This Guy’s Mad Staycation in Kerala (7 Nights, 8 Days OR 9 Nights, 10 Days) Route: Cochin – Munnar – Vagamon – Kumarakom – Cochin Tour Duration: 7 Nights or 9 Nights Estimate travel dates: Dec 12 - 21 BRIEF ITINERARY: Dec 12: Kochi to Munnar transfer. Check into our secret farm. Dec 13: Sunrise trek in the morning followed by a secret waterfall trek as well. Dec 14: Free Day/Work day or, Munnar sightseeing – Mattupetty Dam Dec 15: Free Day/Work day Dec 16: Transfer to Vagamon Dec 17: Paragliding in Vagamon Dec 18: Adventure Camp visit Dec 19: Airport transfer or drive to Kumarakom. Evening visit Vembanad Lake for shikara ride. Dec 20: Beach day at Mararikulam Dec 21: Airport transfer. Trip ends. DETAILED ITINERARY: Dec 12: Cochin Airport to Munnar. Check into our secret farm. O/N Munnar The idea is that you all fly to Cochin and land before 11 AM, so that the day does not get wasted. Upon your arrival at the airport, a cab will transfer the group to our secret farm camp located in the outskirts of Munnar. We will be staying in tents here overlooking a pretty village. The view from the campsite It’s a beautiful private property and only their guests have access to the trekking trails, waterfalls and viewpoints in the forest area. Munnar is a beautiful hill station, surrounded with tea plantations, mountain streams, falls, home to the rare Nilgiri Tahr and more. The route is beautiful. Kerala’s beauty lies in its nature and the route will be littered with streams and other photogenic spots. The essence of road trips, and of travelling is to not just rush from one point to another, not just check list every possible place, but to stop, pause whenever one sees something beautiful, to spend more time at places where we are having fun, and to absorb the moment, to live in the moment. And so, we shall go to this quaint hill station, trying to enjoy to our fullest. As mentioned, the moment we start going uphill, tea plantations will spring out of nowhere. The gang will get out at some such points, wherever we can cross over into the tea plantations, and click photographs with the local tea pickers. Check into the campsite by late afternoon. After freshening up, let’s go for a walk. Feel the mountain breeze on your face, talk to someone you just met on the trip, get to know them a little, and let them know you a bit as well. Come evening, we have a little treat waiting for you. Bonfire! Because nothing says getaway from the city life like a nice golden flame lit up, leaving all of us a little warm and leaving its glow on our faces too. Let’s huddle up in a circle and get set for a night to remember? Dec 13: Sunrise Trek followed by a secret waterfall trek and jeep safari in the secret farm site. O/N Munnar Today is my personal favourite day of the trip! Wait, I might have more, but today is quite special too! We are going for a sunrise trek today. We will probably be the only people in the area, as one needs to stay in the farm for access to the viewpoint. The meadows and woods, coupled with the early morning mist and fog, create a magical experience. Wear a warm pullover or jacket because it will be chilly out there. And we shall be going on a trek up a gorgeously green peak. The green carpeted meadows, imposing misty mountains, frothy clouds and the chilling Munnar breeze create a magical experience for you. You will walk through lush green grasslands, tea estates and get to explore the beautiful hills! Hop, skip and jump in this virgin mountain and head to the top of the peak from where you’ll witness one of the most gorgeous sunrises ever. Once at the top, sit by yourself for a while. Let the breeze hit your face and do its own magic to you. Forget about the world, life back at home, and just be in the moment. Pick a quiet spot for yourself, and you will hear only birds for miles around you. Think about what it means for you to be in this place, in that moment. Once we are back in the resort, we will have lunch. Later, carry your swimming costumes, or trunks, or shorts, for we are going to a small waterfall tucked away in the jungle. The forest is seductive and tempts you to go deeper. The trees look down upon you and they guard the secrets of the forest for thousands of years. Sunlight reduces as you go deeper, and even in the afternoon, it might be dark inside. You can hear the music of the crickets and the cicadas as they buzz in the forest. After a hike of 20 minutes, we shall finally reach the waterfall. Who all can swim! Dive into this deliciously cold water. It will make you yell with joy! Those who don’t swim can sit on the rocks and put their legs in the water. Do your own thing! Be the new Liril model in the water, or do a Mandakini in it, be a monkey and go mad – it’s your holiday people and we can’t be cooped anymore! Once we get back to the resort, rest for a bit. Later in the evening, we are going to do a short sunset trek. Once we get back to the resort, rest for a bit! It’s our last night at the resort, so let’s play silly games, let’s all share stories and make the night count! :) Dec 14 and 15: Free Day/Work Day. Or, visit Mattupetty Dam O/N Munnar After a leisurely breakfast, we shall check out of our secret farm and make our way to Munnar. We will be staying in a cozy villa for the next 2 nights. Since it’s a staycation, these two days have been kept free for you. Those who’d like to work, can do so during the day and then later, we can all sit together and chill in the evenings. Meanwhile, others can do their own thing. Got a book you’d been wanting to read? Bring it out. Have an urge to sleep in the grass under the open sky? Go for it. Wanting to let the budding photographer in you finally get that camera clicking in 2020? Click away! (And, click us too, duh :p) Made a friend you want to talk to for hours? Yap away! It’s the week of YOU and whatever you wish to do. Also, if you’d like, we have included an optional visit Mattupetty Dam one of the days. Not many think of dams as sightseeing places but Mattupetty is different. Located in the Idukki district of Kerala, the Mattupetty Dam is more than just a water storage facility. The green valleys and pleasant ambience make up for a captivating site. The reflection of the tea gardens into the water is the most beautiful part of the dam. In the midst of the hills, lies a beautiful lake, just a few kilometres away from the dam. You have endless options – either you can go for boating in the lake or you can sit by the shore enjoying the tranquillity here. Adventure lovers also have the option of trekking in the Shola forest. Dec 16: Transfer to Vagamon. Evening stroll. O/N Vagamon Today morning has been kept free for you to wrap up your office work. Around noon, we will leave for the pretty town of Vagamon. Vagamon is a beautiful sleepy town surrounded by tea gardens and beautiful meadows. The drive to the hill town is scenic with winding roads, fresh mountain air, the sound of gurgling streams and chirping birds. The drive is about 75 kilometres from Munnar and we shall reach the town late afternoon. After freshening up, we can go for a walk in the nearby area and take in the beauty of the place. Vagamon skies look prettiest during the sunset with hues of deep violet and bright orange that will make you feel like you have stepped into a painting. Let’s click pictures, admire nature, and enjoy our time here. Dec 17: Vagamon Sightseeing, Paragliding. O/N Vagamon Today is my personal favourite day of the trip. We are going Paraglidinggggg! Your trip to Vagamon is incomplete if you didn’t go Paragliding here. This is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling gliding experiences you can have in South India, as you fly over the lush green tea estates and meadows, dams and misty hills that is sure to take your breath away. So, if paragliding has been on your bucket list, it’s time to get your pen out and strike it off! Soar over meadowy hills and majestic mountains, and capture the beauty of nature with your eyes. @picture credits: georgein.momentics Back to the resort by evening. Play some games, munch on local delicacies and share some laughs with your fellow trippers. The night is still young and a lot more awaits you. Dec 18: Adventure Camp Visit for some fun activities. O/N Vagamon Today, we are going to an adventure camp in the middle of the hills, next to a beautiful lake. Once we reach the adventure camp, lunch will be served. Post that, we can proceed to try out rope/bridge games, paintball or archery.