Kerala with Luxury Heritage Hotels – 10 Days

Your Kerala holiday begins with a warm welcome at Cochin International Airport, where your personal representative will receive you before escorting you to a private luxury vehicle for the transfer to your heritage hotel.

Known for centuries as one of India's most important trading ports, Cochin developed through the influence of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab, and Chinese merchants, creating a cultural heritage unlike anywhere else in Kerala.

After check-in, the remainder of the day is free to relax following your journey.

Depending upon your arrival time, enjoy a leisurely walk through Fort Kochi, where colonial buildings, art galleries, cafés, boutique shops, and quiet streets overlook the Arabian Sea. Continue to the famous Chinese Fishing Nets, which have become one of the city's best-known landmarks and continue to be operated using traditional methods.

The evening is free to enjoy the elegant surroundings of your heritage hotel before beginning your journey through Kerala the following morning.

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring the historic neighbourhoods of Cochin, where centuries of international trade have shaped the city's unique character. Walking through Fort Kochi reveals quiet colonial streets lined with restored heritage buildings, cafés, art galleries, and traditional homes that reflect Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences.

Visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European church built in India, followed by the impressive Santa Cruz Basilica, known for its beautiful Gothic architecture and richly decorated interiors. Continue to Mattancherry Palace, commonly known as the Dutch Palace, where a remarkable collection of murals illustrates scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the history of the Cochin royal family.

A short walk through Jew Town introduces one of Cochin's oldest trading districts. Antique shops, spice warehouses, traditional homes, and the historic Paradesi Synagogue continue to preserve the city's multicultural heritage and long association with international commerce.

Later, leave Cochin and begin the drive towards Munnar. As the road climbs into the Western Ghats, the scenery gradually changes from coconut groves to forested hills, waterfalls, and endless tea plantations covering the surrounding mountains.

Arrive in Munnar by late afternoon and check into your heritage plantation resort. Spend the remainder of the evening enjoying the peaceful mountain surroundings and cool climate.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day exploring Munnar, one of Kerala's most beautiful hill stations. Established during the British colonial period as a centre for tea cultivation, the region continues to produce some of India's finest tea while offering spectacular mountain scenery.

Begin with a visit to the Tea Museum, where original machinery, photographs, and historical displays explain the development of Munnar's tea industry over the past century. Continue through the surrounding plantations, where neatly maintained tea gardens stretch across rolling hills as far as the eye can see.

Drive to Mattupetty Dam, a scenic reservoir surrounded by forests and tea estates. Depending upon weather conditions, guests may enjoy an optional boat ride while taking in views of the surrounding hills.

Nearby, visit Echo Point, well known for its natural acoustics and panoramic mountain views, followed by Kundala Lake, a peaceful destination surrounded by forests and tea plantations.

The afternoon also includes a stop at several viewpoints overlooking the valleys of the Western Ghats, providing excellent opportunities for photography before returning to your resort.

Spend another relaxing evening amidst the tranquil surroundings of Munnar.

Following breakfast, continue through Kerala's mountain landscapes towards Thekkady. The journey passes cardamom plantations, spice-growing villages, waterfalls, and dense forests, introducing another side of Kerala's rich natural environment.

Arrive in Thekkady during the afternoon and check into your carefully selected heritage property.

Later, visit a traditional spice plantation where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and nutmeg are cultivated. During the guided tour, learn about the cultivation and processing of these valuable spices that attracted traders from around the world to Kerala's shores for centuries.

Guests wishing to experience the region's wildlife may choose an optional boat cruise on Periyar Lake within Periyar National Park. The reserve supports a wide variety of wildlife including Asian elephants, Indian bison, sambar deer, wild boar, and numerous bird species.

The evening is free to relax at your resort or attend an optional Kalaripayattu performance showcasing Kerala's traditional martial art.

After breakfast, leave the hills behind and travel towards Kumarakom, a peaceful village located beside the vast waters of Vembanad Lake.

The route gradually descends through fertile countryside where rubber plantations, coconut groves, rice fields, and small villages create a changing landscape before reaching Kerala's famous backwater region.

Arrive in Kumarakom during the afternoon and check into your luxury heritage lakeside resort.

The remainder of the day has been left free to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Relax beside the lake, stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens, or simply watch traditional fishing boats move quietly across the calm waters of Vembanad Lake.

As evening falls, enjoy dinner within the elegant surroundings of your heritage property while experiencing the warm hospitality for which Kerala is renowned.

After breakfast, leave Kumarakom and travel towards Marari, a peaceful coastal village known for its unspoiled beaches, swaying coconut palms, and relaxed atmosphere. Unlike the more commercial beach destinations of India, Marari has retained its traditional fishing village character, making it an ideal place to unwind while experiencing Kerala's coastal lifestyle.

The short drive passes through narrow village roads lined with coconut groves, paddy fields, canals, and small churches before reaching the Arabian Sea.

Upon arrival, check into your luxury heritage beach resort, where traditional Kerala architecture blends seamlessly with contemporary comfort. Many of the region's finest resorts have been designed using local materials and traditional building techniques, creating a peaceful environment that reflects Kerala's architectural heritage.

The remainder of the day has been left free to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace. Take a leisurely walk along the quiet beach, relax beside the swimming pool, or simply enjoy the sound of the waves beneath the shade of coconut palms.

Guests interested in wellness may choose to experience an optional Ayurvedic therapy, as Kerala has long been recognised as the birthplace of this ancient system of natural healing.

Spend the evening enjoying fresh seafood and regional Kerala cuisine while overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Today is entirely at leisure, allowing you to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Marari without a fixed sightseeing schedule.

Begin the morning with a walk along the beach as local fishermen return with their daily catch, offering an authentic glimpse into village life that has remained largely unchanged for generations. The wide sandy shoreline and calm atmosphere make Marari one of Kerala's most relaxing coastal destinations.

Throughout the day, guests may choose to relax on the beach, enjoy the resort's swimming pool, or make use of its wellness facilities. Optional Ayurvedic massages and rejuvenation therapies provide an opportunity to experience one of Kerala's oldest healing traditions under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

Those wishing to explore beyond the resort can visit nearby fishing villages, where traditional wooden boats, coconut plantations, and local markets continue to reflect the simple rhythm of coastal life.

The evening is free to enjoy another peaceful sunset over the Arabian Sea before returning to your resort.

Following breakfast, leave the coast and return to Cochin, bringing your journey through Kerala full circle.

Upon arrival, check into your heritage hotel before spending the afternoon at leisure.

Guests may wish to revisit the charming streets of Fort Kochi, browse the city's boutique art galleries, antique shops, spice markets, or enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of its heritage cafés. The slower pace of Fort Kochi provides an enjoyable opportunity to appreciate the city's unique atmosphere before departure.

If you were unable to attend earlier in the tour, the evening also offers an opportunity to watch a traditional Kathakali dance performance, one of Kerala's oldest classical art forms. The elaborate costumes, expressive facial movements, and live percussion music provide a memorable conclusion to your cultural experience in the state.

Return to your hotel for your final overnight stay in Kerala.

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed day with no scheduled sightseeing.

This day has been included to allow guests to experience Cochin at their own pace. Visit local cafés overlooking the harbour, browse art galleries featuring contemporary Kerala artists, explore traditional spice markets, or simply relax within the elegant surroundings of your heritage hotel.

Those interested in local cuisine may choose to enjoy a cooking demonstration featuring authentic Kerala dishes, while others may prefer a leisurely harbour cruise or a quiet afternoon within the beautifully restored heritage district.

Your final evening in Kerala provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on a journey that has combined colonial history, mountain landscapes, spice plantations, tranquil backwaters, heritage hospitality, and peaceful coastal retreats.

After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning before your scheduled departure.

At the appropriate time, your private chauffeur will transfer you to Cochin International Airport for your onward flight.

Your Kerala with Luxury Heritage Hotels Tour concludes with memories of colonial port cities, rolling tea estates, fragrant spice plantations, peaceful backwaters, quiet beaches, and some of Kerala's finest heritage hotels. Carefully selected accommodations, personalised service, and relaxed travel throughout the journey combine to create a memorable holiday showcasing the natural beauty and timeless hospitality of God's Own Country.