TOUR DAYS/ROUTE : 09 Nights & 10 Days COCHIN (ARRIVAL) – MUNNAR – PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM – ALLEPPEY/BACKWATERS – KOVALAM - TRIVANDRUM (DEPARTURE)

TOUR LODGING INFO: 08 Nights Hotels + 01 night Houseboat  Accommodation is provided on twin sharing room on full board basis at listed hotels or equivalent.  An extra bed will be provided in the room for three persons sharing one room.  The extra bed is often a folding bed, much inferior to the existing twin/double bed.  We have used standard category hotels comprises of 02-03 star properties with regular facilities. A hotel list is as follows:

TOUR PRICE (PER PERSON):

Valid from 01-Dec’09 to 31-Jul’2010 (not valid for a period between:15-Dec’09 to 15-Jan’2010)
Package price per person on twin sharing room:
02 pax - £490
03-04 pax - £450
05-10 pax - £403
Single person travelling – £794

TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Accommodations with breakfast at listed hotels or similar
• One night on the Houseboat with all meals
• All transfers by Air Conditioned vehicle for entire tour
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Entrance fees applicable for visits
• Service of on-spot English speaking guide for visits
• Visit of Kathakali dance performance while at Cochin
• Meet assistance on arrival & departure by our company representative
• All applicable taxes

PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

1. Meals other than those listed in inclusions
2. Camera fee, tips, porter & Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, telephones, drinks etc
3. Inland/International Flights/trains any All other than those listed in above inclusions

TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 01: Arrive Cochin / transfer to hotel (B) Upon arrival at Cochin airport in the morning, meet assistance by our company representative, followed by transfer to hotel. In the afternoon at 1430hrs sightseeing of Cochin visiting - ‘The Dutch Palace (Mattancherry palace)’,  “Spice market at the narrow streets”, “The St. Francis Church” -the oldest European Church in India and the cochin boast “Chinese fishing nets”.  Overnight at hotel in Cochin

Day 02: Cochin to Munnar (155kms / 4.0hrs) (B) After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Munnar – the “Nature lovers paradise”. The drive through the picturesque countryside reaches you to Munnar - a popular getaway retreat for hill station lovers. Surrounded by lush green tea estates, Munnar boasts of exotic flora and fauna. Upon arrival visit to the “Tea museum” and see the processing of tea. Later check into your hotel. The Evening is at leisure to absorb the beauty of this hill station. (Overnight stay at Hotel in Munnar).

Day 03: In Munnar / Sightseeing (B,L) With a relaxed start of the day, you can opt for two choice of activity for the day. Either to go on a regular visit of Munnar with Chauffeur & guide visiting - Eravikulam park ,home to the Endangered  Nilgiri Thar. Now the park has the largest known population of Thars existing in the world and onward to visit the mattupetti dam and eco point. On the other hand you could choose to take a soft Nature walk with picnic lunch , accompanied by well experienced guide from Munnar. This Nature walk will take you along the lush green tea plantation and to know a lot more about life of people at the tea eastate. Overnight at hotel in Munnar. 

Day 04: Munnar to Periyar (130kms/3.0hrs) (B) Check out from hotel after breakfast at 09.00am and drive to Periyar (also known as Thekkady). The name periyar comes after the Dam made here by the English in 1895.  A wild life reserve hence is an ideal place to track down wild life such as Elephants, Bison, Deer and numerous other varieties of birds. The landscape here is with very tropical and you will be surrounded by tea, coffee & other spices. On arrival check in to hotel. At 15.30hrs we leave for the most popular boat trip at the National Park - the best way to observe game in wild is by boat. There are many animals to see, including herds of elephants, bison’s and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just before sunrise and sunset. Overnight at hotel in Thekkady.

Day 05:  Periyar to Kumarakom (140kms/3.5hrs) (B) Depart from hotel after breakfast and a drive downhill the winding roads through the green vegetatioan and stunning views will reach us to Kumarakom – a unique backwater destination located along the shores of Vembanad Lake. It has top-notch resorts and bird sanctuary nearby. Ayurvedic therapies here is rated the best in India. Upon arrival check in to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 06: Kumarakom (B)Day at Leisure/free for own activities.
Optional tour: At 11.30hrs, you will transferred by motor boat to Phikipkutty Farm House, one of the famous “Syrian Christian Family” in Kumarakom where in you will experience cooking demo on Kerala delicacy followed by a farm visit with in the property and lunch prepared and served by the family members.
Later transfer back by boat to hotel of stay at Kumarakom. Overnight at Kumarakom.

Day 07: Kumarakom to Alleppey / by Houseboat (B,L,D) Morning at leisure in the hotel. Check out by 1200hrs and embark a private House boat that is waiting to take you on a tour through the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the landscape from the protection of the cabin. The population’s whole life takes place here on the water. The people sail, fish, swim and bathe here. They do their washing and their washing up. They are so adapted to the water that you can see people talking for an hour, while they are up to their necks in water. Peddlers take care of the supplies and the public transport goes on the water. Countless water birds wait for their chance to catch a fish. The trip goes through a wonderful area of the lush green vegetation of Kerala backwater land. Overnight onboard Houseboat.

Day 08: Alleppey to Kovalam (190kms/4.0hrs) (B) Disembark at Alleppey at 09.30hrs and drive to Kovalam – one of the very popular beach destination of Kerala.  Upon arrival at Kovalam check in to hotel and rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at hotel in Kovalam.

Day 09: In Kovalam / Day return excursion to Kanyaklumari Breakfast at residing hotel.  Today you set on a day return excursion to Kanyakumari – the lands end (or) so called tail of India where the three seas meet. Enroute visit to the famous wooden palace of Padmanabhapuram. Return to kovalam in the evening. Overnight at hotel in Kovalam.

Day 10: Departure transfer to Trivandrum airport / Tour End Check out from hotel according to you flight timing and the tour ends today with a departure transfer to Trivandrum airport for onward flight.