Kerala (India) Painting Holiday with Kevin Scully
Price
£2000
Deposit
£ 250
Available Seats
05/10
Date
01 to 10 DEC 2025
Duration
10 Days
Overview
Painting Holiday to Kerala India is a lifetime journey, Threka and Kevin are planning our second Painting holiday to Kerala. It is a 10 days holiday to experience the local cuisine, culture, and life of the beautiful state. Kevin Scully tutoring throughout the holiday and our tour manager Aminesh Chamakala accompanying the group for a hassle-free holiday. This holiday is a full board package to make you delighted.
Kevin Scully’s Painting Holiday in Kerala. Two weeks of touring and tutoring in this beautiful country, visiting four carefully selected destinations which, in turn, offer a unique view of the local culture and day-to-day life in Southern India. This is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience in God’s Own Country which has proved to be a very popular painting trip over the last few years.
TOTUR : KEVIN SCULLY
Kevin Scully and Threka ran a very successful painting holiday together in 2013. Kevin trained at Wimbledon School of Art and has exhibited widely and travelled extensively. He leads painting holidays and art courses in the UK and abroad. His vast experience allows him to teach in all mediums. He especially enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and his work encompasses a wide range of subject matter where he concentrates on working from direct observation to produce paintings that contain just the bare essentials, and devoid of too much unnecessary detail. He is enthusiastic and creative, using demonstrations and one-to-one tuition to help students gain confidence and develop as individuals.
More on: https://www.kevinscully.co.uk/
What’s Included
- 09 nights’ full board, en suite, in charming, high-quality hotels
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Painting lesson by KEVIN SCULLY
- Air conditioned vehicles throughout the tour
- Full-time support of local tour manager
- Half-day boat tour in Kumarakom
- Houseboat cruise with stay
- Visit to tea museum
- Traditional cultural show tickets
- All Entrance Tickets
Not Included
- Flight tickets
- Home & Airport transfers
- Visa & Travel Insurance
- Extra drinks on food table
- Tips & Personal expenses
Accomodation
- 4 Nights @ Kumarakom
- 3 Nights @ Munnar
- 2 Nights @ Fort Kochi
COST PER PERSON
- Single Occupancy: £2450
- Sharing Occupancy: £2000
Tour Itinerary
DAY 00 (30 NOV 2025)
Fly from England to Cochin International Airport (Kerala – India)
DAY 01 (01 DEC 2025) Welcome to God's Own Country, Your Painting Holiday Experience Begins
Welcome to Cochin International Airport and transfer (02.30Hrs) to our first hotel in the Backwaters region. Juice, cookies, and mineral water will be provided throughout the bus ride, and lunch will be served at the hotel. The hotel is located on the edge of the lagoon and exudes a deep sense of tranquility, making it an ideal place to unwind after a long travel. Settle in and find your feet. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the swimming pool. (The hotel offers an optional Ayurvedic massage). By early evening, we’ll be ready to gather for a casual introduction, a brief tutorial, and tips and tricks for getting the most of our painting vacation in Kerala, followed by dinner.
DAY 02 (02 DEC 2025) Backwater Exploration & Cultural Immersion
After breakfast, we embark on a 3-hour boat cruise around local canals to experience the best of The Backwaters. We’ll witness lots of birds, houseboats, fishing boats, ferry canoes, ladies washing clothes and cooking pans, and a jungle of tropical plants. The boat journey will end with a traditional Kerala lunch served on banana leaves prepared by our boatman’s wife at his home..
After lunch, we take a tuk tuk ride (10mins) to our hotel, and in the evening, Kevin demonstrated us how to paint the gorgeous sunset.
DAY 03 (03 DEC 2025) Plein Air Painting & Architecture Discovery
Enjoy a quick 10-minute trip after breakfast to our painting location (A Home Stay), a magnificent traditional building that highlights Kerala’s unique architectural legacy. Spend two and a half hours painting with concentration. After lunch, return to the hotel to recover and unwind or choose to attend a painting demonstration.
DAY 04 (04 DEC 2025) Hotel Painting & Houseboat Adventure
After breakfast Kevin Scully’s painting session in our hotel. Warm up your brushes and get in touch with your creative flow while you take pictures of the tropical surroundings and the dawn light.
By 1:00 PM A Kerala authentic meal greets you when you arrive at your traditional Kerala houseboat. Savour the journey across the renowned backwaters of Kerala.
Set up your easel on deck for a painting session if you’re feeling inspired by the constantly shifting landscape. stay and dinner at Houseboat.
Day 05 (05 DEC 2025) Journey to the Hills: Kumarakom to Munnar Transfer
After breakfast from houseboat, disembark and begin your scenic 4-hour journey to the misty hills of Munnar. This picturesque drive offers breathtaking views as the landscape transforms from tropical backwaters to rolling tea estates while climbing into Kerala’s Western Ghats.
Pause for a delicious lunch at a restaurant half way through our journey
En route, choose to explore a traditional spice plantation where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and vanilla grow in their natural habitat. Discover the aromatic world of Kerala’s famous spices – touch, smell, and learn about the cultivation that has made this region legendary for centuries.
Take a leisurely walk from the hotel, exploring the charming hill station surroundings in this tea-garden paradise.
Day 06 (06 DEC 2025) Tea Plantation Painting & Munnar Exploration
Take a leisurely 20-minute drive to a stunning tea plantation resort to begin your day. Kevin Scully will be painting there. Capture the tranquil beauty that has made Munnar famous all around the world by painting among the undulating hills as morning mist dances across the plantations.
After a delicious meal at the resort, we visit the well-known Mattupetty Dam in Munnar. Admire the immaculate reservoir encircled by hills.
Experience the renowned natural acoustics at Echo Point and take in the expansive views.
Explore a flower garden filled with unusual and colorful plants.
Scenic Viewpoints: Take in the Western Ghats’ magnificent scenery
Evening Cultural Event
Kalaripayattu, an ancient combat method from Kerala, is featured in this optional traditional martial arts performance. See the elegance, power, and dexterity of this centuries-old art form that blends warrior skills with dance-like motions.
Day 07 (07 DEC 2025) History of Tea and Munnar
Start your day with a leisurely painting session at the hotel, where the atmosphere of the misty hill station and the chilly mountain air make for ideal artistic settings.
We go to the Tea Museum after lunch.
Visit the Tea Museum to learn about the intriguing history of Munnar’s tea business. Discover the history of colonisation, the process of making tea the old-fashioned way, and the journey from leaf to cup. View antique equipment, images, and artefacts that document the transformation of this hill station through the use of tea.
Visit Eravikulam National Park (The highest peak in South India – 2695 meters)
Discover the habitat of the endangered mountain goat, known as the Nilgiri Tahr. Take in breathtaking vistas of the Western Ghats as you stroll across undulating grasslands and shola woods. The park features distinctive high-altitude ecosystems and some of the most pristine alpine scenery in South India.
Day 08 (08 DEC 2025) Hills to Historic Harbor: Munnar to Fort Cochin
After breakfast, we say goodbye to Munnar’s misty tea gardens and continue on a lovely 3.5-hour ride to historic Fort Cochin. Descend from the chilly mountain air to the tropical coast, where the landscape changes from rolling hills to bustling towns and coastal plains.
Midway Lunch Stop and Arrival at Fort Cochin
Arrive in this intriguing port city where Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial influences mix with local Kerala culture.
Evening Cultural Experience.
Optional Kathakali dance performance – see Kerala’s most famous classical art form, which includes extravagant costumes, dramatic makeup and passionate storytelling. This ancient dance-drama uses music, dance, and theatre to tell epic stories from Hindu mythology with mesmerising motions and facial expressions.
Day 09 (09 DEC 2025) Cochin's Colonial Heritage & Farewell
Morning Guided Heritage Tour Embark on a comprehensive guided tour through Fort Cochin’s remarkable colonial history:
Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) – Explore Kerala murals and royal artefacts in this 16th-century Portuguese palace, later renovated by the Dutch
St. Francis Church – Visit India’s oldest European church where Vasco da Gama was originally buried
Jewish Synagogue – Discover the 400-year-old Paradesi Synagogue with its hand-painted Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers.
Chinese Fishing Nets – Marvel at these iconic cantilever fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders, now symbols of Cochin’s harbour
Afternoon Activities Choose your perfect ending:
Optional Painting Session – Return to the hotel for a final creative session, perhaps capturing your favourite Kerala memories on canvas Or a Shopping Time – Browse local markets for spices, antique jewellery, handicrafts, dress and souvenirs to take home
Farewell Dinner
Gather for a special farewell dinner, celebrating the incredible journey through Kerala’s diverse landscapes, rich culture, and artistic inspirations. Share memories, artwork, and new friendships formed during this unforgettable painting holiday.
Day 10 (10 DEC 2025) Departure Transfer with a ton of Memories
Departure DayTransfer to Cochin Airport (1-hour drive) – Depart with memories of a great painting holiday guided by Threka and Kevin Scully, carrying with you not just souvenirs, but a deeper appreciation for Kerala’s beauty and your artistic growth.
A perfect finale to your Kerala adventure – from ancient heritage to artistic memories!