Kerala Culinary Tour

Arrive at Cochin International Airport where you receive a warm welcome before being transferred to your hotel in the city. Cochin, also known as Kochi, is one of the key gateways to Kerala and is often called the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Its natural harbour, coastal setting and easy access to nearby islands make it an important starting point for many Kerala tours. As you travel from the airport you may notice views of lagoons, canals and areas connected to the wider backwaters that define this region. After reaching your hotel, complete your check in and settle into your room. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or take a gentle walk nearby to get a first sense of Cochin. The city is shaped by layers of cultural influence, and you will begin to see how traditions, architecture and daily life blend across different areas. This unstructured time allows you to adjust after your journey and prepare for the days ahead, which will introduce you to Kerala cuisine, local crafts, tea plantations, spice markets and the coastal charm that makes this region a key part of travel in South India.

Kochi

Kathakali Dance

St George Church

Lake Cochin

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Forte Kochi

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The day begins with time to enjoy breakfast before meeting your guide for a tour of Cochin, also known as Kochi. The city is considered the commercial hub of Kerala and is often called the Queen of the Arabian Sea due to its natural harbour and long connections to trade across the region. As you move through the city, you will start to see how coastal life, heritage sites and daily routines shape its character. Your morning continues with a visit to the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Originally gifted by the Portuguese to the Raja of Kochi in the sixteenth century and later renovated by the Dutch, the palace is now an important museum. Its layout follows the traditional Kerala naalukettu style with wings arranged around a central courtyard, and its rooms present a clear view of the artistic and cultural traditions of the area. At midday you travel to a local home for a traditional Sadhya lunch served on a banana leaf. This meal features a range of vegetarian dishes that reflect Kerala cuisine. Later in the afternoon you attend a Kathakali performance, known for expressive dance, music and detailed costume design. Dinner is arranged at The History restaurant, which presents dishes shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and local influences.

Cochin Boatmen

Kathakali Dancer

Fort Kochi

Kochi Water

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Forte Kochi

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After a relaxed start to the morning, your tour of Kochi continues with a guided walk through Fort Cochin. The first stop is Santa Cruz Basilica, followed by the nearby Dutch Cemetery. Consecrated in the early eighteenth century and maintained by the Church of South India, the cemetery is the resting place of traders and travellers who reached Kerala during periods of European influence. Its simple layout offers a clear sense of the region’s long connections to maritime routes. You then make your way to St Francis Church, one of the oldest European churches in India. Built in 1503, it is closely linked with the story of Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524 and was originally buried here before his remains were returned to Lisbon. The church provides an important reference point for understanding the layered past of Cochin. Late morning, you transfer to the home of Nimmy Paul for lunch and a cooking demonstration. Her menu reflects the flavours of Syrian Christian cuisine, and the setting offers an informal introduction to local cooking traditions. In the afternoon you visit the Kerala Folklore Museum, which presents antiques, costumes and crafts from across south India. The museum gives a broad overview of regional art forms and daily life. You return to the hotel at the end of the visit.

Dutch Palace Kochi

Dutch Cemetry

Nimmy Paul's Kitchen

Jewish Synagogue

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Forte Kochi

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After breakfast, the day begins with an auto rickshaw ride through the older quarters of Kochi to reach a traditional ginger warehouse. This part of the city has long been linked with the spice trade, and the visit offers a clear view of how ginger is sorted and dried in open courtyards and shaded verandas. The pace of work here reflects everyday life in a trade that has shaped Kerala cuisine for centuries. From the warehouse, you continue to Jew Town, one of the most distinctive areas of Cochin. The neighbourhood is known for the Paradesi Synagogue and a collection of small shops selling antiques, crafts, spices and local memorabilia. The narrow streets give a sense of the cultures that once passed through Kochi, making it an important stop on many Kerala tours. Around midday you travel to a local home for a traditional Mappila meal. Mappila cuisine brings together Kerala and Arab influences, and biryani is one of its most recognisable dishes. Lunch provides an easy introduction to the flavours and methods that define this style of cooking, with a focus on home recipes and regional ingredients. After lunch, you return to the hotel to relax or enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own pace.

Fresh Ginger

Mappila Biryani

Jewish Torah

Ginger and Spices

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Forte Kochi

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The morning begins with your drive from Cochin to Munnar, a journey that gradually moves from coastal areas into the cooler hills of Kerala. The route offers changing scenery, and there is time for short refreshment stops along the way. As the road climbs, you start to see the landscape that has made Munnar one of the most noted hill stations in South India. Set at an altitude of over six thousand feet, Munnar is known for its wide stretches of tea, coffee and cardamom plantations, along with forested slopes and clear mountain streams. The area is also the habitat of the Nilgiri Thar, an endangered mountain species that can sometimes be seen on the grassy ridges and rocky edges surrounding the town. The setting highlights why Munnar is often included in Kerala itineraries that combine nature, plantations and cooler climates. You arrive around midday and check in at the hotel before sitting down to a late lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free for a gentle walk through nearby tea estates or along paths that run through the hills. These routes offer an easy introduction to the region’s plantations and natural features, allowing you to experience Munnar at a comfortable pace.

Munnar

Munnar Tea Plantation

Munnar Hill Station

Tea Plantation

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The Panoramic Getaway

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The morning begins with a visit to a tea estate and the Tea Museum, which offers a clear introduction to how tea is grown and processed in the hills of Munnar. Walking through the estate, you can observe tea plucking and learn about the stages involved in turning fresh leaves into the drink that is enjoyed across India. The museum provides further detail through displays and short video presentations, giving useful background on the traditions and methods that shaped tea production in this region. Lunch is arranged at the estate and features a Tamil meal served on banana leaves. The dishes share some similarities with a Kerala Sadhya but reflect the flavours and ingredients commonly used in Tamil cooking. It is a simple and enjoyable way to experience regional cuisine in a setting closely connected to the plantations. On the way back to the hotel, you stop at Aranya Naturals, a centre dedicated to natural dyeing techniques. The studio works with methods such as batik, tie and dye, shibori, block printing and other heritage crafts. Colours are produced from natural sources including turmeric, eucalyptus, manjista and other plant based materials, giving each piece a distinct character. In the evening, an Anglo Indian dinner is served at the hotel.

Sadhya

Munnar Elephants

Batik

Tea

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The Panoramic Getaway

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After breakfast, you begin your drive from Munnar to Thekkady, a journey that gradually moves from tea country into an area known for its spice plantations and forested slopes. There is time for short stops along the way before arriving in Periyar around midday. After checking in at the hotel, you have a moment to settle in before the afternoon activities. Thekkady is closely linked with the Periyar Wildlife Reserve and is recognised for its long stretches of hills and farmland where spices grow in abundance. While tea estates remain visible across parts of the landscape, the region is also known for cardamom, pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and turmeric. These plantations form an important part of Kerala’s agricultural identity and are a key feature of many South India itineraries. In the afternoon you join a guided tour of a spice plantation. The walk takes you through terraced plots and small streams where different spices are grown in varying conditions. You can learn how each plant is cultivated and processed, and there is an opportunity to sample and purchase locally grown products. Later in the evening a cooking demonstration is arranged at the hotel. The chef prepares two Kerala dishes, one vegetarian and one non vegetarian, followed by a relaxed buffet dinner.

Periyar National Park

Monkey at Periyar Park

Periyar Spice Garden

Periyar Town

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Serene Horizon Resort

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Depart Thekkady and begin your drive toward Kumarakom. The route moves from the spice growing areas of the hills to the lakeside landscapes that define this part of Kerala. There is time for short refreshment stops along the way before reaching the village, which sits along the edge of Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is known for its network of canals, paddy fields, coconut groves and mangrove areas that form part of the wider Kuttanad region. The setting is calm and closely connected to the backwaters, with small islands that support local communities and farming. The area is also recognised for its bird sanctuary, where species such as egrets, herons, darters, teal and waterfowl can often be seen. During certain seasons, migratory birds including the Siberian stork travel through the wetlands, making the sanctuary an important point of interest for visitors who appreciate the natural environment of Kerala. You arrive around midday and check in at the hotel. Later in the afternoon, a short boat cruise on Vembanad Lake is arranged. The cruise provides an easy introduction to the waterways and gives a clear sense of how life in Kumarakom is shaped by its lakeside setting.

Vembanad Lake

Houseboat

Cormorants

Spices

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Hotel Floral Palace

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After breakfast, you set out for Kottayam to visit two important churches that reflect the early Christian heritage of Kerala. The first stop is Cheriya Palli, built in 1579 and known for its well preserved structure featuring European architectural elements such as galleries, pillars and pediments. The interior includes murals created in both Oriental and Western styles, depicting a range of themes from biblical scenes to local traditions. You then continue to Valia Palli, established in 1550 by the Syrian Knanaya Christian community. The church is noted for its two Persian crosses carved in granite, each carrying inscriptions in the Pahalavi language, once used during the Sassanian period. One of the slabs also includes text in Syriac, adding further historical depth to the site. These features make the church an important reference point for those interested in the cultural links between Kerala and early Christian communities. Late morning, you travel to Philipkutty’s Farm for lunch and a guided visit. The farm sits on a small island in Vembanad Lake and follows traditional inter crop farming methods. A member of the family leads a walk around the fields, offering insight into cultivation below lake level. The visit concludes with a cooking demonstration and a Sadhya style lunch prepared with local ingredients.

Kottayam Farm

Sadhya

Cooking Class

Indian Spices

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Hotel Floral Palace

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After breakfast, you travel to the jetty to board a traditional kettuvallam houseboat for a full day cruise through the backwaters of Kumarakom. The journey takes you along quiet canals and small lakes that form part of the wider Vembanad Lake system. As the boat moves at a gentle pace, you can take in the landscape of coconut groves, paddy fields and village pathways that line the water. This setting is one of the key reasons the backwaters are included in many Kerala travel routes. From the deck you may notice local fishermen, narrow canoes and daily routines unfolding along the banks. The steady movement across the water gives you a clear sense of how communities in this region have adapted their lives around the backwaters. Bird calls often carry across the lake, adding to the calm rhythm of the day. Lunch and tea are served on board, prepared with regional ingredients that reflect the food traditions of Kerala. The relaxed pace of the cruise allows time to enjoy the surroundings without the need for structured activities. In the late afternoon you return to the hotel. In the evening, a farewell dinner is arranged, featuring locally sourced seafood and dishes that highlight the coastal character of the region.

Boat Cruise

Final Dinner

Kerala Sunset

Purple Heron

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Hotel Floral Palace

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Your guide will greet you at your hotel to take you to the airport via private transfer, where you will take your final international flight home. Safe travels!

Indian Flag

Flight Home

Airport

Happy Travels!

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Hotel Floral Palace

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