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South India: Explore Kerala
7 days, Kochi to Vypīn Island
Itinerary
Day 1Kochi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Arrive at any time and transfer to hotel. There are no planned activities, so check in and enjoy the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Kochi
Enjoy a walking tour in old Fort Kochi, including the fish market, Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace, and Jewish Quarter. Meet a local spice expert, learning the medicinal and culinary uses of spices and their importance in the life of Kerala and all of India. This evening, enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance.
After breakfast, explore the old part of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Visit the Dutch Palace, which was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin King in the 16th century, the St. Francis Church (the oldest European church in India), and Santa Cruz Basilica, built by Portuguese in the 16th century. Walk through the fish market and the famous Chinese fishing net, believed to have been brought by traders from Kubla Khan's court in China. In the evening, attend the popular classical dance-drama of Kerala called "Kathakali," which combines literature, music, painting, acting, and dance.
Orientation Walk
Get to know the delightful city of Kochi through this guided walk, with a chance to explore St Francis Church, the oldest church in India.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet with a Local Spice Expert
Kerala is considered the spice capital of the world, famed for pepper, cloves, dried ginger, bay leaf, and cinnamon. Meet with a local expert learning the medicinal and culinary uses of spices and their importance in the life of Kerala and all of India.
Kathakali Dance
Considered one of the oldest dance forms in India, Kathakali is a combination of drama, dance, music, and ritual. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. This dance drama is famous for amazing costumes, extensive makeup, and explosive body movements, and is performed exclusively by men.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Kochi/Kumarakom
Visit Tripunithura Hill Palace then continue to Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala. Enjoy a canoe paddle along the narrow canals and take a walking tour through the paddy fields and Chempu village.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Tripunithura Hill Palace Visit
Enjoy the impressive architecture and beautiful grounds of the Tripunithura Hill Palace. Built in 1865, it is now the largest archaeological museum in Kerala, though it was originally the administrative office for local royalty. There is also a heritage museum, deer park, and children's museum in the complex. Make sure to check out its collection of rare species of medicinal plants.
Canoeing
Enjoy a canoe paddle through the narrow canals in Kumarakom.
Walking Tour
Enjoy a walk through the green paddy fields of Kumarakom and the delightful little village of Chempu.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 4Kumarakom/Kerala Backwaters
Spend the day cruising the Kerala backwaters on a comfortable houseboat while observing local village life and bird watching. Later, visit a local home in Alleppey and enjoy a cooking demonstration of traditional Kerala cuisine and dine in the family's home.
This morning we travel to Allepey, a golden streak of land surrounded by rivers, lakes, lagoons and canals, where we board our private houseboat. You can sunbathe on the deck and enjoy the scenery, watching daily life take place along the water. The trip goes through a wonderful area full of water birds, palm trees, rice fields and floating water plants.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Excursion
Lay back and relax on a houseboat as it takes you through the the Kerala backwaters. Look around and enjoy the stunning scenery, dotted with coconut trees and reminiscent of a paradise lost.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Family Home Meal Experience
Enjoy a visit with a local family in Alleppey and get a real taste of Southern India culture and what life in the backwaters is like. Enjoy a demonstration and learn how to cook some delicious dishes, intrinsic to Southern Indian cuisine. After dinner, kick back and relax, getting to know our local hosts and what daily life in Kerala is like.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Kerala Backwaters/Vypīn Island
This morning, meet with a representative of the Vembanad Wetlands Conservation Program to learn about the ongoing work by local communities to conserve the lake and surrounding wetlands. This project was created by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), an organization that the National Geographic has collaborated with on many conservation projects across India over the past decade. Continue by boat to a fish sanctuary established by traditional fishermen through the program. Meet with some of the fishermen and see firsthand how their traditional ways of collecting and processing clams are models for the management of lake resources. After, continue to the beach to relax in paradise with free time to explore.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Visit Vembanad Wetlands Conservation Program
Meet with a representative of the Vembanad Wetlands Conservation Program to learn about the ongoing work by local communities to conserve the lake and the surrounding wetlands. This project was created by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), an organization that National Geographic has collaborated with on many conservation projects across India over the past decade. After learning about the program, travel by boat to a fish sanctuary established by traditional fishermen through the program. Meet with some of the fishermen and see firsthand how their traditional way of collecting and processing clams are models for the management of lake resources.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Ayurvedic Spa
Kerala is famous for its Ayurvedic spas. Visit one and choose from a number of treatments available, like a full body massage.
Cycling
Jump on a bike and enjoy the ride!
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Vypīn Island
Free time on Vypīn Island.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time, relax on the beach, visit the spa, or go cycling.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Ayurvedic Spa
Kerala is famous for its Ayurvedic spas. Visit one and choose from a number of treatments available, like a full body massage.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Vypīn Island
Depart at any time.
Depart at any time. Hotel checkout is at 12:00pm. It is very easy to arange a transfer from the resort to the Cochin airport - your CEO will be happy to assist.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.