Gods Own Country Kerala (06 nights/ 07 days) Travel Package India

On arrival at Kochi airport you will be received by our representative and will be assisted with the transfer to the hotel. Once you reach, you can relax in the hotel.

The second day of your stay will start with the breakfast and a tour of the Kochi city thereafter. Explore the Dutch Palace of Mattancherry which is quite fascinating as it was built by the Portuguese in the 16^th century. The lavishly decorated Jewish synagogue in the old Jew town will certainly hold your interest. Another landmark that you must visit is the St. Francis church in Fort Kochi built by St. Francis in 1582. It boasts of holding the burial site of Vasco de Gama who died here. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. One of the most famous sights here is the Chinese fishing nets which the fishermen will show how they are used. Come back to the hotel in the afternoon to rest. Evening will be dedicated to watching the classical dance of Kerala- Kathakali. This is the traditional dance form of Kerala dating back to 17^th century. The most distinctive part of the dance is the costume which is elaborate and heavy. Return back to the hotel for the night stay.

After a refreshing night sleep and a sumptuous breakfast, you proceed to Munnar to visit the tea plantation, by car. The drive itself is beautiful through the winding roads in the hills, approximately at the height of 5,906 feet. You can actually experience fresh tea from the garden and see how they are picked and processed. The afternoon can be allocated for the tea museum. The Tata Company has set up this museum which meticulously follows the growth of tea estates by displaying elementary tea rollers to fully automated machines. The clear mountain air is invigorating and you will enjoy your overnight stay in the hotel.

This morning we shall make our journey towards Periyar, famous for its wildlife sanctuary and Periyar Lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Driving downhill through coffee and pepper plantations is quite exhilarating. Once you reach the destination, set out for a boat ride in the lake, in the afternoon. What makes this boat ride absolutely fantastic is passing through the flat or slightly hilly grasslands at the edges of the lake, giving way to dense greenery stretching into the darkness of the forest. These forests are home to number of animals like elephants, gaur, sambar, deer, wild boars, tigers etc. The boat ride also makes it possible to watch the birds inhabiting the woods, like herons, hornbills and egrets. It is easiest to sight elephants from the boat as they come in herds to frolic in the water or to drink from the lake. You can also catch a sight of the wild boars if you are lucky. The evening will be spent in the hotel and spend a comfortable night.

After having a hearty breakfast you will start the surface journey towards Kumarakom. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of small islands on Vembanad Lake. It is a beautiful destination for houseboat tourism. Tall coconut trees line the rivers, many colourful birds inhabit this region and flowers bloom in abundance. Reaching the destination you can take a ride in the rice boat before the sunset. The rice boats are actually the ones which used to carry rice in the older times. Now they have been converted to luxury houseboats.

In the morning after a leisurely breakfast embark upon a houseboat journey. These houseboats are also called Kettuvalam meaning ‘boat with knots’. They are called so, because the coir ropes tied in knots hold the whole boat together. Huge planks of wood are tied together to make its structure and not a single nails is used. The journey involves a cruise along the numerous canals and palm fringed waterways. You will skim past lush green paddy fields, villages with rustic homes, temples and coconut groves. En-route, visit the villages to interact with the locals to get an idea of their lifestyle. After the sunset the boat is anchored at a quiet part of the lake. Enjoy the unique experience of spending a night on a houseboat.

This is the last day of the tour. You will disembark from the boat in Alleppey and proceed towards Kochi by road. Reach Kochi airport on time to catch the connecting flight for onward destination or spend the night in Kochi.