Trip Introduction
Most first-time visits to Kerala involve one-week at the big four destinations of Cochin, Kumarakom, Munnar and Thekkady. And these trips suffer from long-distance travel fatigue and tremendous pressure on these destinations.
So in a refreshing change of scene, here is an introduction to Kerala that shows you the hidden delights of Kerala – from the quaint lanes of Fort Cochin with its cafés, colonial-period hotels, and churches to the quiet rural scene of backwaters in the middle of the Kuttanad, and finally a short-drive to a plantation hill-retreat called Vagamon, which is neither near Periyar nor near Munnar (so you can keep the contents of your meal where it belongs!).
On this tour, you experience Kerala not just in its icons that you visit or witness, but also in the choice of places you stay in – locally owned and hosted accommodations run by families in the community. Sitting with them at their table for a meal, or spending time with the local team that run the place, going on walks along paddy fields and villages, or canoeing down a backwater canal while you watch the local fisherman diving for clams – all of these interactive experiences will make that fish curry and rice taste so much better!
Short Program
Day 1: Arrival Cochin
Day 2: In Cochin
Day 3: Kochi – Alappuzha backwaters
Day 4: On Alappuzha backwaters
Day 5: Alappuzha – Vagamon hill country
Day 6: At Vagamon
Day 7: Return to Cochin and transfer to Airport
This trip focuses on giving travellers a short but real experience of Kerala taking you away from the beaten track destinations of Kumarakom, Munnar and Periyar, where mass tourism is adding to severe pressure on the ecology and natural resources. So instead of designing Kumarakom into the program, you stay in a small low-impact retreat in the rural backwaters south of Alappuzha. And instead of travelling up to Periyar or Munnar, you visit Vagamon and stay with a planter family in their home.
The trip gives back to the local economy in a variety of ways – using small locally owned accommodation through-out the trip that they themselves run responsible and sustainable businesses; using local guides and local drivers through-out; and encouraging guests to use local transport wherever possible.
The tour is designed to showcase the historic heritage of Kerala in Fort Cochin, offer a brief expose to the rich cultural heritage vide a dance performance; and provides constant insights into the life of the local communities of Kerala whether in the backwaters of the Kuttanad (through village walks, canoeing trips, and river cruises) and the plantations of the Central Kerala hills.
Your tour operator is truly a local team who call Kerala home and are based in Trivandrum. All members of the team have healthcare insurance and retirement plans. Safety and comfort of their drivers is paramount. All accommodations used on this trip offer accommodation and food to the drivers.
Trip highs!
- The drive from Cochin to the backwaters south of Alappuzha along a hidden back-country route – off the highway and wonderfully scenic.
- Walks in the villages around Karimbavalavu and canoeing trips around your rural backwater island retreat south of Alappuzha
- Learning all about organic farming and the spice farms at your plantation homestay and then proceed to enjoy all that fresh produce in Mrs Mathew’s sumptuous Kerala cooking!
Trip watch-outs!
- Don’t expect luxuries at any of your accommodation, but good comfortable clean rooms and first class facilities
- Food is all local Kerala style – so be prepared to be adventurous.
- Houseboat cruising on the backwaters is not ecologically responsible in most cases and adds to the pollution of the backwaters.
Your tour operator is a Kerala-based destination management company for travellers with specialist requirements looking for a highly skilled & knowledgeable service provider on the ground. They provide complete, reliable & consistent services. Their knowledge encompasses all of Southern India and they have great depth of expertise in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The company is deeply committed to operating a sustainable tourism business which reflects in their choice of local partners, accommodation providers and use of local drivers, employees and guides.
One of their co-founders, armed with a Masters degree in Tourism Management and over 25 years of experience in the industry, has pioneered the concept of houseboat tourism, elephant safaris and bamboo rafting in Kerala. He specializes in adventure, eco-tourism, trekking and special interest travel. He is constantly innovating to bring new experiences of Kerala to the outside world.
The other co-founder of the company has over 21 years of experience in running her own company in Denmark. She has specialized in responsible tourism and operates tours from Scandinavian countries to South India. She advises the company in new product development and helps make the company and its tours more sustainable and responsible.
Ideal For Whom
Ideal for couples and families who want an introduction to Kerala without driving long distances. It covers the important historic town of Cochin and a glimpse of urban life, time spent on Kerala’s iconic backwaters, and a quick dash into the famed spice hills that form the north-south backdrop to the region. This is the perfect addition to a tour of North India.
Children are welcome on this trip – comfortable, safe and fun!
When To Visit
October to March is the best time to visit, as the heat is less intense (max. of 30°C and min. of 18°C). Summer, from April to May gets quite warm and humid, though the last two nights in Vagamon can be delightfully temperate – (max of 35°C and 23°C min). The monsoon runs from June until September (max. of 32°C and min. of 20°C) – it’s truly awesome to visit Kerala in the rains – though most of it is spent indoors or in your veranda with a good book, a steaming cup of coffee and watching the raindrops!
Things To Bring
Mosquito repellent and wrist and ankle-covering layers are a must in Kerala. Loose linen trousers and dresses, sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat will come in handy. Good walking shoes for the two days in the hills.
A Taste of Kerala is a one-week trip starting and ending in Cochin and covering the backwaters and hills of Central Kerala.
Arriving & departing Cochin
By air: The closest airport is in Cochin (45 km / 90 minutes). Served by numerous airlines from Europe, Far East and the Middle East, as well as connecting flights from Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Colombo. Your tour operator will organise your round-trip transfers from the airport. Kerala’s other international airport, Trivandrum, is 200 km south of Cochin. If you are flying into Trivandrum, a transfer supplement will apply.
By train: If you’re in India already, you can catch a train to Ernakulam Junction from most destinations. From there, your tour operator will pick you up.
By car: If you are arriving by car, then you must go directly to your hotel in Fort Cochin. Detailed directions will be given after booking is confirmed.
Normal payment policy: To confirm your booking, a non-refundable deposit of 10% of the tour quote is charged to your credit card in Euro equivalent by Travel To Care on behalf of the tour operator. In addition, on the balance amount, 50% must be paid 45 days or earlier to the date of arrival. The balance 50% is payable at least one week before arrival. A credit card fee will be applicable on the deposit.
Normal cancellation policy: For all cancellations, the initial deposit is non-refundable. On the balance, you may cancel your booking at any time prior to commencement of the tour by notifying the operator in writing. The following cancellation charges apply:
30 days or more before the first day of the tour: 10%
15-29 days before the first day of the tour 50%
Less than 15 days before the first day of the tour 100%
If you request any changes to your travel arrangements once the operator has confirmed a booking, all out of pocket charges, including charges imposed by their suppliers, will be payable by you. If after the commencement of your tour you request any changes to your travel arrangements, the operator will do its best to implement them, but they cannot guarantee that it will be possible. In the event of such change(s) being made, you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the previously booked service and for any costs incurred by the operator and its suppliers in attempting to secure any revised arrangements.
Payment options All major credit cards are accepted for deposit and balance payment. Wire transfers accepted for balance payments. Instructions on request.
Period(s) tour is not operational: Never
