Rani’s Food and Heritage Tour October 2023

Food understands a regions true and unchanging character

Kerala is tantalizingly attractive, so is its cuisine. Each region has its own taste and style of preparation.
In this tour we focus on different cookeries - Syrian Christians, Anglo Indians, Tamilian, Brahmins,
Coastal Fishermen, offering a mixed platter of Kerala cuisines.
Kerala’s food is richly spicy with common prevalence of chilly, cardamom, cloves, ginger, black pepper
and cinnamon but its tilted more towards the liberal use of fresh coconuts and coconut oil. We will be
trying from simple vegetarian food to sophisticated seafood.
Accommodation is mostly in delightful and small charming hotels/resorts. We have also added a
sumptuous houseboat journey through the Kerala backwaters, stopping at local villages & markets on
the way.
We have tried our best in bringing you a whole range of flavours and sensual experiences from the best
selection of local dishes. Rationally some of the best places to eat are not particularly luxurious but cook
authentic food which is exceptional.

Oct 10 – Cochin
On arrival meet and greet at Cochin Airport. Later will be driven to hotel (1 hour drive). Overnight at
Brunton Boatyard

Oct 11 – Cochin
After breakfast we start our day with Cochin sightseeing coupled with spice hunting. Our guide specialised for this excursion of will show the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church and
Chinese fishing nets, we will also be visiting the spice market. We have also added the famed Dhobi Khana run by the Tamil community, Pappads made by Tulu or the Udupi Brahmins. We spend the day at Brunton Boatyard’s restaurant where we meet the Chef who will prepare us his specialty dishes coupled
with cooking demo. Afternoon on own for you to relax, do some shopping at Anokhi or stroll around Fort Cochin. You can witness Kathakali dance in the evening (This can be arranged locally as an option). Evening relax or take a walk around the old town. Dinner will be at History restaurant. Overnight at
Brunton Boatyard

Oct 12 – Cochin
Breakfast at hotel. Today you spend the day relaxing at the hotel probably a swim or just walk around.
Afternoon we visit the Anglo Indian family - Oscars house, where we relish their specialty Portuguese food. Dinner will be had at the locally known vegetarian restaurant and will be trying the world famous Masala Dosa. Overnight at Brunton Boatyard 

Oct 13 – Cochin - Thekaddy (Periyar) (4.5 hours drive)
After a leisurely breakfast we will drive you towards the hills to reach Thekaddy (Periyar) - set in the green hills of spice plantations and home of the Periyar Wildlife Reserve - a sanctuary for a multitude of wild elephants bears, bison, deer, boar and the great Indian Tiger. On the way we shall stop at this 400
year old ancestral house where we interact with the family and enjoy their Syrian Christian Kerala food.
After lunch we move on and reach Thekaddy. Check in and relax. Buffet dinner is included at Spice
Village. Overnight stay at Spice Village

Oct 14 – Thekaddy
Today morning after breakfast we visit the spice plantation followed by shopping of good quality spices.
Afternoon stroll around this little town Kumily. Afternoon we will visit nearby resort to enjoy the special lunch prepared only for us. Dinner will be at ’50 Mile Diet’ Restaurant in Spice village. Overnight stay at Spice Village

Oct 15 – Thekaddy
Morning after breakfast, get ready for an adventure trip driven in Jeeps and going downhill with stops at picturesque spots to reach Tamil Nadu (neighboring state of Kerala). We get the opportunity to
understand different vegetables grown, visit vegetable farm, fair trade market and later enjoy the Tamil lunch set exclusively for the group. After lunch back to hotel. Evening we visit Sudheer’s house to witness cooking demo followed by special dinner of the house. Overnight stay at Spice Village

Oct 16 - Thekaddy – Alleppey (4.5 hours drive)
After breakfast you will be driven to reach the boarding point for the ‘kettuvallam’, Houseboats of Kerala. 
Enjoy a backwater cruise, lazing in this converted house boat as it meanders through the tranquil network of water canals, dotted with busy hamlets, lush green paddy fields. Formed by the 40 odd rivers that flow down to the Arabian Sea from the Cardamom Hills, this network of canals, lakes and estuaries
comprises one of India’s most enchanting areas - a rural, revering expanse of verdant coconut groves and rice paddies. The scene is idyllic and the mood – romantic and the experience unforgettable. Lunch will be served on board. Later in the afternoon assist the cook for dinner and by evening join the group
for supper.

These converted rice barges or "Kettuvallams" sail along shallow, palm-fringed lakes and narrow canals where coconut and cashew is loaded onto dugouts. You pass villages built on narrow spits of land, stopping to visit local markets, or to marvel at craftsmen engaged in centuries-old boat-making
tradition. The boats offer one or two cabins with a small sitting room and a crew of 2 staff and a chef.
The food is authentic Kerala cuisine, purchased fresh along the way. 
Lunch and Dinner will be served onboard. Overnight in the house boat.

Oct 17 –  Houseboat
Full day cruise and stay overnight on the houseboat. Lunch and Dinner will be served onboard.

Oct 18 – Alleppey – Mararikulam (1 hr drive)
After your breakfast disembark from the houseboat and will be driven a short distance to reach the beach destination of Kerala – Mararikulam. Enjoy your buffet lunch at the main restaurant. Relax for the day or rejuvenate yourself with an Ayurvedic herbal massage. Today’s dinner highlights specialty seafood of the region which will be served at a private spot. Overnight at Marari Beach Resort

Oct 19 – Mararikulam 
Today we have a little early start. By 8 am we start the trip and will be using tuk tuks (Autorikshaw) as mode of transport which is best to go through the narrow village. Highlight starts with witnessing live
auction of fishes. You can also take part in the auction and buy fishes if you wish to. We will be experiencing village visit/walk and interact with locals and educating yourself with local information of the region. Lunch will be served with local cuisines at the heritage place. After lunch you will dropped back to resort. Evening we will enjoy the special dinner at ‘The Farm Kitchen’ of the resort. Overnight at Marari Beach Resort.

Oct 20 – Marari – Cochin Airport (2 hours drive)
After a leisurely breakfast, check out from resort and will be driven for 2.5 hours to reach Kalady – the birth place of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. You will welcomed to a Brahmin house where you witness cooking demo of Avial – a mixture of 13 vegetables which is served as one of the dishes in the Sadya. Sadya is
the Kerala feast with 22 items served in Banana leaf. This elaborate lunch will be the closing ceremony to our great Kerala food tour. After lunch quick visit to Sri Krishna temple and other places of interest you will be dropped at Cochin airport to connect for your onward journey.
Destination                      Hotel Room
Cochin                               Brunton Boatyard Sea Facing Room
Thekaddy (Periyar)         Spice Village Spice Garden Cottage
Alleppey     Luxury houseboat Two cabin houseboats
Mararikulam Marari Beach Resort Garden Villa

Tours Extension

Oct 20 - Kalady – Trissur
After our grand Kerala feast you will continue your drive to reach one of the holy and sacred pilgrimage destination - Guruvayur where you visit the world famous Sri Krishna Temple. Later you visit the famed Punathoor Kota to watch the herd of around 60 elephants being trained for festival purposes and some
of them for Ayurvedic treatments. Overnight stay at Trissur.

Oct 21 - Trissur - Calicut (3.5 hours)
Today morning before breakfast we will be visit the ancient Shiva temple which is built around the cultural city of Trissur. Later a short walk will bring you to this 50 year old Bharat Hotel which serves vegetarian food. We relish their breakfast with dishes like Dosas, Uppama, Vada, Putu, Poori and other local foods.
After breakfast we continue our drive towards North Kerala and reach Calicut. Our lunch is arranged at the 75 year old Paragon Hotel, which is famous for fish. After lunch we proceed to Kadavu Resort where we spend the night. Late evening you will experience some of the local dishes from famous restaurants
and small joints in Calicut. Overnight stay at Kadavu Resort

Oct 22 – Calicut – Thalasserry (2 hours)
After a leisurely breakfast we drive further North of Kerala crossing Mahe which was once a French Colony. Though Mahe falls in Kerala the municipality comes under Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. Check in to the heritage hotel Ayisha Manzil homestay in Thalasserry. Thalasserry Biriyani is very famous which
can be tried here.

Oct 22 – Thalasserry - Wayanad (3 hours drive)
After your unique breakfast you continue your drive to the western Ghats and check into the forest lodge. Overnight stay at CGH EARTH Wayanad Wild.

Oct 23 – Wayanad
Full day at Wayanad Wild with activities of the resort. Overnight stay at Wayanad Wild.

Oct 24 – Wayanad - Cheruthuruthi (4.5 hrs of drive)
This morning you continue your drive to Cheruthuruthy where the world famous Kerala Kalmandalam is situated. Kerala Kalamandalam is deemed to be University promoting Art and Culture of Kerala.
Overnight stay River Retreat resort.

Oct 24 – Cheruthuruthi – Cochin Airport
Morning after breakfast you will be experiencing the program called the day with the masters.
Afternoon you continue your drive to reach back to Cochin and stay at Airport hotel.

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