Authentic South India

Small Group - 8 to 16

10 Days

from

$5,299 PP

Single Supplement – $1,959

Ask us about airfares

Authentic Experiences

South India greets you with warmth from the moment you step into Kochi. The air carries the scent of spices and sea salt the backwaters move at an unhurried pace and tea hills rise like soft green folds across the Western Ghats. Colonial buildings reflect the glow of the afternoon sun and local life feels open inviting and layered with rich history. This is a journey designed to slow you down so you can truly experience the quiet rhythm of the land.

Across ten days you’ll meet the people who give this region its spirit. Wander through misty tea plantations and learn how each leaf is carefully grown and rolled before it reaches your cup. Join a village tuk tuk ride to see life unfold in the markets and fishing docks then step into a family kitchen where warm hospitality is shared through food. Float along palm-lined canals in a traditional houseboat and drift past homes tucked among paddy fields before ending your journey with peaceful days on Marari’s golden beach. South India reveals itself gently through its flavours landscapes and its everyday community life.

  • Experience an incredible day tour by Tuk Tuk exploring the hinterlands of Kerala and local life
  • Explore the forests, hills and tea gardens  of Munnar by foot
  • Visit a Tea factory to learn the art of tea processing
  • Enjoy the real Kerala experience for a 2-night stay at a local Farmhouse
  • Explore the famous Kerala Backwaters onboard a houseboat
  • Discover the Marari Beach area
  • Plus, so much more!

Journey Map

Fitness Level

Easy

Moderate

Challenging

Tough

Itinerary

Welcome to India!

Arrival at Cochin by flight and after clearing customs and immigrations you will be met by your driver and guide. You will be transferred to the hotel at Fort Cochin.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is the green commercial capital of Kerala, a cluster of islands located on the coast of the Arabian sea with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. The harbour is the nucleus around which Cochin and its mainland part Eranakulam has grown to attain such strategic importance over the centuries as underlined by the sobriquet “Queen of the Arabian Sea “. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala, being the most cosmopolitan and modern city of Kerala where the best shopping, markets and bazaars are located.

Check in at hotel and you are at leisure for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Forte Kochi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

An expedition into the hinterlands of Kerala on a tuk-tuk. The essence of the program is to understand how a typical Keralan Village is structured. We meet you at the rendezvous point and take you to the local fishing harbour where our expedition manager will introduce you to the nitty-gritties of the fishing economy, and insight into the life and livelihood of the local fishermen; on most days you will be able to witness a live fish auction! We then proceed by tuk-tuk to meet a local family for a refreshing drink which will also give you a chance to interact and understand the nuances of a rural household. This is also a day to try your hands at fishing the Keralan way! We hand over the fresh fish to the family to get it cleaned up. While the family is cleaning up the fish, we go around the quaint village on the tuk-tuk. We then head back to the family where you have the opportunity to peek inside the kitchen for a cooking demo; followed by lunch with the family. Post lunch, you drive back to your hotel. (Tentative Timings: 0830 – 1500 hrs)

In the evening visit a nearby theatre to witness Kathakali dance (1700–1900hrs). It is the famous art form of Kerala with elaborate make up for the artists, each performance based on a story. It will be interesting to watch from the time the artist starts the makeup.

Accommodation: Forte Kochi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Munnar.

Munnar is a beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats at about 1600 meters above sea level. There are lakes, reservoirs, forests, and several tea estates in Munnar. Famous Tata Tea estate and factory is in Munnar. There is a wildlife sanctuary in the Eravikulam –Rajamala area in the Munnar forest division. It is the right place to spot Nilgiri Thar (a rare breed of Mountain Goats in the world).  Munnar was the summer resort of the British Government in the South.

Check in at the hotel and you are at leisure or enjoy a plantation walk offered by the resort.

Distance: 90kms / 3 hrs

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will be picked up on-time to reach the starting point by 0815 hrs. After a short briefing we will start trekking by 0830 hrs. Trek route passes through tea gardens, shola forests, hills & valleys etc. Possibilities of wildlife sighting cannot be ruled out. Hills of Munnar are rich in avid fauna, thus this could be a treat for those interested in birding. Packed refreshments & bottled water will be provided en-route. We request you to kindly adhere to the instructions of your local guide throughout the trek as he knows the locality best. The trek will end around 1230 hrs.

In the afternoon have a visit to a Tea factory. The manufacturing process will give you a glimpse of the greatness behind a cup of tea as well as enjoying a tea tasting.

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast drive to Vechoor in the backwater region of Kerala. On arrival check in at the heritage farm stay.

Staying at Philipkutty’s Farm is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the real Keralan experience in a fascinating location, with a caring family to look after you. It is a special place, as it provides something different, especially for those who prefer small, friendly places, and it is the perfect hideaway for the bespoke traveller. You are welcomed, looked after, and cared for by the family. This is set on a beautiful farm island, which was reclaimed from the backwaters of Lake Vembanad in the early 1950’s. The working farm, which practices sustainable/organic methods of farming, is 2m below the lake level and produces coconut, banana, fruit, and vegetables. Accessible by road up to the bank opposite the farm and villas, it is our ‘vallam’ (country boat) that will finally take you and your luggage across the wide backwater to our island.

Day at leisure to enjoy the backwaters / facilities at the farmstay, Enjoy a sunset cruise every evening on a vallam (country boat) out on the open backwaters

Accommodation: PhilipKutti’s Farm

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure to enjoy the backwaters / facilities at the farm stay or you can plan some activities through the homestay on direct payment basis.

Following is a few to mention:

For bird watchers the backwaters and the farm offer ample opportunities for sighting kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets, cormorants, herons, coucals, snakebirds (darter), teal, and a wide range of both wetland, woodland and garden species as well as birds of prey like the magnificent Brahminy eagle.

A cooking class from Mrs Aniamma and learn the nuances of the local cuisine.

An escorted farm walk with one of our family or staff and learn about farming below lake level as well as the different crops cultivated.

A wider sightseeing and exploration tour of the countryside on a bicycle. A sketch of the region can be provided and you can get to enjoy the coconut groves, vast paddy fields, canals and villages that blend into each other. You could also walk to the nearby village and the market, across on the mainland. Most of the roads in the mainland are flat with little or no gradient, but be prepared for some potholes!

Try fishing (rods available). We now have our very own Chinese-style fishing nets, an ancient and traditional method in this area. Guests may enjoy watching and participating in hauling up the catch in the evenings. This is a seasonal activity, depending on water flow, weather and time of year.

Watch the hundreds of fireflies in the farm at night. You might just mistake them for the stars. This will also depend greatly on weather conditions and time of year, and it is best to look out towards the interior of the island away from any lights.

Finally, you can get to know the family members and guests and just chat about anything and everything. It is a great place to exchange travellers’ tales!

Accommodation: PhilipKutti’s Farm

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast relax for a while and by 1200 hrs and transfer to Alleppey, famous for its backwaters and houseboats. Visit a Coir Factory, where you will see the intricate process of coir-making from coconut husks.

Board the Blue Jelly houseboat in Alleppey by 13:00 PM and be greeted with a welcome drink as you settle in. As the houseboat sets sail, marvel at the scenic backwaters, passing by lush paddy fields, coconut groves, and charming villages. Around 1:00 PM, enjoy a traditional Kerala lunch prepared by the onboard chef. Spend the afternoon cruising, with a stop at a small village around 3:00 PM to explore and interact with locals, followed by a visit to a nearby coconut farm. Back on the boat, savor afternoon tea with snacks while watching the sunset. Engage in fishing from the deck before enjoying a sumptuous dinner. Spend the evening stargazing and relaxing on the deck before retiring to your cozy cabin for a peaceful night’s sleep amidst the tranquil backwaters.

Accommodation: Premium Houseboat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast drive to Mararikulam.

Everyone loves endless golden beaches and they’ve become something of a tourism clinch, often indistinguishable from one another. But the allure of a beach is not just in the sand and the sea. It’s in the living environment that surrounds it. In the trees and plants, the birds and fishes that call it home. And mostof all, in the culture, life and color of the people who belong there. Because it is only this that makes it special, different from other interchangeably pretty stretches of sand around the world.

Check in at the resort and rest of the day at leisure or relax by the beach. (The check in time of the resort is 1400 hrs, hence early check in is subject to availability. You can enjoy the resort facilities before the room is allotted also or the chauffeur can take a drive via Alleppey for a short visit before proceeding to the resort.)

Accommodation: Marari Beach Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure to enjoy the beach and the facilities at the resort or a bicycle ride through the neighbouring villages. Also, there are yoga sessions daily in the morning & evening meditations sessions for the guests.

In addition to this the resort offers various activities like cooking demonstration, Ayurveda Massage, fisherman village visit etc which can be availed on direct payment basis.

Accommodation: Marari Beach Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Your chauffeur will meet you in time for transfer to Cochin airport Hotel. In between you will have time for personal activity in the city.

Later check in at the hotel where we arrange a farewell Dinner and then take you to the airport for your onward flight.

Farewell India!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

What’s Included?

  • All airport transfers
  • 9 nights’ in mixed accommodations
  • All daily meals
  • All road transportation in a private AC mini coach
  • English-speaking local tour guides
  • All entry fees
  • All activities and sightseeing as mentioned

Availability

Start DateEnd DateDurationAvailabilityPrice

  • Start Date

    November 3, 2026

    End Date

    November 12, 2026

    Duration

    10 days

    Availability

    Available

    Price

    5,299 AUD

  • Start Date

    November 8, 2027

    End Date

    November 17, 2027

    Duration

    10 days

    Availability

    Available

    Price

    5,799 AUD

Why Choose Mike Drew Travel?

Hand-crafted journeys & immersive experiences

Small group tours providing intimate connections to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection to the community, tribes, cultures and lands explored.

We’ve walked the walk

Exploring the world’s most remote reaches and challenging destinations requires a high level of expertise which can only be learned from first-hand experience. We know because we go.

Your safety first

In an ever-changing global landscape of rules, regulations and restrictions, rest-assured you are being looked after by those in the know. Given the remote regions that we explore, our passengers safety is our top priority.