Special Yoga Retreat in Kerala

On arrival at Cochin International airport, meet and assistance by our Sushant Travels office representative, followed by a transfer to Fort Kochi. Check in at your hotel. Rest of the day free. Spend time roaming through the Colonial Fort Kochi, Go through Princess street and the local pathways. See the glorious Chinese Fishing Nets of Cochin - The huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that droop towards the waters like over-sized hammocks and alos visit St.Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India built in 1503, where the Portuguese traveller Vasco-De-Gama was originally buried and pass The Santa Cruz Basilica is another inspiring church. OPTIONAL: KATHAKALI - The Dance Drama witness a demonstration on Kathakali – Dance Drama unique to Kerala. This dance can be define by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very expanded make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha. Overnight stay at hotel. (Bed & Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and Drive to Thekkady trough a fabulous landscape with rubber, tea and spice plantations. - Periyar Wildlife Reserve. The National Park is home to elephants, wild boar, langur, tiger, bison, sambar and varieties of Birds with unending chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. Arrive and check-in at the Spice Village. Rest of the day at leisure. In the evening yoga practice. Curling around a misty ridge 2,000ft high in the Periyar vastness, Spice Village offers thatched-roof cottages for Accommodation. Recalling of the Tribal huts, the cottages provide cozy accommodation. The homey cottages come with a private verandah which overlooks fruit trees and herb cot. Play billiards at Woodhouse Bar, opt to consult with a trained and experienced Ayurvedic doctor on the rejuvenating therapies. The restaurant serves Kerala's cuisine, flavoured by local spices. The chef can also arrange traditional tribal curries and western dishes as well. A tribute to ancient ways of life. Overnight stay.

Experience the morning yoga session and a healthy breakfast later. Attend to the Introduction to Ayurveda by the resort doctor. Enjoy the resort facilities or walk through the Spice Town of "Kumili". Lunch at the Hotel. Dinner at 50 mile diet restaurant where everything served comes from within a 50 mile radius of the resort. Overnight stay.

In the morning join yoga session. Later after the breakfast go on a, spice plantation tour. The area of Periyar is one of the oldest spice growing areas in the world. Spice gardens are the hardihood of the economy of the hills. Bisect into the tropical fields of the Cardamon hill reserve where you can touch, smell and taste almost all the spices seen worldwide. Enjoy lunch at the Hotel restaurant. Later the day go on a Jungle trekking. This community based initiative has been arrange to give an substitute employment to the Mannan tribal people who lived before in the park as bark collectors, which is now illegal. Great chances to see the diversity of birds, Elephants, deer etc. This evening Spice Village's master chef shares some of their skills with you at the cookery class. Test your skills during the session. Dinner and overnight stay.

After an early morning yoga session and an healthy breakfast later, check-out and drive to drive to Kumarakom. Enroute Stop for Lunch at Rani’s Plantation Bunglow- Enjoy a home made meal and interactions with the family. Drive on and check-in at the hotel Coconut Lagoon – Your Home for the next four days. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, with its majestic canals, streams and enchantingly beautiful web. The bird sanctuary here is an ornithologist's paradise and a favourite haunt of migratory birds. Rest of the day free to familiarize with the resort and its numerous in house activities. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel. (Half Board)

Start your day with an early morning bird watching walk, guided by a naturalist, followed by a yoga session and a healthy breakfast at the hotel. Rest of the day free to enjoy the premise and activities of the Hotel. This evening also enjoy a Sunset cruise on a restored Kettuvallam boat, into the middle of Lake Vembanad. Lunch, Dinner and Overnight stay at the hotel.

This early morning you can experience a demonstration of Kalarippayattu – One of the most ruthless Martial art of Kerala. Learn the movements and the training of this oldest existing martial art at the Kalari in-house center, follow with your morning yoga session before your breakfast. The rest of your day is free to enjoy the activities of your hotel. There is opportunity to indulge in a rejuvenating ayurvedic massage. Lunch at the hotel restaurant. This late afternoon if you fancy another culinary experience - take a cooking session form the chef in-house this time it would be the backwaters cuisine. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

This early morning go on with your morning yoga session before breakfast.. Whole day is free to nourish in resort activities – Canoe Rides, Village walks or a Rejuvenating Ayurveda Massage (Payable Locally). Lunch at the Hotel. Dinner & Overnight stay. Optional: Musings of Ayamanam This afternoon go into the Aymanam Village, home of Arundhathi Roy’s novel ‘The God of Small Things’. Start your local immersion with a ride on a traditional canoe cruise through the narrow, winding canals and catch the scenic daily life of the bordering houses. Follow with a walk in the heart of this typical Kuttanad village surrounded by paddy fields and identify the snake abodes, sacred to earliest habitants. Spot a kingfisher on job, Later the master explains Kathakali who will introduce you to this traditional theatre form, which adapts styles of ancient Sanskrit with visual presentations of human expressions. at the hotel.

After an early morning yoga session and a healthy breakfast later, check-out and drive to Marari Beach right on the shores of the Arabian sea. Upon an arrival check-in at the Marari Beach resort and lunch at the restaurant. Day free to relax by the pool or the beach or to take advantage of the in house activities proposed by your hotel such as Instrumental music lessons or Farm Kitchen visit and harvesting.

Involve in a morning yoga session. Breakfast or Brunch at the Hotel. The rest of the day is free. Pristine white Sanded Beach - Wait for fishing boats to empty out the day’s catch. Since ages the fisher men go out to the sea in traditional vessels, where no winches, or other modern equipments is used. Every morning after sunrise dozens of boats head for the same spot, called the fish landing. Farewell Seafood Dinner. Overnight stay.

After your yoga class and breakfast, pick one of the cycles and explore the local villages, temples and churches around. The day free to relax by the pool, the beach or to take advantage of the in house activities suggested by your hotel - butterfly garden visit, instrumental music lessons, kitchen garden visit and harvesting, Saree & Dhoti demo, Lunch at the Hotel This Evening Experience Dinner at the Farm Kitchen. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel after your morning yoga session. Rest of the day free to relax by the pool, the beach or to take advantage of the complimentary activities proposed by your hotel such as butterfly garden visit, instrumental music lessons, kitchen garden visit and daily harvesting, environmental tour, birds watching with a naturalist, Saree & Dhoti demo, Lunch at the Hotel. Day Free. farewell Seafood Dinner. Overnight stay.

Have a morning yoga session. Breakfast, Check-out and drive to Mattanchery in Old Kochi. Proceed on to visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, and finally the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century. Enjoy the opportunity to interact with a Brahmin Family who are the highest of the four Hindu castes, made up of priests and scholars of Vedic literature. See how they draw Kolams –A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots drawn by using rice flour. Kolam is widely practised by females family members, in front of their houses. Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace road where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargains prices. Make a pause with a refreshing tea at one of the tea shops where you get the “one meter” tea. Later Take a "Tuk Tuk" – the most popular mode of transport among the localities. Stop at the Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, it is now a picture of slow extinction. Arrive back to your hotel. Rest of the day is free, relax by the pool and or enjoy some shopping in Fort of Kochi. Overnight stay.

Departure from Cochin towards next destination. Tour Ends