Kerala homestay tours
Houseboat is with all meals.
airport pick up/drop ,A/C car with English speaking driver & all internal taxes. ( From Dec 15th till Jan 10th 25% peak season hike will be applicable from the usual rate ) THIS IS A PRIVATE TOUR
Description of Kerala homestay tours
Kerala has much to enchant both families and individual travellers, and this trip offers a more personal experience of the region through staying with locals and discovering local tradition, cuisine and community through their eyes.
Kick off in the delightful historic trading and fishing port city of Cochin on the Arabian Sea, visiting ancient churches and forts, the Mattancherry palace and picture-perfect Chinese beach fishing nets, before enjoying an evening of Kerala's traditional Kathakali dance.
Transferring to the village of Alleppey, meet your homestay hosts in a village whose waterways have earned it the title 'Venice of the East'. Its lush paddy fields are the rice bowl of Kerala, and the village is also famous for diverse animal and bird life, local beaches, seafood and marine products – as well as boat racing. You'll take to the water yourself in a more relaxed way with an overnight stay on a houseboat as it cruises along tranquil backwaters past ancient temples and coconut groves.
Stepping back ashore, move on to Kumarakom – a tiny backwater hamlet perched on the western banks of the Vembanadu Lake. Take to the water again by canoe, motor boat or houseboat, explore the local countryside on foot or just relax with your hosts at another local homestay for one final night enjoying the region Indians call God's Own Country.
Price information
Houseboat is with all meals.
airport pick up/drop ,A/C car with English speaking driver & all internal taxes. ( From Dec 15th till Jan 10th 25% peak season hike will be applicable from the usual rate ) THIS IS A PRIVATE TOUR
Departure information
Travel guides
Reviews
1 Reviews of Kerala homestay tours
Reviewed on 11 Mar 2018 by Ann-Cathrine Sanderberg
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Getting in touch with local people. We were very well taken care of at Keits homestay and the food there was really good. The staff showed us around in
the village and spent time with us and showed us how people lived there.
Visiting the museum in Aleppey. The stay on the houseboat and the ride in the smaller boat in the canals. The Katakali at the culture center in Cochin. The food at restaurant Oceanos in Cochin. The visit at the bird sanctuary in Kumarakom. The ayurveda massage in Kumarakom. The driver took well care of us and drove very well and safe
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be openminded and try different activities. Enjoy the company of locals. Take the oportunity to learn about the culture. Try the food.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we went shopping in the shops of the village were Keits homestay is situated and in Cohin. We went for ride in tuk tuk, rented a boat for birdwatching in the morning, hired a local guide for birdwatching in sancturary, went to local ayurveda massage parlours, went by local transport in goverment ferry, etc etc
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great but here are two things that made me rate 4 instead of 5. The pool in Cochin was under repair when we visited. They said that they had started the renovation job because it was low season? We didn´t get any sleep in Kumarakom because of the temple festival next door. The entertainment and music was extremely loud. I know that it was going on for a whole week, but perhaps we could have stayed somewhere else not so close to the festival?
Responsible Travel
Planet and people
This particular trip is unique as the homestays which we have selected are all owned by the local Kerelan families who are doing excellent work by maintaining some of the old buildings. They are kept in very good condition and generate revenue for the families livelihood. For the last few years this region is fast gaining popularity all over the globe and now a lot of revenue is generated by way of jobs in homestays, local guides, transport etc. We only use those home stays which are fully owned by the local community.These old/new houses have now been converted into homestays and are helping the locals get good jobs. All the accommodation which we are using has a local staff. All our accommodations are eco friendly and have used local materials & handicrafts. Our accommodations are equipped with energy saving lights.
With the passage of time many have totally vanished but thanks to tourism serious efforts are now being made to preserve these magnificent old houses which not only help the local economy but also generate a huge amount of jobs.
We not only help the local people to keep their properties in good condition by generating business for them but we also make a point that they should give employment to the local people so that the local economy can benefit from tourism.
We will be using local guides throughout this trip who are trained in their field and will certainly make a difference.
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