Signature India | Between Spices & Backwaters Tour by Exodus Adventure Travels

9 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Highlights

Among still waters and spice-laden hills, Kerala’s spirit flows – calm in rhythm, rich in ritual, alive with grace

Itinerary

Kerala’s story unfolds in scent and stillness, the crackle of cardamom pods, the hush of dawn over the backwaters. On this journey, step inside royal palaces, meet the women redefining Kathakali, wander through tea-clad highlands, and discover balance in Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom. Your Signature Guide takes you through a land where nature and culture move in perfect harmony. In Kerala, time ebbs with the rhythm of oars and temple drums, carrying a quiet invitation to be still.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Experiences: Join a descendant of Kochi’s Maharajas on a private tour of Mattancherry Palace, unlocking stories and treasures from Kerala’s regal past Watch a performance by the Thrippunithura All Women’s Kathakali troupe, meeting the pioneering artists reshaping Kerala’s traditional art Join artisans in Vagamon’s hills for the Tea Reverie, dyeing fabrics with tea, exploring a 100-year-old factory, and sharing lunch Discover ancient Ayurveda on a private wellness session with a doctor, learning how balance and nature shape Kerala’s way of life
Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between a cycle through lakeside lanes and paddy fields, a visit to Vaikom Mahadeva Temple to observe ancient rituals or lunch with a family on a rubber plantation
Signature Stay: Relax at CGH Spice Village, a sustainability-minded retreat where thatched cottages and spice gardens capture the essence of the wild highlands
Signature Guide: Let your handpicked Signature Guide lead you to the country’s soul — sharing their home, heritage, and heart

day 1 - Welcome to Kochi | Connect over harbour views and Keralan cuisine

Welcome to the port city of Kochi, where spice-laden breezes and colonial-era influences set the tone for your southern adventure.

Complimentary arrival transfers are provided today. Settle into your harbour-view retreat at the Taj Malabar, where calm waters and timeless elegance offer a gentle introduction to the southwest coast. Those arriving early can join an optional Ayurvedic cooking session, a hands-on introduction to Kerala’s ancient wellness traditions and the tastes that define its cuisine (available on request).

As evening falls, meet your Signature Guide and fellow travellers for a welcome reception, followed by dinner at Bubble Café, a lively hotspot overlooking the water. Here, Kerala’s seafood and spice-rich dishes pair perfectly with warm hospitality and glittering harbour lights.

Overnight at Taj Malabar Resort & Spa

Meals:Dinner

day 2 - Discover the contrasts of Kochi | Experience grace, heritage and tradition

Wake to the sound of harbour life stirring beyond the palms and set out to explore Kochi, a city where every lane tells a story.

Begin at the Chinese fishing nets, where fishermen balance the ancient counterweights of teak and stone much as their ancestors did centuries ago. Continue to Saint Francis Church, India’s oldest European church, its whitewashed walls holding echoes of past explorers.

Signature Experience: Step inside Mattancherry Palace on a private tour with Balagopal Verma, descendant of Kochi’s Maharajas, who reveals stories and heirlooms from Kerala’s royal past. Then continue to Thrippunithura where, after a sadhya lunch, we meet the pioneering Thrippunithura All-Women’s Kathakali troupe. In a private performance and discussion, they share the expressive art and spirit behind this traditionally male-dominated Keralan dance.

As dusk falls, return to Fort Kochi for dinner at the Armoury restaurant, where grilled seafood and sea breezes bring the day to a close.

Second night at Taj Malabar Resort & Spa