Incredible India – Experience the joys of Kerala

SUMMARY

Dates: Monday 2nd February to Tuesday 17th February 2026 – 15 nights/16 days

Arrival: Kochi International  Airport in Kerala, Southern India. A group transfer will pick you up from Kochi Airport. Arrive on the morning of Monday February 2nd (Note time differences when you book to ensure you arrive for Monday 2nd).

YOU MAY LIKE TO ARRIVE EARLY AND HAVE A FEW DAYS RELAXING AT THE HOTEL TO GET OVER ANY JETLAG AND BE ALL SET FOR YOUR ADVENTURE – JUST LET US KNOW AND WE CAN ARRANGE IT. OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY ON AFTERWARDS – PERHAPS EXTRA BEACH TIME – JUST LET US KNOW!

If you need flight advice and help just get in touch. All travellers need a visa for India and you can apply on line – we will ask you for a copy  Visa Application online

Departure: A group transfer to Kochi International Airport after breakfast. Book flights after 12 noon on 17th February.

Guide: Sheetal Thakur – English speaking local guide and a real gem who will give you a very special experience of her India.

Walking Grade: 2 Goats with a mixture of gentle walks as well as 4 days of more stretching walks up to 12km,some with ascents and descents in the Western Ghats. Do read our Goat 2 criteria for full details.

This trip is a cultural, revival holiday with some gentle walks, stretching hikes, a days cycling, some walking in tea plantations, spice gardens, village visits, a Tiger Reserve and so much more. It is for those in need of a new adventure and who would like to connect with women as you explore this wonderful land.

This trip is suitable for an average walker who feels fit to be active most days. Good walking shoes with a good grip  can be worn. If you use walking poles bring them.

Some activities are optional and it really is ok to relax at your accommodation and maybe have a massage, swim or just rest. We build in relaxation time throughout the trip.

ACCOMMODATION:  you will stay in a variety of accommodation to experience the best of the area – hotels, luxury cottage tents, a plantation bungalow, a heritage hotel, a houseboat and a beach resort. We will provide the details in your travel pack once you have booked.

Price: £4,100 in a solo occupancy room / £3600 Sharing.

There is a discount of £500 if you bring a partner/friend and share a room. We will add the discount once you have booked and paid your deposit.

Included:

• Accommodation for 15 nights with all breakfasts
• Group Transfer to and from Kochi Airport ( if you arrive outside the group transfer time the cost is £45 for a taxi for the 50km to your hotel in Kochi or departure £52 for the 70km Marari beach to Kochi Airport)
• Lunches – either packed  or at local restaurant during 10 full activity days.
• Evening Meals on 11 evenings with 4 nights free to stay at the hotel or explore local restaurants.
• Mineral water whilst travelling
• Entrance fees to monuments, National parks etc. as per the itinerary
• Local guides throughout the trip with extra guiding at specific historic spots.
• All required transport within India
• All Activities that are part of the itinerary
• WalkingWomen personalised support as you prepared for your trip

Not included:

• Cost of Visa (as this needs to be obtained IN ADVANCE by each individual)
• Personal expenses such as table drinks, room service items, laundry, telephone calls at hotels etc.
• Any additional expenses for activities outside the itineraries
• Travel Insurance which is mandatory
• Tips throughout the trip to local guides, hotel staff, driver etc.
• Camera Fees which may apply for taking photos in a few locations. The cost is £1 or £2 .

DETAILS

Southern India delivers no end of pleasant surprises on this wonderful tour.

The tour starts at the historic coastal town of Kochi, where we explore the Old Portuguese port on bikes and on foot.  From Kochi we drive to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, which offers walking trails inside the sanctuary.  We then drive up to former British Raj hill-station of Munnar in the Western Ghats. Here, 4 days of walks will take us along the Mathikettan Shola rainforest track, an exciting and challenging walking route that begins in Munnar and traces its path to Letchmi , Kerala’s second highest peak, passing through rich forest and plantations of tea, coffee and spices. At the Periyar Wildlife Reserve, home to wild elephant, deer, giant squirrel and the elusive tiger, we have a day-walk with a forest ranger. At Alleppey, we meet our houseboat for an unforgettable overnight cruise on the backwaters, complemented with a relaxing nights stay at Marari beach, where we end the tour by the beach, experiencing Ayurveda massages.

Highlights of your holiday

·     A heritage walk in Kochi with a local Kathakali dance performance

·     A traditional overnight houseboat cruise on the beautiful backwaters of Kerala.

·      Jungle walk in the bird sanctuary and kayaking on Periyar river in Thattekad

·       Interacting with village women on the tea plantation walk and have a taste of their way of life.

·       Visit a welfare centre focused on enhancing the hidden talents of differently abled children.

·       A walk in the lush Cardamom Hills.

·      Beach time at Marari Beach

ITINERARY

Itineraries can change and we always say trust in your guide. If it changes it will be because of weather or some eventuality that means things need to change.

This should give you the full flavour of what to expect from this incredible trip to Southern India

DAY 01:                        ARRIVE KOCHI      

Arrive Kochi airport early morning. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel at Fort Kochi.

Later in the afternoon enjoy a Heritage Walking tour through Fort Kochi.

This 2 hour walking tour gives you a glimpse into Cochin’s rich history and heritage, showcasing the mixed Dutch, Portuguese, British and Jewish influences that make the city unique. During the tour, we will visit the old quarter of Fort Kochi, exploring the quaint streets of this city on foot. We will also visit Fort Kochi’s seaside promenade and get a glimpse of daily life in Kochi. The walk will end with tea/coffee at a café.

Welcome dinner together and overnight at your hotel – The Dutch Bungalow

DAY 02               KOCHI             (Cycle ride to remote Islands & Keralan cooking class.,)

Today you will take a cycle ride to remote islands of Kadamakkudy in Kochi. The well-marked route takes you along winding pathways flanked by swaying coconut palms, mangrove-fringed canals, and verdant paddy fields, through remote villages. This is a unique experience to explore the secluded Kadamakkudy islands.

In the evening you will see a Kathakali dance performance – not to be missed in Kerala!

Accommodation:        Hotel – The Dutch Bungalow

Cycling:                       03 hrs

DAY 03             KOCHI / THATTEKAD     (Jungle walk in the bird sanctuary & Kayaking on Periyar river)

We leave Kochi for Thattekad.

Nestled in the lush Western Ghats of Kerala, this sanctuary is a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. It’s a lowland rainforest that boasts an array of diverse ecosystem.

You’ll walk the trails inside the sanctuary , accompanied by a Naturalist.

Optional Activity: Evening is to relax by the river Periyar & there is also an opportunity to take an optional kayaking trip on the River dependent on water levels.

Overnight in Luxury cottage tents. Hornbill Camp.

Drive Duration:           70 km / 2.5 hrs

Trail Duration:            03 hrs

DAY 04      THATTEKAD   (Visit Mamalakandan Village)

Today you’ll take a jeep safari through the remote trails of Western Ghats, as you travel to the hidden village of Mamalakandam. A place where nature’s beauty, cultural richness, and culinary wonders will astonish.

You’ll travel in a local Jeep & take walks under the lush rainforest canopy. Visit a school & continue your journey to the Neolithic dolmens, unraveling the stories behind these ancient structures.

Visit a small homestay, where a local family prepares a sumptuous lunch using spices and vegetables sourced from the region. Gain an insight into tribal life as it used to be and how basic equipment can be used to create fabulous food.

Drive back to Thattekad.

Accommodation:        Luxury Cottage tents – Hornbill Camp

DAY 05             THATTEKAD / MUNNAR      (Tea Plantation visit & Bazaar walk )

Leave the plains and head for the hills. Enjoy an interesting drive as you climb up into the Western Ghats, passing tea and spice plantations along the way. Sitting at an altitude of 1600m, Munnar was very much an idyllic haven for the British in the 19th century, with crystal clear lakes, waterfalls, forests and an unending expanses of tea plantations.

Enroute there may be options for additional visits depending on time, weather and local events.

Arrive Munnar by early evening. Have a restful sleep prior to the start of our first days hiking.

ACCOMMODATION:        ABAD Copper Castle

DRIVE DURATION:           80 km / 3 hours

DAY 06            MUNNAR          (Day hike to ascend Litchmi hill – starting at 1450m and ascending to 2000m an ascent of 550m)

Today requires an early start to accommodate the days hike – we will walk steadily. It offers brilliant view of forests and tea estates down in the valley. On a clear day you can see Anaimudi , the highest peak in southern India.

For those who prefer not to hike you can stay at the hotel to relax.

ACCOMMODATION:        ABAD Copper Castle

TRAIL LENGTH:                12 Km / 5 hours

DAY 07             MUNNAR / SURYANELLI       (Hike through Tribal village)

We will start the day with an early morning climb of a nearby peak known locally as the “Phantom’s Head”. This is a memorable walk atop the tallest feature in the surrounding environment with the spectacular view of Papathy Shola or Butterfly Forest (so named for the mass migration of butterflies in October & November). Today you also have a chance to visit the tribal village of the Muduvans – a tribe who have for centuries colonized the upper reaches of the Western Ghats. Their peculiar habit of carrying their children on their backs has earned them their name as Muduvans or the ‘back people’.

ACCOMMODATION:       Hotel Shola Crown

TRAIL LENGTH:                08 Km / 4 hrs

DAY 08             SURYANELLI / SANTHANPARA           (Hike in rain forest & Cardamom hills)

Today we start with a jeep transfer to the Mathikettan Shola National Park. A treasure trove of biodiversity, this national park is home to endemic flora and fauna and to wildlife like the Asiatic Elephants and Nilgiri Langurs. Your destination is Santhanpara, set amidst luxuriant vegetation and cardamom spice plantations that give the surrounding area the name ‘Cardamom Hills’. This is the capital of the spice cultivating areas that have made Kerala famous through the ages and attracted multitudes of traders from all parts of the world.

ACCOMMODATION:        Hotel Gazelle Villa

TRAIL LENGTH:                12 Km / 5 hours

DAY 09             SANTHANPARA / CHATURANGAPARA

You will be walking from Santhanpara to Chaturangapara, the final part of your rainforest experience at Munnar. This route is a challenging one and goes through the ridge of the Western Ghats. There is a steady ascent involved to the view-point from where you will have fantastic views over the vast plains of Tamil Nadu state.

ACCOMMODATION:        Hotel Gazelle Villa

TRAIL LENGTH:                11 Km / 4-5 hours

DAY 10              CHATURANGAPARA – THEKKADY  

Leaving Chaturangapara in the morning, we drive to the small village of Thekkady. The drive is spectacular as the road climbs through the Western Ghats.  Thekkady is a small yet bustling village from where we visit Periyar National Park. After settling in we will go for a walk in the forest with a specialist naturalist.

ACCOMMODATION:       Hotel The Elephant Court

DRIVE DURATION:      1-2 hours

DAY 11         THEKKADY                  (Morning Nature walk & Bamboo rafting)

After an early breakfast, we will explore Periyar wildlife sanctuary by foot and on a bamboo raft,travelling through some of the richest forest tracks of Periyar Tiger Reserve.

The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri langur. While rafting we will get a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur and sambar are often sighted by keeping close to the edges of the lake.

Optional Visit to a Marshal Art Display

ACCOMMODATION:        Hotel The Elephant Court

TRAIL LENGTH:               5 Km / 2-3 hours

DAY 12  THEKKADY – KUMARAKOMN

Before leaving the Thekkady area we take a walk thorough the spice gardens at Kumily.

We will have a rest day in KUMARAKOMN before moving on to our overnight on the houseboat

Accommodation: Hotel Whispering Palms

DAY 13  KUMARAKOMN  (Overnight in a traditional Keralan houseboat)

We stay in the  Kerala Backwaters, boarding a traditional houseboat for an overnight cruise through the region. The houseboat cruise is one of the highlights of the trip – these enchanting houseboats were the traditional method of transporting goods for centuries. This is a unique way to see the backwaters of Kerala. As our boat meanders through areas of lush tropical vegetation, we can spot numerous birds and gain a different perspective on village life, before you anchor in the middle of the lake for the night and have dinner under the stars.

Your houseboat is a converted kettuvallam (rice barge) constructed in a traditional way from jackfruit wood. These giant 80-foot long crafts have been adapted to provide simple but comfortable accommodation. Each boat has air conditioning, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew, usually comprising of a cook, boat driver and assistants. The food served is traditional Keralan fare using local produce.

ACCOMMODATION:        Houseboat

DRIVE DURATION :          112 KM / 02 hours

DAY 14            ALLEPPEY / MARARI BEACH        (Short walk in a village & meal with a family)

After a relaxing breakfast on board, we take a short drive to the village of  Vaikom. You will have refreshments at a traditional Kerala house. Afterwards you will take a small boat to be punted through narrow canals. This is a great way to witness local life – coconut farms, coir villages, prawn fishing and paddy cultivation. You finish with a traditional Sadya  Keralan lunch with a local family before driving to Marari Beach later in the afternoon.

ACCOMMODATION:                   Beach hotel

DRIVE DURATION:                     1 hr

TRAIL DURATION:                     2 hrs

DAY 15             MARARI BEACH           (Optional Ayurveda massages & Beach time)

Marari Beach, a part of Mararikulam village, is nothing less than a paradise with a vast coastal line, fringed with coconut and palm trees.

Full day at leisure. You’ll relax by the beach or indulge in optional Ayurveda massages.

ACCOMMODATION:   Beach hotel

DAY 16             MARARI / KOCHI  / DEPARTURE

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Kochi airport in time to board your flight for onward destinations.

If you would like to stay longer we can help.