Soulful Kerala: A Journey Through the South
A slower, more considered journey through Kerala.
This experience has been designed for those who want to see a different side of India — one that feels more grounded, more accessible, and more connected to everyday life.
From misty tea-covered hills to quiet backwaters and coastal villages, the journey moves at a gentler pace — balancing cultural discovery, natural landscapes, and time to simply enjoy where you are.
Rather than rushing between destinations, the experience unfolds gradually — with meaningful stops along the way and the space to take it all in.
At the heart of the journey is a handpicked collection of stays — from boutique heritage properties to a peaceful backwater retreat — each chosen for its atmosphere, setting, and connection to place.
This is not a fast-paced, checklist-style trip. You’ll travel as part of a small group of like-minded solo travellers — with the structure of a journey, but none of the rigidity of a traditional tour.
It’s India — but not as most people expect.
Dates: 14 – 24 October 2027
Length: 11 Days | 10 nights
Small group: Min 6 | Max 12 guests
Price: $8450 – per person
Solo travellers only · No single supplement
Optional Extension: Continue your journey through India with our Taj, Tigers & Diwali experience — offering a completely different perspective on the country.
If this style of travel feels right for you, the next step is to apply. We keep the group intentionally small to ensure a more personal and considered experience.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
BACKWATERS STAY AT COCONUT LAGOON
Spend time at Coconut Lagoon, a heritage retreat set within Kerala’s backwaters — where a slower rhythm, natural surroundings, and space to unwind define your stay. Optional Ayurvedic treatments offer a deeper sense of rest and restoration.
Home-hosted Cooking Class
Join a local family for a hands-on cooking experience and shared meal — offering a genuine insight into Kerala’s flavours, traditions, and everyday life.
Houseboat Cruise on Lake Vembanad
Drift through Kerala’s backwaters on a traditional houseboat, passing village life, palm-lined waterways, and quiet landscapes at a more relaxed pace.
Wildlife Boat Safari in Periyar
Experience Kerala’s wildlife on an early morning boat safari, with the chance to spot elephants, deer, and birdlife along the forest-lined shores.
Day 1 | Thursday 14 October 2027
Arrive in Kochi
Welcome to Kerala. On arrival into Kochi, you’ll be met and transferred to your boutique hotel in the historic heart of the city.
Kochi is where centuries of trade and cultural influence have shaped a unique coastal character. Layers of Portuguese, Dutch and British influence remain visible in its architecture, alongside Kerala’s own cultural identity. Along the waterfront, Chinese fishing nets and nearby spice markets offer a quiet introduction to the city.
Take time to settle in, explore at your own pace, or simply unwind after your journey.
Tomorrow, the journey begins.
Stay: Fragrant Nature, Kochi
Day 2 | Friday 15 October 2027
Fort Kochi & Local Cooking Experience
This morning, explore the historic streets of Fort Kochi on a guided walk through one of Kerala’s most atmospheric areas. Once a key port along the spice route, the area reflects layers of colonial influence alongside everyday local life.
Rather than focusing on a checklist of sights, the experience is about understanding the character of the place — wandering through quiet streets, past colonial buildings, local markets, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront.
In the afternoon, you’re welcomed into the home of a local family for a hands-on cooking experience and shared meal. Spend time learning traditional recipes, working with fresh ingredients, and sharing a meal together — offering a genuine insight into Kerala’s food and everyday life.
This evening, we gather for a relaxed welcome dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Stay: Fragrant Nature, Kochi
Day 3 | Saturday 16 October 2027
Kochi → Athirapilly | Into the Rainforest
After breakfast, we travel inland towards the lush rainforest region of Athirapilly.
On arrival, check into your retreat set among forest and river surroundings. This is where the landscape begins to shift — from coastal plains to dense greenery and the sounds of nature.
Later, enjoy a guided walk to Athirapilly Falls, Kerala’s largest waterfall. Cascading through the forest, it’s a place that feels both powerful and peaceful — where the surrounding landscape creates a sense of quiet and space.
The evening is yours to relax — whether enjoying the setting, listening to the sounds of the forest, or simply unwinding after the day’s journey.
Meals: B, D
Stay: Niraamaya Retreats Samroha, Athirapilly
Day 4 | Sunday 17 October 2027
Athirapilly → Munnar | Into the Hills
This morning, we leave the rainforest behind and travel into the Western Ghats, where the landscape gradually shifts to rolling hills and tea-covered slopes.
The journey itself is part of the experience — winding roads reveal changing scenery, from dense greenery to open views across valleys and plantations.
By afternoon, we arrive in Munnar, a hill station known for its cooler climate, expansive tea estates, and peaceful surroundings.
Settle into your boutique retreat and enjoy the slower rhythm of the hills.
Meals: B, D
Stay: Fragrant Nature, Munnar
Day 5 | Monday 18 October 2027
Munnar Landscapes & Tea Culture
Today is spent exploring the landscapes that define this region.
Begin with a visit to Eravikulam National Park, where gentle walking trails offer wide views across the hills and the chance to spot local wildlife. The setting is quiet and expansive — more about the experience of being there than ticking off sights.
Later, continue through the surrounding area, with stops that reflect both the natural beauty and everyday life of the region.
In the afternoon, visit a working tea estate and learn about the process from leaf to cup. The day finishes with a relaxed high tea — sampling blends grown within the hills around you.
Meals: B, D
Stay: Fragrant Nature, Munnar
Day 6 | Tuesday 19 October 2027
Munnar → Periyar | Spice & Forest Landscapes
This morning, we travel south towards Periyar, where the landscape shifts once again — from open hills to dense forest and spice-growing regions.
On arrival, check into your retreat set among lush surroundings.
Later, enjoy a guided walk through a local spice plantation, where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg grow in abundance. The experience offers insight into how these ingredients shape both Kerala’s cuisine and traditional practices.
The evening is at leisure — a chance to relax and enjoy the setting before the journey continues.
Meals: B, D
Stay: Cardamom County, Periyar
Day 7 | Wednesday 20 October 2027
A Shift in Pace — Kerala Backwaters
Begin the day with an early morning boat safari on Periyar Lake, gliding through still waters surrounded by forest. Keep an eye out for elephants, deer, and birdlife along the shoreline — a quiet and memorable way to experience Kerala’s wildlife.
After breakfast, we travel towards Kumarakom, where the landscape begins to soften, and the pace noticeably slows. Set along the shores of Lake Vembanad, this region is known for its tranquil backwaters and everyday rhythms shaped by the water.
By afternoon, we arrive at Coconut Lagoon — a heritage retreat set within the waterways — where we settle in for the next few nights.
The pace begins to shift here. After the movement of the earlier days, this part of the journey offers something different — space, calm, and a more relaxed way of moving through each day.
You’re not here to see more. You’re here to experience more.
Meals: B, D
Stay: CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Day 8 | Thursday 21 October 2027
Life on the Backwaters
Today, step aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat and explore Kerala’s backwaters at a slower pace. Drift past rice paddies, coconut palms, and village life unfolding along the water’s edge.
Lunch is prepared and served on board, featuring local flavours and seasonal ingredients — a simple but memorable part of the experience.
Return to Coconut Lagoon in the afternoon, with time to relax and enjoy the setting.
Time here is intentionally unstructured. You may choose to explore further, or simply remain at the property — enjoying the quiet surroundings and slower rhythm of life.
Meals: B, L, D
Stay: CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Day 9 | Friday 22 October 2027
A Day to Slow Down
Today is yours to spend as you choose.
You may wish to book an Ayurvedic treatment at the resort’s wellness centre, explore the surrounding backwaters, or simply take time to rest and unwind.
Mornings begin gently here — with open views across the water and the sounds of daily life unfolding around you. Afternoons are unhurried, shaped entirely by your own pace.
This is where the journey settles — where time feels more open, and the experience becomes less about doing, and more about simply being.
Meals: B, D
Stay: CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Day 10 | Saturday 23 November 2027
Kumarakom → Mararikulam | Coastal Retreat
After a relaxed morning, we continue to Mararikulam — a quiet coastal village where life moves at the rhythm of the sea.
Your final stay is at Marari Beach, a beachfront eco-retreat set among palms and open shoreline.
This is a gentle transition from the backwaters to the coast — a place to unwind, walk along the beach, or simply enjoy the final moments of the journey in a peaceful setting.
Meals: B, D
Stay: CGH Earth Marari Beach, Mararikulam
Day 11 | Sunday 24 October 2027
Farewell Kerala
After breakfast, we transfer to Kochi International Airport for your onward journey.
By now, the rhythm of Kerala will feel familiar — slower, more grounded, and shaped by the places and experiences along the way. It’s a journey that lingers, not just in what you’ve seen, but in how you’ve experienced it.
If you’d like to continue your time in India, you may choose to join our Taj, Tigers & Diwali journey — offering a completely different perspective on the country, from grand cities to vibrant celebrations.
Meals: B
Tour Inclusions
- Expertly hosted by our trusted English-speaking local guide
- 10 Nights accommodation in the hotels mentioned above or similar on a private solo room basis with daily breakfast and dinner
- 2 lunches
- Return Airport Transfers
- All arrival, sightseeing & excursions as per the itinerary by an Air-Conditioned vehicle;
- Entrance Fees at the monuments as per the itinerary;
- All tips/ gratuities to the National Guide, Chauffeur, Bell Boys at the hotels, Safari Jeeps etc.
- Packaged water bottles, Hand sanitisers, Wet and Dry tissues in the vehicle throughout the trip;
- Travel Representative for assistance upon arrival at airports;
- All currently applicable taxes.
Tour Exclusions
- International Airfares return to Kochi
- India Visa fees
- Expense of personal nature like laundry, beverages, camera/video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc.
- Travel Insurance (mandatory)
- Any other services not mentioned in the above inclusions