South India with Beaches

Destinations : Cochin – Munnar – Thekkady – Kumarakom - Houseboat - Cochin

Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kochi (Cochin)
As you arrive at Cochin airport, our Company representative will be there to receive you at airport. Later you will be taken on drive and transferred to hotel. Relax and get rid of jet lag.

Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 02: Kochi (Cochin)
After taking delicious breakfast in hotel, you will be driven on Kochi sightseeing tour in which you will explore several places including natural attractions and architectural wonders.

Located onto Malabar Coasts, Kochi is the oasis state of Kerala, one of the India's most colorful cities. It has inter-connected series of islands & shoreline that present a vivacious blend of cultures & religions.

Here you will visit Fort Cochin & St. Frances Church, and view amazingly built gravestones and cenotaphs. Next you'll see Jewish Synagogue that is beautifully enwrapped by painted Chinese tiles and rich embellished interiors that are adorned with Belgian chandeliers and grand lighting. Built in Portuguese style but with Indian influence, Mattancherry "Dutch" Palace acquires an important place in architectural and cultural landscape of Kochi. You will get struck with awe & wonder on seeing the mural paintings in its interiors, depicting legends of Hindu Gods and scenes from scriptures.

In evening, you will have memorable experience doing Boat Trip along palm fringed lakes, backwaters, shady canals & narrow spits of land between the waters. All this makes for an extraordinary excursion.

Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 03: Cochin – Munnar (140 kms: 4 hrs)
After breakfast in hotel, you will be driven to Munnar and transferred to hotel. After check-in and some relaxation, we will head towards Munnar city tour.

Located at the Idukki district of Kerala State in India, Munnar with its natural beauty, calmness and mild cold climate throughout the year makes for the tourists' favorite visiting place. There are about 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar. The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar range expose it's beauty and charm.

Here, you'll visit Eravikulam National Park (15 km from Munnar), one of the India's finest wildlife reserves. You will be amazed on seeing many kinds of rare flora including rare terrestrial and epiphytic orchids and beautiful wild balsams. Important fauna here are nilgiri tahr, nilgiri langur, leopard, tiger, Indian bison etc. Also enjoy the tea plantation and Munnar Lake site. Breathtaking landscape and verdant woods will surely relieve your mind and soul from all tensions and whisk your soul into nature's lap.

After full day tour, you will be driven back to hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 04: Munnar
After breakfast in hotel, you will set off for Munnar sight seeing.

This day you will visit Mattupetty, which is famous for its highly specialized dairy farm where over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared. Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm. Next you will visit Pothamedu that offers an excellent view of tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, lush mountain and breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks.

Later you will visit Devikulam (7 km from Munnar), an idyllic hill station. You will get entranced on seeing its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and hugging cool mountain air. Further, get embraced with picturesque surroundings of Sita Devi Lake, which also makes for a good picnic spot. You can also enjoy fishing here.

Return to the hotel for overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05: Munnar to Thekkady (Periyar) (4hours)
After relishing an appetizing breakfast in Munnar, you will be driven to Thekkady and transfered to hotel.

Thekkady has one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves, Periyar that is noted for its geography, diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. The greatest attraction of Periyar is the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

Overnight in Hotel in Thekkady.

Day 06: Thekkady (Periyar)
After taking breakfast in hotel, you will be taken on Periyar tour.

Much more than being a precious wildlife reserve, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its geography, diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. This day you will visit spice plantation where you can see the cultivation of a whole range of spices like pepper, cardamon, cloves, turmeric, vanilla, all spice cinnamon etc. This is followed by a visit to spice shops, both large & small, which are found in the small town of Kumily.

Overnight in Hotel in Thekkady.

Day 07: Thekkady to Kumarakom (185 Kms/4.3 Hrs)
After taking breakfast in hotel, you will be driven to Kumarakom and transferred to hotel. After check-in and some relaxation, you have whole day for Kumarakom explorations.

Popularly known as 'Rice Bowl of Kerala', Kumarakom is a pictorial village formed by huddle of tiny islands. It displays the stunning beauty of nature at its highest, with mangrove forests, pea green meadows and chortling waterways & canals.

You will visit Kumarakom bird sanctuary here, which is spread across an area of 14 acres. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck, and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live here in flocks are sure to fascinate you.

Further you will visit Pathiramanal, “Sands of Night” which is a 10 acre island on the backwaters located between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom. This island is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.

Overnight in Hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 08: Kumarakom/ House Boat (Deluxe)
After taking breakfast in hotel, you have entire day for Kumarakom sight seeing.
This day will be devoted to Cruise tour, in which you will be taken to house boat cruise that will wave to Alleppey. While this trip you will get a fascinating insight into the life of a Keralan Backwater Village. As the boat glides along the backwaters one can see the daily life in villages on narrow strips of land, fisherman fishing, children swimming & playing in the water, women doing their daily chores, mobile shops in tiny canoes, cultivation of paddy & its harvesting (during harvest season) huge country barges ferrying the coconuts, rice, coir etc.

Note: The cruise commences at 1230 hrs with lunch served on board and continues till dusk. At dusk the boat will anchor in a wide waterway or lake for the night. On the following day the cruise commences again after breakfast and the guest is dropped at Alleppey by 0900 hrs.

So, of this day, your overnight stay will be on boat.

Day 09: Kumarakom – Kovalam (140 kms: 3 hrs)
After taking breakfast in hotel, you will check out of the hotel and be driven to Kovalam. There you will be transferred to hotel and proceed for check-in. After taking required relaxation, you have full day at leisure for Ayurveda massage and beach activities.

Overnight in hotel in Kovalam.

Day 10: Kovalam
After taking breakfast in hotel, you will be taken on drive for Kovalam sightseeing.

Kovalam is an idyllic tourist destination, picture perfect tropical beach and a traditional fishing village. Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation. Here, you will see Padmanabhapuram Palace, Anchuthengu Fort and Koyikkal Palace, and get marveled at their architectural excellence. Next you will visit some famous museums namely Napier Museum, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and Science & Technology Museum.

In evening you can stroll around some really alluring and spectacular beaches like Sankhumugham Beach or Varkala Beach.

Overnight in Kovalam hotel.

Day 11: Kovalam - Trivandrum
After taking breakfast in hotel, you will check-out from hotel and will be driven to Trivandrum airport, where you will catch flight for your onward destination.

Here tour is concluded! Take home pleasant and unforgettable memories of your journey to India.