TOUR DAYS/ROUTE: 11 Nights & 12 Days CALICUTT/KOZHIKODE (ARRIVAL) – GURUVAYOOR- TRICHUR/CHERUTHURUTHY – COCHIN - MUNNAR – PERIYAR – ALLEPPEY/BACKWATERS – POOVAR - TRIVANDRUM (DEPARTURE)

TOUR LODGING INFO: 10 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 - £638
03-04 pax - £560
05-10 pax - £490
Single person travelling – £1060

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
• Day with master programme visit at Kerala Kalamandalam
• 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
4. All other than those listed in above inclusions

TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 01: Arrive at Calicut & transfer to Waynad (65kms/2.0hrs) (B) Upon arrival at Calicut (Kozhikode), meet assistance by our company representative, followed by transfer to Waynad – a small hill station/rain forest, lying at an altitude varying from 700 - 2100 meters above the sea level. Waynad has the highest number of tribal settlements in Kerala. Upon arrival at Vythiri, check in to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Vythiri.

Day 02: In Waynad / Sightseeing (B) After breakfast, sightseeing tour visiting Thirunelly temple – one of the oldest temples of the world and an excellent example of ancient temple architecture. Then on visit Kuruva Island/Dweep - a 950 acre protected river delta system on the Kabini River, still uninhabited, but rich with rare species of birds, orchids and herbs. Onward visit Banasura Sagar Dam - Asia’s second biggest earth dam. End of the day visit brings us to Edakkal Caves in the Ambukuthy Hills.  Co called a cave it is not a cave in the right sense, but is a cleft about 96 ft. long and 22 ft.wide in the rock. There are some interesting carvings of pre-historic age. Later return to Vythiri. Overnight at hotel in Vythiri.

Day 03: Vythiri to Cheruthurthy /via. Guruvayoor (195kms/4.5hrs) (B) Check out from hotel after early breakfast and drive to Guruvayoor – one of the main pilgrim centre and famous temple of “Lord Krishna”. We will take a look of the temple from out site which is a lively atmosphere & definite photographic feast. At Guruvayoor we will visit to the Elephant farm at Punathoor Kotta. It is the only camp in Kerala with such large number of Elephants. After visit of the Elephant camp, we proceed to Cheruthuruthy - a charming riverside village situated in Thrissur the cultural capital of Kerala. It is  undoubtedly the ‘Kerala Kalamandalam’ institution that has put this serene village on to the global map of art and culture. Upon arrival check in to resort & relax. Overnight at Cheruthuruthy.

Day 04: Cheruthuruthy to Cochin (120kms/2.5hrs) (B,L) After breakfast visit to Kerala Kalamandalam for the most popular cultural program of Kerala “Day With Master”. A Day with the Masters’ is a pilgrimage to the most sacred temple of arts, giving a world class experience to the visitors, with an unique menu of presentations that bring out the grandeur of the institution. The tour will feature Kalamandalam students as guides. The students have been trained in an art form for at least 3 years, and have been given special training for escorting visitors too. You will have the masters accompanying you for an open interaction/questionnaire session. You will visit the classes where in various performing arts are studied. The tour ends with Lunch at one of the resort near kalamandalam. Onward drive to Cochin. Overnight at hotel in Cochin.

Day 05: In Cochin / Sightseeing After breakfast, at 09.30am proceed for sightseeing tour of Cochin visiting – Mattancherry palace (The Dutch palace),  ‘The Jewish Synagogue’ at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town & Spice market at the narrow streets. Later visit fort Cochin including visits to ‘The St. Francis church’ the oldest European Church in India, ‘The Santa Cruz Basilica’ originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese & the cochin boast “Chinese fishing nets”. Return to hotel & In the evening Enjoy a Sunset Cruise by motor boat. Overnight at hotel in Cochin.

Day 06: 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 07: 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 08: 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 09: Periyar to Alleppey / Houseboat (140kms/3.5hrs) (B,L,D)Onward proceed to reach the back water land of Alleppey – so called the Venice of the East. Arrive Alleppey and at 12.00noon embark the private House Boat which 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 full of palm trees, rice fields and floating water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green Island. Overnight onboard Houseboat.

Day 10: Alleppey to Poovar (225kms/5.0hrs) (B) Disembark from Houseboat and transfer to Poovar Island - Unspoilt and unexplored, Enveloped by the most serene backwaters, the Sea and the beach Poovar Island is one of the best and a rare destination Kerala. Upon arrival check in to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Poovar.

Day 11: In Poovar (B) Leisure day to explore the area on your own. The vehicle is at your disposal. You can visit the other beaches of Kovalam (or) go for a half day city tour of Trivandrum (or) set on a day return excursion to the so called lands end – Kanykumari. Overnight at hotel in Poovar.

Day 12: Departure transfer to Trivandrum airport / Tour End Check out from hotel according to flight timing and the tour ends today with a departure transfer to Trivandrum airport to connect onward flight.