Kerala Culinary Tour

Arrival Cochin 

Welcomed by our representative at the Cochin airport and drive to the hotel

Upon arrival check into the hotel

An ancient port town, Cochin, also known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, has attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel.

In the evening you could go for a relaxing sunset cruise.

The sunset cruise in Cochin along the harbour is a great experience where you pass other ships and boats of all sizes and can see the Cochin skyline and the Cochin shipyard which is more than 200 years old. The boat rides for sunset cruise starts from the Marine Drive in Cochin takes you around to see Fort Cochin, Mattancherry, Vypeen, Willingdon Island and the Cochin shipyard along with visit to coir villages and coconut plantations. This two hour journey starts at different timings based on the sunset time of the year.

Overnight at the hotel.

Cochin

In the morning visit the Fort Cochin , Early in the morning ride to the beach in Fort Cochin to  see the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. Whilst they are not as frequently used as before, you can see a demonstration of how the fishermen use these gigantic nets. It is also possible to take part in this experience along with the fishermen.  The bustling fish markets adjacent to the fishing nets also make for an interesting visit. Visit the spice market and marvel at the sight and aromas .

Later in the day visit the home of Nimmy & Paul who belong to the traditional Syrian  Christian community in Kerala. There will be one cookery session in afternoon with a traditional vegetarian meal. It offers an opportunity to participate and learn the typical Travancore Vegetarian Food

In the evening, visit the ‘Pai Thattukada’, named after the Pai brothers who popularized the concept of ‘thattus’ or small shops that offer cheaper and quicker alternative to restaurant food or visit the restaurant Fort Cochin at the hotel itself to savour the fruits of the sea; practically straight off Cochin’s famous fishing nets. Choose from an array of king prawns, lobster, squid, mussels, salmon, mackerel, shark and more. Then decide on the style, whether steamed, grilled, baked or poached or any way you like. Don’t forget to try it in the local styles too, seasoned with a mouth watering array of spices and pickles.

Overnight at hotel

Cochin – Kothamanagalam

After breakfast, drive to Kothamangalam, a beautiful and tranquil tropical Eden surrounded by misty mountains with the river Periyar flowing right through it. The landscape is dotted with lush green vegetation and palm-fringed paddy fields. Spend the afternoon at leisure in a century old estate bungalow set in over 100 acres of multi crop plantation. Apart from exploring the estate you could also visit the local ‘Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary’. One can spot the rare Mottled Wood Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Malayan Night Heron, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bulbul and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon here.

 Overnight at the Mundackal Estate Bungalow.

Kothamangalam 

After breakfast, in the afternoon participate in cookery demonstrations involving authentic Kerala cuisine. Daisy Jose, a specialist in Kerala style cooking and your instructor for the day will teach you methods of preparing Kerala cuisine through an interactive session.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at the Mundackal Estate Bungalow.

Kumarakam- Alleppey

After breakfast transfer to  Alleppey.. Alleppey with a large network of inland canals has earned itself the sobriquet “Venice of the east”. These large networks of canals provide Alleppey  its lifeline. Alleppey was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar Coast.

You will board the house boat at 12 Noon for your overnight cruise. The materials that go into the making of houseboat are all local and Eco-friendly; bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats carpets etc. The main wood used is “Anjali “. The Houseboat provides all comforts – Beds, a kitchen, western toilets and an upper deck.  Traditional lanterns are used as lights. The cuisine is of traditional Kerala flavour along with the local Specialities – delicious fish and prawns.

Embark on your private houseboat and cruise  the backwaters.The cruise takes you along snake boat docks, friendly cheering villagers, coir (Jute) making communities, toddy (local spirit) shops, fishing nets pitched for the day’s catch, bunded paddy fields and manual canoes of different sizes criss-crossing each other. The experience is amazing… Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it’s the life along the coast that adds a touch of exotica to this experience. The locals’ travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods, door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places, enroute to savour the rural village life.

Overnight in the houseboat.

Alleppey -Marari

Disembark from your boat at  Alleppey  after breakfast, and drive to the picturesque  fishermen’s village  of  Mararikulam  and  check into your resort. Tucked away inside quiet and lush coconut groves, the resort is set on a pristine white sand beach and offers you astoundingly beautiful settings.  Spend the day at leisure on the beach.

In the evening, attend a cookery class in one of the restaurants at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Marari –Cochin Departure 

After breakfast, you will be  transfer to the Cochin International airport for your return flight.