KERALA CLASSIC TOUR

DAY 01 : ARRIVE COCHIN

Arrival at Cochin International Airport. Welcome by our representative. 

On arrival transfer to the hotel. (The room will be available from 14h00 hours).

Cochin (Kochi) is spread across islands and promontories in a stunning location between the Arabian Sea and the Backwaters. The city was founded in 1341 when a flood created a natural safe port which became the principal harbour for Malabar Coast’s spice trade. Cochin was on the main trade route between Europe and China. The rulers invited people of various religions to settle here, attracting the Jews and the Christians who built places of worship and their own communities. Kochi better known as Cochin serenades the present with her past. 

Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 02 : COCHIN                     

• Visit Dutch Palace,Jewish Synagogue
• Visit Chinese Fishing Nets
• Evening Kathakali Dance Show

Breakfast at hotel.

Cochin is the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty of Kerala.

Enjoy a walk in the Fort Cochin area which is being the natural gateway to the Kochi harbour grew in importance as travellers from far and wide came to Kochi.

Visit the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays), which has some of India’s most beautiful murals, the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays & Saturdays) in the heart of Jew Town and the cantilevered 

Chinese fishing nets. See St. Francis Church (closed on Sundays) where Vasco da Gama was originally buried and the Santa Cruz Church with its pastel coloured interior and carved wooden panels. 

Also, visit Chinese fishing nets .Chinese Fishing Nets, in use for the last 500 years and one of the tourist attractions in Kerala, line the sea-front and exhibit a mechanical method of catching fish by local fishermen in Fort Kochi. It is believed that the Chinese fishing nets were brought in by the Chinese Explorer from the court of Kublai Khan, a Chinese emperor.

Later in the evening enjoy the performance of Kathakali, the pantomimic dance-drama. It is a combination of facial expressions and body movements, which brings out the thought and emotion of the character. Kathakali is predominantly a male art and the dancing is mostly of the masculine type. The female character is lasya which is gentle and grateful.

Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY 03 : COCHIN – MUNNAR (130 kms - 4 Hrs)

• Drive to Munnar

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive towards Munnar. Enjoy the picturesque drive to Munnar. 

Munnar, the queen of hill stations, is located at the confluence of three mountain streams namely, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. The town was once the summer resort of the British government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns and winding lanes make this a popular destination. There are various plantations: tea, coffee, cardamom and other spices, dense forests and wildlife sanctuaries. It is home to the highest growing tea in the world and offers stunning views.

A walk through the aromatic tea gardens, scenic hills covered with green foliage and a camera in hand - there cannot be a better way to spend your evening! A perfect opportunity to turn on the adventure streak in you as it offers an array of exhilarating activities that range from rock climbing, rappelling to paragliding and even cycling. While here visit the Tata Tea Museum, where you can taste and pick up the finest tea in the country and witness tea-processing.

On arrival check in to hotel.

Rest of the time free at leisure to enjoy beautiful & scenic Munnar.

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 04 : MUNNAR 

• Visit Tea Garden and Tea factory
• Walk in Tea Plantation
• Visit to Eravikulam National Park

Breakfast at the hotel.

"It is the nature-lover’s paradise and famous for its tea & spice plantation. Walk through the tea plantation; learn about tea growing & processing and various type of teas.

Visit the famous Tea Museum, which shows miniature functions as that in a tea factory. The Tata Tea Museum (Monday Closed) diligently portrays the growth of Munnar tea estates, veritably conveyed through some of the displays like the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Visitors to the museum can satiate their curiosity on various stages of tea processing and also learn a thing or two about the production of black tea. Later proceed to walk through the Tea Plantations - an experience of walking in the lap of the nature. During this visit learn plucking of Tea Leaves (subject to the growth of plantation at the time of visit) from the workers & also interact with local people and learn about their life & cultures. "

Eravikulam National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is spread over an extensive area of 97sq km along the crest of Western Ghats in Idukki. It is home to the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat). It is also inhabited by other animal species like Nilgiri Marten, Dusky Striped Squirrel, Small-Clawed Otter, Leopard and Indian Bison. Red Disk Bushbrown and Palni Fourwing are among the many endemic butterflies that can be spotted. With 120 beautiful species of birds, including Nilgiri Pipit, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Kerala Laughing Thrush and Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher, this region is a paradise for ornithologists, as well. The shola grasslands of this park are notably rich in Balsams and Orchids. Also, found here is the Neelakurinji Flower which blossoms only once in 12 years.

Optional Tour: Enjoy a Laxmi Hills Trek for 03-05 Hrs . -"Grab your cameras and head for an amazing trek! Escalate to one of the most intimidating hills, as this trek is an amazing respite for those who wish to beat the city blues. The trek provides a great view of grasslands, tea plantations and also the majestic Munnar city from the top (approx. 1800 mts above sea level). The highlight of this trek is the rocky slopes and the grasslands that are witnessed on the way. 

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 05 : MUNNAR – THEKKADY (98 KM – 03 Hrs) 

• Drive to Thekkady 
• Enjoy Kalaripyatu show

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Periyar through the rubber and coffee plantation :

Come abode to unending chain of hills, elephants and spice-scented plantations that create this heavenly town. Lying close to these plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most  fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. See the wildlife around the lake as you cruise along its banks. Apart from elephants, bison, sambar, wild boar, langur, otter and flying squirrel are common.

There are also 246 species of birds and 112 species of butterfly. Apart from its diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, this is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on her lake. This picturesque town holds great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. Also, don’t miss out on the Spice Plantation tour that cover cardamom, pepper, coffee and tea plantations, tea factories, tribal settlements and the surrounding hill regions.

On arrival check in to hotel.

In the evening enjoy Kalaripatu show. Kalaripayattu the martial art form of Kerala is regarded as the oldest and most scientific of its kind in the world. The training aims at the ultimate co-ordination of the mind and body. Feats like chaattom (jumping), ottam (running), marichil (somersault) etc. are then taught, followed by the lessons in the use of weapons such as daggers, swords, spears, maces, the bow and arrow and so on. This art form is used for self-expression in dance forms, in theatre and in movies.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 06 : THEKKADY

• Boat ride on lake Periyar
• Spice plantation visit

Enjoy a boat trip on Periyar Lake to visit the national park (subject to adequate water level) :

A boat cruise on the Lake is perhaps the best way to watch the wildlife in the reserve. Tourists may be able to spot herds of Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. More than 30 species of fish are found in the lake. River Otter, the only mammal in the lake, can very often be seen along a ride.

Breakfast at hotel

Later visit the spice garden and spice market.

Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07 : THEKKADY / ALLEPPEY / HOUSEBOAT (14O KMS- 04 hrs)

• Drive to Alleppey
• Canoe ride 
• Overnight on houseboat

After breakfast we leave Periyar and quickly get to know the greenest state of South India: Kerala. The ride to the lagoons is a feast for the eyes. We drive through dense jungle area where we can distinguish semi-hidden rubber, coffee, tea and pepper plantations. Everywhere we see swaying coconut palms with lush crowns.

The coconut industry is one of the most important employers in this region. 

Before we realize it, we drive over the dikes of the natural water basin of the 'backwaters'. For the local population, these canals are real lifelines. Cooking, washing, transport and stay; everything happens on the water. 

On arrival check in to Houseboat.

After lunch we make an unforgettable backwater cruise.  You will sail through the famous "backwaters" with their countless lagoons and canals, where the colourful life of the locals takes place. Watch the people along the river and enjoy the tropical green vegetation passing by.

Enjoy a canoe ride in small canals in traditional country canoes called “vanjis” to see the underwater paddy fields & the agricultural activities of the local people living on the backwaters.

We dine (Lunch & Dinner) and stay Overnight on houseboat.

DAY 08 : HOUSEBOAT / ALLEPPEY / MARARIKULAM  (16 KMS- 40 Min)

• Drive to Marari

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive toward Mararikulam.

Mararikulam is a quiet fishing village ideal for an enjoyable and relaxing time by the beach after the Kerala holiday. The sun, sea and sand apart, while at Mararikulam, learn more about the life of the simple fishermen, hear their songs as they haul in their catch or the amazing simplicity in the way they thatch their roof with palm fronds.

On arrival check in to hotel.

Rest of the time free at leisure.

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 09 : MARARIKULAM

• Day Free

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day Free at leisure

Overnight at hotel.

DAY 10 : MARARIKULAM / COCHIN (70 KMS- 01 hr 50 min)

• Drive to Cochin 
• Departure Transfer

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive towards Cochin International airport to board your flight towards onwards journey.

End of the Tour