Slow Kerala

The Story

Best time to go: October - April
Best for: Slow Travel, Culture & Beach, First Time Visitor

If you really want a relaxing pace of travel, but with an element of culture thrown in for good measure, then Kerala is a perfect destination for you. This suggested itinerary does just that, gently meandering around the exotic delights of Kerala. You spend three nights in many places rather than two, so you have more time to sit back and relax rather than jump from one experience to another. You will stay in charming boutique hotels, or really lovely homestays, so the experience will be immersive and off-the-beaten track. You’ll have your own driver and luxury air-conditioned vehicle, and private guides when heading out on unique experiences. Begin in Cochin for three full days, famous for its colonial fort area where you can head off on a walking tour before hitting the vibrant market. On your second day, relax by the pool, or just amble around stopping at a coffee shop or two. Continue to Munnar, famous as Kerala’s dramatic tea plantations and a stay at Windermere, perfect for just wandering around the nearby plantations. You again have three nights here, and one the most wonderful things to do in Munnar is sit on the lawn, with a good book and a steaming cup of tea from the estate. Next, delve into Kerala’s rural heartlands with a stay at a superb homestay, Dewalokam. The family are wonderful, and within the garden is an inviting pool. Three days here allows you to fully explore too, with a walk through their organic farm, a visit to a local village and school. Work back to the backwaters and stay for three nights in the gorgeous Philipkuttys Farm, maybe take an immersive experience into the community to learn to cook Keralan cuisine. You are close to the backwaters, so it is then easy to board your private houseboat for a day. Finally, head to the beach for three nights of complete R&R. All-in-all, this is such a relaxing way to see Kerala, without rushing around, with time to put your feet up. That said, you still get to witness some superb experiences throughout your time in Kerala, so you come back both refreshed, restored and reinvigorated!

Any element of this itinerary can be tailor-made and we can add on nights, or take some away if you don’t quite have long enough in Kerala. We can also weave in other destinations in Kerala, or in the wider region.

Guide Pricing

Starting At

LOCATION:

£1895

Price per person including all accommodation, private transfers, unique experiences and excluding international flights. We can arrange international flights should you wish.

Highlights

Leisurely drift around Cochin, the backwaters and beaches of Kerala, without feeling like you are rushing
Perfect if you want an element of soft adventure followed by a restful beach stay
Have your own private driver and private guides in each location
Explore Kerala through a range of immersive experiences to see how the communities live and work
Perfect for those who want to have a few cookery courses, so you can come back knowing how to cook the perfect curry!

Day 1-3

Old Harbour

Day 4-6

Windermere Estate

Day 7-9

Dewalokam Homestay

Day 10-12

Philipkutty’s Farm

Day 13-15

A Beach Symphony

Days	Location	Hotel
Day 1-3	Cochin	Malabar House Old Harbour
Day 4-6	Munnar	Serenity Windermere Estate
Day 7-9	Kodikulam	Purity Dewalokam Homestay
Day 10-12	Lake Vembenad, Backwaters	Marari Beach Resort Philipkutty’s Farm
Day 13-15	Marari	A Beach Symphony

Day 1-3

Cochin

Arrive into Cochin, a city that has historically been the hub of the spice trade in India and drew in the Portuguese, Dutch and British traders, leaving a striking impact in the old fort area of the city. Stay in the heart of it all before heading out with a private guide on an immersive walking tour, seeing the old Dutch mansions, Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace and the markets of Jew Town.

Day 4-6

Munnar

Drive to Munnar where you will spend three nights. We suggest doing a little exploring on your second day here, maybe visit the plantations and a working tea factory, before spending your third day with a good book, revelling at the views!

Day 7-9

Kodikulam

Drive to a remote and utterly fantastic homestay, Dewalokam (about a two hour drive). Send the afternoon exploring the spice plantation with your host. See where all the spices you buy at home grow naturally. Return to Dewalokam, where they bring in a traditional chai wallah to serve you tea. That evening sit down with the other guests over a communal, convivial dinner. The following day, head off into the local village on foot, and see this amazing rural corner of India come to life. Spend the afternoon beside the pool, or head off to visit a local school, birdwatch, visit local temples or explore the nearby waterfalls. The third day can again be a day to explore, or just relax on the farm.

Day 10-12

Lake Vemenad

Drive to the backwaters and a stay at Philipkutty’s Farm. Opt day’s exploring local villages, learning to cook the best Kerala curry, or just relaxing beside the backwaters. Spend a day on a traditional houseboat and also have a chance of exploring the local communities to see how they live and work.

Day 13-15

Marari Beach

Drive to the beaches of Marari, just a short distance away, and what better than to spend three days with your feet up, overlooking the Indian Ocean next to a palm-fringed beach?

Suggested Hotels

Itinerary Experiences

Customise Your Itinerary

We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.