Theyyam women group tour - North Kerala - 4N/5D

Malabar & Mysore – Theyyam & Backwaters

Karnataka & Kerala

5 Days

Light Walk/Climb (1-3 km/day)

START DATE

24 DEC, Wed

END DATE

28 DEC, Sun

₹39,500*

on double sharing

* 5% GST extra

❮

Malabar & Mysore – Theyyam & Backwaters

₹ 39,500 * 5% GST extra

START DATE

24 DEC, Wed

END DATE

28 DEC, Sun

₹ 39,500 * 5% GST extra

Theyyam, the ritualistic performance is described as the most visible and spectacular art form of Malabar (Northern Kerala). It has been associated with myths and legends. Theyyam forms the cornerstone of this trip which is of course, peppered with coastal beauty, backwaters, beaches and scenic forts. Stay on an island between the backwaters and the ocean, enjoy the village life and traditional meals, visit Bekal fort and take a backwater cruise. This is a short but power packed Theyyam women group tour, with Coorg and Mysore.

Highlights

Experience the spectacular early morning fire Theyyam

Visit a Kalaripayattu training unit (ancient martial art form)

Visit Talacauvery, the source of Cauvery

Explore the royal Mysore Palace

Important

The Theyyam group trip is a road trip from Bangalore with multiple pick-up and drop off points along the Outer Ring Road. Joining from a different city? Reach Bangalore by 23 December and plan your return after 10 PM on 28 December.

Getting there

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Start by 7 AM on 24 DEC

Bangalore city

Karnataka

Last drop by 8 PM on 28 DEC

Bangalore city

Karnataka

Itinerary

21°C - 33°C | Warm days, Cool nights

Chance of rain: Low-Medium

Note: This is a prediction. The weather may change

Day 1: Drive to Coorg. Settle in. Talacauvery.

Drive: 6 hrs

Local lunch

Local sightseeing

Start early from Bangalore and proceed to Coorg. Settle into your village stay, have lunch and relax. Dip your toes in the Cauvery river that flows right by the property. Visit Talacauvery, the source of Cauvery. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Coorg.

The Theyyam women group trip is to ex. Bangalore. We will start by 7 AM from Bangalore, with multiple pickup points along the ORR. Please be on time for your pickup. It will be a long drive. Please carry some snacks/munchies for the road. Days will start early in this trip, please cooperate with the trip lead to maintain time.

Please be dressed modestly while visiting the Talacuavery temple and the Theyyam shrine. Knees and shoulders should be covered.

Vijayalatha Ramesh

Malabar trip was my first experience with F5. It turned out to be awesome. The places were offbeat and the trip had an eclectic mix of sea, a historical monument and culturally rich Theyyam performances.

Day 2: Enter Kerala. Bekal Fort. Village Walk. Boat ride.

Local sightseeing

Walk: 2-3 hrs

Backwaters stay

The day starts early. Depart for Kerala by 7:30 AM. Visit the beautiful Bekal Fort. Go for a village tour witnessing the rubber tapping process, toddy extraction, coconut climbing and other village experiences. Enjoy a local lunch. If time permits, take a boat ride to the mangrove forests amidst the backwaters. Check in to your stay at the Kavvayi island, surrounded by lake backwaters on one side, and the Arabian sea coast on the other side. Dinner and overnight at Kavvayi islands.

December will be pleasant in North Kerala. You may get odd showers. Carry a light sweater/shawl for evening and night.

Day 3: Kalaripayattu. Handloom. Theyyam.

Walk: 1-2 hrs

Art & Culture

Check out after breakfast. Visit a Kalaripayattu training unit and see the ancient martial arts in action. Also visit handloom units. Check into a resort closer to the Theyyam kavu. In the evening, visit the shrine for the Theyyam performance. Return by dinner. Overnight at Payyanur.

Timings of Theyyams are not decided in advance, so the schedule of Day 3 will be fluid to accommodate the visits.

FUN FACT!

It is believed that once in costume and after specific rituals, the Theyyam performers are not actors - instead, they transform into the actual spirit of the deity they embody!

Day 4: Fire Theyyam. Mysore.

Art & Culture

Drive: 5-7 hrs

Start at 3 AM from the resort to witness the Fire Theyyam. Return to the resort by 6 AM and relax. By 11 AM, depart for Mysore. Arrive by late evening, check-in and relax. Enjoy dinner and call it an early night. Catch up on sleep. Overnight at Mysore.

It will be chilly near the backwaters and you may want to carry a sweatshirt/light jacket for the evenings, especially during the Fire Theyyam.

Usha Acharya

Experiencing Theyyam in three different temples each depicting different energies & forms was an amazing and moving experience. A shoutout to [...] our trip lead who flawlessly managed a diverse group and on ground coordination, to the wonderful local guide with his knowledge and amazing humour.

Day 5: Mysore Palace. Gallery. Bangalore. Trip Ends.

Local sightseeing

Walk: ~2 hrs

Drive: 3-4 hrs

Visit the Mysore Palace and the local market. Visit the Jaganmohan Art Gallery. After lunch, depart for Bangalore. Reach Bangalore by late evening. Trip ends.

We will try to complete all Bangalore city drop offs by 8 PM. Drop offs will be along the same route as the pickup points. There will be no airport/railway station drop offs. For those traveling further, please plan your return after 10 PM.

Important

Add ons

Single Occupancy Supplement: INR 13,500 + 5% GST

Additional services: If you are reaching early or extending your stay, please get in touch with us to help you plan your stay and transport at an extra cost.

Inclusions & exclusions

Inclusions

We want to enable you to travel wallet free. That’s why, when you travel with us, we take care of most of your travelling expenses. Our Theyyam tour package includes:

Accommodation for 4 nights on double sharing

Transportation in an AC vehicle as per the itinerary

All meals and evening coffee/tea starting from breakfast on Day 1 to evening tea/coffee on Day 5

Guided village tour witnessing rural activities on Day 2

Guide for Theyyam visits

Boat ride to the mangroves

All Entry tickets

Tolls and parking

Guidance of an F5 tour lead

Exclusions

Some expenses are excluded (especially those of personal preferences) and will have to be taken care of by the individual. Exclusions include:

Transport to the pick up and drop off points in Bangalore

Packaged water bottles

Tips and other expenses of personal nature

Meals and beverages not mentioned in the inclusions

Water activities like kayaking

Camera charges

Any cost arising due to natural calamities, personal flight delays and aspects beyond our control. We will definitely facilitate an alternative and handle the contingency, the cost being yours.

5% GST

Policy

Terms & Conditions

REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:

15% of the trip cost if cancelled 90 days or more in advance.

25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.

50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.

Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.

If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply

DISCLAIMER

F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.

All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.

F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.

Water activities require personal caution. The rides as well as swimming in backwaters are safe and fun, however, use your discretion depending on your swimming skills.

NOTE: You are forbidden to smoke or show up under the influence of alcohol during the Theyyam performances.

FAQs

What type of accommodation will be provided?

We select accommodation based on their uniqueness/character, location, cleanliness and comfort, hospitality, food quality, and more. Hence, we work with a variety of stays - boutique hotels, heritage properties, well appointed standard hotels, premium homestays etc. You can download the pdf itinerary for more details on the stays being used in the Theyyam women only trip.

What type of food will be available during North Kerala group trips?

Food will be a simple local affair with both veg and non-veg options.

As a solo-female traveller, can I join the Theyyam-Malabar group tour?

Absolutely! We design our women group trips to make it convenient, fun, and safe for women travellers. While a solo trip from Bangalore gives you the autonomy to pace your trip, group travelling is hassle-free and without the mental load of planning and organising. You travel with a group of like-minded women, make new friends, and share experiences for a lifetime. Join our Malabar women trip to experience the joy of travelling with your tribe.

What are the company policies on smoking/drinking?

Note about Smoking & Alcohol: Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable. If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray. NOTE: You are forbidden to smoke or show up under the influence of alcohol during the Theyyam performances.

How does F5 Escapes promote responsible and sustainable tourism?

When we travel, we visit somebody’s home, be it a city, village or a place of stay. We treat them with utmost respect. We encourage all our guests to leave no trace, only footprints. We recommend carrying one's own steel water bottles. Most places of stay we partner with provide clean drinking water and water is available for refill. Small shift, big impact. We are mindful about our group not littering the destination. We try choosing vendors who make a conscious effort to employ locals, thereby enabling us to give back to the local economy. We encourage local handicrafts and on several trips we visit local artisans. We try to reduce overcrowding by travelling in small groups of maximum 12 people. We support women-led enterprises and seek them out on our travels. We work with local organisations across India involved in conservation, culture preservation and employment generation.

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