Arrival Airport 

Cochin International Airport, Kerala, India

Airport pickup any time night or day. 

* Kochi boasts the first completely solar powered airport in world.

We will start the day with a walking tour of the Old Fort Area of Kochi, 

Inhale the spice market area- the streets are scented with ginger, basmati rice and tea.

Lunch on the waterside, sometimes you will see a pod of dolphins go by.

Onto Jew Town a fascinating area full of antique shops and quaint shops.

Malabar Jews have lived here as part of the community almost forever- it is believed that the earliest Jews in India were sailors from King Solomon's time. It has been claimed that following the destruction of the First Temple in the Siege of Jerusalem (587 BCE), some Jewish exiles came to India.

We are going to a Kathakali performance this evening – we arrive at 5.00pm to watch the fascinating application of makeup before the performance.

After that let’s celebrate our journey together with a Welcome Dinner.

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We will start the day at a stunning museum The Kerala Folklore Museum which stands testament to the passion of George J Thaliath the founder- hording raised to an artform – it is amazing.

Next, we head to the enchanting Backwaters for a delicious lunch of local flavours followed by an afternoon cruise. 

This vast network of freshwater lakes and canals runs parallel to the coastline, offering a serene escape. 

As we glide along the palm-lined waterways, we’ll enjoy a tranquil experience, observing the rhythm of village life and soaking in the picturesque scenery.

Our evening is spent at a fine waterside hotel, bring your swimmers for a dip in their pool.

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We are heading up into the Ghats – cooler hill area where tea and spices grow.

First though we will pause at the beautiful wooden Aryakkara Devi Temple along the way.

Visit a tea plantation on our way to a lovely hotel.

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We are visiting Aranya Natural to learn about their use of natural dyes and indigo.

 We will be getting our hands into their craft practices, bring a notebook and an apron.

Free afternoon

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We are heading through the spice and tea plantations to Madurai.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Rajput styles. 

As you wander through the grand halls, imagine the pomp and pageantry that once filled these spaces. 

Though now only the soft echo of footsteps remains, why not channel the elegance of bygone eras? Adorn yourself with your most dazzling bangles and vibrant scarves and let yourself float through the halls like royalty! 😊

Madurai is an ancient city. Its skyline is dominated by the fourteen huge gopurams (gateway towers) of the Meenakshi Amman Temple. 

Covered in bright carvings of Hindu gods, the Dravidian-style temple is a major pilgrimage site. 

Millions attend the processions and ceremonies of April's Chithirai Festival celebrating Meenakshi and Lord Vishnu and draw giant chariots through the city.

We will explore the Meenakshi Temple Complex, bring a scarf for your head, dress conservatively, wear easy to remove shoes. Valuables and camera will be left in a locker – this is an experience to fill your heart and soul, no distractions with gadgets or cameras.

Evening free at our beautiful resort.

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We’ll begin our day with an early morning breakfast walk through the charming streets of the Old City. 

Watch as wives adorn their doorsteps with intricate rangoli patterns, a vibrant start to the day. 

Pass by the corner vendor selling freshly fermented dosa batter, and take in the rhythms of the morning as the city awakens. 

Along the way, we’ll savour a variety of traditional breakfast delights, experiencing the flavours and rituals that kickstart daily life here.

We travel onto Chettinadu today, through beautiful countryside.

Chettinand has long been famous for its rich merchants who built stunning mansions and had developed a subtle and refined cuisine.

It is also an area once famous for Kalamkari [natural dye painted ] cloth.

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We are meeting a master Kalamkari Artist. He produces intricate paintings on cloth with natural dyes.

We can try our hand at painting with the kalam - or pen made of bamboo and learn about the processes. It usually spreads over weeks but our teacher will have cloth pre-prepared for us.

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A drive across country, a temple or two and a hotel with a pool to take a dip.

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We are heading across to the coast and Pondicherry via an inspiring women’s NGO today.

We will visit for a workshop in Lambadi Embroidery, have lunch with the team then move onto French Influenced Pondicherry.

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This is a slow day – Pondicherry beckons, inviting you to take it easy and enjoy the moment.

In the morning, we will visit Auroville. 

Auroville is a community created with this Vision There should be somewhere on earth a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme Truth.

The Mother

Then head back into town and you are free to explore. 

Amongst the many attractions that this charming town boasts of, the most outstanding is the French Colony, also called the White Town. Cobblestone streets and yellow houses, this old French residential area retains its old world charm, picturesqueness and also the architecture of the old French quarters.

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Known as the City of Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram is known for its ancient temple architecture, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers and silk saris.

It was home to one of the richest and influential kingdoms of medieval times.

William Dalrymple’s new book "The Golden Road" is an excellent read to dig into the history of this amazing area.

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Silk Saris are another reason Kanchipuram is famous – lets ohh and ahh over some gorgeous cloth.

Then lunch before we head to Chennai.

Let’s share a Farewell Dinner to celebrate our journey and time together.

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Departures from Chennai International Airport

We’ll drop you to the airport

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Physical Fitness for Sightseeing 

You need to have the fitness level required for our sightseeing activities.

Our itinerary involves frequent disembarking and boarding of the minibus throughout the day.

Some of the monuments and markets we will visit are extensive so you need to be capable of walking several kilometres at a gentle pace and managing occasional flights of stairs or hills.