Family trip: nature, elephants and trails

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Kochi

  

  At the airport, you will be greeted by your driver who will take you to the Fort Cochin peninsula. Your arrival time will determine the start of your exploration of the city. Kochi, the former port city known as Cochin, is a symbol of its cosmopolitan past. Overnight at the hotel. You will be able to explore the alleys of Kochi, with the tropical Malabar coast as a backdrop. The remnants of its colonial history, such as Portuguese houses, mosques, the 15th-century synagogue, St. Francis Church (the oldest in India), Chinese fishing nets, and the Mattancherry Palace, will amaze you! A relaxing evening will allow you to recover and gather strength for the next day's program. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Kochi

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Start the morning with a unique experience: fishing. First, discover a crab farm, then learn about traditional "carrelet" fishing using a net woven from coconut fiber. You will then be introduced to the use of different parts of the coconut tree: how to handle coconuts, extract the milk, and how to peel and braid coconut leaves. In the afternoon, attend a Kathakali show, an ancient art that combines dance, theater, and martial arts. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Kochi - Periyar

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, explore the Western Ghats, the mountainous region and the village of Thekkaddy. India is world-renowned for its spices and Kerala is their true source. During this day, the guide will take you to the gardens of family homes to discover several plants and their virtues. Aromatic, cosmetic, healing: their properties are versatile and very useful in Ayurvedic medicine. By learning about their origin, history, and meaning, you will discover a cultural aspect of the whole country. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Periyar

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. You will venture into the Periyar nature reserve, which is not only inhabited by majestic animals such as elephants, bison, tigers... but also by less common species, including the barking deer, the chevrotain, the bonnet macaque, the dhole (Asian wild dog). This haven for animals is also home to more than 250 species of birds, including the great Malabar hornbill, the grey hornbill, the grey heron, the ibis, the osprey, the kingfisher, the racket-tailed drongo, the flycatcher, the blue-winged parakeet... You will be amazed by such diversity. The day will end with an exclusive encounter with the elephants. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Periyar - Backwaters

  

  You will begin the journey to the plains of Palai after breakfast. This idyllic route leading to Lake Vembanad is dotted with panoramas. After settling into your lodges, you will have the choice between relaxing or going on an adventure in the neighborhood, with its picturesque small villages, lush rice fields, flourishing plantations, and the renowned Kerala Backwaters canals.

• day 6

  Backwaters

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a trip aboard a houseboat (barge) on no less than 1500 km of rivers, canals, and lakes. Lunch on board. The spectacle of boats, boatmen handling long bamboo poles, the abundance of rice fields surrounding the river, and the typical villages lined with hibiscus and bougainvillea will amaze you. Dinner and a peaceful night on board a houseboat.

• day 7

  Backwaters - Marari Beach

  

  Disembark in the morning at Alleppey before heading towards the Malabar coast and its superb beaches. You will go to Marari, a magnificent white sand beach that is still protected and secluded. The hotel reserved for you on the shore is perfect for relaxing. Swimming, resting, walking along the beach, and discovering its various fishing villages are on the agenda. You also have the opportunity to be introduced to traditional canoe fishing! Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Marari Beach

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. You will have free time for the day, without a driver. You have a wide choice of Ayurvedic treatments and massages, an authentic medicine for the body and mind that helps restore the balance of the body's energies. It is also possible, if you wish, to spend a relaxing day by the sea to unwind. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Marari Beach

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. You can enjoy your second day of freedom by strolling through the markets and finding souvenirs in local crafts, as well as original gifts for your loved ones. A bike or horseback expedition in the surrounding area may be offered to you. Capture an unforgettable memory of your stay by admiring the sunset over the Arabian Sea from your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Marari Beach - Kochi - Departure

  

  Breakfast at the hotel and end of your excursion in Kerala. During your journey to Kochi International Airport with your driver, you can ask him to stop for some last-minute shopping or to admire a site, if you still have time before your flight. Have a safe trip back and see you soon!