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Enjoy an Indian Real Food Adventure from Kochi to Hyderabad.

Discover the incredible flavours of southern India on this Real Food Adventure. Dine on idli and parotta, stroll through plantations of coffee, tea and spices, join a passionate local food guide for a tasting tour of Madurai and cook up a storm in Kochi before heading to the mecca of biryani, Hyderabad. Stay in a heritage mansion in Kandukathan, discover life (and food) on the Kerala backwaters and go searching for wildlife in Periyar National Park. You will relish every day and every meal of this delicious ten-day trip through the southern heart of India.

Start
Kochi, India
Finish
Hyderabad, India
Destination
India
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
HHZI
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Taste the true heart of India through its food – explore the ingredients, flavours and tastes that are key to southern Indian food.

  • Head deep into the Periyar National Park in search of elephants, deer, tigers or gaur (buffalo), and stop by Thekkady on your way to tour the tea and spice plantations.

  • Get a truly local insight into Madurai’s singular street food scene guided by a passionate local guide, who will take you on an included street food crawl around the city.

  • Learn about Chettinad cuisine an impressive nineteenth century mansion – the Chettiars have a reputation of eating like kings, and you will be no different!

  • Discover the influence of Islam in Hyderabad and feast on one of India's most famous cuisines, especially the renowned Hyderabadi Biryani – arguably the best in the country.

  • Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for flight tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip aims to give you an exciting, diverse and well-rounded experience of India's cuisine. India is a great place to travel for vegetarians and vegans – offering lots of choice and great quality fare. If you have dietary requirements, simply contact your agent at the time of booking for further information on how this may impact on your ability to take part in included activities and meals. Come with an open mind and open mouth, and you won’t be disappointed!

  • India is a big country and there are some long travel days on this departure. Use these as an opportunity to relax, witness everyday life from the window of your vehicle and to get to know your fellow travellers.

  • This trip stays in a mix of accommodation to experience a variety of Indian life. Standards can vary though – there will be hot water in most but not all hotels.

  • Southern India can get very hot during the summer so remember to drink lots of water, wear skin protection and bring a variety of clothing – light cotton fabrics work best in the heat.

  • You will visit some temples on this trip, which requires a certain level of modesty. Please bring clothes that cover the arms and pants/skirts that go past the knees. A light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot.

  • Accommodation in the backwaters of Kerala is a multi-share homestay, so be prepared to share space (along with stories and a delicious home-cooked meal).

Map of South India Real Food Adventure including India
chettinad chicken curry
Overnight boat on Kerala backwaters
curry in India
spice stall in India
chopping chillies in India
Indian spices
Mango cart in Bangalore

Itinerary
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Namaste! Welcome to India. A fusion of modernity and tradition, the vibrant colours and diverse cultures of India are truly captivating. Be at one with bustling cities and feel the touch of the land’s spirituality. Your adventure will begin with a 6 pm welcome meeting in the hotel. Your trip begins in Kochi, or Cochin as it was formerly known, which is spread over several islands and has a diverse feel from Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. The city boasts the oldest church in India as well as Vasco de Gama’s final resting place. Get to know your local leader and fellow travellers with dinner featuring the local cuisine.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today, take in some of Kochi’s most interesting sights. Visit the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), which was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch in 1663. The Dutch developed the existing palace before presenting it to the rajas of Cochin. Interestingly Kochi is also home to a Jewish community that has roots going back as far as AD1000, and you’ll see the Jewish synagogue in the city. Built in 1568, the Pardesi Synagogue is one of the oldest existing synagogues in India. In the afternoon visit a traditional 1940s Kerala home located in the heart of Fort Kochi and enjoy a cooking class. Among the dishes you’ll learn to prepare will be a Keralan classic – fish curry. Sit down and indulge in a feast with new friends.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kochi - Cooking Class & dinner
  • Kochi - Dutch Palace
  • Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
Optional Activities
  • Kochi - Kathakali performance - INR300
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Transfer by private vehicle to a homestay on the banks of the Kerala backwaters (approximately 2 hours). Swaying palm trees, lush rice paddies, winding waterways, Ayurvedic massage and welcoming locals all await on this amazing Kerala backwaters homestay. Take a pole boat ride through the community taking in the lush colours and scenes of daily life along the water’s banks. In the evening, join your hosts for a home-cooked dinner and pick up the trick to whipping up payasam – a delicious sweet and milky dessert.
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kerala Backwaters - Pole boat ride
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Rise early and drive past rubber and pineapple plantations and thick jungle to the spice plantation town of Thekkady (approximately 4 hours). Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, perched high in the ranges of the Western Ghats. Thekkady proudly celebrates the food traditions of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and the town and its neighbouring villages are highly regarded for their spice cultivation. Prepare for a fragrant tour of a spice plantation and discover some of the many varieties grown here, from ginger, cardamom and vanilla, to pepper, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. In the late afternoon, head out to the home of a former rickshaw driver turned cooking teacher. The class will be conducted in an open courtyard with a small barbecue, where some of the cooking will take place. In this class you will also learn the secret to preparing porotta – a layered flatbread typical to parts of Southern India.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Periyar - Spice plantation visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning, venture into the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided nature walk. The sanctuary surrounds a lake which was formed as result of a dam that was built in 1895. It ambles through the contours of the wooded hills and is a permanent source of water for local wildlife. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but if luck is on your side you may see some Indian elephants, deer, tigers or gaur – the world's largest species of buffalo. You are more likely to see Bonnet macaques who are often found near the entrance to the reserve, or the Malabar giant squirrel – a species native to India. From here, learn about the essential tea traditions of the region with a plantation visit and tour with a local grower before enjoying a cup or two! In your free time this evening, you could enjoy an optional ayurvedic massage or attend an exciting demonstration of Indian martial arts (kalaripayattu) at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Periyar - Guided nature walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Drive on to Kandukathan (approximately 6 hours), famous for its unique architecture and salt trade, arriving around midday. Settle in at your accommodation – an impressive mansion built in 1902 by prosperous merchants who used construction materials, decorative items and furnishings imported from East Asian countries and Europe. Relax, go for a swim in the swimming pool, then get ready for a real treat – a masterclass in Chettinad cuisine. Chettinad cuisine is distinct to the Chettiars, a successful trading community who built a reputation for ‘eating like kings’. This regional cuisine in revered throughout India and is well regarded for its liberal use of spice, replacing chilli with pepper to impart a subtle heat to dishes. Chettinad cuisine also incorporates seafood, chicken and lamb, although Chettiars do not eat beef and pork. In the hall of the mansion, learn to prepare famous Chettinad dishes including the signature chicken drumstick curry accompanied by mint chutney, and follow it with a sumptuous feast in the open-air courtyard.
Accommodation
  • Heritage Stay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Karaikudi - Leader-led village walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Today travel by private transport to Madurai (approximately 2 hours). Crammed full of bazaars, temples, small industries, pilgrims, cycle-rickshaws, beggars and street markets, Madurai showcases southern India at its colourful and lively best. The city is recognised as the centre of Dravidian culture, with its main attraction the famous Shree Meenaksh Temple in the heart of the old town. Take some time to explore this ancient and still active temple, which is a labyrinth of lamp-lit corridors that lead to shrines where some mysterious and interesting rituals are performed. The cuisine of the state of Tamil Nadu is also highly regarded and it is believed that the English word curry is derived from the Tamil word 'kari'. Characterised by the use of rice, legumes and lentils, the food of Tamil Nadu also has a number of regional variants, of which Madurai is a great example. Discover its signature flavours on a street food tour. Travel the city from east to west, past markets and temples, and get the inside scoop on the best street food the city has to offer. You’ll have the opportunity to sample delicacies such as peppercorn semolina, lentils and hand-churned ice cream made with sarsaparilla and seaweed. Finish up at a famous masala dosa spot, which is so popular it only opens for 4 hours a day!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple guided tour
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Madurai - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take a morning flight from Madurai to Hyderabad (approximately 2.5 hours). Hyderabad is the capital of southern India’s Telangana state, and is home to many upscale restaurants and shops. It is also one of India’s top food destinations where the cooking traditions of the princely state of the Nizams lives on. Take a leader-led orientation walk of the Old Town, and then embark on a delicious street food crawl in the evening with your group. Keep your eye out for the renowned biryani of Hyderabad – considered by many to be the country’s best, Lukhmi – the local samosas, often made with mutton filling, and Haleem – a savoury spiced stew. Dessert traditions thrive here too, namely Qubani ka Meetha – a Hyderabadi original featuring dried apricots cooked to a syrup and garnished with almonds and sweet cream.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hyderabad - Orientation walk
  • Hyderabad - Street food crawl
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning, take a trip outside of Hyderabad and head to Golconda Fort. This impressive fort once protected an ancient city at the centre of a diamond empire. Explore the mosques and the grand mud walls that once surrounded the city – the work of Kakatiya Kings from the 12th century. Once arrived back in the city, the afternoon is free for you to continue to explore but be sure to regroup with your fellow travellers for an included dinner, featuring the famous Hyderabadi Biryani.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hyderabad - Golconda fort
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave your accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your southern Indian adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in Hyderabad, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Overnight Train, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Homestay (1 night), Heritage Stay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Kochi - Cooking Class & dinner
  • Kochi - Dutch Palace
  • Kochi - Jewish Synagogue
  • Kerala Backwaters - Pole boat ride
  • Periyar - Spice plantation visit
  • Periyar - Guided nature walk
  • Karaikudi - Leader-led village walk
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple guided tour
  • Madurai - Sri Meenakshi Temple
  • Madurai - Leader-led walking tour
  • Hyderabad - Orientation walk
  • Hyderabad - Street food crawl
  • Hyderabad - Golconda fort

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Important notes

FESTIVALS IN INDIA:
Please note travelling during major festivals such as Holi and Diwali can, at times, cause disruption the published itinerary. Please see the 'Safety' section for more details.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
A single supplement is available on this trip

Essential trip information

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