Itinerary for Sue & Steve-UK -

Duration: 12 Days

Location: Cochin, Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey Houseboat, Kovalam

24 Nov – Cochin

On arrival at Cochin Airport, you will be met & transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel .

Cochin the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. A root-conscious people of Kerala have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.

25 Nov – Cochin

After breakfast, go for a guided village backwater cruise at Poothotta village followed by lunch at a farm house. Afternoon return to Cochin City for a guided short tour. Evening visit Greenix Theatre for a cultural show. Overnight at Hotel.

Village backwater Cruise – A journey in a country boat into the pristine purity of a typical village backwater of Kerala…. goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palms…..watch rare birds….country boat making….a natural fish farm where you can go fishing…. You will witness coir making, toddy tapping before you end up your exclusive experience in our Farm House for lunch -a delicious traditional Kerala dish under a tree…..While scrolling through this amazing village, you will watch the common life of the villagers for their livelihood. You will see them fishing in the river, the women do the coir making, a toddy tapper who does his job as a routine, men climbing the coconut trees to pluck the coconuts, later peeling the same to prepare to dry and make oil extraction possible. It’s all about a life experience which you will cherish throughout your life.

Cochin Sightseeing – 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 Vasco 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.

Fort Cochin & Mattancherry are twin cities carry a flavor of the colonial era. Jewish, Arabs, Portuguese British all came to Cochin for trading and Mattancherry was the spice trade head quarters due to the proximity of Cochin Port. While Fort Cochin became the administrative headquarters, Mattancherry maintained its trading status. The colonial stature and buildings still make Fort Cochin a favorite destination for tourists. It’s getting an upgrade once it’s declared as the first heritage city in India. Fort Cochin was also a part of Muziris route. It will be interesting to know that around 13 religious communities are harmoniously living in Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Jains, Sikhs etc. are few among them.

26 Nov -Cochin – Munnar

Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise (04 Hours). You will drive through Midland crops like Rubber, arecnut, pineapple etc. Afternoon go for a guided Nature History Tour of Munnar. Overnight at the Hotel.

Munnar …breathtakingly beautiful – a haven of peace and tranquility – an idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country with unending expanses of tea plantations… pristine valleys and mountains…exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests…aroma of spice scented cool air. Munnar has all these and more…. It’s the place you would love to visit… It’s the place you would wish never to leave.

Set at an altitude of 6000 ft. in Idukki district, situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities makes Munnar a holiday resort. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower, which bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India – Anamudi – which towers over 2695 M and is an ideal spot for campers who like trekking.

27 Nov: Munnar

Full day guided Tea Trail experience. You will be driven to a Tea Plantation to go with the workers to pluck the tea leaves and you will go through the whole process of making tea. In between our Naturalist will give you short Nature walks. Lunch will be served at the Estate Bungalow. Finally you will taste your own tea and will take home half kilo of Tea as memory of your day experience. Overnight at the Hotel.

Munnar –perched on the roof of Western Ghats is explored by John Monroe in 1877 during a land survey of Travancore High range for British India. Later two Scottish men Henry & William Turner pioneered plantations in Munnar under a concession from the then King of High Range. They constituted ‘North Travancore Land Planting & Agricultural Society’ in 1879. There begins the age of Plantations in South Western Ghats. The first plantations were Cinchona, Coffee, Cardamom and Sessile. Later Baron Ato Von Rosenberg, a German planter joined them and constituted United Planters Association of South India (UPASI). In 1895 Finley Company reorganized all plantations and constituted all under their management agent ‘The Kannan Devan Hills Producers Company’. In 1973, after FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) came into existence, the Finley company lost its holdings and a new company constituted under their then management company Tata Tea. Thus Tata Finely born. In 1983 Tata took over the complete plantations from the Finely and now its Tata Tea.

Tea history Trail – ‘From Plant to Packet’

An Study tour through the rolling hills of tea garden experiencing Tea from plant to packet. A full day exploration by walk, interaction and participation with planters, and workers. The day start with early morning ride from your hotel to a private tea plantation. The plantation is more than hundred years old and located in the foothill of Aanamudi-the highest peak in South India. The geographic feature of the area offers excellent scenic wonders including sighting of wildlife. The tour start with a walk through the garden with tea pickers. Our guide – a tea expert – will explain the method and norms of picking. You can join them and start picking tea leaves. Your collection will be taken to a mini factory separately. Mean time you can interact with the workers and supervisor. After a tea break you will be invited to visit their factory. There you can experience all levels of processing and production. Then it is the time for you to make your own tea with the leaves you collected in the morning. You can do all processes in the mini factory with the help of workers.

Your lunch will be arranged in the Colonial Bungalow once used by British Planters. After the lunch a guided walk through the garden in the forest fringe to watch nature, wildlife and birds. Return to the factory by the time of ‘Tea Tasting’. Mean time your own tea, which is picked and processed by you will be ready for packing. After a tea and snack return to your hotel.

The package includes

All activities mentioned such as
1. Plantation walks
2. Tea picking
3. Interaction with workers
4. Tea processing experience
5. Tea factory visit
6. Nature walks
Lunch at the British Bungalow
Tea and snacks
Half kilo of tea dust
Entry fees
Camera fees etc

28 Nov – Munnar – Periyar ( 3 Hours’ drive)

Today, you will be transferred to Periyar, the famous wildlife destination of Kerala. Afternoon visit a Spice Farm and elephant experience at the farm. Later shopping for spices. Overnight at Hotel.

Indian agriculture began by 9000 BC as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals. Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture. Plants and animals—considered essential to their survival by the Indians—came to be worshiped and venerated.

Indian spices include a variety of spices and herbs grown across the Indian subcontinent (South Asia). With different climates in different parts of the country, India produces a variety of spices, many of which are native to the Subcontinent, while others were imported from similar climates and have since been cultivated locally for centuries. Spices are typically heated in a pan with ghee or cooking oil before being added to a dish. Lighter spices are added last, and spices with strong flavor should be added first. Curry is not a spice, but a term which refers to any side dish in Indian cuisine. It could be with a gravy base or a dry item. A curry typically contains several spices blended together.

Periyar – Conjures up images of elephants, chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will see a lot of wildlife and observe the way of life of simple mountain people. Periyar Tiger Reserve 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.

29 Nov – Periyar-Kumarakom

Early morning go for a boating in Periyar Lake to watch wildlife. After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom, which is famous for its backwater & scenic beauty, sprinkled with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and Tranquility. You may opt to have Ayurvedic rejuvenation Massage at your resort. Overnight at the Resort.

The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing wildlife. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers lots of photo opportunities. 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. Tigers are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.

The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. And that is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.

Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake and a picturesque, clean village like most places in Kerala. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread across 14 acres, the bird sanctuary is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist’s paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.

30 Nov – Kumarakom

Full day at leisure at the resort. You may opt to have another Massage at your resort. Overnight at the Resort.

01 Dec – Houseboat

Enjoy your breakfast at the resort. By noon the Houseboat will pick you up from the resort jetty for a cruise through the Backwaters followed by overnight stay. Your meals are freshly cooked and served on board. Explore the amazing backwater life of Kerala! Overnight on the Houseboat.

What is truly magical about a houseboat 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 where are 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 locals, on board. The name Backwaters brings you the very thought of Houseboats. Food and leisurely times spent on-board with the feeling and privacy of house as well as enjoying the natural beauty. A Cruise amidst marvelous mangrove forests, captivating coconut canopies, swaying palms, mangrove forests, pulsating paddy fields sprinkled with enchanting waterways and canals decked with white lilies, can be quite a rejuvenating experience for the weary traveler. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living. The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words. It’s to be lived and evolved by yourself.

02 Dec –Alleppey- Kovalam (4 Hour Drive)

Morning, enjoy your breakfast on board! Later proceed to the world renowned beach destination of Kerala, Kovalam. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Day free to enjoy the beach life. Overnight at the resort.

Kovalam is considered as the most trendy beach retreat in India. A combination of three small beaches, Kovalam, meaning “a groove of coconut trees,” is just 16 km from the state capital of Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram. The sheltered natural bay, the azure blue waters and the sumptuous spread of green palm groves make it a tropical paradise of sorts. This enchanting strip of golden sands is adorned by coconut palms. With high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. One can walk into the sea about 100 meters without losing ground. The underwater views, which are visible during snorkeling, are a marvel.

03 Dec – Kovalam

After an early breakfast, drive to Padmanabhapuram Palace for a guided tour .Later drive to Trivandrum City for a short city tour and shopping. Overnight at the resort.

Kovalam was a small, sleepy village. It lay in humble obscurity along the picturesque coast of Kerala. Then around 1930, this little village was unexpectedly shaken out of its lethargic slumber and thrust on the international tourist map. The vendors of holiday dreams along the sea had discovered the fabulous silver sands and palm-fringed shores of Kovalam. From then onwards, there was no looking back. From sun bathing to swimming, Ayurvedic rejuvenation to yoga and meditation, herbal body toning massages to special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising, holidays in Kovalam is a tourists delight. The Kovalam lighthouse beach is where most visitors spend their time.

Padmanabhapuram Palace, a magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, is a fine specimen of Kerala’s indigenous style of architecture. 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

04 Dec – Kovalam

Full day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the resort.

05 Dec – Trivandrum Departure

Like all good things, your holiday experience comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable experience. Today, you will be assisted and transferred to Trivandrum International airport for your flight home!!

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