Kerala is one of India’s most soul stirring states, blessed with natural beauty, wellness treatments, historical wonders, rich culture and tradition. Visiting Kerala will make you feel like you have landed in a different time capsule.
Its natural wonders like the misty hills, waterfalls, verdant forests, tea and spice plantations, winding rivers, coconut groves, and backwaters will take you closer to nature and offer a serene and peaceful escape. And its rich culture can be seen in its folk art rituals, and ancient temples.
Traveling with a reputed travel agent like India Tours, you will be able to know about the state, people, stories, and seasons. With India Tours you can transform your vacation into an enriching journey that lets you connect emotionally to the place.
What a Top Tour Operator Brings to the Kerala Experience?
To really explore the soul of Kerala, you must book the Best tour packages in India from a reliable tour operator who promises to offer an authentic journey. Some of the key factors that the tour operators offer are:
1. Guides with local knowledge
To provide an immersive experience of any historical or sightseeing places, the tour operators in India ensures to include guides who are not just translators, but storytellers. Whether it is sharing about the legend of a temple, explaining how Ayurvedic treatment works and why it is an important part of daily life or teaching the different art forms like Theyyam.
2. Thoughtful Itineraries
Experienced tour operators like India Tours know to design itineraries that are thoughtful, keeping a balance between different activities like: exploring nature + having cultural experiences + relaxing vacation + wellness programs + hidden gems that will allure you.
3. Quality, Heritage & Comfort
If you want to be a part of the culture and know about the local lifestyle, you can stay in places like heritage homes, boutique resorts, traditional houseboats, and riverside resorts.
4. Wellness & Sustainability
Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda, yoga, holistic healing. No trip to Kerala is complete without engaging in a wellness program. Stay in an eco-friendly resort, and you must definitely opt for Ayurverdic treatments, and pranayama/yoga.
5. Seamless Logistics & Season-Sensitivity
You should book your trip with the help of the tour operators, as they have better idea when to travel during the monsoon season, when the hills will be clear or when the backwaters will be calm. The tour operators take care of your transportation, accommodation, safety, food, etc.
Key Landscapes, Destinations & Highlights
In the Best tour packages in India, you must include the following places if your want to experience the essence of Kerala.
1. The Backwaters
The backwaters of Kerala are one of the highlights that make the landscape of this state stunning. With its complex network of canals, lagoons, lakes, and rivers, it truly creates an amazing scene. The most beautiful spots for backwater experience in Kerala are:
- Alleppey (Alappuzha): Known for its serene and peaceful landscape, as you glide through the waters lined by swaying coconut palms and remote villages in a traditional houseboat (known as kettuvallams which was used in the past for storage of rice grains and spices).
- Kumarakom: Situated on the enchanting bank side of Lake Vembanad, this backwater spot is known for its resorts, scenic views and great for bird watching.
- Kuttanad: This backwater spot lies below the sea level, rich in agriculture and know for rice cultivation.
- Kasargod and Kavvayi: They are the lesser-known backwaters of Kerala, known for its tranquil atmosphere.
2. The Western Ghats: Home to Tea, Spices, and Misty Mountains
India Tours have an in-depth knowledge about Kerala, so to make your trip more enriching, you will be taken on a tour to the Western Ghats of Kerala that’s known for its rich biodiversity, wildlife, tea and spice plantations, and cool climates.
- Munnar is one of the hill-station of Kerala and is the ideal escape for tourists who want to get away from the hustle-bustle and spend some days in a tranquil location. This hill-station is known for its misty hills, tea gardens, picturesque valleys, and Eravikulam National Park (home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr).
- Wayanad is another hill-station of Kerala, located in the northern side of the state, alluring the travelers for its verdant forests, gushing waterfalls, ancient caves and tribal culture.
- Wildlife lovers can visit Thekkady, where the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located. Here you can have a boat safari and bamboo rafting through the Periyar Lake. Also, visit the spice plantation located nearby this sanctuary.
3. The Beaches: For Sunsets, Surf, and Spirituality
Kerala has a 600+ km long coastline along the Arabian Sea, so there are many popular and hidden beaches in Kerala that offers the best beach-vibes.
- Varkala Beach: Popular for its remarkable red cliffs and is a refuge for the beach lovers.
- Kovalam: This is a naturally designed crescent shaped beach, famous for the lighthouse and Ayurveda retreating centers.
- Marari Beach: This beach is for those who are seeking to have some solitude time for themselves.
- Bekal: This beach is known for the Bekal fort and mesmerizing seaside views.
4. Culture, Heritage, and Colonial Charm
Kerala is deep-rooted in its culture and heritage and the Best tour packages in India ensure that you have a taste of their unique culture.
- Fort Kochi: One of the rare places where you get to see influence of Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Within the complex of the fort you get to see colonial buildings, colonial era churches, cafes and the Chinese fishing nets lined up in the coast.
- Thrissur: Known for its classical dance and music traditions and for celebrating the Thrissur Pooram festival in great grandeur.
- Guruvayur and Sabarimala: They are sacred pilgrimage centers.
- Thiruvananthapuram: It is the capital of the state and the highlight of this city is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
- Visit the cultural centers: Watch the ancient cultural performances like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Theyyam.
5. Wildlife Sanctuaries and Ecotourism
Kerala is located in the Western Ghats which is a rich biodiversity hotspot and is home to many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Some of the popular wildlife spots in Kerala are:
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary located in Thekkady, here you can have a boat safari and bamboo rafting through the Periyar Lake. Also, visit the spice plantation located nearby this sanctuary.
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary lesser-known park rich in flora and wildlife.
- Silent Valley National Park is a hidden gem, home to varied species of flora and fauna
- Parambikulam and Chinnar are lesser-known destinations, best for bird watching, photography, and ecotourism.
Kerala is a vast state, and to travel from one destination to another can be overwhelming, it is better to book your trip from a tour agent who will cover all the destinations.
