Picture
rice fields fringed with palm trees. Verdant coastal areas sloping up into
the blue
coloured Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Then the hills, covered with
plantations of tea,coffee, rubber and cocoa plus the spices that China,
Britain, Portugal, the Romans and the Arabs fought over; cinnamon, cloves,
vanilla, peppers and nutmeg. Their aromas will awaken all your senses.
A
Brief Introduction to Kerala & Tour Proposal
Take a backwater
cruise down the canals on your private "kettuvalam"-rice boat and
admire the village life as you sail by. Attend a Kathakali dance
performance, a drama played out by male dancers in incredible costumes and
makeup; take a boat safari over the lake at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary,
famous for it's herds of wild elephants; treat yourself to the relaxing
experience of an Ayurvedic massage, a centuries old treatment inherent to
Kerala.Visit the Islands of Cochin by ferry and visit the historic sights,
culminating with a sunset cruise around the Chinese Fishing nets. After all
the activity, chill out on a tropical beach enjoying the freshly caught
catch of the day with your favourite cocktail as you watch the sun drop into
the blue waters of the Arabian Sea.
Any itinerary canbe made to fit your wishes, your budget and the amount of
time you have available. We can offer you different levels of accommodation,
from small hotels, Ayurvedic Centres with Heritage style accommodation, to
the most upmarket addresses.Spare some time to read the itinerary below. All
information is based on our own travels through Kerala and our profound
knowledge of the area and the travel industry.
8
Day Coconut & Spice Tour of Kerala
Day 01
Cochin - Thekkady
Arrive at Cochin Int'l Airport and transfer by A/C car for the approx. four
hour drive to Thekkady. The drive is through lush green coconut groves,
rubber plantations and finally tea plantations. Thekkady is nestled in the
Nilgiri Hills at 3000 ft and famous for it’s spice plantations and the
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.Check-in at The Spice Village. Set in 15 acres of
forest, A Tribal village set in a spice garden best describes this property.
Facilities include a swimming pool and Ayurvedic Centre. Rest of the day at
leisure.
Day 02 Thekkady
Early morning boat safari over Lake Periyar. Return to Spice Village for
breakfast. Afternoon visit to a private spice plantation. Wear closed shoes
- it feels like a jungle walk. Spices growing here include vanilla, black
pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and mace, surrounded by coconut palms,
bananas and jackfruit. Rest of the afternoon at leisure - time to try out an
Ayurvedic massage at Spice Village. A cooking demo.will be given in the
evening followed by a cultural programme. Overnight at Spice Village.
Day 03 Thekkady - Kumarakom
Morning drive to "K" jetty. Board the launch for the sail to
Coconut Lagoon. Marooned in the beautiful Vembanad Lake, this resort is a
re-creation of a traditional Keralan village, surrounded by the tropical
greens of rice paddies and coconut groves. Early evening board a "Kettuvalam"
converted riceboat, for a sunset cruise as you listen to the magical strains
of the Indian flute. Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.
Day 04
Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Morning visit
to the bird sanctuary followed by breakfast and a visit to the Farm House.
Day free at Coconut Lagoon. Laze at the swimming pool, sip a tall drink
taking in your surroundings, or enjoy a relaxing Ayurvedic massage. A fish
restaurant opens every evening serving the catch of the day. Late afternoon
cruise down the backwaters, the waterways of Kerala. See how people live on
the ridges of land, cultivating coconuts, rice, raising ducks and of course,
fishing. Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.
