South India Classic Tour

Your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport, then transfer to your hotel directly. The rest of the day is for you to spend as you wish.

Hotel options:
Radisson Blu Kochi
Kochi Marriott Hotel

breakfast & lunch

The first place you will visit is the oldest Portuguese style Christian church, built in 1503 — St. Francis Church. Then, you will visit the Mattancherry Palace (now called Dutch Palace) and feast your eyes on hundreds of Indian murals. Next, click a selfie with the Chinese fishing nets, which are iconic in Cochin.

Then, stroll down the streets of Jew Town and explore the numerous art galleries and crafts shops. You will see Paradesi Synagogue, constructed in 1568, which is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth.

At night, you will have the chance to watch a traditional Kathakali dance performance, which is a stylized form of drama. It depicts stories from Hindu classical literature through a combination of dance and mime. The performers’ makeup, costumes, and dance gestures are unique.

The dancer of Kathakali dance

breakfast & lunch

After breakfast, you will be transferred from Cochin to Munnar (four hours) by car, and you will meet up with your new guide there.

Visit an Indian tea plantation in the afternoon. Enjoy the natural atmosphere, breathe in the fresh air, and let yourself relax. There are many women locals working on the mountains; if you wish, you can have a small chat with them.

Hotel options:
Golden Ridge Mountain Resort
Fragrant Nature

Enjoy the pretty view and the fresh air in the tea plantation

breakfast & lunch

In the morning, head to a peaceful and blissful place — Mattupetty Lake and Dam, which is the best place to relax in Munnar. If you wish to, you can have a picnic here. Then take some time to visit Eravikulam National Park, which is home to many species of wildlife. The last stop is a visit to the Tea Museum, where you can learn about the history of Indian tea, and try making different local teas with your guide.

Find the trails of the rare mountain goats in Eravikulam National Park

breakfast & lunch

You will start your day with a 3-hour driving from Munnar to Thekkady. After lunch, visit Periyar National Park and soak in the serenity. If you are lucky, you will see some wildlife, such as deer, elephants, and buffaloes. Take a cruise along Periyar Lake and spot wild animals basking in the sun, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

After lunch, spend an afternoon in a local spice garden, and try to recognize spices and learn how locals use them. You can also wander through a spice plantation, listening to stories about how locals make a living growing spices, how to cultivate them, and so on.

Hotel options:
Poetree Sarovar Portico
Greenwoods Resort

The deer in Periyar National Park

breakfast & lunch

Transfer from Thekkady to Alleppey in a private car (3½ hours) in the morning and check-in at a local houseboat. Discover Kerala’s backwaters as you pass through narrow canals. You may get wet during the cruise, but the beautiful views are definitely worth it!

Hotel options:
Evergreen Houseboat/Xandari River Escapes

Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the backwater

breakfast & lunch

Check-out from the houseboat at 9:30 am, then head to Kovalam by car (four hours). Check-in at your hotel first, then bask in the sun on the tropical beach, swim, get a massage, listen to music, and unwind with a tasty juice and seafood.

Hotel options:
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel
Taj Green Cove Resort & Spa Kovalam

Enjoy your free time at Kovalam Beach

breakfast

You will have a free day in Kovalam — make the best of it and enjoy the view on a stunning beach.

breakfast

You will be transferred from Kovalam to Trivandrum (30 minutes) to catch your departure flight. Say goodbye to your guide and driver at the airport of Trivandrum. See you next time!