India Classic Kerala Tour

  India

• Other Cities in India: 
Kerala

Dates: Various start dates. Contact us for details.

Description: Take in Kochi, a melting pot of different cultures; mountain peaks and tea plantations near Munnar and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This tour has something of a water theme, too relax next to the Vembanand Lake, take a boat through the Keralan backwaters and swim in the Arabian Sea. India's food is an attraction in itself and you'll have plenty of opportunities to sample tradition cuisine.

* Your Typical Itinerary
Day 1 Kochi
On the evening of your first day, you'll watch a Kathakali dance performance - a traditional art form in Kerala and, if you wish, you can sample an authentic Keralan dinner. (A great opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers!)

If you arrive in Kochi early, there are plenty of attractions to discover: the city is a fascinating mixture of churches, mosques, Portuguese mansions and English manor houses.

Days 2 Munnar
On your second day, you'll make your way to Munnar, an old British hill station that sits in a beautiful valley. Your accommodation is nearby, and you'll be able to breathe in the heady aroma of tea! Whether you're a tea drinker or not, the visit to the tea museum is a real treat. There's also time to see one of India's highest peaks - the mystic Anaimudi.

Days 3-4 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
A 5-hour drive is made enjoyable by the scenery you see along the way - lush cardamom jungle. When you arrive in the evening, you'll be given a tour of a spice plantation before sitting down to a meal prepared by the owner's family.

Get up early the next morning for a guided walk in the wildlife sanctuary and look out for bison, elephants, spotted deer, tigers, leopards and exotic flowers and trees.

Day 5 Kumarakom
On day five, you'll have an opportunity to see an area nominated by National Geographic as one of the ten paradises on Earth. Relax on the banks of Vembanand Lake, at Kumarakom, and watch out for heron, daters, storks and parrots.

Days 6-7 Alleppey
Another relaxing experience! You'll cruise the sleepy, palm-shaded backwaters of Alleppey by boat, and stay with a local family. A traditional banana-leaf lunch is served on day seven.

Days 8-9 Varkala
You'll make your way to the temple town of Varkala, stopping off along the way to observe rituals at the Mannarsala Nagaraja [snake!] Temple and to visit one of the best preserved palaces in Kerala.

Varkala itself boasts dramatic cliffs, and after a leisurely wander through peaceful gardens and a visit to the Janardhana Swamy Temple, you'll be free to have a refreshing coconut drink in one of the cafes up there, or to cool off in the Arabian Sea.

Days 10-12 Kochi
After a leisurely morning, you'll take a train (a great chance to meet the locals!) to Kochi for a walking tour of Fort Kochi. You can then explore on your own and fit in some last minute shopping. They'll be a farewell dinner on the evening of day eleven, and the tour ends on day twelve. You are free to leave at any time on day twelve, but will need to check out of the hotel by midday.

Highlights: Submerge yourself in Keralan culture and get a feel for the crazy, colourful country that is India. The tour begins and ends in Kochi.

The maximum age limit for this tour depends on the potential participant's health. You should be in good health.

Cost in US$: GBP775 (Plus local payment of INR 12,000)

* For information on what is not included please visit our website.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to India in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement: We are ambitious for our company, our partners and the communities in which we work. We take our responsibilities seriously - understanding that the development of our business impacts directly on our partners, the communities that we visit and work with and that ultimately, our success is their success too.