Beaches & Backwaters of Kerala

Duration: 09 nights - 10 days
Locations: Trivendrum – Kovalam – Thothapali – Periyar – Munnar - Cochin

Tour Highlights
Cochin	St. Francis' Church, Dutch Palace (Built by Portuguese), Jew Town, Jewish Synagogue, spice market, Chinese fishing nets & Kathakali Dance Show
Thothapali	Houseboat
Kumarakom	Backwaters & Bird Sanctuary
Periyar	Wildlife Sanctuary& Boat Cruise Option Tour – Spice Plantation
Munnar	Hill station
Kovalam	Beaches
Trivandrum	Padmanabha Swami Temple, Shri Chitra Art Gallery & the Museum

 

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01   Arrive Trivendrum
Arrive Trivendrum by flight, after traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our representative would assist you at airport & transfer to hotel for check in.

Overnight Hotel - Kovalam.

Day 02    Kovalam
Day at Leisure.

Overnight Hotel - Kovalam

Day 03    Kovalam
Day at Leisure.

Overnight Hotel - Kovalam.

Day 04    Kovalam - Thothapali (Overnight Houseboat)

Today we drive to Thothapali houseboat, locally called Kettuvallam, cruise around backwaters of Alleppey to Kumarakom to observe & experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters.

Overnight Houseboat (B, L, D)

Day 05 Arrive Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast we disembark the houseboat in Kumarakom. It is a cluster of little islands, on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Kuttanad, the 'Wonder Land' believed to have been lying below the sea level, sprang out into the marshes when the sea receded later. The land of lakes, canals & paddy fields, Kumarakom transports you to sheer ecstasy. Holiday on the houseboats, traditional Kettuvallam, are an out-of-this-world experience. Furthermore Vembanad Lake is home to several types of marine life exclusively the Karimeen (Pearl Spotted Fish), Chemeen (Prawns) & Konju (Tiger Prawns).

Later we visit Kumarakom Bird sanctuary. There are two seasons for birds: between October & February there are cormorants, teals, & other ducks & from February to July there are darters (snake birds), night herons, egrets, & Siberian storks. It also has golden backed woodpecker, crow pheasant, white-breasted water hen, tree pie etc.

Overnight Hotel – Kumarakom (B)

Day 06    Kumarakom - Periyar (135 kms - 4 hr)

Today we head for one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Periyar Wildlife Reserve. Upon arrival at Periyar, we assist you to check in at our hotel. Set on an attractive lakeside, it is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary. Late afternoon at 1500 hrs we shall take you to a guided Spice and palntation tour in one of the Spice Gardens / Plantations for which this region is famous.

Overnight Hotel - Periyar

Day 07    Periyar - Munnar (160 kms - 4 hr)

Periyar is a place to cruise on the lake and gives an opportunity to see wildlife. It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, bison (gaur), antelopes, sambhar, wild boar, money etc, and a wide variety of birds.

Early morning before breakfast at 0630 hrs we go for a wildlife viewing to the sanctuary on lake Periyar by boat cruise. After two hours of wildlife viewing we get back to the hotel for breakfast.

Later we drive to Munnar, arrive Munnar check into hotel.

Overnight Hotel - Munnar

Day 08    Munnar
Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 Mts. above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Munnar is essentially a tea town.

Morning post breakfast we head for a half-day tour of Munnar, visiting the *world's highest tea estates spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometres, Lush green hills all around - a place to be seen to be believed, and Eravikulam National Park (Park is closed in the month of January and February), the best place to see the Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat). Rest of the day at leisure to explore the destination on your own.

Overnight Hotel - Munnar

Day 09    Munnar - Cochin (150 kms - 4 hr)
Today we drive to Cochin always had a very popular and historical sea trade connection with Middle East, Mediterranean Europe, Dutch and British. It has one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian coastline. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings and structures representing different regions of the world. It is one of the few places in the world where one can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, architecture, mosques, temples and Chinese fishing nets, all in one city. A city of peninsulas and islands, today it is Kerala's commercial hub.

Evening we see Kerala's most popular classical dance, Kathakali.

Overnight Hotel - Cochin

Day 10   Cochin - Departure
Half day city tour
Today we leave for a half day city tour of Cochin, with visits to St. Francis' Church, Dutch Palace (Built by the Portuguese), Jew Town, the Jewish Synagogue built in the year 1568, spice market*, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices, and Chinese fishing nets.

Later transfer to airport to board flight for onward Journey.

Tour concludes. Caper thanks you for your patronage and ensures a punctual transfer to the Railway Station / Airport for your onward travel.