This journey starts at the scenic River Nila. After settling, we will take you on a leisurely cruise down the Nila on a Thoni (traditional boat). The cruise passes through stunning landscapes comprising small canals, rivers and backwaters of a relatively unknown area called Tirur. This trip goes through several small islands where various communities of toddy (coconot palm liquor) tappers, coir rope workers and fishing communities live. The boats used for the Thoni Cruise as well as the oarsmen are from the local communities. The cruise is an alternative, supplementary source of income for people who were otherwise engaged in disruptive activities such as illegal sand mining from the river-bed. Get your hands dirty learning pottery with local artisans, and watch them weave magic on clay. At the bell metal workshop witness the creation of intricate designs such as tea-pots and door locks, a craft confined to a few families in the region. The visit to the potter & bell metal community is an appreciation of the efforts to rehabilitate the traditional handicrafts in the area. Our visits expand the knowledge about the program and provide them financial support. During a magical evening, young folk artists will showcase the folk heritage of River Nila and you might easily find yourself singing & dancing along. Evening with the folk artists is part of a movement to revive the dying forms of folk art and music in the River Nila basin. Spend half of the day in interactive sessions with the masters of classical arts at Performing Arts School “Kalamandalam” and check into a rural farm stay for the evening. Spend time with a family of musicians. The musical trail is a journey to showcase the percussion culture of River Nila. A clinic on various kinds of musical instruments concludes with a performance extraordinaire by the talented group. After a simple homely lunch, we proceed to a home stay in Nilambur to relax and spend an evening discussing Kerala’s history, art and culture with the host.

Spend a day relaxing at the homestay. (Optional visits to the pottery making center or teak forest can be arranged). In the morning, move on to Beypore to visit an initiative set up to provide jobs for local weavers and preserve their rich traditional knowledge. The NGO gives opportunities for travelers to participate in the weaver’s workshops.

From Beypore we drive up to Wayanad (two and a half hours) and check into a beautiful hill-side property. Visit of the Edakkal caves to see the pictorial remnants of civilisation dating back to 5,000 BC. The next day you will spend the morning at lush green spice plantations as part of the spice tour, visiting various farms owned by local communities. After lunch at a local home, we vist Meenmutty waterfalls, which are tucked into a rainforest and can be approached only by a two-hour trek. Moving on, we check into another cute farm stay in the north of Wayanad. In the evening we take you on a beautiful safari inside the Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary, which is a biodiversity hotspot. The safari is a chance to spot the Asian elephants, bears, wild gaurs (bison), spotted and sambar deers or even a leopard.

Dedicated days of relaxation on a beautiful beach property. Optional activities & visits, such as to the Bekal Fort and some of the many temples of this region, can be arranged.

Land at Cochin and check into a boutique hotel in the heritage quarter of the city. Check out Fort Cochin Jew town, synagogue, spice markets, the Dutch palace, St Francis Church and Chinese fishing nets.

Drive down to relax in the idyllic backwaters at Alleppey. Go onboard a houseboat for an overnight cruise. The houseboats cruise through the backwaters of Kuttanad – the rice bowl of Kerala. The banks of the waters will be lined with lush paddy fields, fishing nets, coconut grooves, and local villages. Soak in a sunset and sunrise on the water while enjoying a relaxed dining experience. Disembark from the houseboat for a short transfer to Karimbavalavu – a secluded island on the backwaters. There are six cottages overlooking the backwaters with nothing but breathtaking views for company. Known for its bird life, the island is a great stopover for relaxation. Cycling, village visits, and small trips in canoes are included.

Drive up direction north to the historic and scenic River Nila. Get your hands dirty learning pottery with local artisans, and watch them weave magic on clay. At the bell metal workshop witness the creation of intricate designs such as tea-pots and door locks, a craft confined to a few families in the region. The visit to the potter & bell metal community is an appreciation of the efforts to rehabilitate the traditional handicrafts in the area. Our visits expand the knowledge about the program and provide them financial support. During a magical evening, young folk artists will showcase the folk heritage of River Nila and you might easily find yourself singing & dancing along. Evening with the folk artists is part of a movement to revive the dying forms of folk art and music in the River Nila basin. Visit the beautiful 400-year-old heritage house Kooderi Mana, unique representative of sustainable life style. Stay with the family and experience a traditional rural Kerala ambience. In the midst of an organic farm, this heritage house is part of the responsible tourism initiative that is making positive changes to the destination. Spend time with a family of musicians in the village of Mulayankavu. The musical trail is a journey to showcase the percussion culture of River Nila. A clinic on various kinds of musical instruments concludes with a performance extraordinaire by the talented group. We will take you on a leisurely cruise down the Nila on a Thoni (traditional boat). The cruise passes through stunning landscape comprising small canals, rivers and backwaters of a relatively unknown area called Tirur. This trip goes through several small islands where various communities of toddy (coconot palm liquor) tappers, coir rope workers and fishing communities live. The boats used for the Thoni Cruise as well as the oarsmen are from the local communities. The cruise is an alternative, supplementary source of income for people who were otherwise engaged in disruptive activities such as illegal sand mining from the river-bed.

From Nila you will drive up to Nilambur (one hour) to check into Maranat Mana, a heritage property reflecting the age-old traditions of a Kerala Brahmin family. Focusing on sustainable living, this place strikes an excellent balance between traditional life style and modern living. The two-acre sacred grove inside the farm is a representation of a bio-diversity that is still sustained. Spend the day in the village or the majestic home stay. Activities (at no extra cost) include visits to farms and traditional bathing ghats.

Home to several spices, Wayanad now has a viable and vibrant spice cultivation program. From cardamom to cinnamon, pepper to ginger and even vanilla, you can see for yourself the abundance of spice all along the hills of Wayanad. The idea of a spice tour was conceived as an alternative source of income for small scale farmers and planters in Wayanad. Spice tours are also arranged in such a way that it gives travelers a taste of living a planter’s life. Enjoy the adrenaline rush of a morning wildlife safari in Muthanga wildlife sanctuary, a biodiversity hotspot. The 24-kilometre safari is a chance to spot the Asian elephants, bears, wild gaurs (bison), spotted and sambar deers or even a leopard. Post-lunch we visit, Uravu, where you can interact with the artisans and designers who create beautiful products out of different varieties of bamboo which are grown locally. The visit also includes interactions with the promoters and a visit to the bamboo nursery. The visit to the rainforest garden involves interaction with the community who initiated the rainforest regeneration and the latter half of the visit benefits the community living in the alternative school campus. Trek guides are from the local communities and they operate all programs. These are people who live on the fringes of the wildlife areas. All parts of our trek routes and campsites follow zero waste management. During and after every trek, we collect and dispose plastic waste that might have been left behind by other tourists and local people.

The costal town & area around Kannur is home to the most idyllic beaches in the Malabar region. If desired, travelers can embark upon a boat voyage to nearby towns, far from the crowds. Many traditional folk art forms can be witnessed in villages surrounding Kannur. Here you might want to relax on the beach near Kannur, or visit St Angelo Fort, Arakkal museum and the Cannanore Lighthouse. We can also take you to temples nearby for Theyyam performances.

In the North you will visit the beautiful coastal city of Calicut and travel to Wayanad by road (3 hours) with one of our storytellers. On the way you might want to visit Edakkal caves and its pictorial remnants of civilisation dating back to 5,000 BC. Enjoy the adrenaline rush of a wildlife safari in Muthanga wildlife sanctuary, a biodiversity hotspot in Wayanad. The 24-kilometre safari is a chance to spot the Asian elephants, bears, wild gaurs (bison), spotted and sambar deers or even a leopard. After a lunch in a local home, we take you on a Spice Tour, tea trail and finally cool off at a waterfall in the middle of a rainforest. Traditionally, Kerala is a major exporter of spice. Several communities have been engaged in the cultivation & plantation of spices since centuries. The Spice tours were started with the objective to support small farmers and spice planters in and around Wayanad as an alternative, supplementary source of income. The tour provides a glimpse into the lives with special focus on the struggles of spice farmers against fluctuating prices and globalisation.

Take a leisurely cruise down the historic and scenic river Nila on a Thoni (traditional boat), and end the day with a visit to Thunjan Parambu Literature Park and Vakkad beach on the banks of the river. The boats used for the Thoni Cruise as well as the oarsmen are from the local communities. The cruise is an alternative, supplementary source of income for people who were otherwise engaged in disruptive activities such as illegal sand mining from the river-bed. Get your hands dirty learning pottery with local artisans, and watch them weave magic on clay. At the bell metal workshop witness the creation of intricate designs such as tea-pots and door locks, a craft confined to a few families in the region. The visit to the potter & bell metal community is an appreciation of the efforts to rehabilitate the traditional handicrafts in the area. Our visits expand the knowledge about the program and provide them financial support. During a magical evening, young folk artists will showcase the folk heritage of River Nila and you might easily find yourself singing & dancing along. Evening with the folk artists is part of a movement to revive the dying forms of folk art and music in the River Nila basin. Spend half of the day in interactive sessions with the masters of classical arts at Performing Arts School Kalamandalam.

Our naturalist will lead you on a light trek through the wilderness of this beautiful sanctuary, which is comprised of tropical evergreen and deciduous forests. You might even want to choose to end this day camping under the starlit sky by the rainforest and rise for and early session of bird-watching.

Fort Cochin is a fabled melting pot of culture, and you find this reflected in every corner of the city. Accompanied by a local storyteller, you will visit Jew town, the synagogue, the spice market, Dutch palace, St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets & lively promenade - a heritage walk that gives you a peek into the still-very-present past, as well as the vibrant local texture of today. Attend a rendition of the world-renowned Kathakali dance performance in the evening at a theatre in Fort Cochin.

This wildlife reserve is the home of the regal Royal Bengal Tiger. The visit begins with a light three-hour night trek to explore the wonders of life in the jungle after dusk. You can also choose to spend an entire day trekking and rafting on bamboo rafts along the scenic Periyar Lake. A day like this offers a good chance of spotting wildlife in close quarters. In Periyar and Chimmony, the nature driven experiences are operated by members of the local community belonging to the Eco Development Committees (EDCs). The benefits are transferred directly to the community members. Trekking assistants and guides were mostly poachers and the entire program in Periyar was designed to rehabilitate them. All parts of our trek routes and campsites follow zero waste management. During and after every trek, we collect and dispose plastic waste that might have been left behind by other tourists and local people.

The idyllic backwaters of Kumarakom are about 10kms from Kottayam and are considered the most beautiful backwater stretch in Kerala. Here you can wind down and relax at a backwater resort in Kumarakom. Visit the harbor city of Alleppey and check into a luxurious houseboat for a leisurely overnight backwater cruise. Enjoy the dining experience on board and watch as time slows down to a crawl against the idyllic backdrop of the backwaters. The houseboat drops you at Alleppey and then you transfer to a beach resort in Marari (45-minutes) for relaxing moments of leisure.