Day 1 Cochin: Arrive
Cochin by flight or train. On arrival, meet and greet by Concept Voyages
representative and transfer to the City Hotel. Go for a short sight seeing
tour of Cochin. Known as the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most
interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbours in
the world. St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by
Vasco da Gama, is the first European church built in India and is the site
where da Gama was buried. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, Chinese
hand-painted tiles are one of the attraction. This, the only Synagogue in
India has a nostalgic past of a Jewish Diaspora. The "Dutch Palace" was
built in the 1550s; the palace contains excellent mythological murals and
a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring - a subtle mix of burnt
coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites - which gives the effect
of polished marble. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 2 Cochin- Munnar (130kms, 3hrs): After breakfast, transfer to
Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise. Munnar is a breathtakingly
beautiful place, a haven of peace and tranquility with unending expanse of
tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora
and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests. To top it up an aroma of
spice scented cool air will engulf you while you are there. It is Munnar,
known as the Kashmir of South, the idyllic tourist destination of God's
own country. Munnar, once the summer resort of the erstwhile British
Government in South India, has sprawling tea plantations and picturesque
views making Munnar a popular hill resort town in South India. Afternoon
visit to Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park. Overnight stay at the
Resort.
Day 3 Munnar: Breakfast at resort, proceed for sight seeing tour of
Munnar. Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams -
Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Apart from being a popular hill
station in India, Munnar is also one of the major centers for tea trade in
Kerala. Surrounded by almost 30 tea gardens that give it a picturesque
view, Munnar is near Anaimudi, the highest peak of the Kerala Western
Ghats. Besides tea and other plantations, the old-world charm of colonial
establishments attracts visitors to this place all the year round. The
hills around Munnar are covered with the rare Neelakurunji plant giving it
a wonderful look, especially when the flowers bloom to cover the entire
mountain range. It is said that this exotic plant flowers every 12 years
and the next scheduled flowering time is the year 2018. Munnar a misty,
lush green hill station up in the Annamalai range of Kerala, Munnar's tea
gardens, some of the highest in the world, stretch up the sides of the
hills and are interspersed with pockets of forest rich in wildlife. On
your holiday, enjoy the scenic beauty of Munnar with its marvelous
waterfalls, lush tea gardens and high mountains with low flying clouds.
This days sightseeing can include visit to Mattupetty for boating, Kundala
dam, Eco-point, Top station, Indo-Swiss cattle farm. Overnight stay at the
Resort.
Day 4 Munnar- Thekkady (90kms, 2hrs, 30mins): Breakfast at resort,
transfer to Thekkady, the famous wildlife destination of Kerala. Perched
amidst dense greenery, in the outskirts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the
sole Tiger reserve of the Country, Thekkady, with its bountiful treasures
of tropical flora and fauna, is the ultimate reservoir, of many an
endangered species and a rich tribal culture. Thekkady - The very sound of
the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and
spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western
Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday. In the Periyar
forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and
spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill
towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. The
Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and
photographing wild life. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake
around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers a soul-stirring
pleasant experience. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can
have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the
safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains
the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake's edge. The
tiger and leopard are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these
animals come and drink water from the river. India's most fascinating
natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range;
the vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely
rich, vast and varied that it does not bear resemblance to any other
wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Thekkady - The very sound of the name
conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented
plantations. The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for
watching and photographing wild life. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 5 Thekkady- Kumarakom (145kms, 3hrs, 30 mins) & Kumarakom- Alleppey by
Houseboat: After breakfast, check out from the Hotel & proceed to
Kumarakom, which is famous for its backwater & scenic beauty, sprinkled
with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and
tranquility. On arrival at Kumarakom check in for the Houseboat cruise to
Alleppey. What is truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking
view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it
offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel
including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen
and even a balcony for angling. Meals would be cooked on board and
supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is
still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the
Kuttanad localities, on board! Enjoy your dinner & overnight at the
Houseboat.
Day 6 Alleppey- Kovalam: After breakfast, disembark from the
houseboat and proceed to Kovalam, the world-renowned beach destination.
Kovalam is a world famous Indian tropical beach, boarded by blue waters
and lush coconut gardens, is a western cultural dot on a traditional and
orthodox Kerala physique. Blue water and favorable climate make Kovalam a
favourite year-round spot for swimming. Sea, here, is pacific and shallow
where you can take a dip in the saline waters. Enjoy the blue waters of
the beach. Afternoon proceed for a sightseeing tour of Trivandrum. Being
the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum is surrounded by seven hills and
endorses ancient and modern style of architecture. Visit, Napier Museum,
which houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts,
bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot, ivory carvings and
life-size Kathakali dancers; Sree Chitra Art Gallery, which display a
century old world famous paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. Kuthiramalika
Palace Museum, with rare specimen of workmanship in traditional Travancore
style of architecture has exquisite woodcarvings. Trivandrum Zoo is a
point of attraction for those who love the animal friends. Evening visit
Padmanabhaswamy Temple for tweaking your spiritual senses. Overnight at
the resort.
Day 7 Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Kovalam: Morning, depart for Kanyakumari,
the southern most tip of the Peninsula. Kanyakumari, once referred to as
the "ALEXANDRIA OF THE EAST", has been a great centre for art, culture,
civilization and pilgrimage for years. This is the only place in India
where one can enjoy the unique experience of watching the sunset and
moonrise simultaneously on a full moon evening. Enjoy the sight seeing
place of Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is the only place in India where one can
enjoy the unique experience of watching the sunset and moonrise
simultaneously on a full moon evening. Explore, Gandhi Memorial, Swami
Vivekananda Rock memorial, Kumari Amman Temple & Tiruvalluvar Statue.
Sucheendram Temple, 13 Kms, away from Kanyakumari, has a beautiful gopuram,
musical pillars and an excellent statue of the Hanuman, apart from a
valuable collection of art from different periods. Padmanabhapuram Palace,
a magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, is a fine specimen of
Kerala's indigenous style of architecture. The antique interiors are
replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured decor. The palace
also contains 17th and 18th century murals. The Palace will be closed on
Mondays. After sunset, drive back to Kovalam. Overnight at the resort.
Day 8 Kovalam to Trivandrum (40kms, 1hr drive): After breakfast,
transfer to Trivandrum airport or railway station for departure.
End of Tour!
tour inclusions & pricing
Tour Booking Code: CVDKL-03
get away, your way!