making meaningful connections
Enchanting Kerala: women's group holiday
11 Nights
Discover Kerala in the company of like-minded female travellers
Discover Kerala in the company of like-minded female travellers
For the ideal taste of South India, join a small group in this is a slow and gentle discovery of rural Kerala, exclusively for our female guests. Stay in the Wayanad hills for a joyful discovery of upland Kerala, with truly welcoming hosts, before exploring the historic port city of Kochi then relaxing onboard a very special village-owned houseboat.
This is a fixed-date departure, starting on 22nd November.
Welcome at Bangalore airport, transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Transfer to the station to catch a train to Mysore and further transfer (3 hrs) to the charming hillside village of Mothakkara in Wayanad. Get to know your travel companions and relax in the beautiful surroundings of the village.
Enjoy three nights with the community of Mothakkara in the special community-run guesthouse, hosted by women’s committee, who manage the homestay. Enjoy guided tours within the village and delicious local food. Explore the coffee and pepper plantations and enjoy forest walks and spectacular views across the sprawling hills of the Western Ghats towards Banaura Mountain. You may discover local pottery, enjoy a concert from the women’s drumming group, and visit nearby Thrikkaipatta to meet the women weaving beautiful bamboo handicrafts. There is a strong sense of tradition and your hosts welcome you with genuine warmth. Our guests agree that Mothakkara is one of the most relaxing places to stay, and is a firm favourite.
Return by road to Kozhikode and take the train to Ernakulam. Meet at Ernakulam station and short transfer to a small heritage hotel for a two night stay in Fort Cochin. In the evening enjoy a visit to the Kathakali Centre: Kathakali is a traditional Indian classical dance-drama that originated in the state of Kerala. The performances typically include vibrant costumes, elaborate makeup, and stylized gestures that convey stories from Indian epics.
Enjoy a day at your leisure exploring Kochi. Perhaps you might visit the Santa Cruz Basilica in hostoric Fort Kochi, or explore the Mattancherry neighbourhood with its Palace. Visit the folk museum or wander through Jew street where the architecture reflects a blend of Dutch, Portuguese, and Jewish influences and narrow lanes are lined with shops selling antique furniture, jewellery, spices, and artifacts.
After breakfast at the hotel, a short road transfer takes you to the houseboat.
Spend 2 nights onboard the Goodearth Kayal Kettuvallam, visiting three of the five communites; Vayalar, Chenganda, Perumbalam, Chemmanagri and Kodamthuruthu. Your mornings and evenings are spent in the villages, getting to know the communities and discovering the customs and traditions, or exploring deeper into the backwaters in the houseboat’s own canoe/tender.
During the hotter, central part of the day the boat progresses gently through the backwaters to the next village. You navigate dense, narrow canals and open waterways, while on the banks busy village life takes place. You may pass duck herders on a punt, buffalo grazing at the water’s edge, fishermen in dugout canoes, coir weavers and coconut harvesters. Take a cooking class from some of the local women and enjoy delicious local dishes.
After breakfast, you return to Kochi and enjoy an exciting day spent to see activities led by Responsible Tourism Mission, govt of Kerala involving women entrepreneurs who are involved in various craft projects and also host guests for local meals in their homes.
After Lunch transfer to the Cranganore History café at Muziris Heritage Site for a 2 night stay.
Enjoy a final day at your leisure exploring Kochi.
We look after you from the moment of your arrival at Bangalore. If you require a transfer from elsewhere, this can be arranged at an additional cost.
Your holiday includes transfers, your own guide throughout your stay with the communities, accommodation in Mothakkara village, on the Goodearth Houseboat and in Fort Cochin. Trains from Cochin to Kozhikode are included.
In the village Guest houses
The village guesthouses are comfortable but simple in keeping with life in the host villages. Rooms are twin bedded, each fitted with a mosquito net. Rooms are clean, with basic facilities and comfortable mattresses. Bath and toilet facilities are ensuite. Most of the guesthouses are run on solar power.
On the Houseboat
The houseboat has two twin cabins with private facilities. If there are fewer than four in your party, you may wish to upgrade and have exclusive use of the houseboat. This can be arranged at a supplement of £96 per person (£192 for a single traveller).
All meals and tiffins are provided during your stay with the communities and on the houseboat; in Kochi breakfast only is included. Meals in the villages are vegetarian. On occasion fish may be served.
In the city and during transfers, meals are at your own local charge.
EXCLUSIONS
Extra car transfers, except those which are mentioned in the itinerary.
In the scented hills of Kerala, the delightful hillside village of Mothakkara sits at 1,000m amid pepper and coffee plantations, with views across the tea gardens towards the spectacular hills. Hill House guest-house, owned and run by the village, enchants guests with its simple comfort and great hospitality. This is a village full of life and activity, where women play a major role – all our guides here are female, and a highlight of any visit is to witness the women’s drumming group performing.
Explore the rubber, coffee and banana plantations and twining vines of pepper and vanilla, enjoy walks towards Banasura Mountain and take a day trip to nearby Thrikaipatta to watch the local craftswomen create wonderful bamboo products.
Enjoy gently cruising on the Goodearth houseboat around the network of peaceful waterways, fringed by coconut palms and secluded villages, remote from the main centre of houseboats. Moor each night at a different village.
Marvel at the design of the boat, based on traditional rice barges that formerly conveyed grain from up-stream paddy fields. The Goodearth is owned and crewed by the village communities and was built in Valayar by the village team, from local materials.
Wander around the water-side villages, with your own guide, themself a fishermen and steeped in the environment and traditions of the backwaters. Meet village friends and sharing an understanding of riparian life over a cup of tea. Take part in fishing, from shore-side ‘Chinese” nets, or from hand-paddled traditional boats using drift nets, help with prawn catching or even diving for brackish water mussels.
Kerala’s cuisine is justly famous and makes use of amazing local produce and tropical spices. In Mothakkara enjoy delicious, fresh vegetarian meals.
On the houseboat, select the fish of your choice or opt for vegetarian, locally-sourced and cooked on-board by the crew and women’s committee members.
21st March 2025 – 3rd Apr 2025
From £1,475
This small-group women-only trip is designed for women from all ages and walks of life, united by a sense of adventure. We have a maximum of 8 in a group, allowing you to get the most out of your experience and make lasting connections.