A boutique hotel based on authenticity and natural wellness

The Spice Village is a boutique hotel located in Thekkady, 190 km away from Kochi, after an amazing drive through the lush and misty hills of Kerala. This area is famous for its tea, spices and also its wildlife, elephants and tigers that you might encounter in the Periyar Park. The 52 villas at Spice Village were built and decorated with simplicity using local materials.
More really means less here: no air conditioning and no TV to be in harmony with this tribal region. An amazing stay for modern travelers who are looking for authenticity and natural wellness.

A boutique hotel in the middle of the rainforest

You will discover the Spice Village between the trees such as a plant growing naturally on a bamboo, teak or honeysuckle forest. You will have the impression to be in a middle of a primitive jungle, but in reality the forest surrounding the Spice Village is the brainchild of a single man, A. W. Woods. He worked for the British government in the 30's and his passion for nature and the local ooralie tribe culture of the Kerala mountains, led him to settle down on this land and to built his house, which is now the Woodhouse Bar of the Spice Village, and an arboretum.

The 52 individual bungalows with verandas offer modern comfort while respecting the environment and local culture: hot water by solar panels, traditional palm roof, local wooden furniture and tiled floor. The song of the 50 species of birds of the Spice Village will replace the TV with enchantment!
You can choose between Standard Villas or the big Deluxe Villas, both of them have an outdoor terrace to enjoy the beautiful Kerala evenings while benefiting the smell of lemongrass and cardamom.

Tempting Experience: a historic bar

The Spice Village Bar is the former home of the creator of the place: W. Woods. In addition to enjoy delicious cocktails or play snooker, you can admire the many historical photos displayed on the walls. You're invited to a fabulous journey through time at the era of the great British Empire. You will have the impression that Winston Churchill, who used to smoke his cigars here, just left the room... For the record, Churchill made his cigars, the famous "Black Tigers", tailor-made by the family Fan Thompson's from a nearby village in Tamil Nadu.

Services and activities

A Kerala visit would not be complete without enjoying the benefits of the local medicine: Ayurveda. With a curative or rejuvenating care, your body and your spirit will be pampered by the doctors and masseurs of the Centre which, in the middle of the garden, take full advantage of the surrounding nature.

Gourmets will have a choice between 3 places to eat: the indoor restaurant with rustic tables, the porch for a dinner under the stars and the historic Tiffin Room. In order to reduce the impact of the carbon footprint and to advantage the local people, all the ingredients served in the restaurants are from the local region.
The restaurant "50 miles", open during high season, offers a very original menu that includes ingredients that have been purchased in a 50 miles range.

Sports lovers will enjoy playing basketball, badminton, tennis, yoga and swimming.

Ask for a picnic at the hotel and follow the footsteps of Anand Gopinath, the Spice Village naturalist, for a journey full of adventures in the jungle! You will discover the amazing region biodiversity of the Ooralies and the Mannan tribes.

Various activities can be organized on request: boat ride on Lake Periyar, spices cooking lessons, visit of tea or gum plantations, elephant ride...

Periyar Nature Reserve

777km2 of vegetation, forest and a lake, created by the British in 1895, the Periyar reserve has an incredible wildlife and flora. You will be able to watch elephants, tigers, 350 species of birds, 145 kinds of orchids, spices(cardamom, pepper, etc..) various herbs and an endemic species of dry rice that grows without water. A tropical paradise that can be visited by boat across the lake or on the various trails in the company of a naturalist guide.

Rewards

The hotel is certified "green leaf" a label for ecolodges and friendly environment hotels as well as the LACON certification for all organic products made at the hotel and in the reserve.