Kerala Family Activity Holiday

Tour Overview

Kerala is one of the leading destinations for a small family looking for an activity holiday. Safe and scenic with lots of undiscovered places, a vast span of mountains, lush green forests, and magical backwaters and beaches, Kerala offers a complete holiday. Rich in culture, you will be interacting with the local communities getting to know about their lifestyles and experience the rich cuisine. The tour offers both luxury and adventure with treks in the forests, birding in the lowlands, paddling through the backwaters and a wonderful time on a farm. Accommodation is arranged at heritage villas, country homes and resorts. Best time to go: August to May

Day 1, 2: Fort Cochin

Arrive at Kochi International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the city. Kochi is a historical city & worth exploring – its narrow streets, spice scented shops enveloping the ‘pardesi’ synagogue, the Dutch museum showcasing murals depicting Hindu mythology and endless rows of shops selling anything from lamps to spices. The experience is all the more on the tuk-tuks that abound in this area. A walk past the Chinese fishing nets and a wonderful rendition of the classical dance kathakali in the evening would be an apt ending to your visit to this city.

Day 3: Lowlands of Thattekkad

  After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Thattekkad, a lowland forest. 57 species of fishes, 12 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, 38 species of aquatic macro vertebrates have been recorded from sanctuary, besides 275 species of birds and 76 species of butterflies, many endemics among them. Wild animals like elephants, Sambar deer, Civet cats, Jungle cats, Travancore Flying squirrels, Slender Loris are also seen. Thattekkad Bird sanctuary is indeed a field laboratory for conservation education. Your stay would be at the Hornbill camp set along the shores of the river Periyar opposite the sanctuary. After a traditional lunch at the common gazebo overlooking the river, you will get an opportunity to go on the kayaks for a journey through to the rain forests on the opposite side of the river. Here if you are lucky, there are chances of sighting some of the endemic birds and mammals that live here. You can the brilliantly colorful Malabar Parakeets & the Malabar Trogons besides the endemic Malabar Giant Squirrels. After your return, there is a walk planned through the local village to see how the farming community lives amidst their plantations of rubber, coconuts & various spices like pepper  

Day 4: Lowlands of Thattekkad

Today you go on an early morning walk to the rain forests in the company of a naturalist. Here you see a wide variety of the birds & butterflies that inhabit the park. Look out for the Whitebellied Treepie, the Malabar Grey Hornbill or butterflies like the Southern Birdwing not sighted anywhere else in the world. Return for a late breakfast at the camp. After a relaxing afternoon, you have an option of either another kayaking trip or a cycling trip along the banks of the river to spice growing hamlets in the vicinity.

Day 5, 6: Munnar

You will travel by road to Munnar (the hill country) after breakfast. Munnar is the heart of the tea-growing region of Kerala, set high on the seaward slopes of the Western Ghats. You will pass through rubber and cardamom plantations and, as you enter the freshness of thin air, the country side is covered by the green furring of tea with patches of the original rain forest clinging to some high and precipitous slope. The scale of the country, the enormous panoramas, the lush colours, the craggy vertical heights all contribute to making this area one of the most beautiful regions of the southern highlands. And of course the altitude acts as a tonic to any spirits that might get jaded by extended travels in the warmer lowlands. This high ranges tea town with altitudes varying from 1400 m to 2680 m has an eco-system that is primarily shola-grassland type. (Sholas are high altitude montane forests & typical to the Western Ghats and a hub of endemism, enabling these areas to be included as one of the 35 bio-diversity hot spots of the world). The indigenous people are the Muduvans and the Malapulayas who inhabit the higher reaches of mountains. The wildlife includes the endangered and endemic Nilgiri Tahrs , Asiatic elephants, gaurs (Indian Bison), leopards, tigers and bears besides sambar and wild dogs. Here you will be visiting the Rajamala park for wildlife & bird watching, walking the mountain trails, visiting the tea museum, walking through the tea gardens and enjoying the pristine beauty of scenic Munnar.One of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in India (and indeed, the world) Periyar is part of Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation project designed to protect Royal Bengal Tigers from extinction. Set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats, this protected area covers some 777 km², out of which a 350km² forest part of the core zone known as the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Famous for its picturesque (though artificial) lake and of course the tiger (which number about 40), the park is also home to 62 different kinds of mammal. The most well known of these are the park’s famous herds of wild Asiatic elephants, which often come to bathe in Periyar lake. This well-preserved park is run by the forest department helped by local tribes & local communities who still live in the periphery of park. Here you can go on treks into the rain forest, go on wildlife safari walks, visit the spice plantations, visit the Wildlife Museum and  do a boating safari on the impressive lake inside the park.

Day 7, 8: Wildlife at Periyar Tiger Reserve

One of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in India (and indeed, the world) Periyar is part of Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation project designed to protect Royal Bengal Tigers from extinction. Set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats, this protected area covers some 777 km², out of which a 350km² forest part of the core zone known as the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Famous for its picturesque lake and of course the tiger (which number about 40), the park is also home to large numbers of other mammals like deer, wild dogs, bears and the Indian bison. The most well known of these are the park’s famous herds of wild Asiatic elephants, which often come to bathe in Periyar lake. This well-preserved park is run by the forest department helped by local tribes & local communities who still live in the periphery of park. Here you can go on treks into the rain forest, go on boating safaris, visit the spice plantations and visit the wildlife museum.

Day 9: Riceboat cruise

Today you will head down to the plains, passing through numerous spice growing villages of Kerala, rubber estates and paddy fields before arriving at the backwaters and embarking the houseboat. These are reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means "tied with ropes", and vallam means "boat"), which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. It is both enchanting and relaxing as you lounge on the deck for a memorable cruise through the waters of the backwaters. After a leisurely morning spent kayaking in the backwaters, your next destination is the white sandy beaches of Marari for the end of this tour. Your stay will be at a resort on the beach. There you can enjoy the beach and the sea, relaxing or visiting the surrounding areas on cycles, giving you a good chance to interact with local people or go fishing with the local fishermen.

Day 10-12: At the Marari Beach

After disembarking, you will be taken on a kayaking trip through the backwaters. After this your next destination is the white sandy beaches of Marari for the end of this tour. You stay will be at a resort on the beach. There you can enjoy the beach and the sea, relaxing or visiting the surrounding areas on cycles, giving you a good chance to interact with local people or just laze around on the beach. 

Day 13: Depart

Time to say your goodbyes as you depart for the airport. 

Inclusions

• Accommodation in Boutique hotels, resorts, Forest Lodges & home stays
• Most meals
• Varied activities suited for children
• All transfers by aircon vehicle
• English speaking guide/ driver
• All walks & safaris

Holiday Feedback

Route Maps

FAQs

Q. Do I Need A Visa To Travel To India?
Yes. Please see : https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html

Q. When Is The Best Time To Visit Kerala for this tour?
The best time to visit is from August to May.

Q. Should I take out Travel Insurance Before travelling for this tour?
Yes, it is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance before travelling to India, covering any medical situation, hospitalisation, cancellation and loss of your baggage. We cover your causality evacuation to the nearest hospital which is included in the cost. However, this does not cover the cost of medical treatment at the hospital.

Q. Do I have a guide for this tour?
You would have a driver cum guide who is proficient in spoken English. For sightseeing & special side tours, we provide specialist guides.

Q. What are the health risks?
There are very minimal health risks if you follow our instructions on drinking only certified bottled water and food from safe sources identified by us.

Q. Is this holiday safe for children?
Yes, absolutely. We arrange only those activities considered safe for children.

Q. What are the age limits for children?
Technically all ages, but to get a feel of this holiday, it would be better for the child to be above 6 years.

Q. Can this tour be tailor-made?
Yes

Q. Is First Aid available?
Yes, the driver carries a comprehensive First Aid bag. For those suffering from allergies or require any special medication will need to bring those along. All our staff have undergone St John’s Ambulance First Aid Training course and are qualified. In case of serious injuries or emergencies, we have identified hospitals nearest to the tour routes to safely evacuate you to the nearest hospital.

Q. Are banking services easily available in areas visited?
Yes. Banking services and numerous ATMs available throughout South India

Q. Can I use my credit Card during this trip?
Yes, all the resorts & most shops in locations mentioned in this itinerary accept credit cards

Q. Is South India a good destination for a Beach Holiday?
Definitely yes & this tour has a beach element built into this. 

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