Kochi

Diverse Travel Experiences for women powered by community, culture and a lifestyle of discovery.

Highlights Of The Journey

Day 1

Arrive at Kochi.

Begin your journey of God’s Own Country.

Meet the MERAKI representative outside the airport and transfer to your hotel at Fort Kochi. Upon arrival check in to your hotel, freshen up and begin the day with lunch at Fort House Restaurant.

Fort House Restaurant is a delightful casual dining that will amuse you. It is a charming, family-run restaurant located by the waterfront at Fort Cochin, a town of cultural and historical importance.

In the afternoon, girls get ready to relax & enjoy the traditional Ayurveda Massage. With traditional techniques dating back thousands of years, Ayurvedic massage is widely considered a must-do experience in Kochi.

Experience the massage with herbal oils selected specifically for you. Soothe your body and relax and invigorate your mind, body, and soul.

Return to the hotel, freshen up and get ready to witness the Kathakali dance Performance.

Before the performance indulge in seeing the making of these Kathakali masks.

India boasts many traditional regional dance forms, and kathakali, with its elaborate, colourful costumes and masks is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive. Founded in 1990, this noted centre honours kathakali—as well as Indian classical music, and other traditional arts—with nightly performances, 365 days a year. The kathakali shows are usually about 90 minutes, and include an informative demonstration; come an hour early to watch the actors undergo the elaborate makeup and costuming process.

Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast we will explore Kochi by a heritage walk.

One of the foremost trading centres on the west coast of India, Fort Kochi drew colonial interest with its aromatic spices. Along with traders from China, Portugal, Arab and Holland, came a cocktail of religions, cultural practices and diverse food. Kerala owes its cosmopolitan vibe to the traders who braved the seas to come to this land. One of the foremost trading centres on the west coast of India, Fort Kochi drew colonial interest with its aromatic spices. Fort Kochi is dotted with remnants of the past, which you can discover on foot. Step out to see the Basilica and the Famous Chinese fishing nets, which lie in a 2km radius.

Also visit Mattancherry (4km from Fort Kochi), which has an artistic vibe with its low hanging balconies, frayed homes turned into galleries, a sprawling antiques & spices market and some landmark monuments – the Pardesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace. You can roam the narrow Jewish town streets, exploring small shops, eating joints and visiting the monuments.

The Dutch Cemetery, which is now managed by the Church of South India. The Dutch Cemetery is among the most visited sites in Fort Kochi and is famous for its imperial inhabitants, voyagers who left their homelands centuries ago to propagate and expand their own empire. Consecrated in 1724, the Cemetery is today managed by the Church of South India. From here emanate stories that shaped the cultural mix of an entire coast.

During the walk visit spice dying yards, hidden art galleries, atmospheric cafes and boutiques.

Let’s take a short break and refuel for lunch at Ginger Museum Restaurant at Fort Cochin. (on your own).

Atmospheric, antique-filled Indian restaurant with a patio overlooking the Kerala backwaters. Hidden behind a massive antique-filled godown is the wonderful waterfront restaurant, where you can relax over fresh juices and punchy Indian dishes and snacks.

After lunch we will visit Hill Palace Museum.

The Hill Palace, Kerala’s first heritage museum noted for royal collections of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi, is today the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, sprawled over 52 acres of beautifully landscaped terraced land which houses a deer park and facilities for horse riding.

Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants grow here. On display in the full-fledged Ethnoarchaeological museum are oil-paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture including the simhasana (throne).

We will stop by at Café Du Mahe and enjoy a cup of coffee.

We will now experience the typical Kochi Harbour cruise.

Harbour Cruise offers the chance to see the sunset backdrop behind the iconic Chinese Nets: a sight to be cherished. The cruise passes by some of the islands around Kochi and goes through the main harbour and finishes at the Chinese Fishing Nets.

The sunset is seen from the boat at the mouth of the backwaters where the Kochi Lagoon opens out into the Arabian Sea.

Return to the hotel and freshen up and let’s finish our last leg of a tour with a farewell Dinner & that little Meraki talk.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 3

This is a hard moment for all of us to say goodbyes to all the wonderful ladies we traveled together with and a return to our routine lives. What we expect is to make new and long lasting memories, new friends and an everlasting discovery of your own self.

Our day starts with a Breakfast at the Hotel followed by departures back home.