Captivating Kerala: Small group tour of India
December 3 – 14, 2024
Come to India with us and discover beautiful Kerala.
India for Beginners is proud to announce our Captivating Kerala: Land of Sun and Spices small group tour. The south India state of Kerala is often called “God’s Own Country” because it is lush, unique, and abundant in greenery, waterways, spices, fruit, sunshine and so many of the good things in life. Our Captivating Kerala: Land of Sun and Spices tour will take you deep inland to the fragrant spice gardens, high into the Cardamom Hills, and along the Malabar Coast to the ancient spice trade ports and palm lined beaches.
This small group tour (maximum size 14 travellers) from India for Beginners is for travellers who have an adventurous spirit, who enjoy going off the beaten path, and want to immerse in the culture of India. There will be some walking, and it will be hot, so a moderate level of fitness and a healthy level of enthusiasm is required!
NOTE: Please read our FAQ and Terms & Conditions page thoroughly before booking. There is a minimum of 6 participants to run this tour. Please do not book air tickets until we confirm that 6 people have booked.
TOUR Dates: December 3 – 14, 12 nights / 13 days
TOUR COSTS:
Per person on shared room basis: $2,350 USD
Per person for single room: $3,700 USD
TO BOOK:
Contact [email protected] for information regarding booking the tour and payment due dates or fill out the form below.
India for Beginners tours
India for Beginners tours are designed around relationships — the relationships founders Mariellen and Anjani have nurtured with people they have met on their extensive travels across India over many years. The local experiences we recommend both support the community and offer you memorable experiences of incredible India.
To find out more about India for Beginners, please read about our Travel Philosophy and check out some of our glowing Testimonials.
Itinerary
Day 01: Tues, Dec 3, 2024 – Arrive Cochin (Fort Kochi)
Arrive Cochin (also known as Fort Kochi) and there will be a private chauffeur driven car to take you to the hotel. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day is free to relax.
Cochin is a historic spice trading port on the Arabian Sea that was ruled by the Portuguese and Dutch for 444 years (from 1503 until India’s independence in 1947). It’s a compact place to explore with layers of history and many historical sites, cafes, boutiques, art galleries, and mansions all within walking distance.
Day 02: Wed, Dec 4, 2024 – Cochin
Start your day with a visit to the Chinese fishing nets, Jewish Synagogue, and St. Francis Church. The Chinese fishing nets were said to have come to India in about 1400 from traders from the court of Kubla Khan. St Francis Church, supposedly the oldest in India, was built by the Dutch in the 15th century. Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried there.
In the evening, experience a cultural program that features Kathakali (classical dance form) and Kalaripayattu (traditional martial art form).
Mariellen Ward cycling in Cochin (Fort Kochi).
Day 03: Thurs, Dec 5, 2024 – Cochin
After breakfast, proceed for a heritage walk along with storytelling in Fort Kochi. Later visit the weaver’s village of Chendamangalam.
Day 04: Fri, Dec 6, 2024 – Cochin – Munnar (130 kms/ 3-4 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Munnar check in at the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a natural dyeing and printing workshop. We will make beautiful decorative designs using techniques such as wax resist block printing, and tie dyeing using colours made by indigo, tea waste, marigold petals, and eupatorium leaves.
Munnar is a mountainous region in Kerala’s interior called the Western Ghats. This mountain range is one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, and an important region for spices, tea, and coffee.
Day 05: Sat, Dec 7, 2024 – Munnar
On the second day of our natural dyeing workshop, we will experiment with eco-printing and natural dyeing with various flowers and leaves. Visit Pothamedu in the evening to enjoy the sunset.
Day 06: Sun, Dec 8, 2024 – Munnar – Thekkady (90 kms/2-3 hrs)
After breakfast, visit a tea plantation and drive to Thekkady. Arrive Thekkady and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax.
Kerala is called the spice bowl of India and the mountains in the Thekkady region are called The Cardamom Hills, a romantic name that conjures visions of spice scented plantations and misty mornings.
Mariellen Ward in a spice garden in Kerala.
Day 07: Mon, Dec 9, 2024 – Thekkady
Start your day with a boat ride through Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Later visit a spice plantation followed by a visit to a spice market. Enjoy a cultural program in the evening featuring Kalaripayattu (traditional martial art form).
In Kerala, the lengthy coastline, network of backwaters, dense jungles, and Western Ghats mountain range (which runs all along the eastern boundary of Kerala) creates a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers. One of the country’s preeminent tiger reserves, Periyar, is home to an astonishing range of flora and fauna including Bengal tigers, wild elephants, panthers, and sloth bears, plus many more mammals, reptiles, and more than 300 species of birds.
Day 08: Tues, Dec 10, 2024 – Thekkady – Kumarakom (110 kms/ 3 hrs)
Drive to Kumarakom and check in at the resort. Later enjoy a one hour cruise of Kerala backwaters.
The backwaters of Kerala are one of the state’s star tourist attractions. The backwaters is a very unique network of canals, home to traditional farming communities that make or grow products such as coir (coconut fibre), copra, (dried coconut kernels) and cashews. In Kumarakom, you can both relax and witness a traditional culture that is largely unchanged.
Day 09: Wed, Dec 11, 2024 – Kumarakom – Varkala (130 kms/ 3 hrs)
Drive to Varkala and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore Varkala, enjoy the beach, and relax.
Varkala is beach town popular with tourists that ranges along the top of a couple of dramatic red cliff. The north cliff is a busy hot spot lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, resorts, and boutique hotels. The south cliff is much quieter, with a beautiful beach, an ancient temple, and a sacred beach where pujas are performed.
Day 10: Thurs, Dec 12, 2024 – Varkala
Day is free to enjoy the beach and relax.
Day 11: Fri, Dec 13, 2024 – Varkala
Day is free to enjoy the beach and relax.
Day 12: Sat, Dec 14, 2024 – Varkala – Trivandrum (40 kms /1 hr)
Our driver will drop you at Trivandrum airport to take your departure flight.
PLEASE NOTE: You can extend your stay in Kerala and enjoy more beach time, or we can arrange treatment at an Ayurveda resort, or a visit to beautiful north Kerala and the Wayanad region.
Hotels
- The Dutch Bungalow, Cochin (3 nights)
- The Leaf, Munnar (2 nights)
- Cardamom County or Elephant Court, Thekkady (2 nights)
- CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom (1 night)
- Paddle Cult Surf Retreat, Varkala (3 nights)
Tour inclusions / exclusions
TOUR INCLUDES:
- ACCOMMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS OR SIMILAR
- DAILY BUFFET BREAKFASTS WILL BE SERVED IN HOTELS,
- SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY,
- PRIVATE CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR SIGHTSEEING AND TRANSFERS (NOT AT DISPOSAL),
- ACCOMPANIED ENGLISH SPEAKING TOUR LEADER FOR THE WHOLE TRIP,
- ENGLISH SPEAKING LOCAL GUIDE FOR SIGHTSEEING IN COCHIN ONLY,
- KATHAKALI PERFOMANCE IN COCHIN,
- HERITAGE WALK OF COCHIN,
- WEAVERS VILLAGE TOUR OF COCHIN,
- NATURAL DYEING WORKSHOP IN MUNNAR,
- KALARIPAYATTU PERFORMANCE IN THEKKADY,
- SHARED BOAT RIDE IN THEKKADY,
- SPICE PLANTATION TOUR IN THEKKADY,
- ONE HOUR HOUSEBOAT CRUISE IN KUMARAKOM,
- MINERAL WATER BOTTLES AND TISSUES DURING DRIVES,
- 24X7 TOUR MANAGER WILL BE AVAILABLE OVER PHONE DURING TOUR,
- ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES, AND
- ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXES AND DRIVER ALLOWANCES.
TOUR EXCLUDES:
- PERSONAL EXPENSES,
- LUNCHES & DINNERS,
- CAMERA FEES, TIPS ETC,
- MONUMENT ENTRANCE FEES,
- GUIDE EXCEPT KOCHI
- ANYTHING THAT IS NOT MENTIONED IN INCLUSIONS,
- INTERNATIONAL & DOMESTIC AIRFARE,
- VISA CHARGES,
- PAYMENT TRANSFER FEES AND BANK FEES.
IMPORTANT POINTS:
- Minimum 6 confirmed pax (bookings) to operate the tour
- Hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Early check-in and late check-out will be subject to availability.
- The company assumes no liability for personal loss of tourists, medical emergencies or other losses.
NOTE: Some photos by Andrew Adams Photography. Andrew is a superb chronicler of Kerala — it’s a second home to him. Check out out his photography here on his website AndrewAdamsPhoto.