Simply Kerela | The Ultimate Travel Company

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

SIMPLY KERALA

Rural India at its most enchanting and unspoiled – a stunning tour through the backwaters, landscapes and rural communities of the glorious Kerala region of India.
KERALA, INDIA

ABOUT THE ITINERARY

Kerala is quite unlike any other place in India. It offers you the chance to enjoy a shorter tour that is packed full of highlights. You’ll be treated, for example, to great sightseeing in Cochin, a town stretching across a range of islands and peninsulas.

You’ll have the chance to discover the spice plantations of Thekkady, as well as staying with a family on a working farm beside the time-untouched village of Puthenkayal. And you’ll arrive there after a cruise aboard a traditional houseboat along winding canals through the luxuriant jungle and picturesque backwaters of Kerala.

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS

Bear in mind, these are just a starting point as all holidays are customised to the specific requirements of our guests. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular interest or to go to a different destination all together, every itinerary is created individually around your preferences.

DAY 1-3

COCHIN

You’ll arrive in Cochin early the following morning, and you’ll be met and taken to your hotel. Cochin itself is built on a series of islands and promontories linked by bridges and ferries. You’ll be staying in a 300 year old Dutch-style residence in the middle of historic Fort Cochin. As well as being a great place to relax and enjoy facilities like a swimming pool and spa, you’ll be able to explore the quaint old streets and sights that line the northern shore of the fort. It’s a charming spot for sightseeing; your city tour will reveal destinations like the synagogue at Jew Town, the Dutch Palace and huge Chinese fishing nets controlled by weights and levers. You should also take time to visit St. Francis – India’s first European church – which was the original resting place of Vasco da Gama.

Stay: Two nights in a Garden Cottage at the Old Harbour Hotel.

Simply Kerela | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 4-5

THEKKADY

Say goodbye to Cochin and drive over to Thekkady; an interesting four hour road trip. You’ll be staying in a tribal village resort in the cool highlands of Periyar surrounded by spice plantations – and you’ll have plenty of time to trek around the plantations to see the cultivation of pepper. Enjoy naturalist led walks and treks at the neighbouring Periyar Tiger Reserve. Tennis, cookery classes, spa treatments, and relaxing by the swimming pool are also on your agenda.

Stay: Two nights in a Spice Garden Cottage at Spice Village Thekkady

Philipkutty’s Farm, Kerala Backwaters
DAY 6

BACKWATERS CRUISE

You’ll journey by car to Alleppey, a market town famous for its canals. Here you’ll embark on your cruise through the enchanting backwaters of Kerala aboard a traditional houseboat. This network of winding rivers, canals and lagoons takes you through some truly beautiful countryside twisting and turning through tropical jungle, palms and fruit trees, vibrant green paddy fields and timeless waterside villages. You’ll even be sailing close to the coast in places. So keep your camera at the ready – you’ll be passing churches, temples, villages and Chinese cantilevered fishing nets. And you’ll be travelling in style, enjoying Keralan feasts freshly cooked on board by leading chefs.

Stay: One night in an air conditioned, one bedroom houseboat.

Simply Kerela | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 7-8

PHILIPKUTTY’S FARM

Back on dry land you’ll be driven to the pretty village of Puthenkayal, in the heart of Kerala’s backwaters where you’ll be able to experience life on a farm standing on a private, 750 acre island. This is a working plantation, owned by a family who have grown coconuts, nutmeg and coffee here for generations. But it’s also a fantastic place to stay, relax and enjoy exploring the countryside on foot or by bicycle. You can stroll round the island’s outer dyke, and in the evening take a sunset cruise through beautiful backwaters. Keen birdwatchers, meanwhile, will see kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets, cormorants, herons, crow pheasants, snakebirds and teals amongst many other species. A choice of tours will take you to St Mary’s Parish Church at Vechoor, the Vaikom Shiva Temple and a local residence built of wood that dates back 400 years.

Stay: Two nights in a waterfront villa at Philipkutty’s Farm.

Simply Kerela | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 9-11

MARARI BEACH

Now it’s time for some sea, sun and splendid relaxation. An hours drive from Philipkutty’s Farm brings you to the coast and a beach resort that combines traditional style – including palm thatched cottages that resemble traditional fisherman’s dwellings – with modern facilities. Plus a warm and inviting sea and an irresistible beach. Expect lazy days followed by nights highlighted by candlelit dinners and local musicians.

Stay: Three nights in a garden villa at The Marari Beach Resort.

DAY 12

FLY HOME

You depart Marari Beach in the morning to catch your flight from Cochin International Airport. You’ll meet your connecting flight at Dubai, and arrive back in London in the evening.

THE PRICE BREAKDOWN
12 days from £2,860 per person

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Private transfers
  • Accommodation as stated
  • Based on two people travelling

PRICE EXCLUDES

  • International flights
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“BEAUTIFULLY ORGANISED AND PERFECT RECOMMENDATIONS. ”
“What a fantastic trip organised by Ultimate. They listened to what we wanted and set up perfect destinations for us. Everyone was friendly and professional from the office in London through to on-the-ground support. The organisation of pick-ups, connecting flights and so on, went like clockwork.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“MY FIRST PORT OF CALL FROM NOW ON. ”
“Efficient, friendly and helpful throughout. made everything a million times easier, Ultimate Travel Company will by my first port of call from now on.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“FANTASTIC!”
“Sophie went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic honeymoon. We had 0 stress relating to planning and everything was taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane. Sophie anticipated what we wanted when we didn’t even know ourselves. We will certainly be booking with Ultimate again.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“PROBLEM FREE EXCELLENCE.”
“Efficiently organised, everything went like clockwork. This is all the more remarkable since the tour involved considerable complexity.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“AN EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE COMPANY.”
“We have continued to ask Ultimate Travel to make our distant overseas travel arrangements for many years and they have always given us great service.”
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