Kerala Special

Tour Information

Enjoy culture and tranquility on this all-encompassing 8 day tour in one of the most beautiful states of India. Highlights include a Kathakali dance show in Cochin, a boat ride on Lake Periyar and a backwater sunset cruise in Kumarakom.

Tour Summary:
2nts Kochi (Cochin), 2nts Munnar, 1nt Periyar, 2nts Kumarakom

Transportation is by private air-conditioned car and there will be an English speaking local guide for sightseeing in Cochin and for the Spice Plantation in Periyar.

Day 1

Departure flight from the UK - Kochi (Cochin)

Day 2

Arrive Kochi (Cochin).
On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight stay.

Day 3

Kochi
Morning: After breakfast sightseeing tour of Kochi. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue - (which remains closed on Saturdays) St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica. While driving along the coastline, at the Harbour’s mouth, one can also view the unique and still-in-use "Chinese Fishing Nets" which were introduced by the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved.
Evening witness Kathakali dance performance. Enjoy India’s most spectacular Dance Drama based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied with drummers and musicians.

Overnight stay.

Day 4

Kochi - Munnar
Morning: After breakfast leave Kochi by road for Munnar. The journey is approximately 150 kms and takes around 3-4 hours.
On arrival, check in at hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 5

Munnar
Morning: After breakfast visit a tea plantation & tea museum. Munnar the right royal resort lazily nestled in the verdant slopes of tea country. A quaint little town that exudes a rare old world charm and strangely reminds one of the days of the Raj in its elegant splendour. A promise of health with its soothing sunshine, salubrious climate and invigorating scent of the air from the tea gardens. Come the rains, and the place suddenly comes alive with a different kind of allure that will leave a casual visitor in a bewitchment.

Overnight stay.

Day 6

Munnar - Periyar
Morning: After breakfast leave Munnar by road for Periyar, a journey of 160 kms & a 4 hour drive.

On arrival, check in at hotel.

Afternoon visit to a Spice Plantation to watch different varieties of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee growing in their natural environment. Periyar is 1000 meters above the sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in India is produced from here. Vasco de Gama was the first European to land at the Malabar Coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Pepper in those days was exported against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper was called black gold.

Overnight stay.

Day 7

Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning boat ride on the lake Periyar to see the heard of Elephants and other wild animals who come to the lake to drink water.

Periyar has a lot to offer you in sightseeing. The name Thekkady, for those who have already visited this place, brings to mind images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. Moreover, the flora and fauna of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is absolutely thrilling. The wildlife sanctuary here is the natural habitat of a wide variety of animal species. The Periyar Lake is a paradise for the nature lovers. It gives you an opportunity to observe the wild animals roaming in the jungle. The lake is also a birdwatcher’s delight. The greatest attraction of Periyar Lake, however, is the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. This lake serves as the waterhole for the animals and they come here to drink or take a dip. Other attractions of the sanctuary are the Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards, Malabar Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked Mongooses, etc. There are over 260 species of birds here, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers.

Later drive to Kumarakom visiting spice plantation en route. 127 Kms 3 – 4 hrs. drive.

On arrival, check in at your backwater resort.

Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad (’granary’ of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets

Overnight stay.

Day 8

Kumarakom
Morning: Free to relax and enjoy the serene atmosphere or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage at the resort.

Later visit Philip Kuttys backwater farm house for lunch. The farm is located on a small farm island in the backwaters / Vembanad Lake next to Kumarakom within the Vechoor village limits. The farm is made up of ridges and canals, with all the planting done on the ridges. The canals are used for natural fish culture. Karimeen (Pearl spot) and fresh water jumbo prawns (scampi) are grown naturally in some of the canals. The major crops on the farm are coconut, toddy tapping, nutmeg, cocoa, banana, pepper and many other fruits, vegetables and spices. The farm also has a few cows, geese, ducks and hens.

Return to your backwater resort after the lunch.

Evening sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake.

Overnight stay

Day 9

Kumarakom - Kochi
Transfer to Kochi airport for your return flight.

Day 10

Arrival back to the UK

Accommodation whilst on tour is in superior 4* hotels.

Why not extend your stay for 3 nights to Kovalam, which offers some of India’s best white sandy beaches. Choose from the 4* Travancore Heritage resort or the 5* Leela Beach resort.

Please call for further details.

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