Arrive at Cochin Airport, also known as Kochi, and begin your Kerala journey with a transfer into the city. Cochin is Kerala’s historic port city, once frequented by Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders.

After the transfer, relax amid the tropical ambiance and ease into the setting. The city’s cosmopolitan past is reflected in its colonial churches, spice markets, and waterfront promenades, offering your first introduction to Kerala’s heritage.

Cochin’s port history reflects centuries of maritime trade linking Kerala with Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Accommodation:

• Superior: Fragrant Nature Kochi

Discover Fort Kochi, where Chinese fishing nets line the shore and narrow lanes lead past art galleries and cafés. Visit St. Francis Church, India’s oldest European church, then continue to the Dutch Palace to view murals depicting Hindu epics.

Stroll through Jew Town, known for antique shops and the Paradesi Synagogue. In the evening, engage with a Mohiniattam dance guru and gain insight into Kerala’s graceful classical dance form, noted for feminine elegance and expressive storytelling.

Mohiniattam is a classical dance form of Kerala, traditionally recognized for fluid movements and expressive narrative style.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Superior: Fragrant Nature Kochi

Drive from Cochin to Munnar, covering approximately 130 km in about 4 hours. The route leads into the Western Ghats, winding through lush valleys and waterfalls as you leave the coastal setting behind and continue toward Kerala’s hill country.

Arrive in Munnar, a hill station carpeted with tea plantations and framed by misty mountains. In the evening, explore the local market, where stalls sell spices, handmade chocolates, and aromatic teas, giving you a first look at the town’s everyday trade.

Munnar is known for tea plantations that spread across the hill station’s misty mountain landscape.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Superior: Amber Dale Munnar-Kondody Hotels

Set out on a vehicle safari, with the jeep ride to Kollukumalai Tea Estate, described as the world’s highest tea plantation at 8,000 ft. The rugged drive takes you through the Munnar hill landscape, with panoramas of rolling hills and distant plains.

Continue with a visit to the Tea Museum, which traces the colonial history of tea cultivation. Then walk through verdant plantations, taking in the fresh aroma of tea leaves and the setting that defines Munnar’s tea-growing landscape.

Kollukumalai Tea Estate is identified as the world’s highest tea plantation at 8,000 ft.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Superior: Amber Dale Munnar-Kondody Hotels

Travel from Munnar to Madurai, covering approximately 160 km in about 5 hours. Your journey brings you from Kerala’s hill country to one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, where the evening focuses on Madurai’s temple traditions.

Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple, described as a Dravidian masterpiece with towering gopurams covered in colorful sculptures. Witness the evening temple ceremony as priests perform rituals accompanied by chants and music, reflecting centuries-old devotion.

Meenakshi Amman Temple is known for its Dravidian architecture and towering sculpted gopurams.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Superior: Heritage Madurai

Begin with a morning excursion to Azhagar Kovil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and nestled in the scenic Alagar Hills. The visit connects Madurai’s spiritual setting with surrounding natural beauty, and the temple’s architecture reflects both religious significance and its hillside location.

In the evening, embark on a street food tour through Madurai’s culinary scene. Savor local specialties ranging from crispy parottas and spicy curries to jigarthanda, the city’s iconic cooling milk-based drink, as the day shifts from temple exploration to food traditions.

Azhagar Kovil is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is set in the Alagar Hills near Madurai.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Superior: Heritage Madurai

Drive from Madurai to Thekkady, covering approximately 140 km in about 4 hours. Thekkady is the gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and the region is known for spice plantations where cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon thrive in fertile soil.

In the afternoon, join a guided spice plantation walk and learn cultivation secrets connected to the area’s aromatic crops. In the evening, enjoy a cooking demonstration focused on Kerala’s traditional recipes infused with fragrant local spices.

Thekkady is closely associated with spice cultivation, especially cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon grown in fertile soil.

Meals: Breakfast, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Superior: Amritara Shalimar Spice Garden Resort & Spa, Thekkady

Travel from Thekkady to Alleppey, covering approximately 140 km in about 4 hours. Known as the “Venice of the East,” Alleppey introduces you to Kerala’s backwater setting, where canals, village life, and rural livelihoods shape the day’s experience.

Explore the village on foot and meet locals engaged in coir-making and fishing. Later, glide through tranquil canals on a Shikara ride, passing coconut groves, paddy fields, and traditional homes for a serene glimpse into Kerala’s rural life.

Coir-making in Alleppey is linked to Kerala’s coconut-based village economy and traditional rural work.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Superior: Lemon Tree Vembanad Lake Resort, Alleppey, Kerala

Travel from Alleppey to Marari, a short route of approximately 15 km that takes about 30 minutes. Begin with a relaxed stroll along the beach, soaking in the coastal serenity before boarding a traditional Kerala houseboat for a scenic day cruise.

Glide through the tranquil backwaters with an authentic local lunch served onboard. After the cruise, transfer to Marari Beach, where you can unwind with a swim in the Arabian Sea, walk barefoot along golden sands, or rejuvenate with Ayurveda therapies.

Traditional Kerala houseboats are closely associated with backwater travel and local life along the waterways.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Superior: Abad Turtle Beach | Beach Resort Marari Alleppey

Transfer from Marari to Cochin Airport for departure, covering approximately 75 km in about 2 hours. This final journey closes your South India program with a straightforward transfer from the coast back toward Kerala’s main departure point.

Bid farewell to South India’s landscapes, temples, and traditions as the trip concludes. Carry memories of the cultural encounters and natural beauty experienced across Cochin, Munnar, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, and Marari during the journey.

Cochin Airport serves as the departure point for this itinerary after the final transfer from Marari.

Meals: Breakfast