Day 1
Arrive into Hyderabad airport. You will be greeted by a Travel The Unknown representative and transferred to your hotel. Freshen up and relax. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour. Overnight in Hyderabad. Meals: N/A
The twin city of Hyderabad-Secunderabad, the capital of the Andhra Pradesh state, combines both Islamic and Hindu influences. It is an important centre of Islamic culture and was planned in a grid pattern with enormous arches. Hyderabad was founded in 1589 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, but Secunderabad (located beyond the artificial Hussain Sagar Lake) was established by the British only in the early 1800’s.
Total travel time : 1 hours
Day 2
Today, you will go on a tour to discover Biriyani, the 'Food of the Kings' and enjoy a traditional meal. You will have the afternoon to spend at your leisure. Overnight in Hyderabad. Meals: B,L
Biriyani is a mixed rice dish made with an abundance of spices and meat. It i s a key part of Indian cuisine that is enjoyed by everyone, from sultans to poor villagers. The 'Food of the Kings' tour explores the many regional and foreign influences that make the dish so special. You will wander your way through Hyderabad's many Biriyani hubs to see giant handis of fragrant rice and secret combinations of meats and spices.
Day 3
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Madurai. You will be met on arrival and will go on a tour of the Sree Meenakshi Temple. After lunch, drive to Chettinad and check in to your hotel. Evening free. Overnight in Chettinad. Meals: B,D
Madurai is one of South India’s great temple towns. It was an important cultural and commercial centre in 550 AD. Sitting on the banks of the river Vaigai, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Chettinad is best known for its unique ancient temples. Tamil Nadu was once ruled by the Chola Dynasty (9-13th centuries), who constructed some of the most ornate temples in South India. Dedicated to various Hindu gods, these temples contain intricate life-sized carvings, beautiful murals and are a display of master craftsmanship.
Total travel time : 2 hours
Day 4
After breakfast, set off to explore some of the ancient temples unique to Chettinad. Afterwards, join a local family for a traditional meal. You will get to interact with them and learn about Chettinad/Tamil culture. In the afternoon, attend a cooking demonstration and prepare local delicacies with the chef. Overnight in Chettinad. Meals: B,L,D
Chettinad cuisine is typically spicy and pungent, and consists mainly of non-vegetarian food. The dishes contain freshly ground masalas, and are often topped with a boiled egg, which is considered an essential part of a meal. They also use a variety of sun-dried meats and salted vegetables, reflecting the dry environment of the region. Meat dishes are restricted to fish, prawn, lobster, crab, chicken and lamb. People from this region do not eat beef and pork. Exciting Chettinar dishes include the fried murrell, a delicately-spice lamb dish, as well as robust curries with hints of fresh pepper and raw mango.
Day 5
Set off early for Palakkad in Kerala. Drive through towns, villages and lush tropical countryside. Stop off en-route for lunch. Arrive mid-afternoon and check in to the Tharavad Heritage Homestay (subject to availability). Rest or wander around the local village and countryside. In the evening, enjoy dinner with your hosts, who will serve up some mouthwatering Keralan dishes on banana leaves. Savour some of the delicious coconut and tamarind chutneys and chat about everything from food to culture! Overnight in Palakkad. Meals: B,L,D
Palakkad is a large town in the state of Kerala whose name is thought to mean both 'dry lands' and 'forest'. Incredibly scenic and surrounded by small villages, Palakkad is home to the Palakkad Fort, the intricately-carved Jain temple and charming local markets full of exotic fruits and spices. The area is known for its paddy fields, rice cultivation and running several traditional festivals each year. Palakkad boasts lush tropical countryside and mouthwatering Keralan cuisine, with dishes such as coconut and tamarind chutneys served on banana leaves.
The Tharavad Heritage Homestay has served as an ancestral home of the Kandath family for almost 200 years. It is set in the lush rice paddies of rural Kerala. Built using traditional construction methods, the most striking feature of the house is the frontal raised area ('Purathalum') with glorious carvings of elephants, snakes, fish and dragons in the corners.
Total travel time : 6.5 hours
Day 6
After breakfast, visit the local market to buy vegetables and spices. Go to a home where our hostess, an expert cook, will give a cooking class using the ingredients you've just bought. After cooking, you can enjoy the vegetarian sadya lunch served on banana leaves. Later in the day, visit the ancient fort of Hyder Ali and watch people making pottery. Finally, visit Kalpathy, one of the oldest settlements of the Tamil Brahmin people in Kerala. Learn about the history of this settlement and the Vedic traditions still practised there. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Palakkad. Meals: B,L,D
Day 7
After breakfast, drive to the beautiful Munnar, known for its rolling green hills, and check in to your resort. You will have the afternoon to wander around the nearby tea plantations. Overnight in Munnar. Meals: B,L,D
Munnar, located at 1,650m above sea-level, is the most breathtakingly-beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats. The area's pristine green valleys and mountains provide the perfect setting for anyone in search of peace and tranquility. Believed to mean ‘three rivers’, Munnar used to be the favourite summer resort of the British rulers during colonial days. It is the tea plantation capital of India and the local Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat, is a popular destination for visitors.
Total travel time : 5 hours
Day 8
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before going to the Talayar Tea Factory. Here, you will learn how to pick tea leaves (choose stems with a mother leaf and two leaf buds). While your tea leaves are drying in machines, you will go on a two-hour tour of the factory and have a delicious lunch in the estate bungalow. Return back to the tea factory where the leaves have now dried and mix your own tea! End the experience with a tea tasting. Overnight in Munnar. Meals: B,L,D
Day 9
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Thekkady, the spice capital of India. Arrive at lunchtime to the beautiful Spice Village (subject to availability). This mini-village recreated in the lush tropical forest of Thekkady is a nature lover's paradise. You will be staying in traditionally constructed cottages with perfectly integrated modern comforts. You will have the afternoon free to explore the surroundings, do some bird-watching or take a nap. In the evening, you will watch an outdoor cooking demonstration. Your chef will unveil a few of his South Indian cooking secrets, using the freshest local spices and ingredients. You can choose to eat outside in the long verandah or in the rustic wooden dining hall. Overnight in Thekkady. Meals: B,L,D
Centred around a large artificial lake, Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary - one of India's largest wildlife sanctuaries, which spans across the entire district. Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978, the sanctuary supports 62 species of mammals (many of which are rare and endangered) and 320 species of birds, as well as a host of reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Total travel time : 3.5 hours
Day 10
After an early morning breakfast, set off for a boat ride on Lake Periyar. Look out for local wildlife (elephants, deer and sloth bears) that come to the lake for water. Afterwards, go for a two-hour jungle walk. Return to the Spice Village for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit one of Thekkady's many spice plantations. Learn all about the spices that are grown here - pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and more. Return to your cottage and have dinner at the Village. Overnight in Thekkady. Meals: B,L,D
Day 11
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey. Stop en route at Kanjirapilly for lunch at a traditional Christian homestay. You can join your host in the kitchen as she prepares a mouthwatering South Indian platter of meat and vegetarian dishes. After lunch, take a walking tour of the owner’s spice and rubber plantations. Continue on to Alleppey. Overnight in Alleppey. Meals: B,L,D
Also known as the 'Venice of the East', Alleppey is a town with a large network of picturesque canals, backwaters, lagoons and beaches. In the past, Alleppey was one of the busiest trade centres along the Malabar coast.
Total travel time : 4 hours
Day 12
Have a leisurely start to the day with a filling breakfast served outdoors by the lake. Later, board the houseboat for a ride through Kerala's enchanting backwaters. You will see various birdlife, rice barges and Chinese cantilever fishing nets. Stop off for some fishing, and if lucky(!), you will get to taste freshly caught fish for lunch. You can watch the onboard chef prepare a Karimeen (pearlspot) fry. In the early evening, return to your homestay and spend time with the local family, visit the nearby market or simply rest. Overnight in Alleppey. Meals: B,L,D
Day 13
After breakfast, check out and drive to Cochin. You will have the afternoon to explore the beautiful surroundings of Cochin, after which you will go on a sunset cruise in Cochin harbour. Overnight in Cochin. Meal plan: B
Cochin, the 'Queen on the Arabian Sea', is a major port city that was once a much-prized pawn for the English, Portuguese and Dutch due to its strategic location and prominence in the lucrative spice trade.
Total travel time : 1.5 hours
Day 14
After breakfast, set off on a two-hour walking tour of Fort Cochin to wander its narrow lanes and discover its many colonial influences. For lunch you will be going somewhere very special. Our friend, Nimmy Paul, who has been featured in many Indian and international food magazines, is renowned for her unique South Indian recipes. She will lead a cooking class, followed by lunch, either in her garden or cosy home. After leaving Nimmy's, you will go on a food tour of Cochin, which will take you through some of the most popular eating places of the local community, where you will get to see Idli and 36 varieties of Dosa. Overnight in Cochin. Meals: B,L,D
Idli is a soft and fluffy savoury cake made out of rice and steamed lentil batter. It is a traditional breakfast dish prepared by many south Indian families. As it is very healthy and easy to digest, it is an absolute staple food of southern cuisine. Perfect pairings for idli include any kind of chutney (coconut, tomato, tamarind or green chili mint) and sambar (a tangy lentil soup with vegetables).
Dosa is a thin long crepe made out of fermented rice and black lentil batter that can be stuffed with a wide variety of fillings, like spiced potatoes, green gram bean or masala curry. It is another staple of Keralan cuisine.
Day 15
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport at an appropriate time for your outbound flight. If you have a flight later in the day, you could spend time exploring more of Cochin or browsing the markets for handicrafts and wares. Meals: B
Total travel time: 1.5 hours
