard treks,Wildlife exploration,birding,camping etc.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: You will have a stop enroute at a farm house for lunch and farm visit
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort run by a family stays in the same premises located amidst Tea gardens and an orchard

Day 5: Tea Making Experience

Stop At: Munnar, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala
Full day guided Tea Trail experience. You will be driven to a Tea Plantation to go with the workers to pluck the tea leaves and you will go through the whole process of making tea.In between our Naturalist will give you short Nature walks through the tea plantation.Lunch will be served at the Estate Bungalow.Finally you will taste your own tea and will take home half kilo of Tea as memory of your day experience.Overnight at the Hotel.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch will be at a British Bungalow in the middle of tea plantations
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort

Day 6: Adventure

Stop At: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Munnar - Udumalpet Road, Munnar 685612 India
Full day guided village experience tour.After breakfast you will be driven to Marayoor Village where you will walk through the side of sandalwood forest followed by visiting a tribal village where you will see a different way of life.Because of the present literacy and education,the life of tribal people is changed a lot,though. 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.You will visit a village home for a traditional lunch on banana leaf.Later you will be taken to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided trek through the wet evergreen forest to watch wildlife.Overnight at the Hotel.
As you go on the nature trail in Chinnar, you are bound to come across a fascinating plethora of bird and animal life. Chinnar Sanctuary is located in the eastern slope of Western ghats sharing its flora and fauna with Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park. Elephant, gaur, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, grizzled giant squirrel, hanuman languor, long eared fish owl etc. inhabit the Chinnar forests. The grizzled Giant squirrel is an endangered species
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Marayoor Sandalwood Forest, Marayur 685620 India
You will walk through the Sandalwood forest area
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: A Traditional Lunch will be served at the village
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort

Day 7: Plantation Stay

Stop At: Kailasappara View Point, Munnar - Kumily Highway, Nedumkandam, Idukki, Kerala, India, Nedumkandam 685553 India
After breakfast,drive to a spice plantation with Cardamom,Pepper,Coffee etc.Afternoon to explore the plantations ,cardamom processing etc.Overnight stay at the Plantation Bungalow.

Kailasapara is a hamlet in the picturesque upper reaches of the Western Ghat mountains. The mountains here slope down into picturesque valleys where numerous rivulets wind through vast stretches of thick forests and plantations. Set on a hillock amidst tea bushes, Chalet Jacaranda is an exquisitely designed and furnished home. Surrounded by an enormous plantation of cardamom, pepper, tea and coffee, the setting is serene and secluded with the persistent chatter of cicadas, the conversations of birds and throughout the day a gentle breeze for company.

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Silver Oak Plantation Bungalow amidst a Cardamom Plantation

Day 8: Periyar

Stop At: Periyar National Park, Banks Of Artificial Periyar Lake, Thekkady India
Today, you will be transferred to Periyar ,the famous wildlife destination of Kerala.Afternoon visit a Spice Farm and later shopping for spices. Kerala produces most of the costly Spices available in India.This includes Pepper,Cardamom,Clove,Cinnamon,Vanila,Ginger,Turmeric,Nutmeg etc.Overnight at Hotel.

Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Pepper County Homestay set amidst a spice farm

Day 9: Organic Farm Visit with Lunch

Stop At: Cumbum, Cumbum, Theni District, Tamil Nadu
Early morning go for a short trekking or boating through the Sanctuary to watch wildlife .After breakfast,drive to Harvest Farms for a guided tour through an Organic fruit and veg farm along with a hatchery.Enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with homegrown products or locally sourced.You will be taken for a bullock cart ride through the farm village for a local experience.Return to your hotel for overnight stay.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Periyar National Park, Banks Of Artificial Periyar Lake, Thekkady India
You will go for a boating or trekking through the National Park
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch will be freshly cooked at an Organic Farm
Accommodation included: Pepper County Homestay

Day 10: Backwaters

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey, which is famous for its backwater & scenic beauty, sprinkled with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and Tranquility. Enjoy the backwater life.Overnight at the Homestay.
Backwaters is the unique attraction for Kerala.With its vibrant and genuine lifestyle,one would find it a serene abode to have a peaceful life experience.For a traveler ,there can be exciting life scenes around like the women washing clothes at the river side or housewives rowing private canoes to reach home,a coconut climber or a toddy tapper.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Kurialacherry Homestay on Vembanad Lake

Day 11: Backwaters-Relax

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
Full day to rewind on the backwaters.Breakfast at your hotel/homestay.Your host will take you for a village exploration around. Overnight at the Homestay.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Kurialacherry Homestay

Day 12: Houseboat Experience

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
Enjoy your breakfast at the resort. Later drive to Alleppey to board your exclusive Houseboat for a cruise through the backwater villages followed by overnight stay on board.Your meals are freshly cooked and served on board. Explore the amazing backwater life of Kerala! Overnight at the Houseboat.

The uniqueness about a houseboat cruise is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where your meals are cooked on board. The food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board and the crew are men. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. You get to experience the native way of living.The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words.Its to be lived and evolved by yourself

Duration: 21 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch is freshly cooked and served on board
• Dinner: Dinner is freshly cooked and served on board
Accommodation included: Traditional Deluxe Houseboat with Airconditioned Bedroom

Day 13: Beach Holiday

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
Enjoy your breakfast on board.Later , checkout & drive to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. Rest of the day at leisure at your resort on the beach.You may opt to go for an Ayurvedic Massage or a village walk through the nearby fishermen village.Overnight at the Resort.
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.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Marari Sands,a boutique resort right on the beach

Day 14: Beach

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
Full day at the resort. An authentic experience of Kerala's traditional fishing villages, and a re-creation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. By evening it may interesting to visit the local temple to watch the local crowd coming for worship and socialisation.Overnight at Resort.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Marari Sands

Day 15: Today you will be dropped to Cochin Airport to connect your flight for onward journey

Pass By: Kochi (Cochin), Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Today you will be dropped at Cochin International Airport to connect your onward flight.2.5 Hours drive

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.