Kerala is named as one of the “50 must see destination of a lifetime” by National Geographic Traveller magazine. With its high mountains, gushing rivers, dense forests and the vast stretches of ocean, it is sandwiched between the Lakshadweep sea and the forested Western Ghats that define its border with Tamil Nadu to the east.
So in a refreshing change of scene from the Golden Triangle or Goa, here is an introduction to Kerala that shows you the best of Kerala – from the quaint lanes of Fort Cochin with its cafés, colonial-period hotels, and churches to the towering mountains of Munnar with its carpet of tea plantations; from see herds of wild elephants lick salt on the shores of the Periyar Lake to the colourful market town of Alappuzha. And finally to chill out on the famed hippie beaches of the 60’s at Kovalam.
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 – largely locally owned and hosted accommodations.
Short Program
Day 1: Arrival Cochin
Day 2: In Cochin
Day 3: Drive to Munnar
Day 4: Morning visits in Munnar & surroundings. Afternoon free at leisure.
Day 5: Drive to Thekkady
Day 6: Morning in Thekkady. Afternoon drive to Alappuzha.
Day 7: Morning in Alappuzha. Afternoon drive to the beach at Kovalam.
Day 8: Day at Kovalam
Day 9: Departure transfer to Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station / Airport
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 limited insights into the life of the local communities of Kerala whether in the markets of Alappuzha or a locally owned spice plantation in the hills of Thekkady.
Your tour operator has a sense of moral responsibility towards the development of the tourism industry in Kerala. They commit 2% of their profit to various Tourism Associations for the development of tourism projects in India. They have taken it upon themselves to raise the living and social standards of the people in the Kuttanad area, which is the site of their company’s resort, the Our Land Resort. Here, the local people are employed and offered good wages. Special care is taken to educate them to be well equipped in communicating with tourists and providing them excellent service.
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 Munnar and Munnar to Thekkady is wonderfully scenic.
- The visit to Alappuzha market is really off the tourist map – riotous, noisy, friendly and colourful!
- Visiting a spice plantation and learning what goes into that famous of Indian mixed spice – garam masala!
Trip watch-outs!
- This is a long trip – expect all road journeys to take between 4-6 hours
- The Periyar Tiger Reserve is an overrated wildlife spotting destination, and the boat safari is really more of a joyride. Expect noisy day-trippers and large families or groups joining you.
- The trip covers popular tourism destinations such as Munnar, Thekkady and Kovalam – so be prepared for some overcrowded development.
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 anyone who wants an introduction to the best of Kerala –its historic towns, lush green hills carpeted with tea and spice plantations, wildlife and palm-fringed beaches.
The town of Cochin has plenty for history buffs tracing the colonial past of India and antique hunters; Munnar and Thekkady are great for their magnificent craggy mountain views; the wildlife at Thekkady (though elusive!) is fun for children and nature-buffs; and the beach stay at Kovalam is a perfect way to end the holiday getting a tan!
Children are welcome on this trip – comfortable, safe and fun!
When To Visit
It’s never too hot or too cold in Kerala, so anytime of the year is good to travel. But saying so, October to March is the best time to visit, as the heat is least intense on the Kerala coast and hinterland (max. of 30°C and min. of 18°C). But since you will spend some days in the hills, plan on carrying a sweater, especially in Munnar.
Summer, from April to May gets quite warm and humid – (max of 35°C and 23°C min) especially on the coast and in Cochin. But the hills of Munnar and Thekkady are quite a welcome respite. The monsoon runs from June until September (max. of 32°C and min. of 20°C) – its wet all over the region, so don’t expect too much of an outdoors experience. But on balance, this is the quietest time of year to travel in Kerala, especially in popular destinations such as Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady and Kovalam. And its so green!
Things To Bring
Mosquito repellent and wrist and ankle-covering layers are a must in Southern India. Loose linen trousers and dresses, and a wide brimmed hat will come in handy. Bring a camera along – the markets in Cochin and Alappuzha are a big reason to!
Road distances are long in some cases (Cochin-Munnar; Munnar-Thekkady), so portable games for children to keep them busy, some comfort snacks from home, and motion sickness medicine or acupressure wristbands to keep the nausea at bay.
Don’t forget your swimsuit and sunscreen!
Dreams of Kerala is an 8-night trip starting in Cochin and covering the best of Central & Southern Kerala before ending in the state capital of Trivandrum in the south.
Arriving 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 arrival 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.
Departing from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
By air: In Trivandrum, there is an international airport with good connectivity serving various carriers to the Middle East and South East Asia. Some European charter flights call in as well. Domestically several major cities in India such as Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kochi have direct flights to Trivandrum. Transfers to the airport are included in your itinerary.
By train: The railway station in Trivandrum is one of the biggest in Southern India. Various parts of Kerala and also different parts of South India are connected to Trivandrum through rail. Transfers to the station are included in your itinerary.
By car: If you are departing by car, then you must ask the car to report to your hotel in Kovalam. 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
