| This
is a very special tour as it covers the longest
backwater journey in kerala that one can enjoy the
longest House boat cruise from Kollam to Alleppey
covering the most enchanting locations of Kerala.A
stay in Kollam Ashtamudi backwaters is also unforgettable.
Moreover the special attractions offered at Periyar
& Cochin will take you to the new levels of
enjoyment. The cookery class at Cochin and the Bullock
cart safari at periyar are really interesting!
Day
1 - Trivandrum
Arrive
at Trivandrum – the capital city of Kerala,
where our representative will meet you at the
Airport to extend a warm welcome to Kerala
From
the airport we drive to the world-renowned beach
resort of Kovalam – just 13 kilometres away.
Check into your beach resort.
The
rest of the day is free for you to experience
and know why Kovalam beach is so universally admired.
Thanks to its natural location, Kovalam is also
one of the safest beaches in the world.
Enjoy
your first Kerala dinner on this tour and overnight
stay at your resort.
Day
2 - Kovalam - A Day At Leisure
After
breakfast, the day is free for you enjoy the inviting
sun, sand and surf of Kovalam. Take a catamaran
ride to experience the power of the sea first
hand.
Later
opt for an Ayurveda massage at your resort. Feel
good and look younger.
Enjoy
overnight stay at your hotel.
Day
3 - Kanyakumari
After
breakfast, we drive to Kanyakumari – the
southern most tip of the Indian sub-continent.
En route we make a detour to Sri Padmanabha Puram
Palace – the former residence of the erstwhile
Maharaja of Travancore. Marvel at the splendours
of a royal past.
Continue
our journey to reach Kanyakumari by afternoon.
Later we board the ferry to the offshore Vivekananda
memorial – the monument in the name of Swami
Vivekananda, the great Indian philosopher. He
once sat on this rocky island in long deep meditation.
The memorial is a blend of many architectural
styles of India
In
the evening, watch a spectacular sunset, before
returning back to Kovalam Hotel & Overnight
stay.
Day
4 - Kollam to enjoy Backwaters
After
breakfast, check out of the hotel & proceed
to Kollam, a short journey of two hours only.
Before
noon, arrive at Kollam – the land of cashew
and home to Ashtamudi backwaters.
Check
into your backwater resort. Later, go for an Ayurveda
massage – one of the very effective and
restorative treatments of that ancient medical
science. You would feel younger and rejuvenated
after the session. Enjoy overnight in the traqil
resort .
Day
5 - Houseboat Cruise from kollam-Alleppey
Ger
ready for a unique Backwater experience.Usually
the House boat cruises are limited to alleppey-Kumarakom
sector only.But inorder to explore the full beauty
of Kerala, one should travel all the way from
kollam to alleppey.
Morning,
check out from the resort and proceed to Houseboat
starting point ‘Alumkadavu’(45 mts
Drive from the Resort).You can check into the
traditional houseboat for a day and night cruise
to Alleppey.
Meandering slowly through the rivers, continue
the journey to Alleppey. As evening falls, somewhere
along the river, the houseboat drops anchor for
an unforgettable night in the backwaters. Enjoy
to the brink this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
you
will remember your overnight stay aboard for the
rest of your life.
Day
6 - Alleppey
Awake
to find your houseboat still anchored. Experience
what is called a backwater morning.
Soon,
after breakfast on board, the houseboat will be
back on course towards Alleppey. Reach Alleppey
by 0900hrs.Take a Bbeak from the Backwater Arena
and enter the jungle life for a new experience.Visit
Periyar wild life sanctury from Alleppey.The journey
takes 3.30 Hrs only.By noon you can check into
the Resort at Periyar.
After
Lunch, enjoy a rather unusual way of exploring
a wild reserve – aboard a boat.
The picturesque Periyar Lake is a beautiful setting.
The Afternoon boat ride affords views of elephant
herds and bison. If you are lucky enough you can
spot more exotic animals. Don’t forget to
take your binoculars! Rest of The Day at Leisure.
Enjoy
dinner and overnight stay at your resort.
Day
7 - Thekkady
Get up early and get ready for a Bullock Kart
Safari through the Village of Periyar. Visit the
farmlands of a village hidden in the valley behind
the mountains of Periyar Tiger Reserve in a bullock
cart.
The village is rich in bird diversity (New explorations
for a serious bird watcher, also wonderful beginning
for a novice)
With vineyards, diverse agricultural crops of
mangoes, tamarind, onions, sunflower, jasmine
and a score of other vegetables, the village will
take your breath away when the guides start to
interpret how farming has woven delicately with
the culture and the life of the natives. Feel
the slow pace of the village life, be part of
the innocence, which take away you between cock
and stick fights & quench the thirst with
the nectar from tender coconuts.
In the afternoon you’ll be back at the Sanctuary.
Next go on for a Spice Tour that’ll take
you closer to the majestic Nature in this area
– an exciting experience. visit a cardamom-curing
centre to get a feel of spice industry based here.
Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at your resort.
Day
8 - Cochin
After
Breakfast Leave from Periyar and proceed to Cochin.The
journey takes 4 Hrs.Cochin is also known sometimes
the Florida of India.
Later
board a boat to see the backwaters and canals
of Cochin. See the Dutch connection in Cochin
– the Dutch Palace. Make a brief stopover
at India’s only Jewish synagogue at Mattancherry.See
the historic St. Francis Church. Get photographed
in front of it. & then proceed to have wonderful
picture-postcard views of Chinese fishing nets
at Fort Cochin.
In
the evening, visit a superb private establishment
in downtown Cochin to enjoy Kathakali –
the exotic and universally popular performing
art of Kerala. ‘Mudra & Make-up’
demonstration follows the performance. Ask the
knowledgeable host questions about this magnificent
art. The two hours pass too soon.
Back
to your hotel. Enjoy a Kerala dinner with seafood
specialities. Overnight stay at your hotel. Day
9 - Enjoy kerala cookery
Morning
Session is for a unique event- the Kerala Cookery
Demonstration Programme.We’ll take you to
a Traditional Home at Cochin and can experience
something new.
It
is a rare golden opportunity to enjoy the Delicious
Kerala cuisine ,its preparations etc in a traditional
Kerala House.You can prepare different type of
Kerala cuisine, the way it serves and more from
the famous Gastronomy instructor Ms.Nimmi paul.
The Cookery class for you ends with a Delicious
Lunch offered by her.
Later,
get ready for an unusual detour – a country
craft canal cruise to experience the unhurried
pace of life in rural Kerala.You will be taken
in a Traditional country craft through the narrow
canals of Cochin which will be a unique experience
for you to explore the typical village life of
Keralites. Taste the tendercoconut juce from the
village folk…visit coconut plantations &
Duck farming centre. You can be back to the Town
by evening. Rest of the time Shop at the Busy
streets of Cochin. Overniight hotel in Cochin.
Day
10 – Departure
The
Dream Days come to an end. We are sure that your
Body & soul merged with the tradition of this
Magical Land. But you have to say good bye at
least for the moment. Check out in time to go
to the Airport to catch the return flight. |
