Itinerary
- Day 1
Kochi
You'll arrive in Kochi on India's Malabar Coast anytime during the day. There's nothing scheduled until evening, so take your time getting settled at the hotel. At 5pm, your tour leader will host a welcome meeting at the reception desk, then there's an optional group dinner if you're interested. If your flight gets in later, you'll catch up with the group tomorrow morning instead.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Casino), Hotel (Hotel Casino (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Kochi Airport (COK)
- Day 2
Kochi - Fort Kochi District & Mattancherry
Take an autorickshaw from your hotel to Embarkation Jetty in historic Fort Kochi, then ferry across to Mattancherry Palace, a 16th-century Portuguese structure with murals depicting Ramayan scenes. Wander through the old town's alleyways and markets, check out the famous cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, and try local street food like Masala Vada and Bonda. This evening you'll watch a traditional Kathakali performance followed by group dinner with Keralan specialties including Sadhya and fish curry.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner - Traditional Keralan cuisine featuring Sadhya (tapas-style variety of dishes served on a banana leaf) and fish curry (freshly caught fish in creamy blend of mild spices and coconut milk))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Casino), Hotel (Hotel Casino (or similar))
Included Activities
- Autorickshaw to Embarkation Jetty
- Ferry to Mattancherry Palace
- Visit to Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
- Exploration of Fort Kochi old town, markets and Chinese fishing nets
- Visit to Jewish town synagogue
- Traditional Kathakali performance
- Group dinner - Keralan cuisine (Sadhya and fish curry)
Landmarks Mattancherry Palace Chinese Fishing Nets Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi - Day 3
Kochi to Backwaters
Start early this morning with a 1.5 hour drive toward Kerala's backwaters, passing through water-lined suburbs and small villages. You'll board an upmarket houseboat, a modern take on traditional kettuvallams, with air-conditioned cabins and dining areas. Spend the day floating slowly through waterways, rice paddies and coconut palms, watching local riverside life go by at a relaxed pace.
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Lakes & Lagoon), Berth / Cabin (Lakes & Lagoon (or similar))
Included Activities
- Coach drive to backwaters
- Houseboat accommodation and day cruise on backwaters
Landmarks Kerala Backwaters - Day 4
Backwaters to Kumarakom
Have breakfast on board this morning while you cruise back through palm-lined waterways to Allepey town. After disembarking mid-morning, walk through the markets of this commercial backwaters center. Then it's a short one-hour drive to your lakeside hotel in Kumarakom, overlooking the lake. The rest of the day is free to relax in the tropical setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Served on board houseboat - bread, eggs, fresh juice, local options including appam with stew or idli with sambar)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Gokulam Grand Resort & Spa), Hotel (Gokulam Grand Resort & Spa (or similar))
Included Activities
- Houseboat breakfast
- Exploration of Allepey markets
- Coach drive to Kumarakom
Optional Activities
- Keralan cookery masterclass
- Ayurvedic massage
- Guided walk through waterside villages and cultivation methods
- Birdwatching (kingfishers, cormorants, herons, egrets)
Landmarks Kumarakom Lake 
- Day 5
Kumarakom to Calicut
Leave the backwaters this morning and head to Kottayam train station to board an express train north to Calicut (Kozhikode). The 200+ km journey takes around three and a half hours in comfortable air-conditioned chair class. You'll arrive by early afternoon, check in at your hotel, then take a guided walking tour through the old quarter seeing colonial buildings and a busy central market. The walk ends at the beach just in time for sunset.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Raviz), Hotel (The Raviz (or similar))
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Kottayam train station
- Express train to Calicut
- Walking tour of old quarter and central market
- Beach visit at sunset
Landmarks Calicut Beach - Day 6
Calicut to Wayanad
Leave the coast this morning and head toward the cooler Western Ghats mountains. During the 2.5 to 3 hour drive, you'll pass spice plantations, banana palms and tea farms as the road climbs into the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. From there, transfer into jeeps for a scenic 30-minute drive up to your eco-resort tucked in the jungle with cabins, an infinity pool, and naturalist-led activities available.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wayanad Wild), Hotel (Wayanad Wild (or similar))
Included Activities
- Coach drive through spice plantations to Wayanad
- Jeep transfer to eco-resort
Optional Activities
- Safari in Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary (requires pre-booking with tour leader at least 1 day in advance)
Landmarks Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Western Ghats 
- Day 7
Wayanad
Start with a half-hour drive to Chundale Lockhart Tea Plantation where you'll walk through tea fields with an experienced picker learning about growing, tending and harvesting. Tour the tea factory and have a tasting session. The rest of the day is free to relax or enjoy optional activities like talks from resident naturalists, butterfly walks, cookery demonstrations, or a jungle night walk.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wayanad Wild), Hotel (Wayanad Wild (or similar))
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Chundale Lockhart Tea Plantation
- Tea plantation walk with expert picker
- Tea factory tour
- Tea tasting session
Optional Activities
- Naturalist talks at resort
- Butterfly walk
- Cookery demonstration
- Jungle night walk (nocturnal species viewing)
Landmarks Chundale Lockhart Tea Plantation - Day 8
Wayanad to Coorg
Continue through the forested Western Ghats mountains heading north toward Coorg. The 6 to 7 hour scenic drive winds through hills with chances to spot wildlife along the National Park edges. You'll arrive by late afternoon at Coorg, known as the Scotland of India for its cool climate and sprawling coffee plantations. Check in at your accommodation within a working plantation, then the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Coorg Wilderness Resort & Spa), Hotel (Coorg Wilderness Resort & Spa (or similar))
Included Activities
- Coach drive through Western Ghats to Coorg
Optional Activities
- Visit to Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple of Coorg) - approximately 40 km away, about 60 minutes each way
Landmarks Namdroling Monastery - Day 9
Coorg
Visit Mercara coffee plantation, which has been growing and roasting coffee here for 80 years. Learn about cultivation methods for both Robusta and Arabica beans, from harvesting through processing and roasting, then try a cup of freshly-roasted coffee. Later, drive down from the hills toward the Malabar Coast to Mangalore. After the five-hour journey, walk to the 800-year-old Shree Sharavu Mahaganpathi Temple in time for evening prayers.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Vivanta by Taj), Hotel (Vivanta Mangalore (or similar))
Included Activities
- Tour of Mercara coffee plantation
- Coffee tasting
- Coach drive to Mangalore
- Visit to Shree Sharavu Mahaganpathi Temple for evening prayers
Landmarks Mercara Coffee Plantation Shree Sharavu Mahaganpathi Temple - Day 10
Mangalore to Goa
Board your second express train along the palm-fringed Malabar Coast heading to Goa. The approximately five-hour journey in comfortable air-conditioned chair class should get you into Goa around lunchtime. Check in at your resort-style hotel built in Portuguese villa style overlooking white sand beaches in south Goa. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino), Hotel (The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino (or similar))
Included Activities
- Express train from Mangalore to Goa
- Day 11
Goa
You have the whole day free to relax around the pool, on the beach, or enjoy hotel activities. Sample locally-caught seafood and cold beer at beach shacks along the white sand. If you want something more active, optional day trips include visiting the four-tiered Dhudsagar Falls via 4WD forest journey, or exploring Panjim town with its colorful Portuguese villas, churches and sleepy markets in the Fontainhas Old Quarter.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino), Hotel (The Zuri White Sands, Goa Resort & Casino (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Relaxation at hotel pool and beach
- Hotel activities and water sports
- Beach shack dining
- Day trip to Dhudsagar Falls (4WD journey through forest)
- Day trip to Panjim town and Fontainhas Old Quarter
Landmarks Dhudsagar Falls Panjim Fontainhas Old Quarter - Day 12
Goa
Your tour ends this morning in Goa. There are no planned activities, so you're free to depart anytime. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage is available at the hotel. You can also book extra nights accommodation if you'd like to stay longer and extend your beach time.
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer to Manohar International Airport (GOX) or Goa Dabolim International Airport (GOI)
