KERALA TOUR (04 Nights / 05 Days)
DAY 01: ARRIVE COCHIN By: Flight
Arrival in Kochi, you will be met and assisted by our representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Kochi: Kochi is the major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. The city of Kochi is Kerala's second largest city. Heralded as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Kochi was an important spice trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century. Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Kochi was the first of the European colonies in India. It remained the main seat of Portuguese India until 1530, when Goa was chosen instead. The city was later occupied by the Dutch and the British, with the Kingdom of Cochin becoming a princely state.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
DAY 02: COCHIN - PERIYAR By: Surface
Thekkady is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world.
The spice plantation in Thekkady is one of the major spice plantations in Kerala. The spice plantations in Kerala are captivating farms to wander in, since different spices are cultivated in different sections of each plantation.
DAY 03: PERIYAR - KUMARAOM By: Surface ________________________________________
Morning: enjoy a shared boat safari in lake Periyar in the National Park, known for herds of wild elephant, bison, deer and spectacular bird life in Periyar National Park - set in the heart of the Cardamom Hills of Kerala the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, offers a rare opportunity to enjoy South India’s wild life and beauty. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs and wander down to the lakeside and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. Periyar also harbours the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer. On the rocky outcrops along the lake,monitor lizards can be seen basking in the sun.
DAY 04: KUMARAOM - ALLEPPEY By: Surface ________________________________________
Kettuvallams, the stitched boats provide the best way to experience the colorful backwaters of Kerala. The wood commonly used to make Kettuvallams is 'Anhili', which is found in abundance in central Travancore area. Large planks are tied together using handmade coir ropes and beaten coconut fibres. This gives the Kettuvallams enough strength to withstand heavy waves in the sea. Kettuvallams are built entirely without the use of nails. It requires great skill and adroitness to construct these giant boats by tying huge planks of jack wood together. The boats are applied with fish oil and cashew nut oil and left to cure for days. With careful maintenance, they last for generations.
Note: Houseboats sail in the backwaters during the day time and hanger from evening till morning since local fishermen place nets in water during the night.
Overnight on board the House Boat
Breakfast at the houseboat.
After breakfast disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport (63 Kms / 02 Hours) to connect flight for onward destination.