Southern India tour, Spice of the South
| country: | India |
| location: | Kerala |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 11 Nov, 2 Dec, 23 Dec 2009: 13 Jan, 27 Jan, 17 Feb, 3 Mar, 24 Mar, 14 Apr |
| price: | From £1970 (15 days) excluding flights, single supplement £485. We can also arrange flights from the UK. Maximum group size is 15 people. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
As you enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal aboard your private houseboat and explore the backwaters of Kerala you will come to know Southern India's unique charm and style.
A world away from the windswept deserts and busy cities of Rajasthan, India's laid-back south is a lush wonderland of temples and traditions, markets and wildlife. Be transported back in time when you explore the colonial port of Cochin, rich with British, Jewish, Dutch and Portuguese influences. And prepare yourself for the thrill of spotting a wild elephant on a visit to the jungles of Periyar National Park. You soon won't forget the pleasure of cruising Kerala's backwaters by houseboat, the tea plantations and hill forests of Munnar, and the greatest temple complex in the south, Sri Meenakshi.
Accommodation is in hotels and a houseboat, and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles. Our cost includes breakfast daily, 5 lunches & 2 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides throughout. Entrance fees are not included; US$ 15 will be collected at the start of your tour.
A world away from the windswept deserts and busy cities of Rajasthan, India's laid-back south is a lush wonderland of temples and traditions, markets and wildlife. Be transported back in time when you explore the colonial port of Cochin, rich with British, Jewish, Dutch and Portuguese influences. And prepare yourself for the thrill of spotting a wild elephant on a visit to the jungles of Periyar National Park. You soon won't forget the pleasure of cruising Kerala's backwaters by houseboat, the tea plantations and hill forests of Munnar, and the greatest temple complex in the south, Sri Meenakshi.
Accommodation is in hotels and a houseboat, and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles. Our cost includes breakfast daily, 5 lunches & 2 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides throughout. Entrance fees are not included; US$ 15 will be collected at the start of your tour.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Bangalore & Mysore. Arrive in Bangalore and depart for Mysore via the former summer palace of Tipu Sultan. Take time to discover some of Mysore’s sites, including the 13th century temple complex at Somnathpur, the beautiful City Palace and the Devaraja Market. |
| Day 4-5: | Ooty & Palakkad. Drive the wildlife-rich forest roads of Mudumulai National Park into the Nilgiri Hills for a taste of colonial ambience. Ride the famed toy train and stay in a charming Keralan village home-stay. An elephant ride and visits to St Stephens, the Botanical Garden and The Mall are sure to be highlights. |
| Day 6-7: | Munnar. Dramatic mountains and thriving tea plantations set the scene in verdant Munnar. Take a walk in Eravikulam National Park, which may reveal the rare Nilgiri Tahr, as well as a plethora of birdlife at the local bird sanctuary. |
| Day 8-9: | Madurai, Periyar & Thekkady. Southern India’s greatest temple complex, Sri Meenakshi, is home to beautiful towers and is where you can observe an exotic evening ceremony before elephant spotting in Periyar National Park. Visit a spice garden to learn the secrets behind regional India’s intoxicating flavours. A boat cruise in the national park offers the opportunity to spot wildlife. |
| Day 10-11: | Kumarakom. Ancient temples such as Ettumannur, churches, lush tropical groves and welcoming people define this backwater paradise. Explore, or simply relax at your gorgeous lakeside resort. |
| Day 12: | Kerala. Drive to Alleppey to board your houseboat. Cruise through canals and quiet rivers past colourful villages as you enjoy tasty homemade dishes. Lose yourself in the scenery, and disembark to explore temples along the way. |
| Day 13-15: | Cochin. Cochin is a thriving port with a rich colonial past. Your city tour will introduce you to the destination’s highlights, including the spice bazaar, and you will have plenty of time to shop for antiques, discover the 500-year-old synagogue, Dutch Palace and more. Take a sunset cruise on your last evening. Depart on day 15. |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
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We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of India’s beautiful natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people.
Experience many of India’s finest attributes in terms of both culture and landscape on this journey to the deep south. Stays at Coconut Lagoon and Spice Village are key features of this journey; these eco-resorts produce zero waste, and have on-site recycling facilities. On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different areas in India. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |