The season for this holiday is:
15 October - 26 March 2020
15 October - 31 December 2020
Travelling from the UK
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh - Mumbai (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Edinburgh - Mumbai (via Heathrow) | British Airways |
| Return route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Cochin - Edinburgh (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Gatwick - Mumbai (via Doha) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Gatwick - Mumbai (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Return route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Cochin - Gatwick (via Doha) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Cochin - Gatwick (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Heathrow - Mumbai | British Airways |
| Heathrow - Mumbai (via Abu Dhabi) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Heathrow - Mumbai (via Doha) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Heathrow - Mumbai (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Heathrow - Mumbai (via Muscat) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Return route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Cochin - Heathrow (via Abu Dhabi) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Cochin - Heathrow (via Doha) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Cochin - Heathrow (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Cochin - Heathrow (via Muscat) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Stansted - Mumbai (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Return route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Cochin - Stansted (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Outward route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Manchester - Mumbai (via Abu Dhabi) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Manchester - Mumbai (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Return route | Airline |
|---|---|
| Cochin - Manchester (via Abu Dhabi) | Various carriers (contact us) |
| Cochin - Manchester (via Dubai) | Various carriers (contact us) |
This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.
If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?
We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >
Inntravel and Village Ways were perfect partners for our trip (thank you Madhu!), integrating standard tour itineraries with opportunities to visit the beautiful cities of the Golden Triangle. Our immersion in Mughal history felt complete in Jaipur's Amber Fort. The Forsyth Trail walk gave us a real sense of achievement and the camping facilities were as luxurious as could be. After seeing so much evidence of big cat activity, actually sighting three tigers in Pench was awesome; watching the sun set there to a soundtrack of jackal calls as they massed for the hunt will stay with me for ever. There is probably no better way to experience Indian rural life and landscape than the visits to Hulgol, Pavinakurva and Mothakkara. And the ever-changing view from the houseboat Good Earth had us entranced as we glided through the backwaters, with barely another vessel in sight.
Advice to others: While there are plenty of activities and excursions, they tend to be at the start and end of the day, so be prepared for long rest periods during the days (not every site has a library). Also, you will want to recognise the service you get from the team members and contribute to village development, so keep a suitable amount of cash!
This is an Inntravel holiday with a difference. It's how to experience India beyond the tourist traps. The people we met were all so delightful, so kind and friendly. We talked with villagers, had tea in their homes, exchanged greetings with countless children, saw their daily lives - and we felt genuinely welcome. This is not a "comfort" trip - it's India as it should be experienced - but any minor discomforts are far more than made up for by the quite amazing food. Anyone who thinks they don't like Indian food (and I must admit, we had our misgivings) need not worry. Every dish was tasty in a way we don't do food in England, yet we never once broke into a sweat through it being "too hot". It was delicious.
A highlight is the friendly caring welcome we got on arrival at our various stays-homestays and hotels. We were made to feel special and valued visitors in their busy village lives. Other highlights include the festivals we were taken to in Mothakkara and Pallippuram, swimming in the Arabian Sea, the dawn drive across the Western Ghats from Hill House to Calicut.... but in fact very difficult to pinpoint highlights as the whole experience was a highlight in itself as so varied and wonderful!
Inntravel and Village Ways were perfect partners for our trip (thank you Madhu!), integrating standard tour itineraries with opportunities to visit the beautiful cities of the Golden Triangle. Our immersion in Mughal history felt complete in Jaipur's Amber Fort. The Forsyth Trail walk gave us a real sense of achievement and the camping facilities were as luxurious as could be. After seeing so much evidence of big cat activity, actually sighting three tigers in Pench was awesome; watching the sun set there to a soundtrack of jackal calls as they massed for the hunt will stay with me for ever. There is probably no better way to experience Indian rural life and landscape than the visits to Hulgol, Pavinakurva and Mothakkara. And the ever-changing view from the houseboat Good Earth had us entranced as we glided through the backwaters, with barely another vessel in sight.
Advice to others: While there are plenty of activities and excursions, they tend to be at the start and end of the day, so be prepared for long rest periods during the days (not every site has a library). Also, you will want to recognise the service you get from the team members and contribute to village development, so keep a suitable amount of cash!
This is an Inntravel holiday with a difference. It's how to experience India beyond the tourist traps. The people we met were all so delightful, so kind and friendly. We talked with villagers, had tea in their homes, exchanged greetings with countless children, saw their daily lives - and we felt genuinely welcome. This is not a "comfort" trip - it's India as it should be experienced - but any minor discomforts are far more than made up for by the quite amazing food. Anyone who thinks they don't like Indian food (and I must admit, we had our misgivings) need not worry. Every dish was tasty in a way we don't do food in England, yet we never once broke into a sweat through it being "too hot". It was delicious.
A highlight is the friendly caring welcome we got on arrival at our various stays-homestays and hotels. We were made to feel special and valued visitors in their busy village lives. Other highlights include the festivals we were taken to in Mothakkara and Pallippuram, swimming in the Arabian Sea, the dawn drive across the Western Ghats from Hill House to Calicut.... but in fact very difficult to pinpoint highlights as the whole experience was a highlight in itself as so varied and wonderful!
A superb tour. It lives up to its name - truly intoxicating! Eye opening and fascinating from beginning to end.
To enjoy this holiday you need to be flexible and able to embrace new experiences. The country is fascinating and full of contrasts. Everyone seems to own a mobile phone but clothes are still washed by hand, bashing them on rocks. Road safety is not a high priority with children being transported on motor bikes with no helmets in the chaotic city traffic. All the people we interacted with were charming and helpful. School children often requested a photograph with us and on Republic Day we were honoured to be invited to the local school to watch the parade and participate in prize giving. Highlights included living on the houseboat, meeting friends and family of our guides, walks in the beautiful countryside around the Spice House and Hill House and enjoying all the delicious home cooked meals.
An excellent and rewarding experience. Walton's and the houseboat were outstanding. We learnt such a lot from visiting the spice, tea and coffee plantations, brick works, ship building and witnessing a hundred ways to use a coconut! A vivid memory was seeing two men and six goats on a motorcycle; "Only in India!"
We enjoyed our trip to India and it was good to see villages off the beaten track and to be immersed into local village life. We found that all the villagers to be extremely welcoming, not just those directly involved in looking after us during our stay but also everyone we came into contact with. We were introduced to friends and some of the families of our guides which was nice. We tried a number of different dishes that we wouldn't normally consider trying; who knew that cucumber curry could taste so good? The ladies at Hill House produced some fantastic food and the presentation on coconut leaves is excellent.
We really enjoyed staying at the Green Palace in Mysore and were ready for the re-connection with city life. The garden restaurant was magical at night when candlelit. Walton's Homestay at Fort Cochin was also a pleasant surprise as our room was so nice and Mr and Mrs Walton were lovely hosts, keen to share their knowledge of the local area and supplying us with maps and recommendations for bars and restaurants.
My husband likes a beer when he's on holiday - the villagers could consider getting fridges and selling tourists beer/wine using an honesty box system. This could be another source of income for them and would be appreciated by Westerners. As it was, we asked our drivers to divert to a liquor shop en route to the guest houses/boat and stored the bottles in a bucket of water to try to cool them down. They do have a fridge at Coast House and a cool box on the boat.
You could also recommend customers take a wifi device so they can connect to the internet, e-mails, etc. I purchased a GLocalMe device (at about £130) and bought an India package online (about 25 euros) before we went. It is easy to use and worked very well in all locations and helped us feel connected to the outside world!
This is a unique holiday providing an unusual opportunity to get close to people living in a very different part of the world, including their cooking and subsistence-farming. We found this all both exciting and humbling. You need to be prepared to accept the physical limitations of such a way-of-life. If hot showers and drinks-before-dinner are important, then this would not be the right holiday.
This was an amazing holiday. Not luxurious, but really well-organised and informative. Without exception, everyone we met could not have been more friendly and helpful. The Spice House, the Hill House and the Houseboat were real highlights, and we loved just walking around the villages and being welcomed into the houses of complete strangers. A truly magical experience!
An excellent experience and very well organised - forget any (mis)conception about service in India - everyone in the logistic side very punctual and the trains run on time! All hotels were fine and those in Mysore and Kochi great. Very engaging friendly people everywhere and beautifully prepared food. Don't hesitate to be a little assertive if there appears to be a disconnect although quite the reverse most of the time. The stay in Mothakkara and the Houseboat were simply brilliant. The accomodation was absolutely fine but don't expect too much.
We had wonderful holiday. Our hosts were friendly, informative and enthusiastic, helping us experience what we felt was the real India. The delicious home cooked food was a delight too.
Too many highlights to mention but we will long remember the blizzard of smiles, the beauty and complexity of Hinduism and the sounds of the forest. If you approach this trip with an open mind and heart and return those smiles, you will be repaid ten fold. The mixture of village life with some well placed hotel stays is just right and you feel you are seeing much more of the real lives of people rather than just going from one tourist attraction to another. The food was really excellent and prepared with such care, skill and enthusiasm.Don't get hung up on things like the price of a Tuk Tuk. It will always be less than you'd pay at home!
HIGHLIGHT: The friendliness and enthusiasm of our hosts, who all wanted to show us how they lived. We were expecting basic accommodation and that was OK but some things were a bit tired and could have been cleaner - shower rooms and light switches etc. However, we were never unwell. A verandah and outdoor seating at Hulgol would have been good.
This holiday was magical. India was enthralling and beautiful, the people were kind, warm and very welcoming, however it is not for the over fussy or the faint-hearted. Take your probiotics, your anti bac hand gel and wet wipes and approach with an open mind and a willing heart. It is worth the challenge.
Living close to the Indian villages was a privilege. If you like meeting people and experiencing traditional rural living then this is for you.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers enjoyed two of Inntravel's itineraries back to back; the Deserts & Palaces of Rajasthan and India’s Intoxicating South.
highlighst: sitting on the verandah at the Hill House watching sunbirds in the flowers; the ladies' drumming group at the Hill House; the fish market at the coast; cooking demonstrations at Hulgol; watching the world go by from the houseboat; wild elephant; the tour of Mumbai with an excellent guide.
Generally the Intoxicating South Tour was amazing. The people, the places, the wildlife, the food, the traditional skills & village ways all made the total experience thoroughly unforgettable & we highly recommend this trip to anyone. We felt we were living our life in an amazing documentary!
What an eye-opener to learn how and where so many spices grow and how they are farmed at the village level. 61.3 million voters in one state send about 20 to represent them in Parliament. Why does the United Kingdom have so many MEPs? (roll on 2019). Seriously good hospitality at each village with affable and unobtrusive guides made sure we did not miss a trick to taste local cuisine (some basic but only one rice dish was not so much delicious as desiccacious). Inter-faith matters never showed more than a natural get-along what's-the-prob? atmosphere. Protestant and Roman Catholic were not distinguished by one guide who liked each faith to be portmanteau (referring to www.osho.com but Hindu at home). Sue and I are 'over the hill' but recommend Village Ways - for veggy weight loss and fitness boost - to our kids and grandkids - eldest 28. Back to UK snow with a bump.
We had an excellent experience in India, with 5 weeks in Delhi, Himalayan Foothills, Karnataka, and Kerala. We felt we met with real Indian people in their local communities, giving us a good understanding of their culture, how they lived, and the challenges they faced. The Himalayan walking guides were excellent, and this was the highlight of our trip. We would definitely recommend staying at the tented camp overlooking the foothills. The food on the whole trip was superb! Inntravel / Village Ways were a great help in setting things up.
INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers booked our guided walk Himalayan Explorer and our discovery journey India’s Intoxicating South as part of an extended trip to India
A chance to learn a little about the life of the rural poor in India and compare it with city life in a holiday of great variety. When we briefly came across coach parties of tourists being marched around we realised how lucky we were in our choice of holiday.
The whole holiday was brilliantly organised. The guides, cooks, housekeepers and night watchmen were all such lovely people who were so happy and willing to share their way of life with us. The villagers were so welcoming and invited us into their homes and even a school. There was also plenty of time to relax especially while coasting along on the houseboat. The food everywhere was amazing. Everywhere was spotlessly clean! As one guide pointed out it is also nice to know that any profits go to the communities!
This was a wonderful and unforgettable holiday - or perhaps adventure would be more descriptive. All our guides and cooks and drivers were just so delightful - warm, welcoming, knowledgeable, life-enhancing. We felt very privileged to meet so many delightful people (and their families and friends.) Southern India is so beautiful - we have marvellous memories and photographs. Walking in spice-growing forests, sailing on the dreamy houseboat, eating the delicious food, meeting villagers, watching the red sunsrise over the backwaters of Kerala while sipping a chai and chatting to the adorable crew . . . Thank you.
Very pleased with Village Ways, well organised by dedicated local people whose main aim was to make sure that you really enjoyed your stay in their particular village. They were always very keen to ensure that you liked their cooking which was, of course, delicious and the chance to meet the welcoming local residents was great. Congratulations to all the guides who did their best to convey so much interesting information about their respective areas.
A good trip, up to Village Ways high standards.
We were glad we had some cereal bars for the walks and the guides loved them. We would have taken some coffee and dried milk to Nepal as they didn't have any. We thought the Village Ways concept was brilliant and we loved it but think some people may find the Indian Villages a little remote. We had not realised how far off the beaten track they were but having the experience of meeting the villagers was fantastic. The boat was amazing. We really felt we saw the real India not just the sights.