Day 1 – To Kochi: Fly from London to Kochi,
via Dubai, with Emirates / via Mumbai, with Jet
Airways. (N)
Day 2 – Kochi: Morning arrival in Kochi, the
historic centre of India’s spice trade. Transfer to
the Vivanta by Taj – Malabar (or similar) for 2 nights. Afternoon tour of
Kochi with a visit to Jew Town, the Chinese
fishing nets and St Francis Church, which dates
back to 1503. Continue to Mattancherry
Palace, a gift from the Portuguese to the raja of
Kochi in 1515. (N)
Day 3 – Kochi: In the morning, take a cruise
around the Kochi harbour. Proceed to the
famed spice market where you will have the
opportunity to shop for some of the exotic
spices that this region is renowned for. Later
this afternoon, visit the Kathakali dance studio
where you will have access to the artist’s
dressing room and a short demo on the
elaborate make-up that this dance form is
renowned for. (B)
Day 4 – To Thekkady: Morning drive through the Western Ghats to Thekkady, a beautiful area of tea gardens, rubber estates and coffee and pepper plantations, located high in the Cardamom hills. In the afternoon, visit a spice garden where you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of the spices are grown. Stay overnight at Cardamom County.
(B)
Day 5 – To Kumarakom: In the morning drive to Kumarakom. En route you will visit a working tea estate, where you will have the opportunity to learn how tea is grown, graded, the various processes involved in the production of tea and an introduction to tea tasting. Continue to Kumarakom and stay 2 nights at Kumarakom Lake Resort. Sunset boat trip on Lake Vembanad. (B)
Day 6 – Backwaters cruise: Drive to Alleppey
for a motorboat cruise through the narrow
canals and inland waterways, seeing rural life that
has changed very little over the centuries. (B)
Day 7 – To Kovalam: Drive to the coastal
resort of Kovalam and stay 2 nights at the
Vivanta by Taj – Kovalam (or similar). (B)
Day 8 – Kovalam: At leisure. (B)
Day 9 – To London: Morning transfer to
Trivandrum airport and fly to London, via
Dubai, with Emirates. (B)
Combinations: This tour can be combined
with northern India’s Golden Triangle, which
includes the Taj Mahal and Jaipur.
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
