Southern India | Backwaters of Kerala
 Kochi Local |
|
8 days / 7 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Kochi | 3 |
| Backwaters House Boat Cruise | 1 |
| Kumarakom | 3 |
Day 01 Arrive Kochi
Arrive in the gateway to the backwaters, Kochi, where you are welcomed privately by A&K and transferred to your hotel.
Brunton’s Boatyard (Standard Sea Facing Room)
Day 02 Kochi
Discover the ancient fort town of Kochi with your private guide. Today enjoy a morning sightseeing tour with your private guide to acquaint yourself with the ancient town covering the old quarter, Fort Kochi, Raja’s Palace, Jewish Synagogue and St. Francis Church. Finish the day with an afternoon cruise on the harbour (B).
Brunton’s Boatyard (Standard Sea Facing Room)
Day 03 Design Your Day Kochi
Choose one of the following activities: immerse yourself in regional culture with a visit to a local Indian family home for high tea; or take a traditional cooking class or visit the Chinese fishing nets to help the fishermen haul in their catch (B).
Brunton’s Boatyard (Standard Sea Facing Room)
Day 04 Kochi-Backwaters
An unforgettable experience begins. Board your private houseboat and soak up rural life in Kerala’s backwaters, where daily life has changed little over the centuries. See children fishing, women washing clothes at the waterside, brightly painted houses, boats laden with coir and copra and everywhere beaming faces! Although accommodation on board is basic, the experience more than compensates (B,L,D).
Houseboat (1 or 2 Bedroom)
Day 05 Kumarakom
Your backwaters cruise ends at Kumarakom Lake Resort where the remainder of the day is yours to relax in the tropical surrounds (B).
Kumarakom Lake Resort (Meandering Pool View Villa)
Days 06 & 07 Kumarakom
Two days at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities at your resort. Maybe visit the nearby bird sanctuary, go cycling or take a village walk (optional) (B).
Kumarakom Lake Resort (Meandering Pool View Villa)
Day 08 Kumarakom – Kochi
Return to Kochi airport, where you bid India’s tropical south goodbye (B).
Optional Extensions
You could arrive into Chennai a week earlier and commence our Spices of the South itinerary before continuing on your Backwaters of Kerala private journey.
Alternatively, combine your journey with one of A&K’s fantastic Indian extensions below.
Leh: Foothills of the Himilayas
Amritsar: Visit to the Golden Temple
Aurangabad: Ajanta & Ellora Caves
High Tea & Sari Tying Demonstration
During your stay in Kochi visit the private home of an Indian family. Delight in warm Indian hospitality over high tea with the family. Sample some of the local specialities such as appam (rice pancakes), banana fry and lentil vada. The ladies of the house suggest a sari-tying demonstration for female travellers.
Shoppers Paradise
Stroll down Kochi’s cobbled Jew Street. Home to the local Jewish community, the streets are lined with arched fretwork buildings with fading blue green facades and renowned for antiques, art works and trinkets.
Rice Barge Houseboats
Specially converted for on-board living, our carefully selected rice barges provide comfortable private accommodation (although not air-conditioned) for an unforgettable journey through the tranquil landscapes of Kerala’s backwaters. Each ‘kettuvallam’ has either one or two cabins with a covered open-air lounge for optimum sightseeing. For most of the journey, the boat is poled, sailing only between dawn and dusk and authentic Keralan produce is purchased fresh along the way and prepared and served by the crew.
