South India Spices by Homestays

Overview

As is well known spices are condiments used for their medicinal and more for their aromatic richness. Spices have been an integral part of the Indian lifestyle and cuisine for ages now. To be more precise, it was one of the main things that attracted the westerners to India - a prized monopoly of several kingdoms.

This tour takes you through few of the spice destinations like Wayanad, Coorg and Munnar apart from tourist attractions like Bangalore, Kumarakom, Cochin and Periyar. Your visit to the tea plantations is surely going to be rewarding as the natural beauty is something that penetrates into a weary soul.

The green expanse all over and the manicured gardens are a delight. One can feel the freshness and the purity in the air. The spice gardens are also a great place for a quite stroll and indulging in some bird watching and even nature walks. The strong aroma of coffee and cardamom trees is mesmerising. Apart from the national parks or bird sanctuaries, the central idea of discovering this facet of tourism itself is a novel idea in itself.

Few years down the line there would spice museums and spice food courts coming up so that spice tours become a regular feature in a planned holiday too…

Outlined Itinerary

Day 01 - Bangalore

Arrive Bangalore, meet and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will have private guided sightseeing tour of Bangalore including Bangalore Palace, Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens and Bull Temple. Later drive past the Government Secretariat, the Vidhan Soudha.

Day 02 - Wayanad

After breakfast you will drive to Wayanad (6 hrs). Arrive Wayanad and rest of the day will at leisure. FULL BOARD

Day 03 - Wayanad

After breakfast, you will take a private guided tour of Wayanad, visiting the Edakkal Caves considered to be one of the earliest centres of human habitation. Inside the cave you will find ancient stone scripts, pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar headdresses, the swastik form, symbols and cave drawings of human figures, wheels, bows, knives, trees and so on. FULL BOARD

Day 04 - Coorg

After breakfast, you will drive to Coorg (5hrs). Arrive Coorg and rest of the day will at leisure. FULL BOARD

Day 05 - Coorg

After breakfast, you will visit the coffee plantations and local spice markets. Rest of the day will be at leisure to explore on own. FULL BOARD

Day 06 - Coonoor

After breakfast, you will drive to Coonoor (7 hrs). Arrive Coonor and rest of the day will at leisure and to appreciate serenity of place.

Day 07 - Coonoor

After breakfast you will enjoy Toy train ride to Ooty. On arrival in Ooty, you will visit the Botanical Gardens established in 1848.There are over 1000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees among beautiful lawns and glass houses. See the Ooty Lake, where boating is a popular pastime and the Doddabatta Peak which at 2623 m is the highest in the Nilgiri hills.

Day 08 - Munnar

After breakfast you will drive to Munnar (6.5 hrs). Arrive Munnar and rest of the day will at leisure.

Day 09 - Munnar

After breakfast, you will take a private guided tour of Munnar. Visit the Eravikulam National Park. It’s a sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrious) and later Tea Museum.

Day 10 - Thekkady

After breakfast, you will drive to Thekkady (3.5 hrs) Arrive Thekkady and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure to explore on own.

Day 11 - Thekkady

After breakfast, you will enjoy visit to spice plantation. In the afternoon, you will have boat ride on Periyar lake or if preferred a guided walk in the park.

Day 12 - Backwaters

After breakfast, you will drive to Kumarakom (3.5 hrs) Arrive Kumarakom and check in at the Farm. Rest of the day will be at leisure for independent activities. FULL BOARD

Day 13 - Backwaters

After breakfast, you will be at leisure for independent activities. You can opt for bird watching tour, farm visit and visit to local temples. FULL BOARD

Day 14 - Cochin

After breakfast, you will drive to Cochin (2 hrs) Arrive Cochin and check in at the Bungalow. Rest of the day will be at leisure for independent activities.

Day 15 - Cochin

After breakfast, you will take a private guided tour of Cochin. Visiting the Dutch Palace, which has some of India’s most beautiful murals, the Jewish Synagogue in the heart of Jew Town and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets; See St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was originally buried and the Santa Cruz Church with its pastel coloured interior and carved wooden panels. Later in the evening proceed for Kathakali dance show.

Day 16 - Cochin

Breakfast is at the Hotel. Today at an appropriate time, you will be met and transferred to International airport to connect with your homebound or onwards flight... or travel to your next destination if you would like to add to this tour.

All our tours and holidays are tailor made so can be amended to suite your budget. Click on our from prices below to see what hotels you can expect based on the cheapest time to travel in High Season per person based on two people sharing a room. We can design this tour for you at a lower or higher price, basically to suite your budget, style and comfort. Contact a specialist to discuss your requirements. International flights are not included.