- 80% profits donated to charity
Mumbai
Mumbai
15 Days
Private
English
Max 10
Multi-Day Tours
Low
South India is a region of striking contrasts. Bustling cities give way to historic coastal towns, mist-covered mountains, tranquil waterways, palm-fringed beaches and villages where traditions continue to shape everyday life.
Our Kerala & South India Women’s Cultural Journey brings these experiences together in one immersive 15-day adventure.
Beginning in Mumbai, you will discover the city’s remarkable energy and explore Dharavi, home to a thriving network of small-scale industries and communities. You will then travel south to Kochi, where colonial-era architecture, fishing traditions, bustling markets and regional cuisine reveal the many influences that have shaped Kerala’s history.
In Munnar, rolling tea plantations and mountain landscapes offer a change of pace. Further south, the peaceful backwaters of Alleppey provide an opportunity to observe village life from the water, before you continue to Kovalam for time by the Arabian Sea.
The journey then takes you beyond Kerala to Heranjalu, a village in coastal Karnataka, where you will spend time with a local family and gain a closer understanding of rural life, regional traditions and community connections.
Along the way, discover the flavours of Kerala, explore traditional crafts, learn about local livelihoods and experience cultural performances that bring the region’s heritage to life. A proposed cooking experience in Kochi will offer an opportunity to explore Kerala’s culinary traditions hands-on, subject to final itinerary confirmation.
Designed for women who enjoy discovering new places, meeting people and travelling at a considered pace, this journey combines guided exploration with time to relax, reflect and enjoy the experience together.
At Reality Tours & Travel, we believe travel can create opportunities for meaningful exchange between visitors and the communities they encounter.
Like our other tours, 80% of our post-tax profits support Reality Gives, our sister NGO working in Dharavi, Mumbai, and Sanjay Colony, Delhi.
By joining this journey, you help support our wider mission of improving the quality of life in the communities where we work.
No of people in Group | Price per Person (INR) |
|---|---|
1 | 175,000 |
2 | 125,000 |
3 | 105,000 |
4 | 95,000 |
5 | 85,000 |
6 | 75,000 |
Enjoy with just your family & friends!
If you wish to start at a different time, please contact us.
Begin in Mumbai, India’s energetic financial capital. Explore its historic neighbourhoods and visit Dharavi with Reality Tours & Travel to learn about the communities, businesses and industries that keep this remarkable part of the city moving.
Walk through Fort Kochi’s historic streets, encounter its distinctive architecture and learn about the maritime traditions that shaped this coastal city. Explore Jew Town and visit the Dutch Palace, subject to opening arrangements.
Discover the spices and ingredients that define Kerala’s cuisine. The proposed Kochi cooking class will offer a hands-on introduction to selected regional dishes and traditional preparation techniques, subject to confirmation.
Travel into the Western Ghats to discover Munnar’s tea plantations, mountain scenery and cooler climate. Visit the Tea Museum and explore the area’s best-known viewpoints and gardens.
Spend a memorable night aboard a traditional Kerala houseboat, cruising through a network of canals, lagoons and waterways. Observe life along the banks while enjoying freshly prepared meals on board.
Enjoy free time in Kovalam, with opportunities to relax on the beach, explore the local area or choose from optional activities such as yoga and traditional wellness experiences.
Stay with a local family in Heranjalu and discover a different side of South India. Walk through the village, learn about local traditions and participate in everyday activities when available.
Experience the elaborate costumes and expressive storytelling of Kathakali in Kerala and the distinctive music, movement and mythology of Yakshagana in Karnataka.
Share a thoughtfully planned journey with a small group of women, with opportunities to exchange experiences, discover unfamiliar places and enjoy the journey together.
Reality Tours & Travel reinvests 80% of its post-tax profits into Reality Gives, supporting community initiatives in Mumbai and Delhi.
Welcome to Mumbai, one of India’s most dynamic cities.
On arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Colaba. Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you can explore the surrounding neighbourhood on foot, either independently or with your guide.
Nearby sights include the Gateway of India, the historic streets of South Mumbai and the famous waterfront promenade at Marine Drive.
In the evening, come together for a welcome dinner at a traditional Indian restaurant. Your guide will introduce the journey ahead, explain the itinerary and answer any questions before the adventure begins.
It is also an opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and settle into the group.
Included:
Overnight: Mumbai
Today, explore Dharavi, one of Mumbai’s most distinctive urban communities and the location of Reality Tours & Travel’s signature experience.
During the guided walk, discover a network of small-scale industries, workshops and businesses that form an important part of the city’s economy. Learn about the area’s residential life, entrepreneurship and community networks through a balanced, locally informed perspective.
Your visit also introduces the work of Reality Gives, the education NGO supported by Reality Tours & Travel.
The remainder of the day is available for sightseeing. Depending on your interests and available time, you might explore the historic architecture around Fort and South Mumbai, visit local markets or enjoy views of the city from Malabar Hill.
You can also choose an optional Mumbai bicycle tour or street food experience.
Included:
Optional, at additional cost:
Overnight: Mumbai
Today, take a morning flight to Kochi, Kerala’s historic port city.
After checking into your hotel, spend the afternoon exploring Fort Kochi, an atmospheric neighbourhood shaped by centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange.
Walk past colonial-era buildings, discover quiet lanes and learn about the Portuguese, Dutch and British influences that remain visible in the area’s architecture.
You will also visit the famous Chinese fishing nets, a distinctive feature of Kochi’s waterfront. Depending on local conditions, you may have the opportunity to interact with fishermen and learn about the traditional fishing techniques associated with the nets.
This is an introduction to Kerala’s coastal culture and the many communities that have shaped its history.
Included:
Overnight: Kochi
Begin the day by exploring Kochi’s historic neighbourhoods.
Visit Jew Town, an area associated with the city’s historic Jewish community, and explore the surroundings of the Paradesi Synagogue, subject to its opening hours and visitor arrangements.
Continue to the Dutch Palace, also known as Mattancherry Palace, which offers insights into Kerala’s royal history and artistic traditions.
The proposed cooking class will add a hands-on culinary experience to the day.
Discover the ingredients, spices and techniques that shape Kerala’s distinctive cuisine. Depending on the final arrangements, you may learn to prepare selected regional dishes and gain a better understanding of how local ingredients are used in everyday cooking.
The experience is intended to complement the heritage visits by introducing you to another important part of Kerala’s cultural identity: its food.
In the evening, attend an optional Kathakali performance. This traditional dance-drama is known for its elaborate costumes, expressive facial movements and stylised storytelling.
Included:
Proposed addition, subject to confirmation:
Optional, at additional cost:
Overnight: Kochi
Leave Kochi behind and travel inland towards Munnar, a hill station surrounded by tea plantations and the landscapes of the Western Ghats.
The drive takes approximately six to seven hours, depending on traffic, road conditions and stops.
Along the way, your guide will introduce you to aspects of rural Kerala, including agriculture, village settlements and the everyday activities that shape life beyond the larger cities.
There will be opportunities to stop along the route and observe the changing landscape. A visit to a local toddy shop may also be arranged, depending on the itinerary and local availability. Toddy is a traditional fermented drink made from the sap of certain palm trees.
A regional lunch stop will offer an opportunity to sample local cuisine, subject to the day’s arrangements.
By late afternoon, the scenery changes as the road climbs into the hills. Munnar’s cooler air, rolling landscapes and extensive tea plantations provide a striking contrast to Kochi’s coastal atmosphere.
After checking into your guesthouse, enjoy some time to yourself. You might explore the surroundings, take a short walk or simply relax with a cup of tea and views of the hills.
Included:
Not included:
Overnight: Munnar
Today, discover the landscapes and traditions that have made Munnar one of Kerala’s best-known hill destinations.
Begin with a visit to the Tea Museum, where you can learn about the history of tea cultivation in the region and understand how harvested leaves are processed into the tea enjoyed across India.
Continue to Echo Point, a scenic location surrounded by hills and water, and visit the Rose Garden to explore its collection of plants and flowers.
If arrangements permit, an additional tea-tasting experience can introduce you to different varieties and flavour profiles.
A visit or conversation exploring the lives and work associated with tea cultivation could also be considered, provided it can be arranged respectfully and does not interfere with the working day of local communities.
These additional experiences are proposed enhancements rather than guaranteed inclusions at this stage.
In the evening, you can choose to relax at your accommodation or attend an optional Kalaripayattu performance, showcasing Kerala’s traditional martial art.
Included:
Proposed additions, subject to confirmation:
Optional, at additional cost:
Overnight: Munnar
Today, travel south from Munnar to Alleppey, a journey of approximately five hours, depending on traffic and stops.
Along the way, visit a spice plantation to learn about the ingredients that give Kerala cuisine its distinctive character.
Discover how spices such as cardamom, pepper and other regional varieties are cultivated and used. Depending on the season and availability, you may also meet local producers or beekeepers and sample some of the area’s produce.
The experience offers a closer look at the relationship between agriculture, regional food traditions and local livelihoods.
Arrive in Alleppey in the afternoon and check into your accommodation.
The remainder of the day is free. Your guide can recommend local restaurants where you can explore Kerala’s coastal cuisine and enjoy dinner at your own pace.
Included:
Additional experiences:
Overnight: Alleppey
Start the day with a visit to a local fish market, where you can observe the seafood trade and discover the ingredients commonly used in Kerala’s coastal cuisine.
You will then board a traditional Kerala houseboat, known locally as a kettuvallam, and begin your journey through the backwaters.
These waterways connect lakes, canals, rivers, villages and agricultural landscapes. As the houseboat moves through the region, you will see a quieter side of Kerala, with daily life unfolding along the banks.
Depending on the route and conditions, you may observe village settlements, rice fields and people carrying out everyday activities around the water.
The houseboat provides an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the changing scenery.
Lunch, dinner and breakfast are prepared on board, with vegetarian options available. The houseboat accommodation includes bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
This is one of the journey’s signature experiences, combining regional food, nature and a distinctive form of local travel.
Included:
Overnight: Alleppey backwaters, on board the houseboat
After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and travel to Kovalam, a coastal destination known for its beaches and relaxed atmosphere.
The drive takes approximately three to four hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.
After arriving and checking in, the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy at your own pace.
You might spend time on the beach, explore the surrounding area or visit a local market.
For those interested in additional activities, options may include yoga, Pilates, traditional wellness treatments, water activities or a regional cooking experience.
These activities are optional and should be booked according to your interests, availability and budget.
After several days of sightseeing and travelling through Kerala, Kovalam offers an opportunity to slow down before the final part of the journey.
Included:
Optional, at additional cost:
Overnight: Kovalam
Today, travel to Kanyakumari, located at the southern tip of mainland India.
Known for its coastal setting and expansive sea views, Kanyakumari is a distinctive destination where the waters of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meet in the broader geographical and cultural understanding of the region.
During the excursion, enjoy the coastal scenery and visit the Thiruvalluvar Statue, subject to boat services and local operating conditions.
The journey offers another perspective on South India’s coastal geography and cultural landscape.
In the evening, an optional visit to Jatayu Earth’s Center can be arranged, depending on timing and availability. The site is known for its monumental bird sculpture and surrounding landscape.
Return to Kovalam for the night.
Included:
Optional, at additional cost:
Overnight: Kovalam
Today, begin the journey north towards Karnataka and Heranjalu, the village associated with Krishna, one of the co-founders of Reality Tours & Travel.
This part of the itinerary takes you away from Kerala’s main tourist centres and towards a more personal experience of regional life.
The journey is planned around rail travel, offering views of coastal landscapes, settlements and agricultural areas along the way.
On arrival in the Byndoor area, transfer to the village accommodation and settle in for the night.
Important: The final departure time, train details, arrival time and transfer arrangements will be confirmed for the selected departure date. The itinerary should not be published with a fixed arrival time until these details have been checked.
Included:
Overnight: Heranjalu village
Wake up to a different pace of life in Heranjalu, a village in coastal Karnataka.
If you wish, begin the morning with a walk around the surrounding countryside, passing rice fields and waterways.
After breakfast with Krishna’s family, your guide will introduce you to the village and its residents. Learn about the local environment, livelihoods and traditions that shape everyday life.
The day’s activities will depend partly on what is happening in the village at the time of your visit. Possibilities may include learning about local agricultural practices, visiting nearby natural areas or observing aspects of community life.
Where suitable arrangements can be made, an additional activity could introduce you to traditional food preparation or regional household cooking practices.
The emphasis is on understanding everyday life through respectful interaction rather than treating local customs as staged performances.
In the evening, share dinner with the family.
Later, attend a Yakshagana performance, a traditional form of folk theatre from Karnataka. Combining music, elaborate costumes, expressive movement and storytelling, Yakshagana draws on regional mythology and religious traditions.
Included:
Potential additional experience, subject to confirmation:
Overnight: Heranjalu village
After breakfast, say goodbye to your hosts and begin the journey back towards Mumbai.
The day’s first major stop is Murudeshwar, a coastal destination known for its Shiva temple and monumental statue overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Spend time exploring the temple surroundings and enjoying the coastal views before continuing to the railway station.
In the evening, board the scheduled overnight train to Mumbai.
The train journey provides time to reflect on the experiences of the past two weeks, from the energy of Mumbai to the landscapes, food traditions and community encounters of South India.
Included:
Overnight: On board the train
Arrive in Mumbai in the morning and transfer to your accommodation.
Today is the final full day of the journey and an opportunity to explore anything you may have missed at the beginning of the tour.
Depending on your interests and available time, you might visit a local market, explore the city’s historic neighbourhoods, enjoy a café or take a final walk along the waterfront.
Your guide can help recommend activities based on the group’s preferences and the time available.
This is also a chance to share experiences and reflect on the journey together before departure the following day.
Included:
Overnight: Mumbai
Your South India journey comes to an end today.
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
We hope you leave with a deeper understanding of the region’s landscapes, cultures, food traditions and communities, along with lasting memories of the people and places you encountered along the way.
Thank you for travelling with Reality Tours & Travel and supporting our wider social mission.
Included:
End of tour.
Your tour package includes the following services, subject to the confirmed departure itinerary.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the final quotation, the following are not included in the tour price:
Please refer to your final booking confirmation for the definitive list of inclusions and exclusions.
Our women’s group departures are planned for travellers who would like to discover South India as part of a small group.
The tour begins and ends in Mumbai and follows the 15-day itinerary described above.
Tour duration: 15 days
Group size: Maximum 10 participants
Tour format: Women-only shared departures
Accommodation basis: Twin-share
Price: From ₹1,95,000 per person
Single-room supplement: Available on request
Our scheduled departures will be listed below with their starting dates, ending dates, availability and prices.
Please contact our team if you would like to discuss a particular departure, ask about room-sharing arrangements or clarify which additional experiences are included in the price.
The cooking class and other proposed additions will be identified as included only after the arrangements and costs have been confirmed.
Complete the enquiry form with your preferred travel dates, number of participants and any questions you may have.
Our team will help you understand the itinerary, accommodation arrangements, pricing and booking process before you confirm your place.
These our upcoming tours and available spaces. If you are looking to do a tour beyond these dates, please contact us at info@realitytoursandtravel.com
Starting | Ending | Availability | Prices From* |
|---|---|---|---|
Sunday 29 Nov 2026 | Sunday 13 Dec 2026 | Available | ₹195000 pp/–  |
Wednesday 23 Dec 2026 | Wednesday 6 Jan 2027 | Available | ₹195000 pp/– |
Thursday 28 Jan 2027 | Thursday 11 Feb 2027 | Available | ₹195000 pp/– |
Yes. The scheduled shared departures for this product are designed exclusively for women travellers.
If you are interested in a private tour, please contact us to discuss the available arrangements and applicable booking conditions.
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome to enquire about joining a scheduled women’s group departure.
You can request a twin-share arrangement with another participant, subject to availability, or ask about the supplement for a private room.
The maximum group size is 10 participants.
The actual number travelling on a particular departure will depend on bookings.
The itinerary is planned over 15 days, beginning and ending in Mumbai.
The journey includes Mumbai, Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey, Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Heranjalu and Murudeshwar.
You will experience a combination of urban sightseeing, historic neighbourhoods, tea-growing landscapes, backwaters, beaches and village life.
The route and core cultural experiences remain broadly similar, but this version is specifically designed for women-only shared departures.
The itinerary also proposes additional opportunities to explore regional cuisine, traditional crafts, local livelihoods and everyday cultural practices.
Specific new activities will be confirmed in the final departure itinerary.
A Kerala cooking class in Kochi is proposed as an additional experience.
Its inclusion, schedule and any associated cost will be confirmed before the departure is advertised as including the activity.
Not yet. Proposed additions such as meeting local artisans, tea tasting and traditional food preparation depend on local arrangements, availability and the final itinerary.
Only confirmed activities will be advertised as included in the tour price.
The itinerary combines mid-range hotels and guesthouses with an overnight houseboat stay and a village homestay in Heranjalu.
Accommodation is selected to support the route and the nature of the experiences offered.
The standard group price is based on twin-share accommodation.
Solo travellers can request to share with another participant, subject to availability. A single-room supplement may be available for those who prefer their own room.
Please note that accommodation arrangements may vary during the houseboat stay and village homestay.
Breakfast is generally included at overnight accommodations, subject to the itinerary.
The welcome dinner, specified houseboat meals, meals arranged with the host family and other meals explicitly listed in the itinerary are also included.
Other lunches and dinners are generally at your own expense.
Vegetarian options can be arranged for specified included meals.
Please inform us of your dietary preferences, allergies or other food requirements when enquiring so that we can discuss what is possible with our suppliers.
No. Optional activities are charged separately unless the final itinerary explicitly states otherwise.
These may include performances, wellness treatments, water activities and optional excursions.
The tour is classified as low physical activity, although it involves sightseeing on foot, intercity travel, boarding transport and moving between accommodation.
Participants should be comfortable with a multi-destination itinerary and occasional early starts.
Please contact us if you have mobility requirements or need clarification about a particular activity.
The tour begins and ends in Mumbai, which has an international airport.
The internal flight from Mumbai to Kochi is included if specified in the confirmed itinerary. International flights to and from India are not included.
The scheduled women’s group departures follow a planned itinerary and are not individually customisable.
Private tours can be discussed separately, subject to the applicable booking arrangements.
The booking process, deposit, balance payment deadline and accepted payment methods will be confirmed by our reservations team before you book.
Please refer to the applicable booking terms for the selected departure.
The scheduled group departures operate on published dates.
If those dates do not suit you, contact us to discuss whether an alternative departure or private arrangement is possible.
Airport transfers are included where specified in the itinerary.
Please check your booking confirmation for the exact pickup and drop-off arrangements.
No. Travel insurance is not included in the tour price.
We recommend arranging suitable travel insurance before departure.
Reality Tours & Travel reinvests 80% of its post-tax profits into Reality Gives, our sister NGO supporting education and community initiatives in Dharavi, Mumbai, and Sanjay Colony, Delhi.
Your participation helps support this wider social mission.
