Best of Kerala: Culture, Backwaters & Coast

Fly overnight to Cochin.

Arrive in Cochin, a port town located on the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, which has drawn settlers from all over the world for centuries. You’ll transfer straight to the 5-star Casino Hotel on Willingdon Island for the night. Relax among gardens by the salt-water pool before this evening’s trip to historic Fort Cochin, where the palm-shaded waterfront is lined with old Portuguese cannons and Chinese fishing nets.

You’ll head to Cochin Cultural Centre for a two-hour Kathakali performance. This ancient Keralan art form blends theatre and dance to tell tales of warring gods and demons. Begin by watching an intricate face-painting demonstration then enjoy an hour-long show performed by skilled Kathakali artists who predominately use their eyes and facial expressions to tell the story, a practice that takes years to perfect.

Explore some of Cochin’s most famous sites this morning. First, head to the lantern-lined streets of Jew Town, home to the vestigial Jewish community. Here, you’ll visit Paradesi Synagogue, which was founded in 1568 and features Belgian chandeliers and 18th-century hand-painted Chinese tiles. Continue to nearby Mattancherry Palace, which was built by the Portuguese around 1545 for Cochin’s Maharaja but later taken over by Dutch rulers. Inside, admire ornate Hindu murals, antique weapons and old maps.

Finally, make a stop at India’s first European-built church, St Francis, which was originally built by Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503. Afterwards, drive four-hours east along spiralling mountain roads to Munnar. This cool-climate former hill station is grooved with tea plantations surrounded by the misty peaks of the Western Ghats. Stay at The Valle for two nights, a 5-star hotel perched on a hill overlooking the tea-covered landscape.
(B)

After breakfast, head out on a tuk-tuk tour with photo stops along mountain roads surrounded by the patchwork fields of Munnar, one of south India’s largest tea-growing regions. You’ll delve into this history with a trip to a Tea Factory, where you can take in views of the endless tea bushes that cover the hillside, then head into the factory to learn about the entire tea-making process, from bush to cup.
Next, you’ll head into Munnar town for a tasting session at Tea Tales, where you’ll sample a variety of locally-grown white, green and black tea varieties, learning about the different qualities of each one. Take a stroll through the town, visiting a market where you can interact with traders selling produce, tea and crafts. Return to your hotel for a quiet evening.
(B)

Enjoy a free morning at your hotel. Have a leisurely breakfast, sip tea while soaking up the views from your private terrace or even book an Ayurvedic treatment at the spa. Next, drive three hours south to Thekkady, which is the gateway to Periyar Tiger Reserve, home to around 40 endangered Bengal tigers. Also known as Periyar National Park, the reserve lies in the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats.
Stay at the 4-star Cardamom County for two nights, an eco-friendly nature retreat that lies next to the reserve. Periyar is India’s biggest wildlife sanctuary, covering around 925 square kilometres of landscape, including a man-made lake. Settle into your cottage with balcony and lie by the pool in the tropical gardens, where indigenous trees draw monkeys and birds from the reserve.
(B)

Rise early for a 1.5-hour boat trip on Periyar Lake, which was formed when Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed in 1895. Sail across the 26-square-kilometre lake, which is studded with tree stumps where birds perch and is home to otters, crocodiles and over 40 species of fish. Look out for animals drinking on the banks; common sightings including elephants, bison, sambar and deer. Afterwards, return to your hotel for breakfast and some free time.
This afternoon, you’ll visit The Spice Farm, where you’ll have a chance to taste and buy local spices. A guide will lead you through a garden, pointing out a range of spices, from black pepper and cardamom to ginger, nutmeg and cloves. End the day with a traditional Kalaripayattu martial art performance in town, watching as competitors duel on mud floors with swords and daggers.
(B)

Today, say goodbye to Thekkady and drive four hours west to Alleppey on the Arabian coastline. The town is bisected by canals and acts as the gateway to Kerala’s vast network of backwaters. In the mid-19th century, hundreds of wooden kettuvallam (rice barges) transported spices, coir, coffee, tea and produce along the narrow waterways, using Alleppey as a major port.
Check into the 4-star Lake Canopy for two nights, set on the banks of Punnamada Lake just north of Alleppey’s busy city centre. Settle into your cottage nestled amid lawns and coconut groves, with canals running through the gardens, admiring the view from your private terrace. The rest of the day is yours to lie by the pool, relax and sample the hotel’s authentic Indian dining.
(B)

Rise early if you want to start your day with an optional village walk, bookable locally. You’ll take a canoe across the river to explore on foot, immersing yourself in daily village life. Afterwards, board a houseboat for a scenic day cruise along the backwaters. You’ll be greeted by the crew with a welcome drink while you journey deep into the winding canals. Spot birds overhead as you cut through mirror-like waters dotted with lily-pads.
During the cruise, take in views of the paddy-lined countryside, as well as houses, markets and temples that line the riverbanks. You may spot children cycling to school, women in vibrant safaris washing clothes in the shallows and fishermen in tiny wooden row boats. Enjoy lunch on board, featuring fish curry, rice and vegetable dishes, followed by afternoon tea and snacks. Afterwards, you’ll head back to your hotel for the evening.
(B, L)

Savour a free morning at your waterside hotel. Have breakfast and relax by the pool before travelling 1.5 hours up the coast to Cochin. Here, you’ll check back into the Casino Hotel for the night. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please; have a massage at the spa or lounge by the pool in the gardens.
Alternatively, head back into Fort Kochi for more sightseeing. Here, you can pick up souvenirs in the pretty streets lined with grand houses built by the Dutch, British and Portuguese and watch fishermen haul in the day’s catch from their iconic Chinese nets. End by watching the sunset as you stroll along the waterfront, followed by a final Keralan meal at one of Fort Kochi’s popular restaurants.
(B)

Today your India adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Cochin Airport for your return flight.
(B)