The Best of Kerala

Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Houseboat, Kovalam

Duration: 7 nights 8 days

Description:

Day 1: Cochin
After checking in to the hotel, proceed for a city sightseeing tour covering Mattancherry, Fort Cochin and Cherai Beach. Overnight at Cochin.

Day 2: Cochin - Munnar
Start your morning with a breakfast at Cochin, followed by a drive to Munnar (140km /4 hours). In the afternoon, you will visit the tea gardens and echo point, followed by speed boating at the Mattupetty dam. This dam is bordered by forests on one side and tea plantations on the other. Overnight at Munnar.

Day 3: Munnar
Visit Rajamala, home to the highly endangered mountain goats - the Nilgiri Thars. Next, head to Marayoor to visit the Muniyaras Caves dating back to Stone Age. On the way back, visit the sandalwood forests and Lakkam waterfalls. Overnight at Munnar.

Day 4: Munnar – Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady after breakfast (120km/ 3˝ hrs). After lunch, tour the spice plantations and spend the evening boating at the Periyar lake. Enjoy wild-life sightings at the periphery of the lake. Overnight at Thekkady.

Day 5: Thekkady – Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom. Check in at the backwater resort. Visit the Kumarakom bird sanctuary in the evening. Overnight stay at Kumarakom.

Day 6: Kumarakom –Alleppey
By noon check in at the houseboat. The 22 hours of house-boating through the legendary backwaters of Kerala will present you with the stunning scenery, picturesque sunsets, coupled with samples of the life of fisher-folk living by the backwaters. The houseboat itself is a fully furnished private boat, replete with bath attached bedrooms, clean kitchen and dining room and even a beautiful deck for you to sunbathe upon!

Day 7: Alleppey- Kovalam
Proceed to Kovalam - the internationally renowned beach destination. Spend the rest of the day in the sandy beaches of Kovalam flanked by coconut groves on one side and Arabian sea on the other. Overnight at a beach-side hotel.

Day 8: Kovalam – Trivandrum
Visit the Napier Museum and Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Trivandrum and proceed to airport / railway station for onward journey.