trip dossier spice trails of kerala - walks worldwide kerala and tamil nadu, there are magnificent...

www.walksworldwide.co.uk 01962 302 085 Date of issue: 22 November 2017

Susan and Angus Henry

Spice Trails of Kerala plus extension

INDIA

• Treks in the fragrant Cardamom Hills

• Backwater lagoon cruising

• Colourful temples of Madurai

Guided Group & Private Guided Departures Walking Grade: B – Moderate

Trip Code: TKER

For dates and prices visit www.walksworldwide.com

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Spice Trails of Kerala 2

www.walksworldwide.com 01962 302 085 Date of issue: 07 April 2017

Introduction

It’s no surprise that this varied and fascinating walking holiday to exotic Kerala has become a firm favourite. Kerala is India’s sunshine state and you can look forward to a travel experience quite unlike anywhere else in the entire Indian subcontinent. From the attractive port of Kochi where the locals still fish using traditional Chinese nets, it’s easy to discover the many different cultural influences and architectural styles that a lifetime of foreign trading has brought to this ‘The Queen of the Arabian Seas’. Moving to the magnificent mountains of the Western Ghats the cool, fragrant mountain air delights the senses with the scents of spices and tea. Here you explore the lush forests, tranquil plantation trails, tribal villages and former British Hill Stations to experience a laid back pace of life creating a delightfully peaceful ambience.

Moving on, your next trekking objective is to the Silent Valley plateau and the gradual ascent to the summit of Meesapulimala (2600 metres) following a trail in part made by elephants. This moorland region contains many weird and wonderful plant species and is also home to several endangered animals including the Nilgiri Tahr. On the summit, which stands on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, there are magnificent 360º views over the Western Ghats to reward your efforts. Leaving the Ghats behind you next visit Madurai, one of the great temple cities of South India where the Dravidian architecture of the incredibly ornate and brightly coloured Sri Meenakshi will truly amaze you. Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is reputed to contain at least forty elusive tigers, as well as leopard, gaur, the dhole and a bewildering variety of vivid birds. However the big attraction here has to be the wild elephants that come to the lake at Periyar to drink and bathe. Your exotic Kerala experience is complete with a relaxing trip to the meandering rivers and lush tropical lagoons of the backwaters, staying on a traditional houseboat. This wonderful combination of moderate walking, varied scenery, wildlife, culture and backwater cruising is the perfect exotic South India experience.

Your holiday

Life on trek During the trek you’ll walk each day to your next overnight halt, in the company of your friendly, experienced and qualified Keralan guide. Usually you’ll take breakfast at your overnight stop. You’ll walk for a few hours in the morning, then stop for lunch either at a village, or take a scenic picnic, then continue your trek in the afternoon and reach your next stop in the late afternoon. Dinner will usually be taken at your overnight location. You will have to pack the luggage you would require for the 4 nights of camping. This would be transported by the camping team. You will have access to the main luggage on completion of the trek.

Walking conditions Underfoot the trekking conditions on most of this trip are fairly straightforward following very good trails. As your baggage is carried/transported for you, you will only need to carry your regular daypack during the walking day. The daily distances we walk are relatively modest, although with the trails involving both ascent and descent, this popular trek still represents a quite moderate challenge. It is essential that you are capable of walking 5-7 hours a day (both ascent and descent) for a few days consecutively.

A full explanation of the trip grading can be found online at www.walksworldwide.com. You should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level of grading and are physically prepared for the trip.

Ecological considerations We believe that we are one of the most ecologically aware tour operators in India. We ask for your full consideration and co-operation concerning all ecological matters, especially in the disposal of rubbish. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please let our local staff know and inform us at Walks Worldwide on your return. It is with the tourists, the locals and the tour operators' co-operation that we can ensure that our tours are as eco-friendly as possible.

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Detailed itinerary

Day 1. 11 November 18 - Arrive Kochi Arrive Kochi International Airport. Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kochi in time for a vist to Fort Cochin at 1500hrs. Kochi is a major port city on the south west coast and formerly an important spice trading centre in the 14

th Century. Here you can enjoy an intriguing

combination of influences from different cultures over the years, from Chinese touches and Portuguese house to the remains of the British Raj. Alongside the historic tales that the city beholds, you can enjoy many art forms too. (See ‘How to join and depart this trip’ section later in this Trip Dossier.)

Hotel

Day 2. 12 November 18 - Drive to Thattekkad Leaving Kochi after breakfast, it’s time to drive to Hornbill Camp near the lowland forests at Thattekkad. We will walk the trails in the forest, walk through the villages that dot the area and also go on optional kayaking trips on the river Periyar.

Walking duration: 1hr / 3kms

Lodge (breakfast)

Day 3. 13 November 18 - Drive from Thattekkad to Munnar We will leave the plains and head for the hills. Munnar is Kerala’s premier hill station, built around the tea industry. The journey up to the former British Hill Station and premier summer resort of Munnar takes around 3 hours. It’s a most interesting drive as you climb up into the Western Ghats passing tea and spice plantations along the way. Sitting at an altitude of 1600m, Munnar was very much an idyllic haven for the British in the 19

th Century with crystal clear lakes,

waterfalls, forests and of course the tea estates spread out like rolling, lush, green carpets. There’s certainly a

very relaxed air about Munnar, and in the crisp mountain air, a stroll around this very ambient area is a must.

Hotel (breakfast)

Day 4. 14 November 18 - Meesapulimala Trek Suitably acclimatised, it’s now time for a challenging trek to Meesapulimala. The trek starts early in the morning. Meesapulimala is the second highest peak in the Western Ghats, at an elevation of 2640 meters. Your trekking route will be the typical terrain of this region, part high altitude Sola rainforest and part grasslands. There is also a large variety of wildlife that you may spot on your way. Once you reach Meesapulimala, you can rest your eyes on a beautiful landscape of deep green forests and tea estates. You can even see the world’s highest tea estate from this point, the Kolukkamalai tea estate.

Walking duration: 6hrs / 14kms

Camp (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner)

Day 5. 15 November 18 - Trek to Anaerangal Lake You will awaken to the melodious strains of the Malabar Whistling Thrush singing in the cloud forest next to your camp early in the morning. If you are adventurous enough, an early morning climb to the Phantom’s head will be an ever remembered walk from where you can take in a spectacular sunrise over the Papathy Shola (Butterfly Forest, so-named because of the mass migration of butterflies in October and November.) The hills come alive in the morning sun. Today you also have a chance to visit the tribal village of the Muduvans – a tribe who have for centuries colonized the upper reaches of the Western Ghats. Their peculiar habit of carrying their children on their backs has earned them their name as Mudavans or “the back people”. The tribal village located near the Anaerangal lake (“The lake where the elephants come down”) where elephants have come down for millennia for grazing and water. Snaking across a large area, this lake is placid and beautiful and a source of water for farmers downstream. Many tribal collonies have sprung up around it to farm for spices and cardamom which grow abundantly in the salubrious climate here.

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Walking duration: 5 hrs / 12 kms

Camp (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner)

Day 6. 16 November 18 - Mathekettan Shola Trek We begin with a vehicle transfer from the camp to the start point of Bl Ram where we will initially be trekking through grasslands until we reach the boundary of Mathikettan Shola National Park, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including the Malabar giant squirrel, gaur, sambar and elephants. We will continue our walk through spice plantations and local settlements where we have an opportunity to interact with the farmers. Tonight, our camp overlooks the Mathekettan Shola National Park.

Walking duration: 5-6hrs / 13kms

Camp (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 7. 17 November 18 - Chaturangapara Trek

Today is the most technically demanding, with the terrain being steep. We begin with a climb of approximately 150m to the top of the mountain pass, approximately 2200m maximum altitude. Weather permitting, from the summit, you will have fantastic views over the vast plains of Tamil Nadu state. Today’s route involves a gradual incline, followed by a steep incline, a steep rocky descent, another steep incline protected by shrubbery and finally a slow, gradual descent through elephant territory.

Walking duration: 6 hours/ 13km

Camp (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 8. 18 November 18 - Drive Madurai, visit Meenakshi Temple Leaving camp you now drive across the plains for around two hours to reach the colourful city of Madurai, famous for its intricate temples. Madurai is one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in south India and is a thriving cultural centre with a rich heritage and history. Its great Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple, most of which was built during the Nayak period between the 16th and 18th centuries, is at the heart of the city and the life of the town revolves around it. It is dedicated to

the consort of Shiva and is one of the biggest temple complexes in India. The five gopurams that surround the temple are known for the stuccowork - the 48.8m high southern gopuram is the tallest. Exquisite sculptures are found throughout the temple complex and it is a hive of activity and a scene of an almost continuous religious festival. Worshippers bathe in the tank of the Golden Lily and throng the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, each one uniquely carved. Madurai really is a city of temples - the Thirumalai Nayahakr Mahal is built in the Indo-Saracanic style by the Nayaks. The main attractions here are the musical pillars and the grand pathway. Yet another temple, the Koodal Alagar Temple is devoted to Vishnu and is as old as Madurai itself. It is a perfect place to wander around and experience Hindu culture.

Walking duration: 2hrs

Hotel (breakfast)

Day 9. 19 November 18 - Drive Periyar, evening spice walk Leaving Madurai behind in the morning, you then are driven back to Kerala and reach the small village of Thekkady, climbing through the Western Ghats, a centre for spice growing where you can visit the numerous shops selling cardamoms, vanilla, peppercorns, turmeric and other spices. From here it is a short drive to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest parks in India. This is a 777 km sq area centred around a vast artificial lake (5,500 hectares) created by the British in 1895 to supply water. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead tree-trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats for large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas. The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen sholas, the latter occurring in the moist valleys and characterised by tall trees and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands. Periyar’s rich birdlife includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo.

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The Indian Python and King Cobra are among the reptilian fauna. Periyar also has a few Nilgiri Thar. In the afternoon a local guide will join you for a short walk through the Spice Gardens at Kumily near Thekkady.

Walking duration: 1hr

Hotel (breakfast)

Day 10. 20 November 18 - Periyar jungle walk, boat ride, Kumily village visit In the early morning you will take a jungle walk with forest guides in the park where you can admire an abundance of bird life - kingfishers, storks and hornbills are the most commonly spotted. Return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon you can either relax or take an optional boat trip (of around 2 hour’s duration) on the Periyar Lake. This is an ideal opportunity to get close to the animals and a good opportunity of spotting elephant, otters, wild pig, and buffalo.

Hotel (breakfast)

Day 11. 21 November 18 - Drive to Alleppey, cruise backwaters Leaving the hills you descend to the coastal plains through fruit and rubber plantations to Kumarakom – Alleppey, on the evergreen banks of the inland backwaters of Vembanad Lake. Here you board your houseboat and begin your cruise along the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboat cruise is one of the highlights of the trip – these enchanting houseboats, built of Anjili wood and bamboo were the traditional method of transport of goods for hundreds of years. Now they have been decorated and made into comfortable cruise boats. The network of rivers, streams, lagoons and canals occupies the alluvial plain between the Western Ghats and the Indian Ocean. This region is a wealth of tropical flora where houseboats and canoes are the usual forms of accommodation and transport. As your boat meanders through areas of lush tropical vegetation you will have the opportunity to view not only the prolific bird life but also gain a different perspective on village life, watching the local people collecting lime, tapping toddy and scare-line fishing. All the houseboats are comfortably equipped and have two twin bedded rooms with bathroom. There is a cook, boat driver and assistants for each boat and the food served is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. No trip to Kerala would be complete without the wonderful experience of the backwaters aboard these traditional vessels.

Houseboat (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 12. 22 November 18 - Return to Alleppey After breakfast you leave the houseboats and travel to the next accommodation, located near Marari beach. Today has been left free for you to relax and enjoy the calm and friendly atmosphere of the region. Sit by the pool, head to the beach or take some time to explore the surrounding area.

Hotel (breakfast)

Day 13. 23 November 18 – Transfer from your group hotel to Xanadari Pearl for your beach extension Today you will leave the group and be transferred from your final group hotel to Xandari Pearl for your 4 night extension. The remainder of your day is at your leisure.

Xandari Pearl (breakfast)

Day 14. 24 November 18 – Free day at leisure Today is left free to enjoy at your leisure.






Day 17. 27 November 18 – Depart Cochin Today will be transferred to Cochin Airport in time for your flight.

(breakfast)

Practical Information

How to join and depart this trip The joining point for this trip is our group hotel in Kochi on day 2 of the Trip Itinerary above. Please be ready to join the Fort Kochi visit at 15:00.

In order to avoid unnecessary costs inflating the price of your trip, arrival airport transfers are not included as group members may be arriving at very different times, so you should make your way on arrival to the joining point (full details of the joining hotel will be sent 2-3 weeks before your trip departs). However, if you prefer, our consultants can arrange an arrival transfer for you if you request this - please contact us for prices. Alternatively, a licensed, metered taxi or local, public transport may be available from the airport.

Flight Inclusive We recommend that you book this trip as a 'Flight Inclusive' package. Booking your international flights through Walks Worldwide guarantees you peace of mind and provides 100% financial protection under our CAA ATOL licence. What's more, if you book your flights with us as well as your ground arrangements, we will manage these flight arrangements both before and during your trip. As an ATOL Licence holder, we are able to secure and arrange competitively-priced airfares with most major airlines from the UK (as displayed on our website), as well as the option of regional departures too.

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Land Only If you would prefer to arrange your own international travel you can book this trip as a 'Land Only' package, where the price does not include international flights. Please note that if you are booking your own flights there are certain risks you should be aware of. Many airline tickets purchased directly are non-refundable and often do not provide you with any financial protection (unlike booking your flights with ourselves where you would be 100% protected under our CAA ATOL licence). For this reason we strongly advise that you check the rules of any flight booking you make, and check the limitations under any insurance policy you may have in relation to cancellation or date changes. We cannot be held liable for any losses incurred or consequences of any flight bookings or related travel arrangements you have made yourself, such as if your international flights were delayed or cancelled and you could not join or depart your holiday on time. If you do decide to book Land Only, we strongly advise that you do not book international flights or make other travel arrangements (especially if there are financial penalties for cancellation or change) until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. Please also ensure when making your own international travel arrangements that they enable you to join and depart this trip in accordance with the criteria specified in the How to join and depart this trip section of this Trip Dossier.

Local transport Airport and trail transfers will usually be by air- conditioned private vehicles.

Accommodation Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin share basis unless you have already requested a single room and single tent at a supplementary cost.

Food South Indian food is renowned for its use of flavoursome spices (you are in spice country after all) and coconut, to make mouth-watering curries. Throughout the trip included meals will be based on locally sourced ingredients, often served South Indian style in the form of a “Thali”, a mixture of several dishes-rice, lentils, spicy curry (vegetable, fish, meat), served with paratha or chapatti. Although South India is also well known for its spicy hot food, this tends to be toned down a bit for western palates. All the same, throughout the trip meals will be Indian cuisine and not Western European cuisine, thus this trip is not suitable for those that do not enjoy Indian food.

Climate It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during the course of your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods for walking, either side of the monsoon Mountains are notorious for creating their own, localised weather conditions, so you should always be prepared for inclement weather conditions. The cooler months are between December and February after which the heat tends to build up until the rains fall in

late May in the South working their way up through the country over the next few months. Southern India never really experiences the cooler temperatures of the North but at the time of our trips the temperatures will be comfortably warm although April can get quite hot. Please be aware though that it can get surprisingly cold at night in camp especially at the higher altitudes where a ground frost is not uncommon. Kochi may experience temperatures of 30-34°C or more with minimums of 25°C and in the hill stations this will be considerably less ranging from a 28+°C to a minimum of 8°C. For climate statistics visit www.worldweather.org/.

Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by approx. 1ºC for every 200 metre increase in altitude.

Altitude This trek involves going to moderate altitudes, but is not something to be worried about. Most people adapt to altitude quite well and there is plenty of oxygen even at the highest point of this trip.

Baggage Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the labels get detached. We request you limit your main baggage whilst on trek to one bag (and recommend you pack your clothes in plastic bags to ensure they remain dry. Its advisable to carry a small bag which could take the personal luggage required for 3 days of camping. This baggage will be transported by porter or camping support jeep, during some of the trekking element of this holiday. Please ensure your main baggage is packed in either a soft holdall style kitbag, or a large, unframed rucksack. Contact us if you are unsure about the suitability of your main baggage.

Vaccinations & health We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check-up before travelling. Your doctor will also have access to the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical precautions for the country you are about to visit. In general we recommend however, that you be protected against TB, typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A Malarial prophylaxis is not normally recommended for this trip. A useful travel health online resource is fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

First Aid You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment (e.g. Imodium).

Security Whilst the vast majority of travellers never experience anything untoward it is worth taking precautions particularly in urban areas. You should take sensible precautions in crowded areas such as street markets and airports, where pick-pocketing is common, and keep clear of any street disturbances. Don’t wear jewellery, or leave your bags unattended, keep large amounts of money, cameras and mobile phones out of

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sight when walking in town centres, and avoid walking in city centres after dark. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves, together with details of credit cards. Leave copies at home with a friend too. Safeguard valuables, important documents and cash and deposit them in hotel safes, where practicable.

Currency

The Indian currency is the Rupee. Please refer to www.xe.com/ for up to date rates. You will need to change the majority of your travel money whilst in Kochi at the beginning of your holiday. You can do this by withdrawing money (in Rupees only) from one of many ATM’s in Kochi (if your card is linked to the International Cirrus System), or by exchanging your travel cash at a bank in Kochi.

Language Although your guide will speak English, it’s always a good idea to take along an English/Hindi phrase book and learn a few simple words to greet the local people. Any attempt to speak the language is usually greatly appreciated and all part of the fun in being in South India. Your guide will naturally, also be delighted to help you with your pronunciations.

Tipping In India tipping is a way of life and even the smallest assistance necessitates the giving of a tip. Sometimes this can even be for something you would expect to be part of a ‘job description’ such as unlocking the mini-bar! It is thus essential to have a pocket full of small notes and change. You will undoubtedly be handing out daily tips but the actual amounts do not add up to much (a couple of rupees is only 5p). Often a tip is not a repayment of good service but a way of actually getting something done - you will hear the Indian word for it ‘baksheesh’ on a daily basis. However, often it is not a percentage of the bill as it is in Western countries but more an acknowledgement With regard to your Guide and Trek Crew, this is at your discretion and we must stress that tips do not form part of the wages of your guide and trek crew. However, Indian people are as a rule incredibly cheerful and friendly and nothing ever seems too much trouble for them. Your guide and trek crew will be no exception and as a tip is the accepted form of saying ‘thank you’ if you have received good service, a tip at the end of your trek will be greatly appreciated. As a guide we recommend INR 500 per guide pr day and INR 300 per driver per day.

Maps We recommend Stanfords at 12-14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LP (Tel: 0207 836 1321) www.stanfords.co.uk.

Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical and personal accident risks for the part of the world you intend to travel and the activities involved. This cover

should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out cancellation insurance as all deposits paid are non-refundable.

You may arrange either single-trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance through Walks Worldwide. Please call us on 01962 302 085 for a quotation

Passports & Visas British passport holders require a visa for a visit to India

(please ensure your passport has at least 6 months

validity). You will need to apply and purchase your own

Visa.

Please note that visa/entry requirements and prices

change regularly.

You can obtain the latest visa information, as well as

book your visa either by contacting your reservation

consultant, or by following the link below to our

designated visa service:

http://www.walksworldwide.com/information/visa.html

Please allow plenty of time for your visa application to

be processed.

We also recommend you visit the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office website for up to date

information on the country/countries you are visiting,

embassy contact details and other useful advice.

Staff on your trip You will be accompanied by an experienced, friendly English-speaking, qualified Keralan guide, as well as porters to transport your main baggage throughout the trekking days and drivers for overland transfers.

Budgeting for your trip Please refer to the detailed itinerary for information on what is included in this trip. You will need to budget for meals and drinks not included in the holiday, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs and items of a personal nature such as laundry.

Important Note Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your “Final Joining Instructions” approx. 2 weeks before departure and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. Before booking you should

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read our “Types of Trip” and “Essential and Useful information” sections on www.walksworldwide.com including our ‘Important Warning’.

Clothing & Equipment

Please check our website for the most up to date information regarding packing for your trip. The information we provide is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your trip.

trip dossier spice trails of kerala - walks worldwide kerala and tamil nadu, there are magnificent...

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