Kerala Package 2010-2011 (08 Nights/09 Days)
1st day - Kovalam, Trivandrum
Reach Trivandrum International Airport/Railway station. Greeted by travel agent’s representative. You will be shifted to Kovalam, about an hour away. It is one of India’s best beach destinations. Check in at your hotel/resort. In the evening and night you can relax and unwind.
2nd day - Kovalam
After a sumptuous breakfast, we head out to the city. You get to visit the Napier Museum, Srichitra Art Gallery, Kuthira Malika, Padmanabhaswamy temple, Trivandrum zoo and other places of interest. Guests can either eat outside or return to the hotel for lunch. In the evening, we can head to the Kovalam and Shankumugham beaches. Stay overnight at your resort/hotel.
3rd day - Houseboat
Next morning, after breakfast, we leave for Alleppey. The four-hour ride is filled with sights of the countryside – paddy fields, rolling hills, villages and rural scenes. Check into a Kerala houseboat. Cruise along the canals in the backwaters, lounging on the deck. Enjoy traditional Kerala cuisine. Be sure to order prawns, crab and other sea food and fish. Most of the houseboats come with one – five bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchenette and a lounge. The cooks and oarsmen will give you information about local sights, serve you spicy food and show you the intricacies of water-front villages, churches and life in these areas.
4th day – Periyar
Berth at Kumarakom, near Kottayam. Carry on to Thekkady, by taxi. Check in at your resort, two hours later. Here, you can visit the world-famous Periyar Tiger Reserve. Overnight stay at your resort.
5th day – Periyar
After your breakfast, get a feel of the tea and spices plantations. You can either take a walk among them or go on an elephant ride in the plantations. Shop for cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and coffee and tea estates. Overnight stay at resort.
6th day – Munnar
Munnar is about two and a half hours away. It is known for its tea estates. Check in at your hotel and overnight stay there. Relax in the evenings with walks and sightings. The views are amazingly beautiful.
7th day – Munnar
Go boating on the Mattupetty Lake and the Munnar Lake. Trekking options include RajaMalai and Anamalai. You might just be lucky and spot a lone Nilgiri Tahr. Visit Idukki and Mattupetty dams. Also visit Echo-Point, Pothamedu and Devikulam. Overnight stay at resort.
8th day – Cochin
Once your breakfast is done, we’ll drive to Cochin, four hours away. After checking into hotel and freshening, start your evening by visiting Fort Cochin. There are Chinse Fishing Nets, Pardesi Synagogue, Mattanchery Palace, Santa Cruz Basilica and the St Francis church. In the late evening, you can watch performances of Kalaripayattu and Kathakali. Overnight stay at resort.
9th day – departure
Morning after breakfast drop-off to the airport/railway station.