Our Team 
Our Tour Experts Explore Cochin
Visit the old port city of Cochin, a mixing pot of cultures and religions.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
India
Highlights of Kerala – Cochin, Munnar and Backwaters
Kerala competes with Rajasthan as India’s most popular destination – and this 12-day itinerary suggestion highlights exactly why. Perfect for the first time visitor to India or for your next visit.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2Visit Thekkady and Periyar
Walk through the lush green paddy fields of Thekkady and jungles of Periyar National Park.
3Explore Munnar
The beautiful tea gardens of the Western Ghats offer excellent walking and breathtaking scenery.
4Experience the Backwaters
Spend a night on a houseboat and float down the backwater canals.
Why we like it
With all the ingredients for the ultimate first-time visit to India, this holiday itinerary offers a gentle start to everyone wishing to make inroads into the Subcontinent. Easing you into India, the southern region of Kerala is slower, less frenetic and offers an excellent infrastructure through which you can explore this exotic and tropical state. See Cochin away from the crowds with specially curated tours of the city. English speaking guides will accompany you into the hinterland to explore the magical tea hills and richly populated national parks. Spend a few nights on privately owned, immaculately-run houseboats with electric motors, minimising your impact on the peaceful backwaters. A rustic beach stay tops off the experience of the region.
Included as Standard
Airport VIP meet and greet, a bottle of wine on arrival, a spa treatment, a dedicated member of our team available 24/7, an upgrade at one of your chosen hotels and cars with Wi-Fi connectivity.
Explore our suggested itinerary
- Day 1Cochin
- Day 2Cochin
- Day 3Cochin - Munnar
- Day 4Munnar
- Day 5Munnar - Thekkady
- Day 6Thekkady
- Day 7Thekkady - Kumarakom
- Day 8Kumarakom - Alleppey
- Day 9Alleppey - Mararikulam
- Day 10-11Mararikulam
- Day 12Mararikulam - Cochin
The Cultural Melting Pot of Cochin
Cochin is the oldest European settlement in India, with an amazing blend of architectural styles making it a delightful place to stay.
Set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, linked by a network of ferries and bridges, the ancient water city of Cochin (Kochi) reflects the eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. With its rich past and a bustling present, it has been the business hub of the region for centuries.
The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident throughout Cochin and its people, with colonial houses sitting alongside Chinese fishing nets and an ancient synagogue. Cochin is an attractive city with serene backwaters, lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms and picturesque islands.
It’s always fun to ride on one of the local ferries and visit the wonderful spice markets. Cochin also stages performances of Kathakali, a classical Keralan art.
An Unforgettable Cruise
Board your own private houseboat and drift along the tranquil Keralan backwaters. Relax on the deck while you watch fishermen balancing on their narrow canoes, women weaving and chatting onshore and children laugh and play in the water.
Undisturbed by the sound of traffic and the modern world, this laid back journey offers the chance to experience a way of life that has changed little over the past years. Sail into the evening, taking in the majestic surroundings and exotic sounds of the local wildlife.
The boats themselves consist of two or three bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a larger, open-sided sitting area from where you can watch the world go by. They are fully staffed with a captain and a cook who will serve you up delicious and varied meals of fresh fish and local specialities. The boats that we use are electric, make hardly any sound and have their own private mooring away from the mass of other boats.
We recommend doing a two-night trip so that you can really explore the narrower waterways.
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Thekkady Spice Plantations
Spend time in Thekkady, a region adorned with rubber and spice plantations. Take a farm or village walk and taste traditional recipes passed down through the generations. Cooking lessons are available to anyone showing a passion for local Keralan food. Naturalist-led walks are the perfect way to learn about the flora and fauna of this region. Bird watching and fishing enthusiasts will discover all sorts of oddities.
Walking and Rafting in Periyar National Park
Close by to Thekkady, situated in the Western Ghats of Kerala, Periyar National Park is a sanctuary to the tiger and a significant elephant population, as well as macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. One of the great community-based initiatives involving the native tribal community involves a guided walk of about two hours deep into the park. Part of the walk involves boarding a Bamboo raft to reach the more remote areas of the lake and park. This particular excursion gets you up close and personal with the flora and fauna in the park and is utterly thrilling.
The Malabar Coast
India’s southwestern coast, sometimes referred to as the Malabar Coast, runs from the south of Goa to Kanyakumari on India’s southern tip. If considering some rest and relaxation at an undeveloped beachside location following a tour of Kerala, consider spending a few days on Marari Beach.
A short drive from Cochin and the Keralan Backwaters, Marari Beach is ideal for anyone who’s looking for somewhere to feel the sand between their toes, watch the sunset over the ocean, take long beach walks and view the local fishermen bringing in their daily catch.
Let’s chat
Speak to our experts
Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on
01285 601 784A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From $4,953 Per person
When to travel
India in January
January is a very popular time to travel to India, due to mild temperatures and very little rainfall. The climate varies across India from snow in the Northern States to the Southern regions experiencing daily sunshine – perfect for an escape to Kerala’s beaches.
India in February
During peak season, February is an ideal month to travel to India, experiencing all regions of the country from Rajasthan in the North to Karnataka in the South.
India in March
Temperatures begin to rise with March typically being the last month of the peak season. A significant month for religious, Hindu festivals, March can become busy in some regions however also a perfect time to travel to experience Indian culture and wildlife.
India in April
With temperatures starting to rise, regions in Northern India start to become more accessible with excellent opportunities to discover hiking trails and the wildlife of these regions. Temperatures can sometimes exceed 40°C, with high levels of humidity in Southern India.
India in May
From May to September, Monsoon rains affect the North and Central states of India with daily rainfall and thunderstorms. During the Monsoon season, it is best to experience high altitude regions and avoid beach resorts.
India in June
Most regions of India will experience the Monsoon season in June alongside high daily temperatures and high levels of humidity. Whilst, not a popular time to travel, experience the mountainous regions as opposed to Central India to experience slightly cooler temperatures at the start of the month.
India in July
At the peak of the Monsoon season, most of the country experiences frequent, heavy rainfall. Whilst travel plans may be interrupted due to the climate, it is a great time to visit India to experience the national parks and the great outdoors.
India in August
As the Monsoon continues, the climate is very similar to that of June and July. Whilst not a suitable time to travel to India’s Southern beaches, other Northern Regions are popular with locals for hiking and outdoor pursuits.
India in September
As the final month of the Monsoon season, rainfall will be less frequent with the occasional sunny spell showcasing the lush, green vegetation that has flourished during the heavy rains.
India in October
As the monsoon rains have finished, humidity levels remain high and the peak travel season begins. During the month of October, there are lots of religious festivals, including Diwali, where some regions may become busier with domestic tourists.
India in November
As one of the best times to visit the country, November brings comfortable temperatures for sightseeing with the monsoon rains dying out from October. As the temperatures drop, however, Northern India and the Himalayas will become less accessible.
India in December
In December, temperatures and climate will be dependant on the region. In the Southern States, India will see a pleasant and mild climate, ideal for sightseeing, whereas, in Northern India and mountainous regions, snow and cold temperatures are likely.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary?
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