Essence Of Kerala Holiday

09 Nights/10 Days: (Cochin – Munnar  – Periyar- Alleppey – Kovalam)

Day 1: Arrival at Cochin Airport- Cochin

Arrive at Cochin Airport. You will be met and transferred to Fort Cochin (60 mins). Fort Cochin is the home to some of the oldest European architecture in India and has been a significant settlement ever since Cochin Harbour was discovered. Unlike the bustling Ernakulum, the twin cities of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have preserved an extraordinary wealth of early colonial architecture spanning the Portuguese, Dutch and the British eras- a crop unparalleled in India. Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 2: Cochin

After your breakfast you will enjoy sight-seeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. You will visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India where the Vasco Da Gama was buried. The Dutch Palace, with its murals, the Synagogue with is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi was held here. Evening enjoy Kathakali dance performance, the traditional art form of Kerala. Kathakali dance is the ancient pantomime dance drama of Kerala. The performance is for about 2 and half hours, with an hour of make-up, a short introduction about the dance and an hour of dance performance.

Day 3: Cochin – Munnar

Morning after breakfast you will be transfer to tea county of Munnar (4 Hrs). Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Stay at Hotel for 2 nights. Evening enjoy a walk to the near-by viewpoints.

Day 4: Munnar

Morning you enjoy a sightseeing tour of the high ranges. You will visit the Tea museum to see the processing of tea; it also has the history of tea in the region. There are other viewpoints like Eravikulam National Park famous for Nilgiri Thar, Mattupetty Dam and scenic place and these tend to be very popular with tourists. You could also visit Srishti, a welfare center in Munnar which is managed and run by Tata Tea. It comes under Tata Global Beverages’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. This Tata initiative houses a school for lesser abled children, a textile factory, a recycle paper factory, a bakery and a little shop where they sell their home made products.

Day 5: Munnar – Periyar

Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar(4 Hrs.). This is a wildlife sanctuary around an artificial lake at Thekkady high in the Western Ghats. The mountains around the lake covered with dense deciduous forests and grass savannas make this a picture-perfect destination. Tourists can make boat trips in the lake and watch the wild animals. Stay at Hotel for 2 nights. Evening enjoy a martial arts show in a near-by theatre.

Day 6: Periyar

Morning enjoy boating in Lake Periyar to spot wild animals. Later visit the spice plantation, where you can see the locally grown spices in Periyar like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper cloves etc. You will have a person to explain how they are grown, harvested and processed. Later enjoy an Elephant ride through the Spice Plantation.

Day 7: Periyar– Houseboat (Alleppey)

Morning drive to Alleppey (4 Hrs). By noon board your AC Deluxe Houseboat (All meals) from the Vembanad House boat jetty for an overnight cruise with on board lunch and snacks and dinner, covering the nearby villages and the ethnic life around these villages to Alleppey, through the famous Vembanad Lake. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a relaxing cruise through the waterways which gives you an opportunity to observe rural Kerala up close. For the people living on the banks, the backwaters are a part of their day to day life. You stop to look at paddy cultivation, watch local fishing, and see historic churches and local temples. Your Houseboat will have one bedroom each with en-suite facilities and exterior space to sit and relax. Bedrooms are air-conditioned from 9 Pm to 7 Am.

Day 8: Houseboat – Kovalam

Morning after breakfast you will be dropped at boat jetty. You will be met and transferred to Kovalam (5 Hrs). Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. Stay at Hotel for 2 night.

Day 9: Kovalam

Full day at Leisure.

Day 10: Trivandrum Airport Departure

Like all good things, your tour in Kerala comes to an end but you will always carry memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience. Today you will be transferred (1 Hr) to Trivandrum International Airport to connect your flight home.

****END OF OUR TOUR****