Ultimate Kerala Adventure

Rainforests, Bamboo Rafting And Rice Boats In The Southern Backwaters

Areas such as Wayanad and Vythiri in Northern Kerala contain vast areas of pristine rainforest that are some of the most biologically diverse on the entire planet. The best way to experience this is to fly in to Kerala via Calicut Airport and stay at a nature lodge near the edge of forest.

From here, an interesting journey by train brings you to the old colonial backstreets of Fort Cochin and the harbour with its famous Chinese Fishing Nets.

Ascend to the beautiful tea plantations of Munnar where you can travel by jeep through Shola Forests to Top Station, the highest point of the Western Ghats, with awe-inspiring views over the plains below.

Thekkady is famous for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which is best experienced on a unique Bamboo Rafting Expedition with Forest Dept Rangers through the still waters of Periyar Lake.

Descending to the coastal plains, a Backwater Journey by Private Rice Boat on the Southern Alleppey Backwaters is truly One Of The World’s Great Travel Experiences!

From here it’s a short hop to the famous beach at Varkala, which is very popular with independent travellers. Alternatively, head to the popular resort of Kovalam with great sea-bathing during the Winter Season.

Recommended For: Anyone who wishes to have a unique and active touring experience in Kerala with a focus on nature.

 

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

 

Day 02

Calicut To Vythiri

Banasura  

Rainforests Of Wayanad And Vythiri
Arrive at Calicut and drive up to the vast rainforests of Vythiri, to a lovely nature resort nestled among tea and spice plantations on the edge of surrounding forests.

 

Day 03

Vythiri

Banasura

Trekking
There are short treks through the thickly wooded rain forests to allow you the opportunity to appreciate and understand the bio-diversity of this region, from unique fauna and flora to issues facing the environment.

Wildlife
At the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary safari tours with a jeep and guide can be arranged upon request. This wildlife park is famous for its Tigers and Leopards along with other wildlife such as Indian Bison and Spotted Deer.

Campfire
Spend the early evening watching a breathtaking sunset over the mountains and then chill out around a campfire while chefs prepare a great dinner for you.

Nature Walks
There are a variety of nature walks in the spectacular tea and cardamom plantations that cover Wayanad. These are tailored to suit all ages and levels of fitness of visitors.

Local charges may apply to some activities.

 

Day 04

Cochin

Hotel Arches

EXPRESS TRAIN FROM CALICUT TO COCHIN
Travel back to Calicut and hop on to an Express Train through the vast paddy fields of the ‘Rice Bowl’ of Northern Kerala to reach the fascinating harbour city of Cochin.

Fort Cochin And Chinese Fishing Nets
Any tour of Kerala should include a few days exploring the lovely, atmospheric Cochin Harbour and Fort Cochin. At Cochin, you may stay in one of the centuries old spice trader mansions that have been converted into characterful hotels.

The Chinese Fishing Nets along the harbour-mouth stand in stark contrast to huge ocean-going liners and cargo ships that pass through the narrow channel.

 

Day 05

Cochin

Hotel Arches

Evening Kalari Martial Arts Performance
Kalari is reputed to be the most ancient martial art form in the world.

E N S Kalari has an enthralling daily demonstration in the evening for 1 hour with 6 or 7 warriors participating in the demonstration. Kalari items are performed accompanied to the sound of traditional musical instruments.

 

Day 06

Munnar

Camp Noel

Munnar
Travel through beautiful roads to the tea plantations of Munnar, which is Kerala’s premier Hill Station and mountain retreat.

 

Day 07

Munnar

Camp Noel

By Private Jeep For Glorious Views At Top Station
The road to Top Station (5577ft) is the highest in the Western Ghats, and is best travelled by Jeep through wonderful high elevation Shola Forests. On a clear day, the scenery is breathtaking with extensive views over the distant coastal plains of Kerala on one side and valleys of Tamil Nadu on the other.

 

Day 08

Thekkady
Wildernest

Spice Villages At Kumily
Arrive at the village of Kumily, the centre of Spice growing in Kerala. You can stay at a comfortable guest house in the middle of a spice plantation, where the owners will personally guide you through an estate of cardamom, pepper, vanilla and a host of other spices.

Elephant Back Ride At Kumily
You may if you wish, go on an Elephant Back Ride through Kumily village, a highly popular local activity.

 

Day 09

Thekkady
Wildernest

Bamboo Rafting At Periyar National Park
At Periyar National Park there are thick and extensive forests surrounding the idyllic Periyar Lake. Here roam some 750 wild Elephants, herds of Gaur (Indian Bison), Wild Pigs, Sambar, Indian Wild Dog and if you are very lucky, a Tiger.

Bamboo Rafting is a full day programme that includes trekking through some of the richest forest tracts at Periyar and rafting in the still waters of the lake.

Starting at 8 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in birdlife and animals like Giant Squirrel and Nilgiri Langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like Elephant, Gaur and Sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake.

The team hitch-hikes back to the boat landing by about 5 pm. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a maximum of 10 visitors including a picnic lunch inside the reserve.

 

Day 10

Backwaters
Luxury Private A/C Rice Boat

The Backwaters
A boat journey through Kerala’s Kuttanad Country, a 75km stretch of shimmering waterways incorporating rivers, lagoons and lakes is one of the World’s Great Travel Experiences.

The waterways are lined by swaying palm trees and Chinese Fishing Nets, cooled by a gentle breeze, and studded with water hyacinths. All kinds of craft ply these waters ferrying cargoes of spice, rice, nuts, coir (coconut fibre), copra (dried coconut) and people.

Your Luxury Private Rice Boat
All Rice Boats have A/C Cabins and are provided with a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook who can prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with an emphasis on sea food specialties and fresh vegetables.

Alleppey’s Southern Backwaters
Your cruise starts at 12 noon near the famous Nehru Trophy Snake Boat and travels through idyllic waterways passing villages, paddy fields and large fishing boats on their way to the ocean.

While passing through the large Kayamkulam Lake, one can see a highly picturesque fleet of Chinese Fishing Nets.

Night anchoring is at Vallikkavu, where the famous ‘hugging guru’’ Matha Amrithanandamayie’s Ashram is situated. If interested you can visit to her Ashram in the evening.

 

Day 11

To Kerala’s Beaches

The cruise continues in the morning back towards Alleppey Jetty where you disembark at 10:00 am

Varkala Beach
An end of tour beach stay at Varkala is an idyllic way to end your Kerala adventure. The silvery sands of Papanasam Beach lie below the famous cliffs, on top of which is a busy Kashmiri bazaar and lots of fine local restaurants from which you can view fabulous sunsets in the evening over the Arabian Sea.

Kovalam Beach
A popular series of beaches in Southern Kerala with shallow water for great sea bathing from October-April of each year.

NOTE: You can choose as many beach nights as you require.

 

Depart Kerala

Depart Kerala – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the same day.

NOTE: If you do not require a beach stay, you may need to add a stopover night at Cochin prior to your departure.

* We will send you a detailed quote with flight options, descriptions of hotels used and daily schedules. 

: Nature Lodge
: Guesthouse Or Homestay