As part of our commitment to responsible tourism practices we are including a tour through the coir village of Alleppey which involves interaction of the tourists with the women who form the major labourforce in the coir industry. With this we hope to supplement the incomes of this poor section of society living in the famous backwaters of the State of Kerala. We also aim to make all the stakeholders aware of the responsible practices of tourism .
 
Travel Tips
Special Interest Packages
 
 

The Chethi Story – Empowering Women (7 Nights/8 Days)
Kovalam (14 kms)                  Day - 1
Arrive at Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala and proceed to Kovalam - an internationally renowned tourist destination. watch the sunset on the Kovalam beach. The kovalam beach is one of the best beaches in India. A rocky promontory jutting into the sea render the beach safe for sea bathing even in the roughest weather.

Day - 2
 

After breakfast sight seeing at Trivandrum (15 kms) - an ancient city that had trading links with the other parts of the world. Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, a landmark of Thiruvananthapuram, is 2000 years old.  Timings: 4 am to 12 noon,5-7 pm & 8.30 to 11.15 pm.   The Napier Museum (this 19th century Indo Saracenic structure houses a rare collection of archeological and historic artifacts and bronze idols) Timings: 9 am to 5 pm.  Sree Chitra Art gallery (which has a select collection of paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich, Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art) are a must see.  Evening return back to hotel.

Alleppey                                  Day - 3

 

After breakfast proceed to Alleppey.  Check-in at the Resort. After lunch, relax in the Coconut grove.   Evening explore the area and it’s fishing villages nearby on a bicycle or take a dip in the sea,enjoy good music, learn traditional cooking, cultural programme followed by dinner.

Day – 4
 
Visit, Chethi, which a small palm fringed hamlet in Alleppey district. See the various stages of coir making, one of the most eco friendly products on earth. Coir is the traditional industry here. T oday you will see smiling faces of women who have become decision makers in their families and able to give good education to their children. All this has come about through the self help
 
groups formed through the efforts of Aspinwall , one of the oldest coir manufacturers in India. You can interact with the women, talk  about your land and people and get to know each other better. You can even try your hand at coir spinning.  After lunch at an hotel in the midst of the town, visit the coir factory and see the various processes of the yarn being converted into mats or matting in tradition handloom and in modern powerlooms.  End the day with the visit to the showroom of coir products.  Evening return back to the resort.
House boat                           Day - 5

After breakfast, proceed to Alleppey, embark on an exciting 21-hour houseboat cruise. Board the traditional houseboat at 12.30 pm and start the long and meandering ride through the unique backwaters of Kerala in a thatched roof houseboat. The houseboat is an improvisation of the large country barges, which were an essential part of the land's ethos in days gone by.  The kettuvalloms (houseboats) are comfortably furnished with an open lounge, one or two bath attached bedrooms and a kitchenette, and are extremely eco friendly. Every houseboat is manned by a crew - chef, guide and oarsman. Winding through the vast expanse of the paddy fields and tiny hamlets and palm fringed narrow canals is an unforgettable experience. Night at the houseboat where you can catch your own fish from the backwaters and ask the chef to fry it.
Cochin                                       Day - 6
After breakfast disembark the houseboat proceed to Cochin and check in at hotel. Afternoon take a guided tour through the historical bye lanes of Fort Kochi a town, which was ruled by three European powers in succession – the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British. You will see the St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Chinese Fishing nets, Dutch Cemetery, Dutch
Palace, Jewish Synagogue and the Fort Cochin beach.  Evening sunset cruise. 
Day - 7

After breakfast visit the Hill palace at the old royal town of Tripunithura – the home of the erstwhile rulers of Kochi. Displayed inside are the thirteen galleries of oil paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions and coins belonging to the royal family. Afternoon visit the Museum of Kerala History and its Makers at Edappally (13 kms). The Museum showcases historical episodes from the neolithic to the modern era through life-sized figures with the help of light and sound shows. Evening shopping for garments, silks, jewellery, antiques, etc on the M.G. Road.

Day - 8
After breakfast drop at Cochin airport.