Special Interest Sample Itinerary Programme

Meetings & Incentives

Day One (Cochin) Upon arrival in Cochin, you will check into a small hotel in Fort Cochin. Spend the day at leisure, exploring the city on your own. In the evening, watch a Kathakali dance performance at a theatre.

Day Two (Cochin) In the morning, you will embark on a sightseeing tour of the city, covering Fort Cochin, Jew Town, Old Synagogue and Dutch Palace. For those that support the ideals of travellers’ philanthropy, we can offer the possibility to work with Christelle Hart, an Anglo-Swiss social worker who started a shelter in Cochin for street children and has expanded into working with HIV/AIDS affected families.

7 Days / 6 Nights Kerala Eco Tour (K001)Cochin/Nilambur/River Nila

Day Three (Cochin-Nilambur) We will drive you to Nilambur, where you will be staying at Maranat Mana, a centuries-old heritage property reflecting the age old traditions of a Kerala Brahmin family. Focusing on sustainable living, this place strikes an excellent balance between a traditional lifestyle and modern living. The two acres of sacred grove inside the farm are a representation of bio-diversity that is still sustained. There are only four of such estates remaining in the whole of Kerala.

Day Four (Nilambur) Have a relaxing day at the home stay. You will have the opportunity to visit local schools, a teak forest, and join the farmers in the paddy field for harvesting or sowing depending on the season.

Day Five (Nilambur-River Nila)On the drive to Kodeeri, our next destination, you will visit Angadipuram village for a Musical Trail. This is a two-hour lecture cum demonstration of various schools of music that evolved and were nurtured on the banks of the River Nila. This programme showcases the percussion culture of the river valley civilization, and is organised in the house of lower caste musicians that includes girls who play more than 15 instruments.

Next, you will proceed to Kodeeri Farms, a 400-year old heritage farmhouse that sets an excellent example in sustainable living. You will get to stay with the family, in three separate rooms made available for guests. Standing in the midst of an organic farm, this heritage house is part of the responsible tourism initiative that is making positive changes to the destination. You can go on a cuisine trail with the hosts who will teach you about Kerala cuisine. Try your hand at helping them in the kitchen while preparing the evening meal.

Special Interest Sample Itinerary Programme

Meetings & Incentives

Special Interest Sample Itinerary Programme

For enquiries, contact Bonvo Travel (Singapore) Pte LtdTel: 6491 0898 Fax: 6491 0899 Email: mice@bonvo.com www.bonvo.com

Day Six (River Nila) After breakfast, go on a Thoni Cruise from Tirur to Ponnani. It is a three-hour cruise in a simple but sturdy traditional boat along the Tirur River. Stop over at nearby islands to see coconut processing and other village activities. These boats were traditionally used for transporting fine sand and coconut husks, and in River Nila, most of them were used for illegal sand mining. Now, these cruises give the owners and rowers an alternative source of income, earned with dignity and without being involved in illegal activities. Lunch will be with the local community during the village visit (subject to permissions). Upon return to Kodeeri in the late afternoon, you can walk around the farms.

Day Seven (Nila-Cochin airport)Transfer to Cochin airport to board your flight bound for your next destination

How responsible is this tour?Environmental responsibility: Cochin history walks are basically green in nature as you walk or hire a bicycle, leaving less of a carbon footprint. In Nila, we encourage guests to participate in the travellers’ forest programmes. Accommodations used are small and local as they create less impact on the environment. We also request our guests to minimise usage of plastic by reusing the same plastic bottle for drinking.

Social and economic outreach: The opportunity to connect with HIV street children during the tour gives a philanthropic angle to our itinerary. In Nila, most of the cultural activities are owned and managed by local communities. These communities earn supplementary incomes through your participation. For example, the boats used for Thoni Cruise, and the oarsmen, are from local communities. Folk music performers and musicians are mostly from the deprived sections of society and the performances they put up give them a sense of pride and recognition.

Meetings & Incentives