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Arrival at Cochin and Transfer to Hotel
Our representative will meet you at the airport and facilitate your hotel transfer.
The ancient port city of Cochin, also known as Kochi, comprises a cluster of islands and peninsulas in a serene saltwater lagoon. Ferries connect the islands to Ernakulam town on the mainland. Dotted with lakes and gently swaying palm groves, Kochi’s otherworldly beauty, coupled with the allure of spices and seafood, draws scores of travelers every year to this natural harbor.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Cochin Sightseeing
The Old Cochin area is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, with the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 being a must-see treasure. Known for its distinctive tiled roof and bell towers, the synagogue’s interiors feature intricately hand-painted blue and white Chinese willow tiles, elegant Belgian chandeliers, an exquisite oriental rug, and gold crowns received as gifts from visitors.
The intriguing International Pepper Exchange deals in the global trade of black pepper. Nearby are Vasco Da Gama Square, the Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally interred, VOC Gate, and Bastion Bungalow, all dating back to between the mid-fourteenth and early fifteenth century.
Kochi’s famed Chinese fishing nets are perhaps its most iconic sight. Mounted on teak and bamboo poles and supported by large stone counterweights, they line the Fort Kochi seafront. Their origins are debated, with some claiming Portuguese import from Macau, while others credit Chinese traders from the court of Kubla Khan.
Embark on a private harbor cruise early in the evening for dolphin-spotting, and sail to the fishing island and Bolghatty Palace. Continue to the edge of the Arabian Sea to watch the sunset.
End your day with a Kathakali Dance Performance. This traditional dance-drama features elaborate costumes, highly stylized expressions, and hypnotic music, making it an unforgettable experience on your luxury holiday.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Cochin - Periyar (By Surface)
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Later, board your spacious, comfortable 9W Hospitality certified vehicle and enjoy a scenic drive to Thekkady, passing tea gardens, traditional houses, rolling hills, and sparkling waterfalls.
On the banks of the Periyar river, amidst coffee plantations and the fragrant cardamom hills, lies Periyar National Park, one of India’s major wildlife reserves. Look out for the Asian elephant, antelope, Indian bison, elusive Bengal tiger, dhole (wild dog), and the extremely rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a species of ibex native to the region.
Birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of greater hornbills, darters, herons, egrets, owls, and brightly colored kingfishers.
Proceed for a bamboo rafting excursion down the Periyar river. The raft offers a great opportunity to watch animals, particularly elephants, as they come down to the water to cool off during the daytime. You may also be able to spot sambars, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pigs, porcupines, lion-tailed macaques, Malabar squirrels, and sloth bears. Tigers and leopards are usually hard to spot on the banks during the day.
Check in at the resort and enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the spice plantations as well as the coffee and tea estates. Fragrant spices at the local market make great gifts for the folks back home.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Periyar National Park
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
After breakfast, embark on a jungle walk with a highly experienced guide. This unique program allows tourists to venture deep into the forest in the least obtrusive way—on foot—maximizing the chances of wildlife sightings. These walks can be customized depending on how long the guest wishes to spend in the park.
Your guide will also try to organize an elephant ride for you, if available.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Periyar - Kumarakom (By Surface)
After breakfast at your resort, take the scenic road to Kumarakom, stopping en route to visit a tea garden.
Barely 16 km from Kottayam, Kumarakom is located by Vembanad, the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, and is a key venue for Kerala’s famous boat races. During the festival of Onam, hundreds of traditional boats, some seating up to fifty rowers, race down the lake amidst much fanfare.
Also of note is a bird sanctuary renowned for its visiting flocks of migratory birds.
Your stay in Kumarakom begins with a visit to the sanctuary.
Kumarakom is your entry point into Kerala’s famous Backwaters, a 900 square kilometer network of lakes, rivers, streams, lagoons, and canals. This unique ecosystem, where the saline waters of the Arabian Sea mix with freshwater from inland streams, teems with fish, crabs, turtles, and otters, and supports lush vegetation and diverse birdlife. Human habitation in the region relies on the backwaters for transportation, with brackish channels often being the only means of travel between villages and towns.
Later, check into a traditional thatched houseboat and embark on a leisurely cruise of the backwaters. Equipped with modern amenities, the houseboat offers a luxurious way to explore, drifting into places inaccessible by other modes of transportation. Houseboats also allow for a relaxed pace and the luxury of procuring fresh produce for all meals onboard.
Overnight stay on the houseboat.
Alleppey - Kovalam (By Suraface)
Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard the houseboat as it gently cruises to Alleppey while village bazaars on the banks bustle to life as the morning progresses.
The city of Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is the headquarters of Alappuzha district and highly popular with travelers. The name Alappuzha means "the land between the river and the sea," and its intricate network of inland canals earns it the title "Venice of the East." This watery network has long been Alleppey’s lifeline, from its days as one of the best-known ports on the Malabar coast to modern times as the world’s gateway to the Backwaters. Alleppey is also an important venue for boat races, particularly the Nehru Trophy Race on Punnamada Lake. Other attractions in Alappuzha include the beautiful Alappuzha Beach, the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, the Edathua Church, and the Krishnapuram Palace.
Disembark at Alleppey, where your driver will be waiting to drive you to Kovalam.
If you have been craving a bit of sun and sand, then pristine Kovalam is just what the doctor ordered. A tranquil bay with three stunning crescent-shaped beaches of white sand, Kovalam is the beach lover’s paradise and an idyllic traditional fishing village rolled into one. Despite gaining popularity as a tourist spot, the life of the nearby fishing communities seems to follow centuries-old traditions, untouched by the hurly-burly of the modern world. A highly recommended short walk up to the quaint lighthouse atop a hill offers a spectacular view.
The rest of the day is free.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Kovalam - Kanyakumari - Kovalam (Excursion Tour)
Enjoy your breakfast at the resort. Then, leave for an excursion to Kanyakumari.
Located at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Indian Ocean, Kanyakumari is the tip of the narrow triangle marking the southern end of the Indian mainland. Historically, Kanyakumari has been an important port of entry for seafarers searching for India. Among the earliest known was the apostle St. Thomas, whose followers established one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.
Kanyakumari is believed to be a holy place of great spiritual significance, attracting countless pilgrims who take ritual dips in the waters of the three seas. Offshore is Vivekananda Rock, where the 19th-century social reformer Swami Vivekananda meditated and had an epiphany about his life's direction.
Nearby is a lighthouse used by the meteorological department to observe the advancing monsoon each year towards the end of summer. The monsoons are crucial for millions of farmers across the subcontinent, adding to the region’s spiritual significance.
Don’t miss the spectacular multi-colored sunset over Kanyakumari as another day ends in this ancient, mystical land.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Trivandrum Airport Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) airport for your flight home.
'TOUR ENDS WITH MOMORIES'
B-1/ 603A, II Floor, Front Side, Near Janakpuri East Metro Station, Janakpuri, New Delhi – 110058, India
Registered Address:61, Shiva Enclave, Block F, Vikas Nagar, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi-110059, India
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