Quick Day Trips And
Excursions
Covid has had its impact on the industry but more so on travellers. Especially children and the aged.
We have seen a huge uptick when it comes to families and even corporates seeking out tours but a majority prefer shorter breaks and excursions – more so because they are, yes, shorter!
We have curated a few excursions keeping you in mind. Take a look and if you find anything interesting, call +91 99475 61264. Happy to help you book an excursion or answer any questions you have. We can even customise excursions just for you.
Trips
Boat Cruise
Periyar National Park
Early Morning/Evening. (2.00 Hrs)
Overview: Go cruising on Lake Periyar to view wildlife at close quarters. If you are lucky one can watch herds of elephants, deer, wild boar, and bison. This is also a very good opportunity to experience the Flora and Fauna of the region.
Inclusions:
- Park Entrance fee
- Cruise Tickets
Bamboo Rafting
Periyar National Park - Full Day
Overview: After an early breakfast, go on a full-day Bamboo rafting – a community based initiative including the tribal community.
This excursion takes the participants into the remote areas of the Periyar National Park through a 2hrs trek and a peaceful and relaxing bamboo rafting. Enjoy a picnic hamper. This is one of the best ways to experience the Flora and Fauna of the region.
Inclusions:
- Park Entrance Fee
- Bamboo rafting
- Trekking
- Picnic hamper
The Spice Tour
Munnar - Half Day
Overview: Pick up from the hotel. Spice plantation tour – an opportunity to see why the Kerala cuisine is so different from most of the other Indian cuisines. The tour gives you a chance to see cardamom, pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and many other varieties of spices. Take a tuk tuk from the outskirts to this large plantation. The host is an expert in French Steak which will be followed by a sumptuous plantation meal.
Inclusions:
- Guided Plantation Tour
- Transfers by Tuk Tuk
- Plantation Lunch
Tea & Trek
Munnar – Half Day
Overview: Early start. Proceed to the trek point. Go on a Half-day trekking passing through the rolling hills and sculpted Tea gardens of Munnar. Gradual trek and hike through the tea plantations. Subject to their working hours, you get to see the tea pluckers. View from top of the hill is spectacular. Trek duration is around 3 hrs. (medium pace) Savour the picnic hamper. On the way back experience tea tasting at a Café and also visit tea museum which show cases the history of Munnar and the tea trail. A good opportunity to buy authentic tea, spices, home made chocolates and local curios.
Inclusions:
- Guided Trekking
- Picnic Hamper
- Tea Museum Entry
- Tea Tasting
Musings of Ayamanam
Kumarakom - Half Day
Overview: This morning go into Ayamanam Village, home of Arundhathi Roy’s novel ‘The God of Small Things’. Start your local immersion with a ride on a traditional canoe cruise through the narrow, winding canals and catch the scenic daily life of the bordering houses. Follow with a walk in the heart of this typical Kuttanad village surrounded by paddy fields and identify the snakes abodes, sacred to earliest habitants. Be invited in a Kathakali master house who will introduce you to this traditional theatre form, which adapts styles of ancient Sanskrit with visual presentations of human expressions.
Inclusions:
- Canoe Cruise
- Guided Village Tour
- Interact with Kathakali Masters
Ethnic Tour
Kochi - Half Day
Overview:
Take a tuk tuk – the most popular mode of transport among the localities, go along with your story teller and stop at the Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, it is now a picture of slow extinction. Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace road where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargain prices. Don’t miss a stop at the Spice Market, where exotic odours of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper emanate from the spice warehouses lining the street. Make a pause and have one “meter tea” at one of the tea stalls. There is now an opportunity to interact with a Brahmin Family. The Brahmins are the highest of the four Hindu castes of priests and scholars of Vedic literature, their traditional occupation is to conduct rites at marriages, births and other auspicious occasions. The Lady of the house will demonstrate KOLAM – a geographical symmetry they draw at the courtyard on a daily basis, mostly with Rice Flour. The design is expected to bring in peace and prosperity to the house. Visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, and finally stop at the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th Century.
Inclusions:
Services of our storyteller.
Tuk tuk ride and one meter tea
Tips and gratuities for the communities visited
The Aurovillian and the Local
Pondicherry - Full Day
Overview: Visit Auroville and understand the unique community living here based on universal harmony. You will be taken through the visitors center and a few of the Auroville units which innovatively works on paper, textile, bamboo and stones among others. See the Matri mandir (the meditation centre) from outside. Settled by the French in the 18th century, Pondicherry retains a quiet colonial atmosphere with wide shady streets lined with colorful stucco houses. Early evening take a stroll through the French boulevard with our Storyteller. Through reminiscence of almost a century old European occupation, walk through the white town (as the French quarters is popularly known as) while our Storyteller relates the history with what you see around.
Inclusions:
- Accompanied Auroville visit
- Heritage walk with our story teller
Arts & Architecture
Tanjore – Full Day
Overview: Early start. Proceed to the trek point. Go on a Half-day trekking passing through the rolling hills and sculpted Tea gardens of Munnar. Gradual trek and hike through the tea plantations. Subject to their working hours, you get to see the tea pluckers. View from top of the hill is spectacular. Trek duration is around 3 hrs. (medium pace) Savour the picnic hamper. On the way back experience tea tasting at a Café and also visit tea museum which show cases the history of Munnar and the tea trail. A good opportunity to buy authentic tea, spices, home made chocolates and local curios.
Inclusions:
- Guided Trekking
- Picnic Hamper
- Tea Museum Entry
- Tea Tasting
Port Muziris
Kochi – Full Day
Overview:
A glimpse of the glorious past. Go on a guided Muziris Tour, an introduction to the many faiths and cultures of the Malabar Coast. Muziris is the name of an ancient port city on the Kerala coast. Enriched by trade contacts, Muziris became a melting pot of world cultures. Start your visit with the Palace Paliam Kovilakam. Its architectural style is a mixture of Dutch and Kerala styles. Then visit of the Old synagogue of the Malabar Jews in Chennamangalam. Follow your journey with a Kudumbasree’s visit program in Chendamangalam village. Your journey is conducted by Kudumbasree, a women’s self-help group empowered to promote gender equity and communal harmony through self-sustainability. Started in 1998, their mission is to eradicate poverty in rural areas through teaching women skills like organic farming, weaving and handicrafts. You will enjoy a Cooking session with them before feasting with a Sadhya, a vegetarian meal served on banana leaves. Later the tour takes you to the Handloom Weaving Centre. run by a society, the chief livelihood of local women working there. Hand woven clothes are exhibited in the showroom. Finally, your guide will accompany you to the Pattanam Museum located at the place where recent archaeological excavations have unearthed evidence of early Roman trade with India.
