Aralam

Day Trips

Arrive at Kannur airport or railway station and enjoy a scenic transfer to your eco-lodge near Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. Check in, unpack, and freshen up before meeting your guide for a brief welcome session. Sip a refreshing herbal drink while learning about local flora and guest safety guidelines.

Enjoy a traditional Kerala-style lunch at the lodge featuring fresh vegetables and rice. Afterward, take a gentle orientation walk around the property to spot butterflies, birds, and small mammals. Conclude with an introduction to the sanctuary’s history and conservation efforts.

Watch the sun dip behind the Western Ghats as you sip locally brewed tea on the lodge veranda. Attend a short cultural presentation on tribal heritage and folklore. End the evening stargazing by a campfire with light snacks and stories.

Rise early for a guided jeep safari into Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary’s core zone, home to elephants, deer, and leopards. Listen to your naturalist explain animal tracking signs and calls echoing through the forest. Pause at a scenic vantage point for tea and local banana fritters.

Return to the lodge for a hearty lunch of Kerala curry, fish fry, and steamed rice. After resting, head back for a slow forest walk on designated trails, scanning for endemic birds and rare plants. Your guide will share insights on medicinal herbs used by local tribes.

Enjoy an evening documentary screening on Kerala’s wildlife and tribal communities. Later, take a short nocturnal walk around the lodge perimeter to spot civets and tree frogs. Wind down with a light supper under lantern light.

After breakfast, embark on a trek to Aralam Falls hidden deep inside the sanctuary. Wade through shallow streams and marvel at the lush green canopy overhead. Reach the cascade and cool off with a dip in its clear, refreshing pools.

Enjoy a packed picnic lunch beside the waterfall rocks, surrounded by chirping birds. Explore nearby hidden footpaths to discover smaller cascades and natural swimming holes. Photograph the vibrant landscapes and breathe in the misty air.

Return to the lodge for an evening chai and freshly baked banana bread. Participate in a local cooking demo to learn how to make Kerala snacks like pazhampori. Relax on your veranda listening to the forest night chorus.

Drive to a nearby highland tea estate for a guided tour of lush tea gardens. Watch workers pluck tender leaves and learn about traditional processing techniques at the factory. Sample freshly brewed single-origin tea varieties straight from the source.

Savor a farm-to-table lunch overlooking rolling green fields and distant hills. Walk through spice gardens adjacent to the tea estate, inhaling aromas of cardamom and pepper. Try your hand at plucking tea leaves under the guidance of a plantation expert.

Return to your lodge and enjoy a soothing Ayurvedic foot massage using local essential oils. Attend an informal conversation with an estate manager about sustainable farming practices. Head to bed early to rest for the next day’s adventure.

After breakfast, visit a nearby tribal settlement to engage with indigenous Kurichya and Kattunaika families. Learn traditional basket-weaving and bamboo craft techniques from local artisans. Share stories over tea made from foraged leaves and spices.

Enjoy a home-cooked tribal lunch featuring millet-based dishes and forest vegetables. Join a guided forest walk led by a tribal elder, who will demonstrate hunting traps and medicinal plant uses. Participate in a short workshop on creating natural dyes from plant extracts.

Return to the lodge for an outdoor drum performance and folk dance by villagers. Sample local snacks like jaggery sweets and tapioca chips. Unwind around a communal bonfire, listening to tribal songs and sharing experiences.

Set off at dawn with a local bird expert to spot Malabar trogons, great hornbills, and sunbirds. Trek silently along shaded trails, binoculars in hand, while your guide calls out rare sightings. Pause at a forest clearing for tea and bird book identification tips.

Have a packed lunch under towering trees, listening to distant calls of woodpeckers and thrushes. Continue birding with a visit to a wetlands area near Aralam Dam for waterfowl like painted storks and egrets. Practice sketching or photographing migratory species with guidance from your expert.

Return to the lodge for a light dinner focused on fresh salads and soups. Attend a bird photography slide show and Q&A session with your guide. Relax on the veranda as the forest settles into dusk.

Begin the day with a sunrise yoga session overlooking the misty hills. Follow up with a guided breathing and meditation class in a tranquil forest clearing. Savor a nourishing Ayurvedic breakfast of millet porridge and honeyed fruits.

Enjoy an individualized Ayurvedic consultation to determine your dosha and wellness needs. Receive a rejuvenating massage with herbal oils sourced from local plantations. Rest in a quiet pavilion while sipping spiced herbal tea.

Participate in a gentle evening yoga flow focusing on relaxation and stretching. Attend a talk on Ayurvedic cooking principles and nutrition. Drift off to sleep feeling balanced and refreshed.

Visit a nearby village market to explore colorful stalls of spices, fresh produce, and traditional handicrafts. Chat with vendors about regional specialties like Kerala achaar and banana chips. Sample street snacks such as pazhampori and murukku.

Return to the lodge for a hands-on cooking class preparing a full Malabar meal. Learn to grind homemade masalas and wrap meals in banana leaves. Enjoy the feast you’ve created alongside freshly brewed toddy or local juices.

Stroll through the lodge’s herb garden as sunset paints the sky. Participate in a storytelling session about Kerala’s trading history and cuisine influences. Sip warm spiced milk with cardamom before retiring for the night.

After an early breakfast, head to Aralam Dam reservoir for a guided kayaking session. Paddle across calm waters framed by emerald hills and dense forests. Pause mid-reservoir for a birdwatching break amid kingfishers and egrets.

Enjoy a riverside picnic lunch prepared by your lodge, featuring fresh salads and wraps. Continue to kayak downstream, navigating gentle rapids and admiring lush riverbanks. Stop at a sandy bank to swim or simply relax in the sun.

Return to the lodge for a soothing foot soak and herbal tea. Attend a short workshop on traditional boat-building techniques used by local fishermen. Seal the evening with a light dinner of grilled fish and steamed greens.

Pack your bags after a final hearty Kerala breakfast and bid farewell to the staff. Take a last nature walk around the lodge grounds to spot any wildlife you may have missed. Collect souvenirs of local spices and crafts before checking out.

Enjoy a scenic drive back to Kannur, reflecting on the week’s adventures amid rolling landscapes. Stop en route at a spice plantation for one last tasting of pepper and vanilla pods. Share photos and memories with your group over a farewell picnic lunch.

Arrive at the airport or station for your onward journey, carrying fond memories of Aralam’s forests and culture. Receive a parting token from your hosts, such as a small spice sachet or herbal tea. Depart feeling rejuvenated by nature and local traditions.