Homestead Tour: South Kerala - 09 Nights & 10 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Kothamangalam » Periyar » Houseboat » Kumarakom » Cochin

Overview
For those travellers wanting to experience staying within a Kerala household receiving personal attention from their hosts and experiencing Kerala in its truest sense. Tour includes; Stay in a port town, estate bungalow homestead, Cookery demonstration, Visit to an elephant orphanage, Homestead in wildlife area, Spice plantation tour, Jungle treks, Houseboat Cruise, Stay in a home stay by the lake.

DAY 01: Arrival Cochin
Welcomed by Kerala Travel Centre representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. Enjoy a full body Ayurveda massage. In the evening enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the Old Courtyard. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Cochin - Kothamangalam
(60kms/1.5hrs)Drive to Kothamangalam and spend the afternoon at leisure in a century old estate bungalow homestead set in over 100 acres of multi crop plantation. Apart from exploring the estate visit the local bird sanctuary. Participate in cookery  demonstrations involving authentic Kerala cuisine. Overnight at the MundackalEstate Bungalow. (Full Board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Kothamangalam
In the morning, drive to the Kodanad elephant orphanage. You will get the opportunity to be up and close with the elephants and can participate in their bathing and feeding. Elephant rides will also be possible. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Mundackal Estate Bungalow. (Full Board)(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04: Kothamangalam - Periyar
(175kms/4hrs)Drive to Periyar an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. Check into the Mullayoor Estate Bungalow homestead.  Overnight at the Mullayar Estate Bungalow. (Full board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Periyar
We have organised a spice plantation tour for you today where you will be enticed by not only the aroma of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg but will also get to know how they are grown, harvested and processed before they reach the supermarkets. Overnight at the Mullayar Estate Bungalow. (Full board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Periyar
Go for an escorted jungle trek where you can also engage in activities like bamboo rafting which is an optional choice for you today. Overnight at the Mullayar Estate Bungalow. (Full board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Periyar - Houseboat
(130kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Kumarakom, embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or 'Kettuvalloms' are luxurious boats with well appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it's the lifestyle of the people along the backwaters that makes this a fascinating experience. Overnight on board. (Full Board) (Vehicle for Transfer)

DAY 08: Houseboat - Kumarakom
(By Boat)Disembark at the Philipkutty's farm, a beautiful homestead by the lake. The labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons which form the famed backwaters offer stunning views and is an ideal place to relax. Day at leisure. Overnight at the Philipskutty's Farm House. (Full board)

DAY 09: Kumarakom
Day at leisure .Overnight at the Philipskutty's Farm House. (Full board)     (No vehicle)

DAY 10: Kumarakom - Cochin -Departure
(100kms/2hrs)Departure transfer to Cochin airport for onward flight. (Vehicle for Transfer)

Place	Nts	Resort	Room Type
Cochin	1	The Old Courtyard	Superior Room
Kothamangalam	2	Mundackal Estate Bungalow	Standard Room
Periyar	3	Mullayar Estate Bungalow	Estate Bungalow Room
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	1 Bedroom AC Houseboat
Kumarakom	2	Philipkutty’s Farm	Waterfront Villa

Tour	1 May 12-30 Sep 12	1 Oct 12-19 Dec 12	20 Dec 12-15 Jan 13	16 Jan 13-30 Apr 13
Standard	-	-	-	-
Superior	£ 1065	£ 1146	£ 1221	£ 1146
Deluxe	-	-	-	-

Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying 1 double/twin room. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. For single supplements please contact Kerala Travel Centre. Price Includes: Full Board at all Homestays except in Cochin, chauffeur driven AC car, Ayurveda massage, cookery demonstrations, sunset cruise, dance performance in Cochin, guide charges, all entrance fees, assisted airport transfers. Price Excludes: International Flights- Please contact Kerala Travel Centre for booking flights.

Kerala Climate and Weather
Being a coastal state surrounded by the Arabian Sea and because of its proximity to the equator, Kerala has a more or less consistent temperature pattern in the summers and the monsoons alike. The temperature hovers around 29�32 degrees (Celsius) throughout the year with varying levels of humidity.



Best months for travel to Kerala:

The months of October through to March are considered to be the most favourable months to travel to Kerala when the weather is sunny and pleasant.
The months of April and May are also favourable for travel but the humidity tends to be comparatively higher.
August and September are also good months for travel.

Monsoon Months in Kerala:

June and July are monsoon months in Kerala, the showers being heavy at first and then easing off gradually. Whilst these are not the best months for tours, interestingly, this happens to the best time for travellers seeking the therapeutic Ayurveda treatment which is said to be most effective in these months.

Special Experiences

Kerala offers a myriad of delightful, lesser known experiences which one does not get to enjoy on a regular tour which is packed with standard excursions. At the Kerala Travel Centre we have always been keen to showcase these special, off-the-beaten-track experiences that will make your Kerala holiday a memorable experience like no other.

We have compiled a partial list experiences which you could choose to enjoy on this tour. When in doubt, just ask your Kerala Travel Centre driver and he will point you the right direction.

Cochin

• Stroll down the beach in Fort Cochin to see the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. Whilst they are not as frequently used as before, you can see a demonstration of how the fishermen use these gigantic nets. It is also possible to take part in this experience along with the fishermen.
• The bustling fish markets adjacent to the fishing nets also make for an interesting visit.
• The sunset cruise in Cochin along the harbour is also a great experience where you pass other ships and boats of all sizes and can see the Cochin skyline and the Cochin shipyard which is more than 200 years old.
• Fort Cochin has a number of seafood restaurants ranging from the high end 'History' restaurant at the Brunton Boatyard to the all vegetarian 'Roti Dal' restaurant where you can try the mouth watering food.
• Enjoy an enthralling Kathakali dance performance while you are in Cochin. Watching the dancers put on make up before the show is also quite a fascinating experience.
• Your sightseeing excursion in Cochin includes several fascinating highlights including the Jewish synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica and others. Apart from this, you could also try exploring the streets with their many shops both in Fort Cochin and in the bustling Ernakulam part of Cochin. Cochin is great for shopping especially for jewellery and garments. (Our drivers should be able to point you to select shops that do not hassle customers). If you are a cigar aficionado don't miss the 100 year old R.Baliga & Sons who stocks cigars of all types.
• If Henna and bangles are of interest to you, you can pay a visit to a small, yet vibrant shop selling bangles and other ornaments in Cochin.

Periyar

• In Periyar, we would strongly suggest the spice plantation visits and also the jungle trek.
• The Gavi sanctuary is worth a visit if you are staying for more than two nights in Periyar. Gavi is a one hour drive away from Periyar and is a great place for elephant sightings.
• Periyar has a few forest inspection bungalows. Those who are really adventurous can try these bungalows which are right inside the forest reserve.
• There are a large number of shops near the wildlife sanctuary selling handicrafts and other items. The handicraft shops are worth looking at as they make for excellent souvenirs. Please ensure you speak with your driver to point you to the appropriate shops.

Houseboat Cruise

• During a houseboat cruise, ask your captain to anchor the boat by one of the villages, where you could take a village walk along the backwaters which is an exciting way to get up and close with life along the backwaters.
• You could also go for canoe rides in the backwaters. Canoes can travel through narrower canals which houseboats cannot navigate.
• There is a boat building yard in a place called Champakkulam by the backwaters which makes the long banana boats used for Kerala's snake boat races.