Elephants caparisoned for a festival in Kerala

A Kerala and Tamil Nadu South India tour for discerning travellers.

Visiting: Cochin (Kochi), Wayanad, Pollachi, Dindigul, Ooty, Madurai, Thekkadey (with Periyar

Wildlife Sanctuary), the Kerala backwaters (houseboat cruise), and Mararikulam

With expert guides at the key sites

From £2,275 per person

At the southern tip of India are the contrasting States of Kerala in the west and Tamil Nadu in the east. About Kerala: They call it God’s Own Country. It is India’s cleanest, safest, richest State, where literacy, at 94%, is the highest in India. Washed by the Arabian sea along the Malabar Coast, Kerala is cool and green with a climate ideal for the production of spices. Indeed, it is the topography of Kerala that makes it so unique. The State is narrow, but in the space of 90 miles the land rises from sea level to over 6,000ft and the SW monsoon falls heavily on the Western Ghats in June and July bringing an abundance of coffee, tea, ginger, cardamom and coconuts to harvest. Kerala is religiously diverse with Christians and Muslims sharing the State equally with Hindus. The Kerala backwaters are a network of over 500 miles of inland waterways, lagoons and lakes. A cruise on a houseboat is an experience of intense tranquillity and many call it the highpoint of their tour. About Tamil Nadu: Washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal along the Coramandel Coast, Tamil Nadu is an ancient land of myths and legends. Archaeological evidence suggests that it is perhaps the oldest human habitation in India. The central plains are arid, with their rain being blocked by the Western Ghats. The northern parts are greener and there are many interesting hill stations, whilst the coast can provide relief from the heat and offer attractive beaches and beautiful towns like Pondicherry where the French colonial influences are still highly visible. And at Madurai you can see the awesome Meenakshi Temple, the South’s largest Hindu temple. About Redbird Redbird Travel (Graham Ellison Roberts’ consultancy) has been exploring the Indian subcontinent for many years; travelling off the beaten track to find the good things that the high street travel agent cannot offer.

Redbird’s South India - Itinerary:

Depart from the UK airport of your choice: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Heathrow, London Gatwick or Manchester. We will find the best flights for you and arrange your tickets.

Day 01 On arrival at Kochi airport (by flight TBA), you will be met at the arrival area by

the Redbird representative who will be holding a paging board with your name on it.

You will then be transferred by chauffeured private A/C car to your hotel - Tranquil Resort in Wayanad, in the Western Ghats in the northern part of Kerala (approx. 105 kms– 3.5 hrs).

Tranquil is a plantation homestay. The homestay has six standard double rooms and a deluxe room. It also has a wonderful tree-house and an elegant and spacious tree villa. The 1080 sq. feet Tree Villa is spacious, child friendly and completely insect-proofed. Designed to accommodate up to four people, it has 8 ft verandas on two sides and two bathrooms. Tranquil is a regular winner of the Kerala Tourist Board’s ‘Best Homestay Award’ and rightly so. It is a firm favourite of ours. The surrounding countryside is full of interest and beyond the coffee and vanilla plantation you can step into deep jungle. A visit to the Edakkal Cave where Neolithic stone carvings can be seen is a must, though the climb is steep.

The rest of the day will be at leisure. Tranquil Resort

The high jungle of Wayanad

Day 02 Breakfast at the hotel The day will be at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities; vehicle and

driver will be at your disposal.

The Tree Villa at Tranquil Resort

Activities available within Tranquil Resort

• TREKKING – By virtue of being located on a private 400-acre Coffee & Spices plantation, guests can benefit from the 13 different walking trails across the property. The walks range from ½ hour to 02 hours across various gradients. All the walks are sign – boarded along the way. All guests are provided with a walks map providing details of the route, distance, approximate time / walk, gradient, etc. The walks are all complimentary and is very much a part of the Tranquil experience.

• PLANTATION TOURS – During the months of January / February, the plantation is very busy with the coffee harvesting. For guests visiting at this time of the year, we arrange a plantation tour showing the harvesting and processing of the coffee. This is complimentary and is provided only on a request basis.

• COOKERY CLASS – Guests can benefit from a cookery class conducted by the host family. This is a hands-on experience and guests are provided with own stoves, ingredients, etc (additional cost)

• AYURVEDIC MASSAGES – At Tranquil, we also provide Ayurvedic massages on request. Our masseurs are outsourced from a local ayurvedic hospital and treatments are done in one of our two massage rooms. Prior notice is required, and the treatment costs are additional.

• BIRD WATCHING – There are 127 identified species of bird within the plantation. They do not have an in – house naturalist but can provide the same on prior notice at additional cost.

LOCAL SIGHT-SEEING OUTSIDE OF TRANQUIL

• MUTHANGA WILDLIFE PARK –The closest wildlife park to Tranquil is Muthanga Wildlife Park which located approximately 35 minutes’ drive away from Tranquil. There is every possibility of seeing wild elephants and other wildlife in the area. There are two sessions with regards to the park – the morning session would require you to leave at 06:00 AM, complete the safari and you will return to Tranquil by 09:00 AM. The afternoon session would require you to leave at 14:30 PM and you will then return by 17:30 PM. unfortunately, you are not allowed to prebook the safari. You will be required to go to the park and hire one of the jeeps from the forest department for the safari. There is an additional cost for same. NOTE – During the dry months of March / April, there is a very strong likelihood of the Forest Department shutting down the wildlife park if there is a strong chance of forest fires and movement of wild animals from state to state. This is informed only a week prior to actual closure. IMPORTANT: During National Holidays, festival holidays and long weekends, the park can get quite crowded and queues may start as early as 5:00 AM in the morning – please do check with your hosts / travel agents for a list of holidays.

• EDAKKAL CAVES – The Edakkal Caves boast of 6000 years old rock etchings on its walls depicting early tribal life. The caves are located 10 minutes’ driving time from Tranquil. The two levels of caves would require you to trek for a total time period of 1½ hours. Please note that the ascent to the caves is on an aluminium staircase that is quite steep.

• TRIBAL VILLAGE VISIT – They can arrange for a tribal village visit – Wayanad is home to four distinctive tribes and holds 35% of Kerala’s tribal population. However, this will need to be planned in advance and you will require a guide to take you there after getting prior permission to visit the settlement. Cost of guide will be additional. The driving time from Tranquil to the Tribal Village settlement is approximately 1.2 hours.

Day 03 Breakfast at the hotel The day will be at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities; vehicle and

driver will be at disposal within local limits. Tranquil Resort Day 04 Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, you will be driven to Ooty in Tamil Nadu (approx. 110 Kms –

3.5 hrs). Ooty, in the Nilgiri Hills is called the Queen of the Hill Stations.

On arrival, you will be check in at your hotel. The rest of the day you will be at leisure. Savoy Hotel

Day 05 Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, proceed to Coonoor where you will be taking the train ride on

the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Ooty.

Ooty

After the train ride you can explore Ooty on own or with your driver, or you may like to simply relax & enjoy the facilities at the hotel.

Savoy Hotel

Day 06 Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, you will be driven to Pollachi (approx. 160 kms – 4.5 hrs). On arrival, you will check-in at your hotel and rest of the day will be at leisure. Coco Lagoon by Great Mount Day 07 Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast, you will be driven to Dindigul (approx. 143 kms – 3.5 hrs).

On arrival, you will check-in at Cardamom House and rest of the day will be at leisure. Cardamom House overlooks the monsoon dependent Kamarajar Lake near Athoor This family home stay nestles in the unbelievably beautiful foothills of the Western Ghats, close to Sembatti and Dindigul. It provides Western comforts in a rural setting.

British physician, Dr. Chris Lucas established Cardamom House in 1996. Here, you can retreat into nature, away from the bustle and noise of Indian towns. Spend your days relaxing; swimming in the flower-surrounded pool; reading; being creative with your camera, paints or pens; watching birds; or exploring the valley or further afield.

Cardamom House Day 08 Breakfast at the hotel

The day will be at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities; vehicle and driver will be at disposal within city limits. Cardamom House

Day 09 Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast, you will be driven to Madurai (approx. 70 kms – 2 hrs). On arrival, you will check-in at the hotel Later, you will be taken on a half day city tour of Madurai visiting Shri Meenakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Madurai's main attraction is the famous Meenakshi temple in the heart of the old town, a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture with gopurams (towers) covered from top to bottom with a profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. Another attraction is the Tirumalai Nayak Palace (1636) restored by Lord Napier, dance drama concerts are performed daily.

After the Palace, you will be taken to Manjanakkara Street where you can witness local block-printing by hand. Hand block printing is an ancient art form in India where they use hand carved teak wood blocks which they dip in dye and stamp on the cotton or silk cloth. It is used in designing sarees. Later in the evening, you will proceed to the Meenakshi temple complex to witness the evening prayer ceremony in which Lord Shiva is carried in a palanquin accompanied by musicians, temple singers and priests to the temple of his consort Parvati to spend the night.

The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai Day 10 Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Thekkady (approx. 140 kms – 3.5 hrs).

This busy little hill town [at 3,000ft] is at the entrance to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and is the centre of the spice growing region. Here you will find restaurants, shops and ATMs. You are also very likely to encounter pilgrims on the road to Sabarimala, one of India’s most holy Hindu sites. On arrival, check in at Spice Village. Set in the heart of the Cardamom Hills of Kerala, Spice Village lies just outside the Periyar National Park. Recreating the mood of a local tribal community, the resort architects have designed individual cottages set among a landscaped spice garden. Each dwelling is thatched with elephant grass. The rooms are spacious and furnished with simple sophistication. At the centre of the village is a swimming pool, surrounded by tropical trees and lawns. Overlooking it is a buffet restaurant, which serves a wide range of traditional Indian and international cooking. The town of Kumily/Thekkady is a 5-minute walk. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities;

Spice Village

Day 11 Breakfast at the hotel

Early AM: guided nature walk in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (subject to weather conditions);

This amazingly beautiful national park owes its existence to the construction of a dam on the River Periyar in 1895. The resulting reservoir measures 55 square kilometres and the Park itself measures 777square kilometers. It is one of the 18 National Parks in India, which make up Project Tiger, and whilst it boasts a healthy population of big cats, due to the topography the chances of seeing one are quite rare. However, you might see: Elephants, Monkeys, Wild Boar, Antelope, Darters, Hornbills, Hill Mynahs, Cormorants, Ospreys, Kingfishers, Drongos, Fish Owls, Kites, Herons, White Egrets and Orioles.

People oriented community-based ecotourism is the hallmark of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Programmes are conducted by local people responsible for the surveillance of the vulnerable parts of the reserve. By taking tourists along they are involved in the conservation of the forests of Periyar and some valuable revenue is generated for community welfare. People who once made a living by illegal operations in the forests have since become forest protectors and earn their livelihood through these programmes. Hence, as a visitor, when you join them in any of these programmes, you are directly contributing towards forest conservation and welfare. The 3-hour walk is full of interest and your guide will be able to bring the exotic flora and fauna to your attention. You should wear sturdy footwear and dark coloured clothing. At certain times of the year leech socks will be provided by the park authorities.

The rest of the day will be at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities;

Spice Village

Day 12 Breakfast at the hotel After breakfast, you will be driven to the houseboat jetty [approx. 135 Kms –

4.5 hrs] from where you will board your houseboat for a cruise and an overnight stay (approx. check in time is 1300 hrs).

A typical ‘kettuvallam’ houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet in length and has a width of around 15 feet in the middle. The boat is made of wooden planks joined and stitched together using coconut fibre ropes. Usually the wood used will be 'Anjili', the roof covering is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. The outside of the boat is painted using cashew nut oil, which acts as a protective coating. Your crew of 3 will prepare your meals and help you appreciate the unique environment and society of the backwaters. It is an experience of intense tranquillity and many visitors to Kerala count it as the highpoint of their tour.

Double bedroom Houseboat

Day 13 Breakfast on board the houseboat

After breakfast, you will disembark and then you will be driven to Marari (approx. 30 kms – 40 mins). On arrival, you will check in at your hotel (standard check-in time is 1400 Hrs). The rest of the day will be at leisure. Marari Beach Resort

Day 14 Breakfast at the hotel

The hotel layout is campus style with individual thatched cottages set in a well-maintained landscape area. Private pool villas are available. There is a large swimming pool with sun terrace near the main restaurant, a bar and an amphitheatre where cultural performances take place. The beach bar and restaurant, set amongst the coconut palms fronting the beach, serves delicious fish and seafood. Each day, in the late afternoon, the local fisherman land their catch on the beach. You will probably be invited to help haul in the nets. The resort has its own ayurvedic centre and gentle yoga sessions take place each sunrise and sunset. There is also a small shop selling locally crafted artifacts and clothing. Here you can have bespoke articles in silk and cotton made to measure in 48 hours. The town of Alleppey is just 15 minutes away by taxi or tuc-tuc. The day is at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities; vehicle and driver will not be at disposal. However, it can be arranged at nominal charges by contacting our local office directly

Marari Beach Resort

Day 15 Breakfast at the hotel

The day is at leisure to relax or pursue independent activities; vehicle and driver will not be at disposal. However, it can be arranged at nominal charges by contacting our local office directly Marari Beach Resort

Day 16 Breakfast at the hotel Later, at an appropriate time, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kochi city

(approx. 51 kms – 1.5 hrs). On arrival, you will check in at the hotel and rest of the day will be at leisure. Kochi

Marriott Day 17 Early in the morning, you will be transferred to Kochi international airport

(approx. 22 Kms – 30-45 minutes) to connect with your flight to onward destination (Ex TBA ETD TBA hrs).

YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND MEAL PLAN SUMMARY

Dates Nts City Hotel Room Category Meal

Day 01-04 03 Wayanad Tranquil Resort Deluxe Room BB

Day 04-06 02 Ooty Savoy Hotel Superior Room BB

Day 06-07 01 Pollachi Coco Lagoon by Great Mount

Royal Suite BB

Day 07-09 02 Dindigul Cardamom House AC Pondicherry Suite

FB

Day 09-10 01 Madurai Gateway Hotel Pasumalai

Superior Room BB

Day 10-12 02 Thekkady Spice Village Spice Garden Cottage

BB

Day 12-13 01 Vembanad Lake

CGH Earth Spice Coast Cruise

01 Bedroom Houseboat

FB

Day 13-16 03 Marari Marari Beach Resort Garden Villa BB

Day 16-17 01 Kochi Kochi Marriott Deluxe Room BB

* At Cardamom House, please be aware that the mains electricity, currently supplied by the Central Electricity Board, can be highly irregular and the voltage can fluctuate. They use a large (40,000 Watts) standby generator in order to provide power for the air-conditioning units. However, it is impossible to run this for 24 hours out of 24, as it needs to cool down and to be refuelled.

As with all Redbird tailor-made itineraries changes can be made: days can be added or subtracted, hotels and activities can be changed

Redbird’s South India - tour price per person For travel in September 2019: Tour cost based on two persons on twin sharing basis £ 2,275 per person Note: 3rd night in Marari is complimentary & on full board basis as per offer received for summer 2019. For travel from 01 Oct’19 to 20 Dec’19, 11-31 Jan'20 & 01-31 Mar'20: Tour cost based on two persons on twin sharing basis £ 2,975 per person Note: Multiple usage discount has been considered on CGH Earth hotels For travel from 21 Dec’19 - 10 Jan'20 & 1-29 Feb'20: Tour cost based on two persons on twin sharing basis £ 3,375 per person Note: Price for travel from 21 Dec’19 - 10 Jan'20 do not include the mandatory Christmas eve or New Year eve gala dinner supplements charged by the hotels. It will be advised based on actual dates of travel. International return flights from £650 per person in economy (price may be subject to changeup to the point of ticketing)

Return flights are available from the following UK airports: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester

The quoted price includes: 16 nights’ accommodation on twin sharing basis as per the hotel grid; Meal plan as stated above; [BB: Bed & Breakfast; FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]; Tickets for toy (narrow guage) train ride from Coonoor to Ooty in non-air-conditioned chair car class; Half day city tour of Madurai and evening witness prayer ceremony; 01 early morning nature walk in Thekkady (subject to weather conditions); An English-speaking local guide for sightseeing tour of Madurai; All transfers, sightseeing and excursions as per the itinerary will be by an AC Toyota Innova Crysta or similar vehicle; Entrance fees, road taxes, parking fees, fuel charges, interstate taxes and porterage at all airports; A Red Bird representative for assistance on arrival and departure transfers in Kochi; All currently applicable taxes, including the service tax applicable on the total invoice amount. The price excludes: Expenses of personal nature like tipping, laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fees at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure taxes where not included in the ticket price, etc.; Meals other than those specified above; Any insurance; Any visa fees; Any air-fare unless mentioned above; air fares are subject to change up to ticketing Any other services not mentioned in the inclusion. Special Notes: UK, US, EC and citizens of most other countries require a visa to visit India and you will require a minimum of 6 months validity remaining on your passport from date of arrival. You are responsible for obtaining visas yourselves, but we will of course provide any guidance or assistance you may require. For single entry visits of up to 30 days UK, US and some EC citizens can us the e-TV online visa on arrival system which has simplified the application process and reduced the cost. Details can be found at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html Journey times are approximate and may vary considerably due to adverse traffic or road conditions and the number and duration of stops along the way. Air and train fares are indicative and are subject to confirmation at time of booking. Check in time at the hotel is 1400 Hrs and check out time is 12 Noon In case of any currency fluctuations, amendments to Government taxes, or any fuel price rises we reserve the right to adjust the tour price accordingly. Any change in hotel or room category may attract a supplement or reduction in the tour cost.