A Gourmet Journey in Kerala

Day 1 | Arrive in Cochin
Meals Included: Dinner

On arrival at Cochin airport, meet our representative and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay in a homestay in Fort Cochin where your host will show you some cooking demonstration followed by dinner.

Cochin - the Queen of Arabian Sea, undoubtedly the Commercial hub of Kerala, where ancient civilization gracefully mingles with the modern life. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in the streets of the colonial Fort Kochi. Tonight join your host for a Cooking Demonstration of Christian Kerala cuisine at her demo kitchen at home, following by a Dinner. This is a great opportunity to share thoughts, culture or simply discuss about the life of a Keralite…

Day 2 | A day in Cochin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. We start the tour with visit to Chinese Fishing nets, then St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica. Take a tuktuk ride and take a local tour where we stop at Dhobi Khana, streets of Mattencherry, a fruit market, then Spice market, take a pause for a cup of tea at a local tea shop, interact with a Brahmin family and then apply Mehandi on your palms. Then visit the Jewish Synagogue and Dutch Palace. Dinner at a famous Fort Cochin local restaurant.Overnight at the hotel.

Today you will Experience Real life of Cochin during an Ethnic tour – start with the visit of the famous Chinese Fishing Nets of Cochin. The huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that droop towards the waters like over-sized hammocks have become a hallmark that represents Fort Kochi on every postcard... Next visit is at the St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India built in 1503, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was originally buried and the Santa cruz Basilica, one of the finest and imposing churches in India. Then take a tuktuk– the most popular mode of transport among the localities Go along with your local tour and stop at the Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, it is now a picture of slow extinction. Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace road where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargains prices. Don’t miss a stop at the Spice Market, where exotic odour of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper emanate from the spice warehouses lining the street and fills it. Make a pause with a refreshing tea at one of the tea shops where you get the “one meter” tea. There is now an opportunity to interact with a Brahmin Family. The Brahmin are the highest of the four Hindu castes, made up of priests and scholars of Vedic literature and their traditional occupation is to conduct rites at marriages, births, deaths and other auspicious occasions. Then you will be invite to getting squiggly lines drawn on your hands... This ritual called Mehndi arts holds plenty of cultural significance in Indian traditions and is one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies in their marriages. Later visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, and finally the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century.

Dinner at The Fort Kochi - a renowned Seafood restaurant Described by a famous food critic writer as "one of the most renowned seafood restaurants in India". Here, you pick from an array of king prawns, lobster, squid, mussels, salmon, mackerel, shark and more ; practically straight off Cochin’s famous fishing nets.

Day 3 | Drive to Alleppey
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After a leisurely breakfast leave for Alleppey by surface, a journey of about 2 hours.You will sail on the famous backwaters of Kerala. A typical Kerala lunch and dinner will be served onboard. Overnight onboard the houseboat.

These boats are a reworked version of Kettuvallams of olden times and made out of huge planks of Jack wood, joined with coir from Coconut shells.These original Kettuvallams were once used to carry tons of rice and spices. They are today converted into comfortable floating accommodation offering enchanting cruises through the backwaters. Cruise through the palm fringed canals enjoying the beauty of rural village life. You will be offered to accompany the Chef on a visit to the direction a local food market to buy all the ingredients for your sumptuous Kerala meals served on board. The trip continues through a wonderful area of the lush green vegetation of Kerala backwaters. En route enjoy a country canoe ride – there is no better way of taking a closer look at the life and activities on the backwaters.

Day 4 | Disembark at Alleppey and drive to Kumarakom
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast on board, disembark and drive to Alleppey town to join The Preserve Alleppey project, created by the Lions Ladies Club of Alleppey in 2000. End your tour with lunch one of the members home. Check-in your hotel and rest of the day at leisure in your hotel to enjoy resort activities. Overnight at the hotel.

The Preserve Alleppey Society conducts tours of the town. It starts with a presentation of the history and unique features of the town and ends at the Society's gallery where light refreshments are served.It is partly driving and walking through the Gujarati quarter, the canal banks and an old wholesale market with a guide.

Lunch at one of the members' homes. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy an authentic Kerala meal,featuring local tropical produce. Lunches also provide visitors an opportunity to visit a home,meet with Alleppey residents and to learn about each other’s lives.

Your journey will start with a presentation of the town history and later you will be driving and walking through the Gujarati quarter, the canal banks and an old wholesale market with a local guide.A Kerala lunch will be served in one of the members' homes, which will grant you an opportunity to visit a home, meet with the residents and to learn about local’s ways of life.

Day 5 | Drive toThekkady
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast leavefor Thekkady Continue onwards to Thekkady, arrive and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon take a boat ride to visit the Periyar River. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Thekkady - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is an established tourist spot and home to elephants, tiger, bison, sambar, wild boar, langur etc. with unending Chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Later, go on a spice plantation tour where you can touch, smell and taste almost all the spices seen worldwide. Due to its location in the lower mountains around 1000 meters above sea level, Periyar is blessed with numerous types of spices. Later enjoy a stroll through the spice Markets of Kumily.

Day 6 | Drive to Rajakkad Estate
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast leave for Rajakkad Estate, a journey of about 4 hours. En-route we will stop for Organic farm visit and lunch at Harvest Fresh Farm. After lunch continue your journey towards Rakakkad Estate, arrive and check-in at the Estate. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Set in the heart of the serene Cumbum Valley, Harvest Fresh Farms is flanked by mountains that kiss the clouds with streams gushing down its slopes and lush farmlands. A short 15Kms drive down the windward side of Kumily, Thekkady, Kerala, the farm is strategically located at Lower Camp, in communion with pristine nature yet close to small towns and the famous Periyar Tiger Reserve. A charming bullock cart ride takes the visitor to the organic farm that grows pomegranates as it chief harvest along with papaya, grapes and an apiary that produces the finest honey. The farm is also home to cows, geese, turkey, flying ducks and a flock of hens. A well laid out vegetable garden and herbal garden

Later on proceed onto check-in at Rajakkad Estate bungalow. This Heritage property, nestled in the lush forests and the coffee estates of the Palani Hills, offer number of activities. Accompanied by an estate guide, walk up the river through rocky gorges; visits the nearby coffee plantations and the surrounding hills with waterfalls and much more

Day 7 | A day in Rajakkad Estate
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the resort activities. Overnights stay in Rajakkad Estate.

Day 8 | Drive to Cochin Airport
Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast transfer to the Cochin Airport for your International Flight. Arrive in Cochin and connect your flight back home.