Rustic Kerala

DAY 1 - Kochi
Welcome to Incredible India : Welcome to Incredible India! You are welcomed & picked up by our executive from the airport and transferred to the hotel in your private car. (Our executive will be waiting outside the custom area with a placard of your name). We will have a welcome briefing covering the various aspects of the tour (ensuring that you have the best of the Indian holiday) and you will be handed over the India travel kit containing all relevant documents of your trip (air/rail tickets, hotel vouchers, transport, guide, sightseeing vouchers, writing pads with other travel related documents). No pre-planned activities for the day but the car & the driver will be at your disposal.

Note: The normal check in - check out time of the hotels are 1200 hours and if your arrival time does not suit this we can arrange activities for you on the first day or pre-book the hotel from the previous night on additional charge and as per your request. Normally it takes more than 1 hour to get out of the airport from the time of arrival.

DAY 2 - Kochi
Queen of Arabian Sea : Kochi is the most cosmopolitan and modern city of Kerala.It comprises of Ernakulum (the mainland) and a group of islands on lake Vembanad. It was also dominated by the Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and the British at some point of time, all of whom have left indelible marks.

The sight seeing for the day includes Mattancherry palace, Pardesi synagogue, Santa Cruz Basilica, St Francis church and Chinese fishing nets. In the evening enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Overnight at Kochi.


DAY 3 - Kochi>Houseboat (67 km / 1.5 hrs)
A giant country craft :Today you will be transferred to the houseboat to sail on the backwaters- the USP of Kerala . In Kerala, the total expanse of backwater stretches over 1500 kms, with a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes from north to south. Alleppey which forms the main part of this network has the peculiar geographical feature of having the water in level with the land. This gives the advantage of getting a closer look at the countryside life on shore while on a backwater ride.

Your houseboat has fully furnished bed room, a drawing cum dining area, kitchen and toilet. The fish preparations, in local flavour, on the houseboat are really a gourmet's delight. In the evening the houseboat comes to a halt for overnight stay.


DAY 4 - Houseboat
Home afloat - a masterpiece of intricate craftsmanship : Authentically designed and luxuriously furnished houseboats, plying on the fabled backwaters give you a chance to absorb the maximum of Kerala beauty. While gliding at a leisurely pace you pass across the paddy fields, numerous tiny hamlets where you find the villagers busy in their routine work, women coming to the water edges to haggle with the shopkeeper boatman, flocks of ducks, the water hens which at times seem to be playing hide and seek, all of which make for a wonderful sight.

Did you know that your kettuvallam i.e. houseboat is made of Jack wood planks tied together without even a single nail being hammered in (don't panic, each of these masterpieces last not for years but for generations). It is coated with a special resin obtained by boiling cashew kernels. So, now you know that you are experiencing something unique about which you can brag back home.


DAY 5 - Home stay
A home away from home : Today after breakfast you are transferred from the houseboat to check in for a home stay. You stay with a family in their house, interact with them to learn about their culture and practices and get to dine on truly ethnic cuisine. You can even join your hosts in the family kitchen to try your hand at cooking and taking away many family 'secrets' coming down generations.

Home stays give ample opportunity to roam around in the rural ambience among truly welcoming people of the villages - enjoying their company, mingling with them in celebrating their festivals. Your host may arrange for you a sweet performance by some country singers.


DAY 6 - Home stay>Kochi (67 km / 1.5 hrs)

The way back :Today you will be dropped at Kochi airport to board flight for your onward journey. We hope that you leave with fond remembrances to cherish.