Soul of South India

Thursday 4th February

Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Kochi, ready to begin our journey through South India.

Overnight in flight.

Friday 5th February

Arrive in Kochi and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in, relax after the journey and explore the hotel, before coming together for our first dinner in South India.

Dinner included. Overnight in Crowne Plaza, Kochi.

Saturday 6th February

This morning, we’ll take a heritage walk through Fort Kochi, where centuries of seafaring trade have shaped the city’s streets, buildings and local culture. As we wander beneath swaying palms and along lanes scented with spices and sea air, we’ll encounter the famous Chinese fishing nets stretching out over the waterfront, visit both St Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica. Aling the way, we’ll hear stories of the Portuguese, Dutch and British influences that helped shape this fascinating coastal city. We’ll also visit Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, where intricate murals and royal artefacts offer a glimpse into Kerala’s rich past, before returning to the hotel for a free afternoon.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Crowne Plaza, Kochi.

Sunday 7th February

This morning, we’ll visit Kochi’s Jewish Synagogue before leaving the coast and travelling inland towards Munnar. As the landscape changes from swaying coconut palms to rolling hills carpeted in emerald-green, we’ll stop at a tea plantation to lunch with a local family. This is a wonderful chance to experience the warmth of Keralan hospitality while enjoying home-cooked flavours and the fresh fragrance of tea country. Later, we’ll continue into the lush green hills of Munnar and take a relaxed walk through the local market, where colourful stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, locally made chocolates and everyday produce that sustains life in the hills.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Amber Dale, Munnar.

Monday 8th February

Today we explore the quieter side of Munnar on a guided nature and sound walk through the local forest. Following a gentle route, we’ll tune into the landscape, listening for bird calls echoing through the canopy, the rustle of leaves underfoot and the whisper of the wind through the trees. Along the way, we’ll learn about the native plants and spices that thrive in this lush environment. There’ll be opportunities to touch fragrant leaves, textured bark and other natural features, making this a wonderfully sensory introduction to our surroundings.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Amber Dale, Munnar.

Tuesday 9th February

This morning, we’ll visit Lockhart Tea Factory and Museum for a guided introduction to Munnar’s rich tea-growing heritage. We’ll handle freshly picked tea leaves and follow the process from leaf to cup, discovering how different varieties are produced along the way. There will be opportunities to smell the distinctive aromas of the tea leaves and sample a range of flavours before we leave the cool hills of Kerala behind and travel onwards to Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Later this afternoon, we’ll explore Madurai on a guided food walk. As we wander through bustling streets alive with the sounds of vendors and the scent of spices, we’ll sample local favourites including soft idlis, crisp dosas, traditional South Indian sweets and the city’s famous jigarthanda, a refreshing milk-based drink that has become a much-loved local speciality.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Regency Madurai.

Wednesday 10th February

We’ll start early this morning with a visit to Madurai’s vibrant flower market, when the stalls are at their most lively and the air is filled with the scent of jasmine, roses and marigolds. From here, we’ll continue to the magnificent Meenakshi Temple, one of South India’s most important and awe-inspiring temple complexes, renowned for its intricately carved towers and centuries of history. We’ll then visit Tirumala Nayak Palace, where grand arches, soaring domes and ornate stucco work offer a glimpse into the splendour of a bygone era. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Regency Madurai.

Thursday 11th February

After breakfast, we’ll leave Madurai and travel back into Kerala, journeying through ever-changing landscapes towards Thekkady in the beautiful Periyar region. This afternoon, we’ll visit a spice garden, where cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, clove, vanilla and nutmeg grow beneath the shade of tropical trees. As we wander through the plantation, the warm aromas of these spices fill the air, offering an insight into one of Kerala’s most important industries. Later, we’ll experience Kalaripayattu, an ancient martial art deeply rooted in the region’s cultural heritage, learning about its disciplined movements, mind-body coordination and the traditional weapons used in this fascinating practice.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Poetree, Thekkady.

Friday 12th February

We’ll start early this morning with a guided walk in Periyar National Park, following forest and grassland trails with a trained local guide. This is a chance to experience one of Kerala’s best-known wildlife reserves on foot, listening out for movement in the trees and on the ground, with the hope of catching a glimpse of colourful birds and butterflies, wild boar and monkeys and, with any luck, elephants. Later, we’ll leave Thekkady and travel to Kumarakom, where life unfolds at a gentler pace amid Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, rice fields and palm-fringed waterways.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Gokulam Grand Kumarakom.

Saturday 13th February

Today we’ll experience daily life in Kumarakom with a village walk through local markets, quiet waterways and small cottage industries. Travelling by traditional country boat, we’ll gain an insight into life along Kerala’s backwaters, meeting local people and learning about coir mat weaving, a craft closely connected to the coconut palms that flourish across the region. This afternoon, there will be time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s surroundings before we come together for a tabla and flute Jugalbandhi performance. Meaning “entwined twins”, Jugalbandhi is a unique form of Indian classical music in which two soloists engage in a beautiful musical dialogue, creating a captivating interplay of rhythm and melody.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Gokulam Grand Kumarakom.

Sunday 14th February

This morning, we’ll travel to Alleppey and board a traditional thatched houseboat for a day cruise through Kerala’s enchanting backwaters. As we drift along narrow canals and tranquil waterways, we’ll gain a unique perspective on local life from the water, passing paddy fields, small village markets and coconut-fringed banks. Lunch will be served on board, giving us time to relax and soak up the sights and sounds of this timeless landscape.

Later, we’ll continue to Mararikulam, a peaceful coastal village where golden sands, swaying coconut palms and the gentle sound of the Arabian Sea provide a relaxing change of pace.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam.

Monday 15th February

Today is an opportunity to slow down and savour our final full day in South India, surrounded by the peaceful coastal beauty of Mararikulam. Those who wish can start the morning with an optional yoga session at the resort, before spending the day at leisure. You might want to relax by the pool, wander beneath coconut palms, or take advantage of nearby pristine Marari Beach to feel the sand between your toes one last time. This evening, we’ll come together for a special farewell dinner, joining the hotel chef for an interactive cooking experience that celebrates Kerela’s rich culinary heritage. Discover fragrant spices, fresh local ingredients, coconut-based dishes and the distinctive flavours of the Malabar Coast as we prepare and enjoy a memorable final meal together. It’s a fitting way to reflect on a soulful journey through tea plantations, temple cities, aromatic spice gardens and serene backwaters.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam.

Tuesday 16th February

After a final morning in Kerala, we’ll transfer to Kochi airport for our flight home, taking with us memories filled with the sounds, flavours and textures of South India.

Breakfast included.

Visa Information: UK citizens can obtain an Indian tourist visa primarily via an online e-Visa, which allows for multiple entries. 30-day, 180-day, and 1-year visas are typically available. Applications must be submitted at least 4 days before travel, ideally 120 days in advance, through the official Indian government portal. You must upload a scanned passport photo and the bio-page of your passport.

If you are Pakistani or have dual Pakistani citizenship, applications for visas can take considerably longeer.

If you hold a passport from outside of the UK, check with your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements before travelling.

The portal can be found online here – https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

Passport validity: To enter India, your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.