Day 1 – Kochi/Munnar
Your tour commences as soon as you arrive at the Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway station. You will be met and you then take a four hour drive to the hill town of Munnar, plantation country and home to the famous Strobilanthes flower. You meet the rest of your travel mates at an orientation at the hotel. You have the rest of the day to wander and explore the lanes and vistas of Munnar. You have the evening free to enjoy your dinner at the hotel or a restaurant nearby.
The hill station of Munnar is approximately 140 kilometers from Kochi. Located at the convergence of three mountain streams – Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, and settled at approximately 1600 m above sea level, it was once the summer resort for the British Raj. It is blotted by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows, rivulets, waterfalls and cool weather. It is also an idyllic destination for trekking and mountain biking. The town area is just another town in India with its local shops, restaurants and homestays. The strobilanthes or neelakurinji, a blue flower which blossoms once in 12 years, is found in this region. Munnar also possesses the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2,695 meters. Trekking and bird watching is favourable at the Eravikulam National Park approximately 15 kilometres away. Here you find species of butterflies, animals and birds. Unique to the park is the Atlas moth, the largest in the world. Another unique inhabitant is the mountain Ibex. Other places of interest are Echo Point, Kundala Lake and Mattupetty. Numerous tea, coffee and cardamom plantations dot the scenery of Pothamedu, which is just six kilometres from Munnar. The area is ideal for nature walks.
Day 2 – Munnar
You start your day off with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel before setting off for a day of light trekking, and other adventure activities. There is no shortage of excellent views for those who have a passion for photography. For you nature and animal lovers, you can take a short drive to the Eravlikulam National Park which houses a variety of butterflies, animals and birds, including the famous Nilgai Tahr (mountain goat).
ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK, Located approximately 15 km from Munnar, the Eravikulam National Park is the home of the rare the Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat), as well as a variety of rare butterflies, animals and birds. Trekking the park is a good option to take in the beauty and nature in the area. It also provides a spectacular view of the tea plantations and the nearby hills covered in the mists. The most popular time that the park is visited is when the Strobilanthus (Neelakurinji) is in full bloom, which happens once in 12 years. Visiting Rajmahal (King of the Hills) is a must and if you are lucky you may spot a couple of Nilgiry Tahr. Anamudi Peak, the highest in South India is inside the Eravikulam National Park and is at a height of approximately 2700 meters. However, the peak can only be visited through special permit from the Forest and Wildlife authorities at Eravikulam.
ECHO POINT is approximately 15 kilometres from Munnar. It is a small lake that is nestled in the middle of the hills. From here, if you make a loud call or sound then the same will echo of the surrounding hills. It is a fun place to visit and experience the echoes. It is also a good place for a nature walk.
KUNDALE LAKE is located approximately 28 kilometres from Munnar and is approximately 5940 feet above sea level. The Kundala Dam, the Sethuparvati Dam and the Kurinji flowers are some of the features that surround the lake. There are pedal boats and Kashmiri shikaras if you feel like taking a ride out on the lake. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Golf Course Ground are other attractions in the vicinity.
BLOSSOM GARDEN is situated approximately 3 kilometres from Munnar. The garden possesses a diversity of rare plants and flowers, shady trees, facilities for water cycling, boating cycling for kids. There are also tree houses, ropeways and swings. It is a good way to spend a leisurely afternoon.
MATTUPETTY is a storage masonry dam with a beautiful lake that has pleasurable boat rides and a breath taking landscape. It is located approximately 13 km from Munnar and is at a height of 1700 metres above sea level. It also has a dairy farm run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project, which possesses variety breeds of cows.
Day 3 – Thekkady
Post breakfast, you drive towards the Periyar Wildlife Reserve. It is a fairly short scenic drive through the Western Ghats. The rest of the day is free to opt for leisure activities. Stay the night at a charming little hotel close to the Reserve.
A nature-lover’s dream realised, Thekkady is situated in the southern segment of the Western Ghats in the Cardamom Hills at an estimated altitude of 5,000 feet and is close to two pilgrimage centres —the hill shrine of Sabarimala and Mangala Devi Temple. The Periyar Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 777 square kilometres and is one of the largest in India with elephant, Sambhar, Wild pig, flying squirrel and over 260 species of bird life as well as other reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish. The flora variety is also abundant. You can opt for a guided walk into the park and a boat cruise in search of the wildlife that comes to drink by the water’s edge.
You can choose the pace of you adventure. Either relax and enjoy the resort ambience, or if you are of the adventurous kind, then explore the jungles through the many activities available like nature trails and spice plantations tours. Coffee and tea plantations spread across the hills and there are acres of rubber plantations. You get the best Ayurvedic massages here. You also have the option of experiencing a Kathakali dance performance.
PERIYAR WILDLIFE RESERVE is one of the largest in India with elephant, Sambhar, Wild pig, flying squirrel and over 260 species of bird life. You can opt for a guided walk into the park and a boat cruise in search of the wildlife that comes to drink by the water’s edge. The services can be arranged and paid for locally through our agent.
Oh!! And don’t forget to pick up some spices for back home and the best homemade chocolates from the local shops just outside the hotel.
Day 4 - Houseboat
After breakfast you take an approximate four hour drive to the backwater village of Alleppey, where you will board the houseboat for a day of cruising on the Vembanad Lake, taking in the relaxed ambience of the backwater village life of Kerala. The houseboat which will be your home for the next 24 hours, will also offer you breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kerala cuisine.
Kettuvallom (House Boat) is a country boat that was used in the early days for the conveyance of goods from the remote interior villages to the towns. With the arrival of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the Kettuvalloms went off the scene. The kettuvallams provide the tourists an opportunity to glide along the calm and serene backwaters watching rural Kerala and to experience God’s Own Country in all its glory. The most laid back part of your entire holiday sailing on the houseboat for a night passing the palm-fringed Kerala canals, known as the backwaters. The houseboats are comfortably furnished with air-conditioners, modern furniture, attached bathrooms, a deck, driver, and a personal chef. The houseboat also has a big open air lounge space where you can unwind and view the locals on their daily routine, drinking a tender coconut and basking in the ambience of the Kerala backwaters.
Day 5 – Fort Kochi
Post breakfast, the houseboat will drop you off at the docking point. From here you take a short one hour drive to the venerable city of Kochi. You have the rest of the day to go sightseeing around the old quarters of Fort Kochi & Mattancherry. Time permitting, you can also enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Stay the night at Fort Kochi.
The revered city of Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is Kerala’s popular tourist spot, dispersed across five islands and peninsulas. The location provides stunning views of both the Arabian Sea and the backwaters. Ernakulam, Mattancherry & Fort Kochi are the three main sections that are connected by an intricate arrangement of ferries, and unassuming bridges. Most visitors prefer to reside at Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, since they are where the city’s extraordinary history of foreign impression and settlement is echoed in a mixture of architectural styles. There are spice markets, palaces, churches, homes & cemeteries all of foreign influence. Sights such as the Dutch Palace, a 17th century Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, and the the 14th century Portuguese church of St Francis Church are some of the must see places. Vasco da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here. Don’t miss the fish market where you can buy fresh catch of the day. In Kochi, you can see the Kathakali dance throughout the year.
There are sights such as the Dutch Palace, a 17th century Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, and the St Francis Church, the oldest Protestant church built by the Portuguese in 1510. Vasco da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here. Don’t miss the fish market where you can buy fresh catch of the day.
KATHAKALI is one of the most performed dance productions in Kerala. Kathakali literally means “Story-Play”. It is known for its large, elaborate makeup and costumes. The themes of the Kathakali are religious in nature and are about the Mahabarat, the Ramayana and the ancient scriptures known as the Puranas.
A Kathakali performance is a major social event. They generally start at dusk and go throughout the night and the dance is usually performed only by men, whereby even the female characters are portrayed by men dressed in women’s costume. In the recent years, women have started to become Kathakali dancers. This long standing tradition dates back to the 17th century. It was given its present form by Mahakavi Vallathol Narayan Menon, who was the founder of the Kerala Kala Mandalam. The actors rely very heavily on hand gesture to convey the story and this is known as mudra, which is common throughout much of classical Indian dance.
Day 6 - Flight/Train
Today, you have the day free until your flight or train home, when you will be transferred to either the railway station or the airport.
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