Kochi Soul & Backwater Stillness
Itinerary Highlights
Duration: 09 Nights / 10 Days
Accommodation: 5-Star Charm
When to go: We highly recommend travelling during the shoulder season in March for pristine, uncrowded landscapes and optimal wildlife viewing conditions.
What to expect: A serene blend of colonial heritage, tranquil backwater stillness, and lush highland settings.
Perfect for: Families and Couples
Immerse yourself in the captivating rhythms of Kerala with our Kochi Soul and Backwater Stillness escape. This carefully paced journey takes you from the historic, multi cultural streets of Cochin to the peaceful waters of Kumarakom, before culminating in the rich wildlife habitats of Thekkady. Designed for deep relaxation and authentic connection, you will experience the beauty of the Periyar region and the unique daily life of the backwaters in true boutique luxury.
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Cochin: The Postcard Mandalay Hall for 02 Nights.
Kumarakom: Coconut Lagoon by CGH Earth for 03 Nights.
Thekkady: Spice Village by CGH Earth for 04 Nights.
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Accommodation for all nights on a twin or double sharing basis.
Meal plan on a bed and breakfast basis at all places.
All transfers and excursions by an air conditioned family car.
A special experience arranged by us, for you, as a token of our appreciation for your booking.
Services of an English speaking representative to assist throughout your travels.
All government taxes (per time of quoting).
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Day 1: Arrive Cochin Upon your arrival in Cochin by international flight, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check in from 14:00 hrs and take the rest of the day to relax and settle in. Overnight stay in Cochin.
Day 2: Cochin (Leisure or City Tour) Enjoy breakfast at your hotel followed by a day entirely at leisure. Alternatively, start unlocking Kochi's history by embarking on an optional morning sightseeing tour that will take you into the heart of this magnificent and beautiful city. Discover how the Dutch, British, French, and Portuguese have all left their outstanding imprint with beautiful architecture. You will visit Fort Cochin, which has been a cherished seaport for centuries, Vasco Da Gama Square, and Santa Cruz Basilica. Continue to St. Francis' Church, considered to be India's oldest European church, built by Portuguese Franciscan Friars. Proceed to the VOC Gate, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, and marvel at the murals in Mattancherry Palace depicting the Ramayana and Puranic legends. Intriguingly, you will also observe the gigantic Chinese fishing nets, or 'cheenavalas', dating back to 1350, and learn about their very unusual fishing method operated directly from the shore. Overnight stay in Cochin.
Day 3: Drive to Kumarakom Following breakfast at the hotel, check out and enjoy a scenic, two hour drive towards Kumarakom. On arrival, check in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing. Overnight stay in Kumarakom.
Days 4 to 5: Kumarakom Begin your mornings with breakfast at the hotel. Spend these days at your leisure. We can arrange guided bird-watching sessions, cooking classes or canoe rides soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the backwaters. Overnight stay in Kumarakom.
Day 6: Drive to Thekkady After breakfast, check out from the hotel and embark on a four hour drive towards Thekkady. On arrival, check in at your hotel and relax. Overnight stay in Thekkady.
Days 7 to 9: Thekkady (Leisure or Optional Tours) Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Spend your days at leisure, or choose from a selection of optional nature experiences designed to showcase the region.
Nature Walk: Explore different nature trails traversing diverse habitats. This is an interpretive programme offering an excellent opportunity to sight elephants, wild boar, monkeys, birds, and butterflies. The gentle trek passes through evergreen and deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands and is conducted with a trained tribal guide.
Bamboo Rafting: A full day hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Traverse a mosaic of habitats before getting into rafts made of bamboo. The rafting takes about three hours, offering a panoramic view of forest clad hills reflected on the lake, where animals like elephant, gaur, and sambar are often sighted.
Gavi Safari: Discover Gavi, a pristine gem nestled within the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This eco tourism hotspot offers a captivating journey through lush forests and cascading waterfalls. It is a haven for wildlife lovers, home to Nilgiri Tahr, majestic lion tailed macaques, powerful wild gaurs, elephants, and a diverse range of bird species. Overnight stays in Thekkady.
Day 10: Cochin Departure Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, check out and transfer back to Cochin international airport to board your flight for your onward destination. Safe travels.
Let’s Make it Yours
Every journey in our Signature Collection is fully customisable to your ideal dates, pace, and preferences. For an exact quote and to custom-tailor this route, start by getting in touch via the form.
Why Book with Tailored Retreats?
Homegrown Boutique Luxury: We partner with independently and locally owned heritage estates, luxury eco-lodges, and intimate retreats. Your journey directly supports local communities and preserves national growth and heritage.
The Shoulder-Season Advantage: We intentionally design our itineraries around the shoulder season to provide pristine, uncrowded environments and optimal wildlife viewing conditions. Travelling during these advantageous windows allows you to experience a completely different and uniquely beautiful side of the landscape.
Flawless Regional Curation and Ground Support: Every detail is seamlessly handled by our dedicated local teams. From coordinating private drivers across long cross-country routes to managing critical regional logistics and real-time adjustments, you are fully looked-after on the ground while you travel.
Special Treats & Finishing Touches: Our direct, personal relationships with our partner properties allow us to seamlessly orchestrate thoughtful and memorable experiences throughout your journey. We delight in arranging these special touches, especially for special occasions and meaningful milestones.
Complete Financial Protection: For your convenience, we offer credit card payments via a convenient, secure payment link. for all major credit cards, and as a TTA member, your investment is entirely secure. All client funds are held in a strictly ring-fenced, legally protected trust account from the moment of deposit.
Seamless Digital Access: All your travel documents are conveniently housed within a single app that can be accessed offline, guaranteeing easy access to everything you need for a perfectly smooth holiday.
