Beyond Munnar: Pullikanam Tea Gardens & Spice Country: Less-Crowd

Kochi, India
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Duration8h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Pullikanam Tea Country Escape from Kochi as the main title, with this subtitle:
Kerala’s Quieter Alternative to Munnar — Tea Plantations, Tea Factory Visits, Spice Gardens & Scenic Mountain Landscapes.
Escape the bustle of Kochi and journey into the cool, green highlands of Kerala on a scenic drive to Pullikanam, a beautiful tea-growing region near Vagamon.
Winding roads following the contours of the hills gradually, the air becomes cooler and the scenery more dramatic, with mist drifting across forested slopes, deep valleys opening between the mountains and endless shades of green stretching towards the horizon. At Pullikanam, stroll through neatly planted tea gardens where rows of tea bushes carpet the rolling hills. Visit a working tea factory and discover how freshly plucked leaves are transformed into the fragrant tea enjoyed around the world. Enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of the plantation, with opportunities for photography and tea tasting or purchase, if available.

What's included

  • Private transportation
  • Local guide
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Fuel surcharge
  • Parking Fees
  • Accomodation & Food

What to expect

  1. Muvattupuzha
    Pass by
    Kerala's typical midland landscape
    Rubber plantations
    Small towns and village life
    Churches and temples along the route
    Opportunity to explain Kerala's rubber and spice economy
  2. Thodupuzha
    Pass by
    A good place for a short refreshment stop
    Interesting transition from urban Kerala to plantation country
    The landscape becomes increasingly green as you approach the high ranges.
  3. Pass by
    This is where the journey starts becoming particularly scenic. The road towards Pullikanam follows a beautiful mountain corridor with rubber plantations, forest, streams, valleys and increasingly cooler weather.
  4. Pass by
    Kanjar–Pullikanam scenic road
    This could actually be one of the selling points of your tour. The road is known for its natural scenery and has also been used as a film-shooting location.
    You can make several short, safe photo stops for:

    Mountain views
    Rubber and spice plantations
    Small streams
    Village houses
    Misty hills
    Winding mountain roads
  5. Pass by
    This should be the main attraction.

    Pullikanam is around 7 km from Vagamon and lies at about 1,100 m elevation.

    Visitors can experience:

    Walking among tea bushes
    Learning how tea is cultivated
    Tea-plucking, when workers are active
    Photography among the tea rows
    Views across the surrounding hills and valleys
    Understanding the life of tea-estate workers
  6. 1h · Admission ticket included
    Pullikkanam Hill

    2. Pullikanam Tea Factory

    This is what I would emphasize strongly in your particular tour.

    Instead of merely saying "visit a tea plantation," offer visitors the opportunity to understand how freshly harvested tea leaves become the tea we drink.

    A factory visit can include:

    Receiving freshly harvested leaves
    Withering
    Rolling/cutting
    Oxidation/fermentation
    Drying
    Sorting and grading
    Seeing the machinery
    Tasting or buying locally produced tea, subject to factory arrangements

    There are tea-manufacturing facilities in Pullikanam; current local listings identify both Tea Factory Pullikkanam and Pullikanam Estate Factory. Tea Factory Pullikkanam Pullikanam Estate Factory

    3. Pullikanam Valley / viewpoints

    This is particularly good for your "off-the-beaten-path Kerala" positioning. Rather than taking guests immediately to the crowded Vagamon attractions, you can stop at suitable points around Pullikanam for:
    Tea-covered slopes
    Deep valleys
    Mountain views
    Photography

Meeting and pickup

Pickup details

If you are arriving Kochi and booked to stay at the listed hotels we will pick you up from there. If not kindly let us know the hotel we will come and pick you.

In case you are arriving by sea we will come to the Port of Kochi and pick you up from the side of your ship. In this case the traveler shold in form us the following details.
1. Ships arrival details.
2.Ships departure details.

Or else if you are arriving by any other please let us know where we will come and pick you up on a mutually agreed terms.

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Adult pricing applies to all travelers above 5 years
  • At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information.: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
  • Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$80.00 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Excel India Tours · Booked through Viator
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