14 NIGHTS / 15 DAYS – TOUR 04

Arrival – Cochin International Airport

Airport Village (Kochi) – Waterfalls/Pilgrim/Lakes-(Central Kerala) – Pick up from the Cochin International Airport and stay in a hotel in the Airport Village itself. Get ready for an exotic holiday in Gods own country.

Overnight stay in Airport Village.

To Athirappally

Waterfalls & Tribal village – Kodanad – Elephant Training Centre Visit; Birdwatching Sanctuary & Reservoirs/Dams –  Thattekkad) – The soothing sounds take you to nature’s most relaxing, rejuvenating place, East of Chalakkudy to The Athirapally Waterfalls. Athirappally is an 80ft high waterfall which literally takes your breath away. Starting calmly from the high ranges, and crashing through gorges overhung with trees. Athirappally Waterfalls is located 60 kms from Cochin Airport located at the entrance to Sholayar ranges, this waterfall is a popular picnic spot.

Later proceed to Kodanad, a rural riverside village of Ernakulam district. Elephants are an integral part of Indian mythology and culture. They are often referred to as the sons of the ‘Sahya'(the Western Ghats). Once a part of daily life, these animals are ornamental and auspicious pieces now. No festival or celebration is complete without rows of caparisoned elephants, replete with silk parasols. Situated on the southern banks of the Periyar, amid the high ranges, near Perumbavoor, Kodanad is one of the largest elephant training centers in Kerala.

Thattekad bird sanctuary was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala. It is popularly known as Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and is situated at the foot of Western Ghats. It expended over 25 km on the North side of Periyar River.

Overnight stay in Thattekkad.

Thattekkad to Munnar

Munnar – Misty Hills, Spectacular Tea Plantations, Lakes, Flora & Fauna – (East Kerala) – Land of Misty mountains and spectacular tea plantation, Munnar. Tucked away in sunny, tropical Kerala is a cool green paradise away from heat and dust, state’s finest Tea plantations, the best hill station of Kerala. Watch the spectacular beauty of Tea gardens. Enjoy the nature, where the cloud turns into mist, which may touch you with a romantic feeling. It is located 1600 meters above the sea level. This hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular and most wanted tourist place of Kerala. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). Munnar is an idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna. Breathing of fresh, cool mountain air is a rare experience. Visit Kundale Lake, Eco Point, Mattupetty Dam.

Overnight stay in Munnar.

Munnar

About 15 km from Munnar, the famous hill station of Kerala, is the beautiful Rajamala. The natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocrius), the Eravikulam – Rajamala region is now home to half the world Tahr population estimated at around 1300. But the Tahr is only one of the reasons to make a visit to Rajamala. The picturesque beauty of this mountain will make you want to tent here forever. Later visit Tea Museum and Blossom Park.

Overnight stay in Munnar.

Munnar to Thekkady/Periyar

Thekkady – Periyar – Wildlife, Rain Forests, Spice Plantations, Forest lake Boating, Flora & Fauna, Adventure & Ecotourism – (East Kerala) – Thekkady, it’s a land of rainforests, wildlife and spices. Thekkady (Evergreen Forest’s Land with Spice Plants) the very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the Periyar Forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. This plantation town is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar sanctuary. Get ready with your camera for the wildlife scenario.

Overnight stay in Thekkady.

Thekkady

Fill your eyes with the lush green spice plants blessed with cardamom and pepper plantations, a generous gift of ginger, clove and nutmeg and a variety of Ayurvedic medicinal plants, go for an exotic spice plantation visit. Optional activities like; Elephant safari, Kalari Payattu (A traditional martial Art), Kathakali Show (A traditional performance-Art), Jungle Jeep Safari and Ayurveda Massages etc are available here in Thekkady.

Overnight Stay in Thekkady

Houseboat

Have you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven’t, make sure you do. This one is really a wonderful and unforgettable experience!
Present day houseboats are huge, slow moving exotic barges used for leisure trips, and are in fact reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times. The original kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and spices. A standard kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.By constructing special rooms to accommodate travelers, these boats cruised forward from near-extinction to enjoy their present great popularity. The Backwaters of Kerala is a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets formed by more than 900 km of waterways. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea.

Overnight stay in Houseboat

Kumarakom to Kollam

Kollam -Beaches, Lakes , Backwaters & Canals- (South Kerala) – Kollam or Quilon The Old port town situating on the coast of Arabian Sea is the centre of the country’s cashew trading and processing industry was once a famous port of International spice trade, Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi lake- The second largest lake in kerala, Making it the gateway city to the magnificent backwaters of kerala. Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of south India. The dance from of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit. Ashtamudi Lake, Thangasseri, Kollam Beach, Munrose Island, Ashram Picnic Village, etc are the main tourist places to visit.

Overnight stay in Kollam

Kollam to Kovalam

Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram) -Beaches & Estuary Islands, Historical Temple, Zoo, Museums & Art Galleries – (SK) – Kovalam a haven of peace and tranquility, the idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country. Kovalam offers an excellent diversity with Kovalam beach to suit all desires and occasions. Three curve shaped beaches, alienated by stony outcroppings, from the major attraction of this coastal resort.

Overnight stay in Kovalam

Kovalam

Trivandrum sightseeing, The Zoological Park: (10.00am to 6.15 pm- Closed on Mondays). One of the first Zoos in India It is located in a well planed Botanical Garden, with huge trees, sprawling lawns and wild fowl swimming in the lakes which feel like a small jungle in the heart of the City. A reptile house with different species of snakes is also located in this premise. The Napier Museum & Sree Chitra Art Gallery: (10.00am to 04.45 pm- Closed on Mondays and Wednesday forenoons). Located near the Napier Museum, this art gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlana and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali. Lunch Break Science and Technology museum complex: The exhibits here are related to Science, Technology and Electronics.(10.00am to 05.00 pm-Closed on Mondays) .Priyadarshini Planetarium, (Daily shows from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm) Finish your sightseeing trip on and return back to Kovalam Beach .Enjoy the sunset and return back to Hotel.

Overnight stay in Kovalam

Kovalam to Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari – Southern Tip of India for Full Swing Sunrise & Sunset.-Beaches, Temples & Fishermen Lifestyle- (South Kerala) –

Kanyakumari is a land which is famous as a place where one could watch the Sunrise and Sunset at the same spot. The sight of full moon rising along with the sun setting is a unique sight that one could see only in Kanyakumari in India. Places to Visit: Vivekananda Rock, Beaches, Wax museum, Triveni Sangamam.

Overnight stay in Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari to Varkala

Varkala -Beaches, Cliffs and Lakes- (South Kerala) – Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam – Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea.

Overnight stay in Varkala

Varkala to Alleppey

Alleppey-Alappuzha- -Backwaters & Canals, Paddy fields, Palm groves, Boat Cruises /Stay & Beaches – (Central Kerala)- Mirror still lagoons, picture book lakesides, palm fringed canals, shores bustling with glimpses from day to day life in the country side. To label Alappuzha (The Malayalam name for Alleppey) The ‘Venice of the East’ might today appear a far-etched cliche of travelogue writers, but this quaint little town is certainly the Venice of India. Nowhere else will you find, spread out across the center of town, a unique crisscrossing network of canals on which thatched country boats punt along leisurely. The proximity of lakes adds to the Venetian ambience. Places to visit at Alleppey are Krishnapuram palace, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Alleppey Beach, etc.

Overnight stay in Alleppey

Alleppey to Kochi

Kochi -Heritage Harbor Town, Beaches, Water Cruise ways, Palaces, Islands, Churches, Temples, Synagogue & Commercial City Centre-(Central Kerala) – It’s an old harbor town with heritage palaces, Temples and Churches. Kochi (Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide. Places to Visit, Jewish Synagogue (Built in 1568 AD. Closed on Saturdays & Jewish Holidays), Dutch Palace (Built in 1557 AD. Closed on Fridays & National Holidays), St .Francis Church & Santa Cruz Cathedral (Built by Portuguese in 1503 AD), Maritime Museum- INS Dronacharya Fort Cochin (Monday Holiday), Chinese fishing net (The Chinese Fishing Nets that line the sea-front and exhibit a method of catching fish, introduced by Chinese traders) then proceeds to Hotel.

Overnight stay in Kochi