Family Holiday In Kerala, India

Our tour starts at the beach side resort of Varkala. The afternoon is left free and can be spent relaxing on the beach or by the hotel pool. Alternatively you may like to try out your bikes in preparation for our ride tomorrow.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Swimming available

This morning we plan to enjoy a cycle ride along palm – fringed back roads which should hopefully give us the chance for some interaction with the local people of the area who often seem to find a group of tourists on bicycles quite hilarious! Travelling through villages we see some traditional coir-making skills (the fibres from the outer husk of the coconut, which is used to make rope and mats), as well as fishing. At the end of our ride we will visit an elephant trader’s camp where the elephants used in various festivals are trained. We aim to ride around 13 kms although our tour vehicle will accompany us as a support vehicle should anyone not wish to cycle the full distance. Our imported mountain bikes are adult sized bikes although we do have some smaller frame sizes. Please bring your own cycle helmet from home for the ride. Returning to Varkala, there should be some time to relax and enjoy the beaches of the Arabian coast, wander amongst the palms and perhaps enjoy a stunning sunset before enjoying a well-earned dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

This morning we drive to the lively Backwaters centre of Allepey where we board our houseboats and begin our relaxing cruise into the network of the Kerala backwaters. Converted from old rice-barges, with walls and roofs of coir, these simple vessels have two, or sometimes more, en-suite rooms and an area to relax and watch riverside life as we go by. On the more open canals, you can see boats with large sails – the bow often carved in the shape of a dragon. The boats are the lifeline for the villages, acting as taxis, mail delivery, even the harvest is carried in them. You may see great pyramids of coconuts or even the odd buffalo being carried along in this time honoured fashion! We plan to stop off at several points of interest en route and the traditional Keralan cuisine served on board is delicious.

Overnight Houseboat (U) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We continue our trip along the palm-fringed waterways to Thrikunnapuzha. Our accommodation is superbly situated on its own beautiful island within this stunning lagoon. This afternoon we board our charted motor boat to visit The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race on the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha, which held on the second Saturday of August every year. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people, including tourists from abroad for watching it. For the people of each village in Kuttanad, a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come, after visit back to hotel by our charted motor boat.

Overnight Bungalow/Chalet (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we transfer by motorboat to the pretty village of Mancombo. The journey takes around 1 hour and gives us further chance to watch the relaxed way of life on these waterways.  When we reach Mancombo we meet our hosts for the next two days and explore the village. We will also walk among the seemingly numerous fruits and medicinal plantsthat surround the village, as well as strolling through banana and coconut plantations. It is possible to hire bikes to explore some of the nearby villages.  There is the option to travel by canoe and visit the famous temples of Karumadikuttan, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Accommodation at Mancombo is spread over several village houses,  simply styled with traditional Keralan furniture. Due to space constraints – families may need to share a room together. (B, L, D).

Overnight Homestay (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

Taking the meandering roads through the high ranges, past rubber and tea plantations, we to continue our journey to Thekkady, situated close to the border with Tamil Nadu. Thekkady is the closest settlement to the Periyar National Park which has a stunning setting, on the shores of Lake Periyar and is home to a myriad of wildlife such as elephant, sambar, barking and mouse deer, wild pigs, bison, monkey and langur, star tortoise, porcupine and the flying squirrel. The park also boasts some 260 species of birds, including cormorants, darters, ospreys, kingfishers. In the afternoon we take a guided nature trek in the hope of spotting some of these wild creatures although please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed. The park itself is made up of a variety of habitats, open grasslands, deciduous, semi-evergreen and tropical forest, all of which have different animal species. The ecosystem of the tropical evergreen jungle is very interesting – the trees grow up to 40m, and the dense canopy above only allows in limited sunlight. Therefore at ground level, there are abundant ferns, orchids and airplants – plants that need little light to survive.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we make our way back to the coast and drive on to Kochi where we stay in the heart of the Old Portuguese fort. This place has been a gathering place of merchants since antiquity and is full of bustling traders. Fort Kochi is the oldest European settlement in India (1500), and has a mixture of English, Dutch and Portuguese influence. Over the next 2 days we’ll visit the Jew town synagogue where Kochi’s surviving Jewish community come to worship, the Mattancherry Palace which was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and some of its famous churches. There’s time to wander in the area around the interesting cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets, do some souvenir shopping or wander around the fish market. A tour of the harbour boat, especially at sunset is recommended. Kochi is also a good place to see the famous Kathakali dancers, which is thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala. Its origins may have come from traditional temple rituals and from an art form known as Koodiyattam. It is the face make up which makes this dancing so unique. The dancers can take up to three hours painting their faces – the features are heavily emphasised as it is the facial expressions and coordinated eye movements which are important in the dance. We include a visit to see these dancers and try some of their make-up on ourselves!

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We catch an early morning train to Trivandrum and then drive to Kovalam, a former hippy hang out, its now a thriving beach resort .Our time here will be left free for relaxation, shopping, a South Indian cookery class (optional) or to take an optional excursion to Kanniyakumari at the southern extremity of the subcontinent. In the evening you can sit in a beachside cafe, enjoying the vista of local fishermen sailing out for their evening catch with a backdrop of the setting sun. Kerala is particularly renowned for its herbal care, and you may choose to try out an Ayurvedic massage, the science of rejuvenation and purification through natural remedies, that uses a range of oils and herbs to treat a number of ailments.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Included meals: Breakfast