Kerala reserves for nature lovers

Take time to get yourself acclimatized and discover the romanticism of Fort Cochin: Visit the Santa Cruz church, stroll through Princess Street and watch the sunset over the Chinese dip nets. In the evening, you can attend a representation of {1}kathakali{/1}.

Visit of "Bird Sanctuary", a bird reserve on Vembanad lake, the largest in Kerala. Walk along the backwaters on a "rice boat" between mangroves, fields of paddy and coconut trees. Overnight in an establishment located on Vembanad lake.

Head to the Periyar reserve, along the winding and green roads of the Western Ghats. After a good dinner, a good night's rest is required.

Early in the morning, visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary by jeep (or on foot for the most adventurous), accompanied by a guide who will make you discover the corners of the reserve. In the afternoon, boat cruise on the artificial lake of the reserve that will allow you to see animals coming to quench their thirst. If you are lucky, you can perhaps see a tiger.

A trip to the Spice Village, where you will discover the spice plantations, followed by a cooking class, will make you a professional about culinary art of Kerala. In the late afternoon, ride on elephant back, you can then feed and wash them.

Departure in the morning to Munnar, through the mountains lined with tea and rubber plantations. In the evening, take a trail to admire the sunset on the surrounding hills.

Visit to a tea factory. In the afternoon, go to the Eravikulam National Park, 16 km away. It is the ideal place to see Nilgiris tahr (rare mountain goats) but also lion-tailed macaques.

Morning departure to the Chinnar National park: elephants, leopards and bear expect to be surprised in their natural habitat. After lunch, departure to Mettupalayam.

From Mettupalayam you will join Ooty, a climatic station at 2 200 m of altitude, aboard a "toy train", a miniature steam train that will make you travel in the middle of the tea and coffee plantations, on the mountain side.

Golf in one of the best preserved British clubs or follow the tiger trail in the Mudumalai reserve, you can choose how to relive the British splendour. Departure in the afternoon to Kalpetta and Wayanad reserve: The road offers a sumptuous landscape with tea plantations as far as the eye can see and crossing of picturesque villages.

The last reserve of this circuit, the Wayanad nature reserve is located at the crossroads of three states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Visit of the Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary, especially to see elephants in their natural environment.

Departure early in the morning to discover the cave paintings of the Edakkal cellars. The ascent to the peak Chembra, the highest peak of the Western Ghats, is a pleasant trek if time permits. Departure to Calicut the next morning.

You can explore the beach of Kappad, which saw Vasco de Gama landing on May 20, 1498, visit one of the many religious buildings in this city, get lost in the market, and take the pulse of a city typical of Kerala.

Arrival in Fort Cochin in the morning, visit of the historical monuments of the city by rickshaw. Afternoon dedicated to relaxation on Cherai beach, on the island of Vypeen. Kochi is the last step in this circuit.