KOCHI (COCHIN) SHORE EXCURSIONS: CHINESE FISHING NETS, FORT KOCHI & BACKWATERS

Kochi (Cochin) in Kerala has been a spice port for 600 years, with Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, British and Jewish history all in a few streets. The cruise terminal is on Willingdon Island, close to Fort Kochi.

Route 1: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry (about 6 hours)

• The Chinese fishing nets on the shore, lowered and raised by teams of fishermen.
• St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India.
• Mattancherry Palace with its wall paintings (closed Fridays).
• Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue (closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays), and the spice shops around it.

Route 2: Backwaters (about 6.5 hours)

A canoe through the narrow canals of a Kerala village, a handloom weaving workshop and a coir rope maker, with a Kerala lunch.

If you are in port in the evening, a Kathakali dance show, with the make-up done in front of you, is worth it.

How these shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from a few people in a van up to a full coach.
• An English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal (or at the tender pier if your ship anchors).
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back well before all-aboard.
• Send us your ship name, port date and docking hours, and we fit the route to them.

Included

• English-speaking local guide
• Private vehicle with driver
• Entrance tickets and boat rides in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks, unless we agree on a lunch stop in the price
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on your group size and the route. Tell us your ship, date and number of people and we will send a plan and a price.

More in India: all India shore excursions. Other ports: Mumbai, Goa. Or see all our cruise port tours in Asia.