Cultural Kerala – village roots and natural wonders

Arrive at Kannur or Kozhikode International Airport, where you’ll be met by your tour host and transferred to your hotel. The day is kept light to help you recover from your international journey.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with your group—an introduction to Kerala’s flavours and the experiences that lie ahead.

Meals: Dinner

Today is dedicated to witnessing Theyyam, one of Kerala’s most powerful living ritual traditions—described by the BBC as “an Indian trance where men become Gods.”

Spend the day at local temple shrines observing multiple performances, each depicting deities, warriors, and mythological legends through elaborate costumes, fire rituals, and rhythmic percussion.

For those interested, midnight Theyyam ceremonies—considered the most intense and sacred—can be attended (optional).

Meals: Breakfast

Drive south to Palakkad (approx. 6 hrs), known for its fertile plains and gateway location between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Check into a heritage homestay or boutique rural retreat. In the evening, take a gentle village walk—past temples, traditional homes, and lamp-lit streets—offering your first glimpse into everyday Kerala life.

Meals: Breakfast

Begin the day at Kalpathy Heritage Village, known for its agraharam streets and Tamil-Kerala Brahmin culture. Continue to nearby paddy fields to observe traditional farming practices.

Lunch features an authentic banana-leaf sadya—a multi-course vegetarian feast.

Later, visit Kuthampully Village, famous for handwoven kasavu textiles. End the evening with a Tholpavakoothu shadow puppetry performance—an ancient temple storytelling art.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Depart for Kochi with an en-route stop at Kerala Kalamandalam, India’s premier institute for classical performing arts. Observe live training sessions in Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and percussion.

Continue to Fort Kochi and check into your hotel or heritage homestay. Evening at leisure, followed by a group dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore Kochi’s layered history shaped by Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences.

Visit:

• St. Francis Church

• Dutch (Mattancherry) Palace

• Jew Town & Paradesi Synagogue

Later, head to Kumbalangi Model Tourism Village for an immersive rural experience—fishing, coir making, and canal life—paired with a traditional lunch.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive to Alleppey, Kerala’s iconic backwater region.

Check into a lakeside resort and unwind. In the evening, enjoy a private shikara boat ride through palm-lined canals, passing villages, churches, and daily life along the waterways.

Meals: Breakfast

Visit the Kuttanad region, known as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala,” famous for its below-sea-level farming system.

Explore rural pathways, paddy fields, and waterways. Visit the Coir Museum to understand traditional coconut-fiber weaving.

Optional experiences include Ayurvedic therapies or guided village walks.

Meals: Breakfast

Drive to Kovalam (approx. 5 hrs).

En route, stop at Aranmula, renowned for its handcrafted metal mirrors—an art form recognized under UNESCO Intangible Heritage traditions.

Arrive in Kovalam and relax by the Arabian Sea. Conclude your journey with a farewell dinner overlooking the ocean.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Trivandrum International Airport.

If time permits, optional visits include:

• Padmanabhaswamy Temple (exterior visit)

• Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

• Napier Museum

Departure assistance provided.

Meals: Breakfast