South India 14 Day Journeys

Day 1: Arrival in Trivandrum and travel to Varkala

Our 14-day South India adventure begins at the Trivandrum International Airport. North Star Journeys will have arranged a meeting place and time in the airport where you will be greeted by your North American guide from North Star Journeys (NSJ) as well as your local Indian guides from North Star South India (NSSI). Following introductions, the group will make the 90-minute trip to the coastal town of Varkala. After registering at the guesthouse, you are free to recover from your long journey by resting in your room, taking a walk along the beach, or enjoying one of the many open air restaurants for an afternoon chai while overlooking the sea. The group will gather later for a brief meeting before officially beginning your introduction to Indian food in India! We recommend that you retire early in order to help adjust to the time change of your new continent.

Day 2:  Exploration of Varkala and surrounding area

 Up early for a group breakfast and meeting to review relevant points from the Learning the Art of Travel Program (LATP). Some of the group will still be feeling the effects of jet lag. If that is the case for you, you are welcome to take it easy this morning and continue to rest. The remainder of the group will walk with the guides to explore the town of Varkala and become acquainted with the street markets and culture of daily life in India. We will have lunch in the town of Varkala before heading back to our guesthouse near the ocean. The afternoon will be free for you to explore guide recommendations at your pace, or rest. The group will reconvene later that evening over dinner to discuss the experience of being in India. A section of the Learning the Art of Travel Program will be covered after dinner and you are welcome to participate or to head off on your own to find your night's entertainment. 

Day 3:  Depart for Allepey

Another early start. We will take taxis to the train station where we will begin to tackle the complexities of using the Indian Rail System. Our north-bound train ride to Allepey will take approximately two and a half hours. Allepey is the home base of NSSI; upon arrival, we will be greeted by other staff members along with transportation to our guest house, the Gowri Residence. The guides will assist you with your check-in so that you may become accustomed to the process of hotel registry. After a brief walking tour of the heart of Allepey, we will meet to continue our discussions about traveling in India. The afternoon can be filled with further exploration of town with the guides or a rest back at the guesthouse. The NSJ guide will meet with group members individually throughout the day to discuss the LATP.

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Day 4:  Exploration of Allepey

A leisurely morning will precede a group meeting to discuss the day ahead. You will be free to get lunch on your own or join the guides.  The afternoon will be free for individual exploration using recommendations made by the guides, or you may remain with the group to experience some of the local life. Your guides will be available at the guesthouse throughout the evening to answer questions or to engage in discussions regarding your experiences in India so far. There are usually impromptu music performances by staff and travelers on the Gowri Residence patio at night and you are invited to participate.

Day 5:  Depart for the backwater house boat cruise

A visit to a local Hindu Temple, a short walk from the guest house, will start our day. After a breakfast discussion, we will head to the docks to board the wood and reed houseboats. The next twenty-four hours will float by as you take in the backwaters of the state of Kerala from your new waterborne home.

In addition to experiences with the local guides and on your own, the focus through the LATP will have been on exposing you to and having you gain familiarity with multiple forms of travel, lodging, and bargaining, as well as an introduction to Southern Indian cuisine and the role of religions in Indian culture. Your guides will of course always be available, but you will be encouraged to slowly take on more responsibility for yourselves and to become more autonomous as travelers. As time goes on you will acquire an independence that will allow your interaction with the country, its culture, and the people to become more personal.

Day 6:  Depart for Kumily

After disembarking from your floating home away from home, we will head for Kumily. We will be taking a local bus; our journey leaves the coastal lowlands and begins the ascent into the mountains. Upon arrival, we will check into our guest house and you will be free to explore on your own, follow recommendations, or spend the remainder of the day with the guides on their travels. The guides will be available for evening discussions about the people, the lifestyles, and the culture of the local area.

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Day 7:  Exploration of Periyar Lake and Wildlife Reserve

An early start will have the group headed to the docks for a day on Lake Periyar floating through the wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to a vast array of wildlife including elephants, tigers, bison, wild boar, antelope, and langur. The amount of wildlife present at the preserve at any one time is dependent upon the season, the weather, and the migration periods. A brief meeting before disembarking will establish the meeting time for the following day and group members will be free to explore Kumily. Both NSSI and NSJ guides will be available for discussions and recommendations.

Day 8:  Exploration of Kumily / Visit to the Local Spice Plantation

An open morning for exploration of Kumily. The NSSI guide will be available for small trips and/or recommendations for the day. The group will gather at the guesthouse prior to the departure to the spice plantation. Upon the groups’ return there will be a meeting to plan for the next day before heading out for an evening of conversation.

Day 9:  Depart for Munnar

Today is the first day for truly independent travel. Group members are encouraged to schedule their own day including the four hour trip to Munnar with some recommendations from the guides. There are four buses a day to Munnar, so your schedule is entirely up to you. You will be given maps and enough currency to make the journey on your own. You are welcome to team up with your fellow travelers for the trip or even to travel along with the guides, but the intent of the day is to foster a further understanding of the subtleties of independent travel within India from an unguided view. All group members will be expected to check into a specified guesthouse by a predetermined time. We will gather in the evening to discuss our adventures in arriving in Munnar and share some lessons.

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Day 10:  Exploration of the Local Tea Plantation, Mattupaty Dam and Lakes

We begin our day with a trip to a local tea plantation for a tour and sampling of the local product. After our plantation visit, we will head out to the Mattupaty Dam. After returning to the guest house, we will meet to plan the next day and you will be free for the evening. NSSI and NSJ guides will be available for discussions and to make recommendations on local food.

After today there will be only four days remaining in your journey in which to participate in the Learning the Art of Travel Program. At this point we feel that you will have gained confidence in bargaining, acquiring and managing multiple forms of local transportation, and other points from the Learning the Art of Travel Program. You will have acquired knowledge of the local areas and the people as well as knowledge about yourself and how you are able to travel in this diverse culture. The NSJ guide is available for one-on-one or group conversations to discuss elements of your journey that may have been difficult or to share in the stories that were rewarding and fulfilling.

Day 11:  Depart for Cochin

According to the plan established the previous day, we will make our way to Cochin and check in to our guest house. There will be a brief meeting regarding the town and the evening plans. You will be free to make your own meal arrangements, but your guides will be available for discussions and to make recommendations for local food. A meal on the beach watching the sunset and the famous fishing nets of Cochin will surely be a component of your evening.

Day 12:   Exploration of Cochin

Up early for a busy day. We will travel together to explore Fort Cochin and its synagogue as well as the Dutch Palace, Chinese fishing nets and finally the traditional Keralan Kathakali dance. Back at the guest house before retiring, we will have a brief discussion about tomorrow's travels.

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Day 13:  Depart for Kovalam

Another early morning will be followed by a group departure for the five hour train ride to Kovalam. Upon arrival in Kovalam we will check into our beach guesthouse. Group members will be free until heading out for a final meal together. The NSJ guide will meet with group members individually throughout the day to discuss the LATP.

Day 14:  Depart for Trivandrum Airport

According to the flight schedule, the group will make the half hour ride to the airport, say goodbye to our new friends and head off on our next adventures knowing we have acquired a wealth of knowledge about India, its culture, religion, its people, and most importantly, about ourselves as travelers.

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