Kerala- Backwaters, Tea and Spices

Duration: 10 days

Highlights: Kochi, Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom, Kovalam

From wildlife spotting to tea plantations, Ayurvedic treatments to backwater boat cruises, explore many aspects of God’s Own Country, Kerala.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Kochi  

Arrive at Kochi International Airport where you will be met by our representative outside the customs gate and escorted to your hotel.

Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is a fascinating city on the north Kerala coast and is now one of India’s largest ports as well as an important naval base.

Upon arrival, check-in to your hotel.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kochi

Day 2 – Kochi

This morning enjoy a half Day guided tour of Kochi.

Begin your exploration with a walking tour that takes you around Fort Kochi, the most historic part of the city. Begin at the church of St Francis, the oldest European-built church in India. Continue to the Jewish Quarter where you visit the historic synagogue, built over 400 years ago. It contains beautiful Belgian glass chandeliers and is paved with hand painted tiles from China. Also visit the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry. It was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and the murals painted are noteworthy features.

Your next stop will be the Chinese Fishing Nets. The cantilevered nets strung out along the tip of the peninsula are used by local fisherman for catching fish.

In the evening enjoy a Kathakali dance performance at a local theatre. The most spectacular form of dance-drama in India, the origins of Kathakali go back 500 years.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kochi

Day 3 - Kochi – Munnar

This morning drive to the tea country of Munnar, a magnificent hill station in the Western Ghats, situated at a height of about 1,700 metres above sea level. It is surrounded by about 30 tea estates and is the major centre of Kerala's tea industry. The hills around Munnar are covered with the rare Neelakurunji plant giving it a rich purplish-blue tinge, especially when the flowers bloom to cover the entire mountain range. It is said that this exotic plant blooms flowers once in every 12 years.

Arrive in Munnar in the afternoon and check-in to your hotel.

Later in the afternoon, visit the nearby tea plantations surrounding a lake that offers some of the most stunning views of the region.

Meals: B

Overnight: Munnar

Day 4 - Munnar – Periyar

This morning drive to Periyar. One of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves, Periyar National Park is spread across 777 sq km. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1978. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. 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. Periyar’s greatest attraction is the herds of wild elephants.

Arrive in Periyar in afternoon and check-in at your hotel.

In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar. Cruise around taking in the cool surroundings and the panorama. The lake spreads around tropical jungles where one can see wild elephants, Indian gaur, monkeys, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar and birds of myriad varieties.

Meals: B

Overnight: Periyar

Day 5 – Periyar

This morning visit the spice plantations of Periyar - a treat for the senses. Take a stroll in the refreshing and lush green estates and enjoy the exotic aroma of the spices. A walk in the plantations is the best way to get enveloped in the beauty of nature. The spices grown here are cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, vanilla and nutmeg. You can even pick up some fresh spices to take back home.

The rest of the Day is at leisure.

Meals: B

Overnight: Periyar

Day 6 - Periyar – Kumarakom

This morning drive to Kumarakom, an enchanting backwater destination located on the picturesque Vembanad Lake. The blue backwaters and the surface of the lake reflect the azure sky, contrasting with the amazing shades of green of the mangroves, coconut palms and paddy fields that cover the verdant countryside.

Arrive in Kumarakom in afternoon and check-in at your hotel. Rest of the Day will be at leisure.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kumarakom

Day 7 – Kumarakom

Day will be spent at leisure. You will have the option to enjoy Ayurvedic/spa therapies or choose from different activities available at the hotel. You may also choose to visit a spice plantation nearby as well as the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

Ayurveda is the art of healthy living that enables you to create harmony in your daily life by applying self-knowledge and self-care. The word comes from the Sanskrit language and literally means the Science of Life. It is an ancient art of healing that has been practiced continuously throughout Kerala for over 5,000 years. Ayurveda is probably the oldest authentically recorded healing science in existence Today and includes yoga philosophy and integration of the body, mind and consciousness.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kumarakom

Day 8 - Kumarakom – Kovalam

This morning enjoy a boat cruise on the backwaters to Alleppey. You will be awed at the vast expanse of paddy fields that surrounds these beautiful backwaters and the boat will stop at villages giving you an opportunity to glimpse village life in rural Kerala.

On arrival in Alleppey, transfer to Kovalam, considered to be one of the top beach retreats 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.

Afternoon arrive in Kovalam and check-in at your hotel.

Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kovalam

Day 9 – Kovalam

Day is at leisure to relax at the beach or indulge in Ayurvedic therapies.

Meals: B

Overnight: Kovalam

Day 10 - Depart Trivandrum

Today you will be escorted to Trivandrum Airport for your flight to an onward destination.

Meals: B