Luxury Kerala Vacation Tour: Culture & Escape (10 Days Tour)

The Cultural South

Welcome to Cochin, the gateway to Kerala and a city filled with layers of history. The Portuguese built their first stronghold along the northern tip of the peninsula. The scent of spices is still enticing and prevalent. You are met at the airport by a private transfer and escorted to your hotel.

The antique Chinese fishing nets create a skyline above the Arabian Sea. The nets are around 60 feet wide suspended on wooden supports that are around 30 feet tall. You can see them dip down into the water, counterbalanced by large stones and guided by agile fishermen.

The depth of the city’s past spans over 600 years and continues to allure both visitors and locals, including Salman Rushdie, whose novel The Moor’s Last Sigh, centers around Cochin’s historic neighborhoods. In the evening you will indulge in a Kathakali performance. The classical Indian dance-drama is filled with elaborate costumes and intricate movement with traditions that date back to the 17th century. You can hear the precision in the drumbeats.

The singing is harmonic. The costumes are vibrant and almost tell the story on their own.

What’s Included: transfer, theater, accommodation

The Mountains of Munnar

The morning is tranquil around Munnar. The hills are verdant and look endless. The greenery of tea plantations stretches over the rolling mountains in the distance. Women tow through the tea fields and pick the budding leaves. Their saris are lively and colorful. The textiles give a flash of sunflower yellow and rich purple to the lush countryside.

After breakfast you will venture to Rajamal, a mountain hill that stands over 8,840 feet above sea level. It is also home to the only mountain goat in India, the nilgiri tahr, found south of the Himalayas. The craggy mountains seem to surround you in every direction.

The sound of rushing water is prevalent. Waterfalls cascade along the hilly regions and tumble into fabulous, misty pools. In the altitudinal rocky terrain you can see the light brown coat of the ibex-like goat as the animal grazes on the thin, firm grass. The older goats have horns that arch backwards like slick hair. The marvels of nature can be as simple as watching a wild goat forage in its natural habitat as the sky shines an unencumbered blue.   

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, tour, accommodation.

A Reserve Experience

Periyar National Park covers over 357 square miles and is filled with a remarkable collection of wildlife. The natural majesty of the landscape quickly captivates you. After breakfast you venture out into the expanse of evergreen trees that open up to savannah. You follow your guide alongside the tree line. Macaque monkeys sift through the branches.

Their loud calls echo beneath the canopy. The magenta coat of an Indian giant squirrel is both shocking and compelling. Their tale is long and dangles like a fuzzy branch. Their two-toned coat somehow pops out and simultaneously blends in to the surrounding foliage. They can jump up to 20 feet when they travel from tree to tree.

The true splendor of the reserve comes when your guide points into the distant tall grass. A troop of elephants marches through the verdant plain. You can see a baby elephant surrounded by the large bodies of several others, protecting her from possible predators. They dangle their trunks as they walk, often ripping up grass as they trudge along. The mystery and mystique of the troop is undeniable. Soon you will leave the elephants behind but the image will always stay with you.

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, accommodation.

Water Bound Alleppey

The canals wind around Alleppey, which caused the area to be known as the “Venice of the South.” The calm water ripples against the lush riverbanks. You board a houseboat and drift down the charming network. The boat is luxurious and comfortable. You can stand on the hull and see the towering palms. Near Vembanad Lake the land surrounding the banks gives way to paddy fields. Shallow wooden skimmers are filled with mounds of produce.

The local vendor paddles down the way in his catamaran. Bananas and coconut groves fill the plantations. It is like you have arrived in a different world made of tropical scenery and lush serenity. In the evening your private chef uses the local ingredients to create a spectacular dish. The scent of chili and cloves emanate from the kitchen. The night sky is rich with twinkling stars. The canal banks are remarkably quiet. You savor the meal, dining beneath the unparalleled starlight as you continue to cruise alongside reaching palms. 

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, transfer, tour, accommodation

A Day at the Shore

The sunrise over Kovalam is soaked in rich orange. The sounds of jovial fishermen fill the air and cover the lapping waves. You can enjoy fluffy rice pancakes soaked in coconut milk or the sweet flavors of fresh banana and mango. The day is at your leisure to experience the beach in your own way, whether stretching out along the warm sand or sitting in a café and watching the day pass you by. Away from the beaches is the Vizhinjam Rock Cut Caves where you will find 18th century temples. The granite walls now house a single narrow shrine. The outer corridors are engraved with images of deities.

It feels like you have journeyed into the jungle and found a hidden gem. Between the elegant cave carvings and the rejuvenating sea, the day will be filled with joyful splendor.

What’s Included: breakfast, accommodation.