• 13x nights’ accommodation on twin sharing basis*
• 13x breakfasts, 13x dinners, 11x lunches and a high tea
• All transfers, sightseeing and excursions
• All entrance fees & tips/gratuities
• Services of an accompanying English-speaking local guide throughout the tour
• Assistance on arrival and departure at the airport
• All Government taxes

*Please note if you choose to stay at CGH Brunton Boatyard on days one, two and three there is a supplement of £275p/p (Single Room Supplement £495) 

If you would like the fully detailed itinerary, please email us for a brochure

Day One - Tuesday 5th December

09:30 - depart London Heathrow T5 on British Airways flight BAO139 for Mumbai T2

00:15 - arrive Mumbai T2 and meet our SITA representative 

Day Two - Wednesday 6th December

05:10 - depart Mumbai for Kochi on Go First flight G8 347

07:05 - arrive Kochi, meet our SITA representative after customs, immigration and baggage collection and go for breakfast at Port Muziris Hotel.

You will then drive on to your hotel - CGH Eighth Bastion or CGH Brunton Boatyard (sea-facing rooms - supplement applicable) for check in and lunch

Afternoon - harbour cruise for an overview of the city

Dinner the hotel

Day Three - 7th December

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning - take a leisurely  stroll around Kochi visiting the Dutch Palace, which has some of India’s most beautiful murals, the Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was originally buried, and the Santa Cruz Church with its pastel-coloured interior and carved wooden panels. The tour ends at the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets. You will then drive to Ernakulam to visit the sustainable home built 11 years ago by Michael Dominic and his wife Sunita and have lunch with Michael.

Afternoon - at leisure at the hotel 

Early evening - visit the Kathakali Dance Centre to see the artists perform the most elaborate of the southern India's dance forms. Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls, Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums, accompanied by the Chengila (gong)

Dinner at the hotel.

Day Four - 8th December

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning -  tour of Muzuris, an ancient old harbor said to have first been occupied around 1000 BC and then populated until the 13th century. This tour is a fantastic insight into what is the cradle of several religions. 

Lunch at a restaurant / hotel.

Afternoon - visit the Chendamangalam weaving centres to see traditional handlooms in action. You  also have the option to take a boat through the backwaters of Muzuris (please note, this option carries a supplement) or simply relax before driving back to the Fort Cochin area where you will be able to enjoy some shopping.

Dinner at the hotel

Day Five - 9th December 

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Munnar, the nature-lover’s paradise nestled in the green and serene Kannan Devan Hills where you will check into the Fragrant Nature Hotel.  

Lunch at a local restaurant / hotel

Afternoon -  visit to the famous Tea Museum where you will be immersed in the history of Munnar tea estates and learn about the production of black tea, followed by a heritage walk of Munnar to see houses dating back to the British Era, old machines that are still in use and the dams and bungalows which were left behind when the British left. The tour ends with a traditional High Tea.  

Dinner at the hotel

Day Six - 10th December

Early breakfast 

Morning - excursion to Eravikulam National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to a wide range of animals, insects, and birds as well as shola grasslands rich in Balsams and Orchids. You can choose to explore the park with a naturalist guide, or alternatively opt for Bird Watching* or Field Photography* with expert guides. (*Please note, these options carry an extra charge.)

Lunch at the hotel

Afternoon - at leisure or chose one of three optional tours (please note, these carry an extra charge)

Option 1 - Click and Capture photography session with Sebinster Francis; Option 2 - Walking Story Trail - Life of Eleanor; Option 3 - Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Experience. Please note, this experience begins at 11am. 

Dinner at the hotel

Day Seven - 11th December 

Breakfast at the hotel and check out

Morning - drive to Periyar, South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary, set on the attractive man-made Periyar Lake and famous for its elephants. On arrival, check-in at CGH Hotel Spice Village. Lunch at the hotel/a local restaurant

Afternoon -  guided spice tour to various Forest Gardens or Home Gardens to meet the local farmers, learn about spices and how they strive to achieve a balance between being an agrarian community and conserving nature by putting ecologically sustainable practices into farming.

Dinner at the hotel 

Day Eight - 12th December

Early breakfast at the hotel 

Morning -  car/jeep to Valley Zest for a tour that is a tribute to John Pennycuick, the British Engineer who built the 175-feet high Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala in 1895. The dam made the plains of Tamil Nadu forever fertile, changing the lives of the local farmers. You will enjoy tea in a local tea shop and visit a Farmer’s Fair Trade Vegetable Market. You might also like to take a bullock cart ride.

Lunch at a local family house.

Afternoon - at leisure or option to see a performance of the Indian martial art Kalaripayattu (Please note this carries an extra charge.)

Dinner at the hotel.

Day Nine - Wednesday 13th December

Breakfast at the hotel and check out

Early morning - optional Guided Nature Walk through the Periyar national park. We have three walks to choose from. Option 1 - Explore the park with a Naturalist guide; Option 2 - Bird Watching with an expert guide; Option 3 - Field Photography with an expert guide. (Please note, options 2 and 3 carry an extra supplement.) 

Drive to Kumarakom, stopping en-route to visit Madukkakunnu homestay in Palai where you will have lunch followed by a meeting with Mr. Jose Dominic, a pioneer in sustainability. 

Mid-afternoon - drive on to Kumarakom, Kerala’s heartland of lagoons, palm-fringed lakes, and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals where you will check into your hotel, CGH Coconut Lagoon.

Dinner at the hotel

Day 10 - Thursday 14th December

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning - Old Kottayam Heritage Walk to learn about the rich past of bygone Royal Kottayam. You will visit St. Mary's Church, built in 1579; Thaliyil Temple; old Houses in the banks of Meenachil River; Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, built in 10th century (please note, women are not allowed inside the mosque); Holy Virgin Mary Church Valiyapalli; CMS Press; CMS Collage; Holy Trinity CSI Cathedral and CSI Cathedral Cemetery.

Lunch at a local the restaurant / hotel.

Afteroon - return to your hotel where the remainder of the day will be at leisure. You might like to enjoy Ayurveda treatments, or join the hotel chef for a cookery demonstration and learn the secrets of traditional Kerala vegetarian and sea food cooking.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 11 - Friday 15th December

Breakfast at the hotel

Early morning - Option to visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, (Please note, this carries a supplement.)

Day cruise on a houseboat, including lunch on board. The journey along the Backwater offers a view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 12 - Saturday 16th December

Early breakfast at the hotel and check out

Morning - drive to Mararikulam, stopping en-route for a unique ‘Village Rubble’ experience. The essence of the program is to understand how a typical Kerala coastal village is structured. You will go to the local fishing harbour where the expedition manager will introduce you to the details of the fishing economy and provide insight into the life and livelihood of the local fishermen. On most days you will be able to witness a live fish auction. You will then take a tuk-tuk to meet a local family where you will have an option to enjoy a home-cooked Kerala breakfast. You might also like to try your hand at fishing the Kerala way. 

Lunch and cooking demonstration at a family's house

Afternoon - continue your drive to Mararikulam and check into your hotel, CGH Marari Beach Resort. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 13 - Sunday17th December

Breakfast at the hotel

Day at leisure or choose one of two optional tours. (Please note, this option carries a supplement.)

Option 1- Alleppey Magic Heritage Tour; Option 2 - .Alleppey Tour with a guide from the Preserve Alleppey Society.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 14 - Monday18th December

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Kochi airport for your flight to Mumbai

13:25 - depart Kochi by Indigo flight 6E-5394

15:25 - arrive Mumbai, meet our SITA representative at the terminal and drive to The Lalit Hotel, Mumbai.

Dinner at the hotel
 

 Day 15 - Tuesday 19th December

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Mumbai airport for flight back to the UK/onward destination

13:15 - depart Mumbai by British Airways flight BA-0198

18:00 - arrive London Heathrow

Tour ends

 

CGH Eight Bastion – 3 nights

Built on a historic plot, this boutique heritage hotel is a celebration of Fort Kochi's Dutch Legacy. Most of the 19 rooms are open to airy patios or balconies making it the perfect place to enjoy the tropical breeze over a morning coffee. The bathrooms are cosy and modern with both baths and rain shower systems. 
Facilities include an infinity swimming pool, free WiFi, a lobby bar, tea lounge and a central courtyard, which is a lovely place to meet friends in the early evenings. The East-Indies restaurant serves a fusion of local favourites with Dutch flavours. 

OR

CGH Brunton Boatyard – 3 nights

Located on a stretch of Kochi's famed harbour in a former 19th-century boatyard overlooking the vast expanse of the Arabian sea, this luxurious Fort Kochi hotel blends effortlessly with Kochi’s Colonial surroundings. Stepping into Brunton Boatyard is like stepping into the distillery of history where your soul goes back in time to relive the past and there is some mystical aura about the place which takes you back to the colonial era.

Facilities here include an Ayurveda Centre, swimming pool, a shop selling souvenirs, books and fabrics, free WiFi and 24-hour room service. The hotel also boasts three restaurants, reflecting the cultural past of Fort Kochi and showcasing the Arab, Jewish, Dutch and Portuguese influences. The Armory Restaurant overlooks the harbour and is a tranquil place to enjoy a cocktail, snack or light meal. Delicately spiced a la carte food is served at the History Restaurant, while the Terrace Grill overlooking a bustling harbour and bazaar, specialises in sea food fresh caught by the local fishermen. 

Fragrant Nature Munnar – 2 nights

This luxury 5* hotel has the best views in Munnar. Built in the style of local planter bungalows, the rooms all have cosy fireplaces and imposing views of the mountains, while the state-of-the-art spa offers luxuriant Ayurvedic massages. There is an all-day dining restaurant showcasing the best of North/South Indian and Arab delicacies and a grill called The Glass House where you can dine beneath a clear view of the stars. There is also café offering delicious light snacks.
Other facilities include a gym, free WiFi, and guest stationery.

CGH Spice Village – 2 nights

Located in the cardamom hills, this beautiful 4* eco-resort offers a rare opportunity to live close to nature, enjoy the local wildlife and feast on the beauty of the nature. Fill your lungs with fresh mountain air and savour the all-prevalent fragrance of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Located just outside the Periyar tiger reserve and inspired by Oorali and Mannan tribes that inhabit this region, the hotel’s architects have recreated the mood of the tribal community in the cottages and the settings. Here nature controls the temperature and all the cottages are built with split bamboo and elephant grass. 

This is an eco-resort, but it provides every comfort a modern traveller could need, from luxurious accommodation and mouth-watering cuisine to an exclusive swimming pool and an Ayurvedic Centre. WiFi is available in the reading lounge. 
There are two restaurants, Tamarind Tree offering international cuisine buffets and 50 Mile Diet which specialises in grilled meat and organic vegetables. There is also a Tea Shop offering snacks and a Wood House Bar. 
As a resort hotel, there’s also a wide range of in house activities ranging from cookery and saree demonstrations to nature slide shows and paper-making workshops. 

CGH Coconut Lagoon - 3 nights

Located by the backwaters of the mighty Vembanad lake, the heritage resort of Coconut Lagoon is a unique recreation of a traditional Keralean village. Each of the wooden houses is an original Kerala Tharavadu which has been brought from all over the state and painstakingly reassembled by skilled craftsmen. An architectural marvel, Coconut Lagoon celebrates the simple joys of life and it is an affirmation of CGH group's belief that holiday environments are catalysts that ensure the preservation of the earth and her reserves. Endangered Vechoor cows mow the lawns and great efforts are made to recycle and reused resources.

Comfort and luxury have not been sacrificed. All the rooms are air-conditioned and other facilities include an Ayurvedic Centre, swimming pool, free morning yoga classes, and an in-house boutique selling postcards, curios, gifts, garments, and jewellery. WiFi is available in the reception area either on your laptop or at the Internet Center. 

There are two restaurants, Ettukettu offering international cuisine, and the lake-side Aymanam which serves specialty cuisine of the area along with fresh seafood delicacies. There is also a garden lounge bar serving irresistibly delicious cocktails and mocktails and a Poolside Snack Bar serving hot snacks, salads, sandwiches and beverages.

CGH Earth Marari Beach Resort – 2 nights

Built-in a traditional fishing village style with palm-thatched roofs on the shores of the azure Arabian sea, this is a luxurious eco-resort. Far from the madding crowds, Marari is all about space, silence, and nature. For example, there are no televisions in the rooms because guests can watch the waves crashing on the beach and listen to the whispering coconut groves. Conservation is key here too with initiatives including rainwater harvesting, solar heating, and the recycling of food waste for biogas. The resort is also plastic-free.  

All the rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with modern amenities like ceiling fans, mini-bars, safes, hairdryers, complimentary organic toiletries, phones, tea and coffee making facilities, and insect screens. Facilities include a swimming pool, an Ayurvedic center, an organic garden, tennis, badminton, beach volleyball and a boutique. Activities such as yoga classes, interactive cooking, meditation and saree/dhoti tying demonstrations are also available. 

There are three restaurants to choose from; Chakara serving Indian and continental delicacies; the seafood restaurant Grill and Farm Kitchen, located in the centre of the organic vegetable garden. This restaurant provides a unique community-style dining experience with the chef – guests start by picking vegetables from the organic vegetable garden, then help to cook them before sitting down together to eat in the Palm Bar. There is also a lawn bar and Beach Shack serving drinks and cocktails.

The Lalit Hotel 5*, Mumbai - 1 night

A tranquil and luxurious oasis in the heart of bustling Mumbai located near to Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, The Lalit is ideal for your last night. With outstanding 5* hospitality including Rejuve - The Spa, where you have a choice of aromatic and ayurvedic treatments, as well as yoga sessions. There is also an impressive outdoor pool, spread over two levels, and a state-of-the-art gym, both open 24 hours a day. There are three dining options, including an elegant round-the-clock restaurant serving multi-cuisine a la carte menus and a sumptuous breakfast buffet. 

 

 

 

Flights with British Airways from UK are included, but you may choose to make your own way there
 

Outbound - Tuesday 5th December

Depart London Heathrow Terminal 5 by British Airways flight BAO139 09:45 

Arrive Mumbai Terminal 2 00:15, the following day Wednesday 11th January/6th December

Flight time

Internal flight - Wednesday 6th December (day 2)

Depart Mumbai by GoFirst flight G8347 05:10

Arrive Kochi 07:05

Flight time 1hr 55mins

Internal flight - Monday 18th December (day 14)

Depart Kochi by Indigo flight 6E-5394 13:25

Arrive Mumbai 15:25

Flight time 2hrs

Inbound - Tuesday 19th December

Depart Mumbai by British Airways flight BA0198 13:15

Arrive London Heathrow Terminal 5 18:00 

Flight time

Economy seat

2x checked bags max 23kg up to 90x75x43cm

1x handbag/laptop bag up to 23kg up to 40x30x15cm

1x cabin bag max 23kg up to 56x45x12cm

British Airlines flights included are Economy, if you wish to upgrade please contact us for the supplement cost