BACKWATERS OF KERALA A taste of rural India DURATION 14 days AGE GUIDE 5 to 18 With hundreds of miles of pristine coastline, an extensive network of water-ways and lagoons and the mountainous Western Ghats, it s no wonder Kerala is often considered India s most beautiful State. Laid-back Kerala is a far-cry from the hectic north often associated with travel in India. This trip is ideal for those looking for a slow-paced, culturally rich family adventure. Enjoy vibrant traditions, beautiful temples and immerse yourself in local life by staying on a houseboat and farm-stay. Search for wild elephants and exotic bird life before enjoying a few days relaxing on the palm-lined beaches of the Arabian Sea. ABOUT THIS TRIP WHERE WILL WE STAY? Hotel x 9, Houseboat x 1, Farmstay x 2 WHAT MEALS ARE INCLUDED? Breakfasts x 12, lunches x 3, dinner x 3 HOW DO WE TRAVEL? Bus, boat, train & on foot TRIP CODE: FIBS
DETAILED ITINERARY DAY ONE/ TWO OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO COCHIN Depart the UK for an overnight flight to Cochin. Most flights arrive the following afternoon. The city of Cochin was a major spice trading hub from the 14 th century onwards and is now the gateway to Kerala and a major arts centre for the region. Time permitting, we recommend an optional sunset cruise this evening (own expense.) Explore the busy harbour in a wooden motorboat and the crew will point out places of interest along the way, aiming to arrive at the famous Chinese fishing nets at sunset in time for the perfect photograph. Trident Hotel (or similar) with swimming pool (breakfast) DAY THREE COCHIN CITY TOUR AND KATHKALI PERFORMANCE This morning you will be taken on a guided city sightseeing tour. Visit the Dutch Matchancherry Palace with its colourful Hindi murals, St Francis Church, the Chinese fishing nets and the Jewish Quarters where old shops selling antiques, books and souvenirs line the old streets leading to the beautiful Persi synagogue. This evening there will be a Kathakali performance, the traditional dance of Kerala. The dances are based on the two great Indian epic narratives, a combination of hand and facial gestures, music and face painting are used to convey the stories. Traditionally, the performances would take place in a temple and last from dusk until dawn. We arrive early to witness the application of the make-up and an explanation of what some of the gestures mean before the start of the condensed performance which is designed to give visitors a taste of the full show. Trident Hotel (or similar) with swimming pool (breakfast) DAY FOUR TRANSFER TO ALLEPPEY, BOARD HOUSEBOAT This morning, transfer to Alleppey to board your houseboat. Rice barges, converted into houseboats are a unique feature of the Kerala Backwaters. The boats, originally used for transporting goods, cruise slowly along the labyrinth of waterways lined with dense tropical greenery. Here, the traditional Keralan lifestyle still exists and you will pass rice paddies and rubber plantations punctuated by hamlets and markets as you relax on the boat and watch the world go by. Deluxe Houseboat (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Driving duration 1.5 hours
DAY FIVE FARMSTAY After breakfast, disembark your houseboat and transfer to your farmstay tucked away on the banks of the river Kannadipuzha overlooking pristine tropical forest. The beautiful 10 acre sustainable working farm has an abundance of spices, fruits and herbs as well as goats, cows and chickens. Traditional Keralan food is served and most of the produce is grown and prepared on the farm This is the perfect place to unwind. Spend time lying in the hammocks and floating in the pool or river or explore the farm and local area. Dewalokam Farmstay with pool (or similar) (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Driving duration 2.5 hours DAY SIX FREE DAY AT THE FARMSTAY Today is kept free for you to be as active or relaxed as you wish. Choose from a range of free activities at the farmstay including forest walks, cycling, swimming, school visit, market and village visits, cookery lessons, bird and butterfly watching and helping on the farm. Dwalokam Farmstay with pool (or similar) (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
DAY SEVEN VISIT A TEA FACTORY Visit a tea plantation en route to Thekkady. See the process for making good tea from withering and curling through to enjoying a tasting at the end of the process. The small town of Thekkady has a number of hotels and shops within walking distance, so you will find there is a choice of places to eat. Many of the shops in Thekkady are aimed at tourists and if you are looking to purchase some spices or souvenirs, you may find that you will not get such competitive prices here as you would in the supermarket or other markets. Greenwoods Resort with pool (or similar) (breakfast) DAY EIGHT FOOT AND BOAT SAFARI IN PERIYAR One of the largest wildlife reserves in India, the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary is spread out over an area of 777sq Kms in the Cardamom Hills region of the Western Ghats. This morning there will be a gentle walk with a local guide to look for mammals, reptiles, insects and plants. This afternoon, join a gentle boat cruise on Periyar Lake in search of herds of wild elephants. Greenwoods Resort with pool (or similar) (breakfast) DAY NINE TRANSFER TO MADURAI A slow and scenic drive this morning along steep and winding mountain roads to the top of the Western Ghats. Pass tea plantations, farms and villages, hairpin bends and views across the surrounding countryside before descending back down to Madurai. Along the way, stop for a photograph at some of the spectacular lookout points. GRT Regency (or similar) (breakfast) Driving duration 4 hours
DAY TEN MADURAI SIGHTSEEING TOUR The busy city of Madurai is one of the oldest in South India and has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. This morning, take sightseeing tour of the city, visiting one of southern India s most famous temples, Sree Meenakshi Amman as well as the Ghandi Museum, Thirupparankundram cave temple and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal Palace, one of the most iconic buildings in Madurai. GRT Regency (or similar) (breakfast) DAY ELEVEN TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE BEACH It s time to board a train to Kovalam. Kovalam is Kerala s best known beach resort. There are a number of beaches and a large range of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. You will arrive late afternoon and the rest of the day is free at leisure. Uday Samudra Hotel and Spa (or similar) (breakfast) DAYS TWELVE & THIRTEEN FREE TIME AT THE BEACH Days 12 & 13 are kept free for you to relax at the beach. Alternatively take a tour to nearby Trivandrum or explore the area yourself. Uday Samudra Hotel and Spa (or similar) (breakfast) DAY FOURTEEN DEPARTURE Free to depart at any time from Trivandrum. Airport transfers can be arranged to coincide with your flight.
FURTHER INFORMATION ITINERARY This itinerary includes our group flights from London. If you are making other flight arrangements, please ensure that your trip is guaranteed to run before purchasing tickets. Please remember that international flights and trip dates do occasionally change, so always purchase flexible tickets. Each itinerary is planned many months in advance and although it is our intention to operate the itinerary as printed in the brochure and detailed here, it may be necessary to make some changes as a result of alterations to flight schedules, climatic conditions, limitations of infrastructure or other operational factors beyond our control. As a consequence, the order or location of overnight factors which are beyond our control. As a consequence, the order or location of overnight stops may vary from those outlined but we will always endeavour to keep you informed of any such changes. Included meals are indicated in the daily itinerary. *Some departures may include a Christmas Eve/ New Year s Eve gala dinner. Please enquire for details. OPTIONAL EXTRAS These excursions can be arranged locally, subject to availability, through your tour leader; Cochin - sunset cruise INR 3000 Cochin cookery lesson INR 0000 Cochin Greenix Village Cultural Arts Centre INR450 Thekkady Spice Plantation Visit INR 0000 Thekkady Bullock Cart Ride INR 0000 Thekkady Kalaripayattu show INR 0000 ACCOMMODATION You will be staying in a good standard of hotel, 3* and above with private facilities on a twin share basis. All hotels are modern, clean and comfortable with friendly service. Accommodation on the rice barge house boat is comfortable and clean with air-conditioning and mosquito nets where necessary. Houseboats are small with between one and three bedrooms and it may be necessary to split up large groups among different houseboats, although families will always be kept together. You will have a cook and crew on board your boat with you and your cook will also act as your guide. There will be a mobile phone on board for emergency use. Houseboat operators are not licenced to sell alcohol on board, so it is recommended that you take your own if required. HOW TO JOIN & DEPART THIS TRIP The joining point for this trip is the group hotel on day 2 of the itinerary above. The departure point is Trivandrum Airport on day 14. Arrival and departure transfers can be arranged at additional cost. FLIGHT INCLUSIVE We recommend that you book this trip as a 'Flight Inclusive' package. Booking your international flights through Families Worldwide guarantees you peace of mind and provides 100% financial
protection under our CAA ATOL licence. What's more, if you book your flights with us as well as your ground arrangements, we will manage these flight arrangements both before and during your trip. As an ATOL Licence holder, we are able to secure and arrange competitively-priced airfares with most major airlines from the UK as well as the option of regional departures too. LAND ONLY If you would prefer to arrange your own international travel you can book this trip as a 'Land Only' package, where the price does not include international flights. Please note that if you are booking your own flights there are certain risks you should be aware of. Many airline tickets purchased directly are non-refundable and often do not provide you with any financial protection (unlike booking your flights with ourselves where you would be 100% protected under our CAA ATOL licence). For this reason we strongly advise that you check the rules of any flight booking you make and check the limitations under any insurance policy you may have in relation to cancellation or date changes. We cannot be held liable for any losses incurred or consequences of any flight bookings or related travel arrangements you have made yourself, such as if your international flights were delayed or cancelled and you could not join or depart your holiday on time. If you do decide to book Land Only, we strongly advise that you do not book international flights or make other travel arrangements (especially if there are financial penalties for cancellation or change) until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. Please also ensure when making your own international travel arrangements that they enable you to join and depart this trip in accordance with the criteria specified in the How to join and depart this trip section of these trip notes. FOOD Included meals are indicated by the itinerary. For meals not included we recommend that you allow 10 per person per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat quite cheaply in India, but obviously if you dine in more expensive restaurants please allow more for this. Your local tour leader will be on hand to make some recommendations of where to eat. Most restaurants are likely to offer a combination of Indian and Western food. Generally, breakfasts will offer a good choice of fresh food, bread, eggs and coffee with some Indian dishes available too. Lunch and dinner are normally traditional, fragrant curries or tandooris. Kerala is famous for its fish and seafood. For vegetarians, there should be little difficulty as southern Kerala has a wide variety of vegetable dishes. CLIMATE It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods. Seasonal variations and localised weather conditions, as well as unseasonal weather means you should always be prepared for inclement weather including rain and storms. Kerala, situated near to the equator, has a tropical climate and experiences a fairly consistent temperature of around 30 C year round. Winter and summer in Kerala are the most popular times to visit. During the winter, November to February, temperatures on the coast are fairly typical, however, the mountains become much cooler with temperatures falling to as low 10 C, the region experiences very little rainfall during this time. Summer in Kerala is around March to May, temperatures are slightly higher than average, the air is more humid and it can become cloudier.
There are two rainy seasons, the first begins in June and goes on until the end of September, June is normally the wettest month, with around 340mm of rainfall. The second monsoon season continues from September into November, with October being the 2 nd wettest month of the year, however despite the afternoon heavy rainstorms, this is still a good time to visit, however, during the rainy season, high tides may result in limited access to the beach. IS THIS RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY? This is a great holiday and a fantastic introduction to India. The south is much more relaxed than the more hectic north and makes for easier travel. Hotels are all of a good standard and most have pools. Travelling can be slow at times, but the distances covered are not overly long and the scenery will be spectacular given the variety of life in India. The itinerary has something for all of the family; culture, wildlife viewing and time to relax too. Please note that some local activities in the itinerary, including the Periyar boat cruise, are not exclusive to Families Worldwide, you may be joined by clients from other operators including local tourists, these attractions can get particularly busy during school holidays. SINGLE PARENTS Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries, including the UK, require documentation confirming that the individual has authority to travel with the minor. It is crucial that you contact the relevant country embassy for further information on exactly what may be required. These details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Website under the appropriate country www.fco.gov.uk/travel. VACCINATIONS & HEALTH We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check-up before travelling. Your doctor will also have access to the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical precautions for the country you are about to visit. In general we recommend however, that you be protected against TB, Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. Antimalarials are not usually recommended for this trip. A useful travel health online resource is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk. FIRST AID You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general antibiotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, insect repellent, antihistamine cream (for insect bites), sunburn cream, anti-diarrhoea pills e.g. Imodium or Lomotil, and rehydration salts e.g. Dioralyte. SECURITY While the vast majority of travellers never experience anything untoward it is worth taking precautions particularly in urban areas. You should take sensible precautions in crowded areas such as street markets and airports, where pick-pocketing is common, and keep clear of any street disturbances. Don t wear jewellery, never leave your bags unattended, keep large amounts of money, cameras and mobile phones out of sight when walking in town centres, and avoid walking in city centres after dark. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves, together with details of credit cards. Leave copies at home with a friend or relative too.
Safeguard valuables, important documents and cash. We recommend you deposit valuable items and important documents in the hotel safe, where practicable. CURRENCY The unit of currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). We suggest making use of the widespread ATMs. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and some shops but not in all reosrts. LANGUAGE Each state has it s own regional language. In Kerala, Malayalam is spoken. Hindi and English are also widely spoken. TIPPING Tipping is a way of life in India and you will be expected to reward service. Tips should be given in the local currency. As a guideline allow 20-50 INR per bag for hotel porters, 10% of a restaurant bill, a local guide or driver 300-500 rupees per ½ day, and a tour guide or driver 200-300 rupees per person per day. MAPS We recommend Stanfords at 12-14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LP (Tel: 0207 836 1321) www.stanfords.co.uk. TRAVEL INSURANCE Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory when joining a trip with Families Worldwide. Multi- Trip Annual Travel Insurance is often cheaper, especially if you travel two or three times a year. PASSPORTS & VISAS British passport holders require a visa for a visit to India and an e-visa is available for up to 60 days. Please ensure your passport has at least six months validity. You can obtain the latest visa information and apply for a visa by visiting the Indian High Commission Website or e-tourist visa website. Please allow plenty of time for your visa application to be processed. We also recommend you visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for up to date information about India, embassy contact details and other useful advice. CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT Visitors to the Synagogue and other religious sites are asked to dress modestly no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops. Bare shoulders and midriffs are not permitted. For the Periyar soft trek, closed, comfortable shoes (trainers) are required, but not necessarily walking shoes. It s best to dress in colours that keep you camouflaged in the forest (ie greens and browns) and long trousers are recommended. If you are visiting at a time when leeches are a problem, you will be offered leech-proof socks. Please check our website for the most up to date information regarding packing for your trip. The information we provide is a suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to
casual clothing and personal items but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your trip.