Epicurean Endeavour

Tantalise your senses with a fourteen night holiday that introduces (or reacquaints!) your palate to the delights of southern Indian cuisine. It has often been said that the best Indian food is to be found in family homes and this itinerary provides an opportunity for the guest to learn recipes that have been handed down through generations of southern Indian families. Blend this with a dash of culture, history and fantastic scenery and the result is a melting pot of memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.

Day

Activity

Recommended Hotels

Depart London for Chennai

Overnight Flight

You will be met at your hotel and transferred to by road to Pondicherry.

Culinary Note: Pondicherry is a charming former French colony that is home to over 10,000 French nationals. The food here is a fusion between French and South Indian, resulting in a cuisine that will tantalise the taste buds.

You will be met at your hotel and transferred by road to Chettinadu.

Culinary Note: Chettinad is renowned for its specialist cuisine that is unique to the area. Traditionally served on a banana leaf, the fare created here is some of the most aromatic to be found in India and is often described as spicy, although this is due to the number of spices (brought back from the Chettiars travels) used in the preparation rather than the fieriness of the dish. The chefs at the Mansion will teach you how to produce the famed dishes of the region, with classes taking place in the same kitchens that would have served hundreds of guests at lavish banquets all those years ago.

You will be met by a guide for an early morning trek into the rain forests of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. After returning to your hotel for breakfast, you will be escorted on a visit to see the spice plantations.

Culinary Note: Spice Village provides cookery demonstrations every evening entitled ‘Learn to Cook with Spices’. This demonstration will help budding chefs learn to use the spices they have purchased locally.

You will be met and transferred through the Western Ghats to Munnar, this is a long, but scenic drive through the mountians. 

Culinary Note: The chef at Paradisa prepares traditional Keralan cuisine in the time-honoured manner. The aromas from the kitchen will leave you salivating - fortunately, you will have the opportunity to prepare (and enjoy!) several of these dishes yourself.

Explore the local area of Munnar and sample the local cuisine.

Culinary Note: Another chance to develop your Keralan cooking skills. Daisy will guide you through the preparation of several local dishes that can be replicated on your return home.

Marari Beach Resort

Marari Beach Resort