The cuisine of any region is a reflection of its culture, its traditions and its past. This becomes all the more true in Kerala where the gastronomic delights are just as diverse as the regions many highlights. The cuisine, mouth-watering and varied is even more interesting as one can see the many historical and social influences of its past inhabitants.
We are proud to bring to you an exclusive culinary tour which will give you the opportunity of not only relishing the many culinary delights but also the opportunity to delight and relax in Kerala's beauty. This tour therefore is not just about spending time in the kitchens and learning to cook the local dishes. You will also explore the spirit of the region and its people, with a range of captivating excursions that will both inspire and relax you in equal measure. Cooking in Kerala is all about spices, aromas and colours and offers several gastronomic opportunities to those willing to experiment with it..All the recipes of the food prepared during the classes will be provided alongside and we will also help you create detailed flow charts outlining the cooking processes. Bon Appétit!

Arrive at Cochin International airport, welcomed by Indian Voyages representative and transferred to your hotel. An ancient port town, Cochin, also known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', has attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the evening you could go for a relaxing sunset cruise.Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and the day spend at the home of Nimmy & Paul who belong to the traditional Syrian Christian community in Kerala. Nimmy has been a professional cookery instructor for more than 20 years and in keeping with family traditions, is very passionate about serving great Kerala food to guests. There will be one cookery session in afternoon with a traditional vegetarian meal. It offers an opportunity to participate and learn the typical Travancore Vegetarian Food.In the evening, visit the 'Pai Thattukada', named after the Pai brothers who popularized the concept of 'thattus' or small shops that offer cheaper and quicker alternative to restaurant food. Some of the 'Thattus' serve over 70 varieties of 'Dosas' or rice pancakes.Overnight at the hotel.

Morning after breakfast drive to Kothamangalam, a beautiful and tranquil tropical Eden surrounded by misty mountains with the river Periyar flowing right through it. The landscape is dotted with lush green vegetation and palm-fringed paddy fields. Spend the afternoon at leisure in a century old estate bungalow set in over 100 acres of multi crop plantation. Apart from exploring the estate you could also visit the local 'Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary'. One can spot the rare Mottled Wood Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Malayan Night Heron, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bulbul and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon here.Overnight at the Estate Bungalow.

Morning breakfast at Bungalow and drive to the Kodanad elephant orphanage.You will get the opportunity to be up and close with the elephants and can participate in their bathing and feeding. Later in the afternoon participate in cookery demonstrations involving authentic Kerala cuisine. Daisy Jose, a specialist in Kerala style cooking and your instructor for the day will teach you methods of preparing Kerala cuisine through an interactive session. All the recipes that Daisy uses have been passed down from her parents who hailed from an aristocratic Christian family. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Estate Bungalow.

Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar, an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. Check into your hotel. You could go on a spice plantation tour today where you will be enticed by not only the aroma of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg but will also get to know how they are grown, harvested and processed before they reach the supermarkets.The pepper grown in Kerala is considered to be amongst the finest in the world. Overnight at the resort.

Breakafast at resort and this morning you could go for an escorted three hour jungle trek for offering excellent opportunities to watch birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests interspersed with marshy grasslands. In the evening you will participate in another cookery demonstration at your resort. You could also try your hand at making your own variations of Kerala dishes. Overnight at the resort.

Morning after breakast drive to Kumarakom, an area full of canals, lakes and coves where you will board your 'houseboat'. Your houseboats or 'Kettuvalloms' are luxurious boats with well-appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings, it's the life along the coast that adds a touch of exotica to this experience. The locals travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places, enroute. Overnight on board.

Morning breakfast at houseboat and disembark at Alleppey and drive to the picturesque fishermen's village of Mararikulam and check into your resort. Tucked away inside quiet and lush coconut groves, the resort is set on a pristine white sand beach and offers you astoundingly beautiful settings. Spend the day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the resort. For lunch you will relish the delicious vegetarian Thali meal at the resort. In the evening, you could take a relaxing full body Ayurveda massage. Overnight at the beach resort.

Today you can visit the small organic farm at the Marari resort. Most of the greens, fruits and vegetables for the restaurants come from this vegetable patch. The farm practices water harvesting and is a chemical-free zone where only natural oils and local remedies are used for pest control. Vermiculture and composting keep the soil fertile, both in the vegetable patch and on the grounds of the resort. You can help pick some seasonal fruits or even plant a tree or two. Overnight at the Marari Beach Resort.