Through Tea Estates & Mountains

Arrival at Calicut/Thalappuzha

Arrive Calicut airport in the morning.  You will be met on arrival and immediate transfer to Thalappuazha (95 km,03 hrs)

Enter the 4025 acres of Parisons Tea Estates planted in 1892 by the British and Continental Tea plantation trust. Blessed with the mist of surrounding mountains, the teas are mild with a clean fragrance , medium toned biscuit notes and are fully bodied with light briskness. The plantation has old British and Scottish bungalows which are now being renovated one at a time to their former glory and face lifted as heritage eco bungalows. The 4025 acre Tea Estate has 2500 employees working in the factory and the fields. 

This afternoon,  you will visit the Floriculture unit where fully organic Anthurium plants are raised. Alongside is a vermiculture unit where vermicompost are produced. These units are manned by women of the estates. 

Later visit the workers colony where thousands of tea estate workers live in harmony.
    
Overnight at Thalappuzha.

At Thalappuzha - Visits

Early morning proceed for a soft trek up the hill along the valley and plantations.

After breakfast, proceed to the tea estate to witness the hundreds of ladies engaged in plucking of Tea leaves. The manager in charge will explain you the daily routine and the process of plucking. You may also join the workers to pluck some tea leaves that would be sent to the factory for processing. 

After which, you will proceed to the most important location at a Tea Estate , Tea Factory (Monday closed) The factory in-charge will take you around and will give you a detailed explanation of Tea manufacturing and takes you through various live process until they are ready in packets to be sold. You will also experience the skill of tea tasting and how to brew a perfect cup of black tea.

You will also visit the Kindergarten school, where the children of the labours are studying. The estate also has a templ, mosque and a church.

Overnight at Thalappuzha.

From Thalappuzha to Ooty/Coonoor

After early breakfast , drive to Ooty  (140 km , 04 hrs). On arrival , connect the train to Coonoor at 1215 hr

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is located in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Metupalaiyam to Udagamandalam (Ooty), via Coonoor, in the Nilgiri Hills. The construction of this line was a big challenge as the terrain is rather tricky. It took 45 years later in 1899 that the first steam engine train chugged up this track.The track is 46 kilometers (28.5 miles) long, and passes over 26 viaducts, and through 16 tunnels and tall girder bridges. This railway is particularly picturesque because of the surrounding rocky terrain, tea plantations, and forested hills.

Arrive Coonoor railway station at 1320 hrs. Your driver will wait for you at the station and be transferred to your plantation resort. 

Evening attend Tea tasting Experience at Tea nest. The only one of its kind in India, 'cups that cheer' is a gourmet tea tasting experience that takes you through the nuances of tea and helps one appreciate the myriad colours and flavours of the world’s most popular beverage. The tasting focuses on specialty teas from the Nilgiris and helps one understand how each of the teas are made from the time the leaves are harvest right through to the final brew followed by a sampling of some of the world’s finest teas. 

Overnight at Coonoor

From Coonoor to Munnar

Morning drive to Munnar (225 km , 5 hrs)

Munnar is an unspoiled hill station, located in the eastern part of Kerala, at an altitude of 1524 Metres (5,000 Feet) above sea level. It is uniquely situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, with hundreds of acres of tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations amid hills, lakes and waterfalls.

You will stay in a Nature resort in the bamboo houses mounted 
scientifically on the tree tops. Not a single branch of the tree is cut for mounting these houses. You will notice all these dwelling places only if someone points them out to you! Luxury at its best form is being built into the interiors of these tents and tree houses, without compromising on our eco-drive.

Overnight at Munnar

Munnar - Trekking

Lakshmi Hills – Half day trek

The Lakshmi hills day trek is mostly moderate trek through Tea plantations and Grassland with few km of hiking. This trek offers a different experience as the terrain is quite different from other treks in Munnar.  The Trek would last for 4-5 hours as once Lakshmi estate is attained; there are different routes to trek down. 

Rest of the day, leisure at the tree house.

Overnight at Munnar
 

From Munnar to Kanam Estate

Morning ,  drive to Kanam Estate  (140 km , 3.5 hrs) 

Serenity at Kanam estate is an intensely private villa hotel surrounded by rubber estates and tropical spice gardens. Thoroughly re-designed, this dream come true 1920s estate bungalow has fully retained its heritage ambience and blends into an unspoiled rural setting. 

In the evening , you may take a ride in the resort’s bicycle along the village winding roads. 

Overnight at Kanam

At Kanam - Day with the Elephant

Enjoy the activity “ A day with the Elephant”

You will meet the elephant and the mahout. We have a bunch of bananas for you to feed the elephant.  You are then offered to go for a ride on the elephant, exploring the picturesque surroundings of the estate bungalow. Elephant prefers a bath after her work and the mahout obliges. Watching this is wonderful experience; she sprays the water around and enjoys the bath.  

Overnight at Kanam.

From Kanam to Backwaters

Morning , drive to Alleppey (50 km,1.25 hrs) 

The bazaars of Mullackal Road provide a delightful morning browsing. Here you’ll find everything from fine gold jewellery to umbrella emporiums and coir products. Visit the Mullackal Temple from inside. You have a chance to go inside the temple till the sanctum. Later drive to House boat jetty (20 mts). Board a House boat for an overnight cruise around the backwaters. 

HOUSEBOATS, popularly known as “Kettuvalam” is converted from a traditional rice barge.  Exploring backwaters in a houseboat is the best way to experience the Kerala’s beauty through the palm-fringed backwaters – a chain of lakes, canals and lagoons. .The islands and paddy farms on the either side are separated by lagoons, brooks and small gushing streams. 

Overnight on board House boat

From Backwaters to Cochin

Disembark from house boat after breakfast and drive to the heritage town of Fort Cochin (65 km,1.5 hour)

The spice trade first bought Chinese and Arabian traders to Kerala’ shores and later the Portuguese, Dutch and British thus making Fort Cochin a cultural melting point. Wander through its old streets, the synagogue, the ancient churches, colonial houses and the picturesque Chinese fishing nets. 

Overnight at Cochin.

At Cochin – Being local

Today is a different day , this morning you will explore Cochin with your guide by being a localite. There is no car today. You will walk , take the TUK TUK through the narrow streets of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry , climb on a local bus in the busy hours to the city  , walk along thousands of people exploring the local market , know the spices , visit the railway station when thousands of people return to their nearby village after the day’s work , take the local ferry from the mainland to return to the island of Fort Cochin. By evening you will experience everything what is happening in a day at Cochin. 

During the course, you will also visit the monuments at Fort Cochin and Mattancherry  - The St  Francis  Church,  the oldest European Church in India ,where Vasco de Gama the first European traveller to India was originally buried here.  Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (Friday closed) is renowned  for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana.  The Jewish Synagogue ( Saturday closed) at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town.  

Overnight at Fort Cochin

Departure from Cochin

In time transfer to Cochin airport (01 hr) to connect flight back home