Exploration Tour: South Kerala - 13 Nights & 14 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Munnar » Periyar » Madurai » Kovalam » Houseboat » Kumarakom » Cochin

Overview
A 13 Night exploration tour of South Kerala giving you the opportunity to explore the many diverse highlights of Kerala. Tour includes : Vibrant Port Town, Cultural dances, Tea Hills, Stay in a Wildlife Resort, Spice Plantation visits, Jungle Treks, Stay in a temple Town, Stay in a beach resort, Houseboat Cruise and stay in a backwater Resort.

DAY 01: Arrival Cochin
Welcomed by Kerala Travel Centre representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the evening enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Cochin
Today go for an optional sightseeing tour to explore the many fascinating highlights of Cochin which include - The Jewish Synagogue in what is locally called the Jew Town, St. Francis Church which is the oldest European Church in India, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1557 by the Portuguese, the Dutch Palace, the spice market and the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. In the evening, enjoy the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Cochin - Munnar
(150kms/4hrs)Drive to Munnar a hill station located 1600 meters above sea level. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India it still retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, rolling hills, picture postcard hamlets and undulating valleys. Check into your hotel and unwind. Visit the tea museum, take a short trip to the Eravikulam National Park or simply walk through the tea estates. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04: Munnar - Periyar
(110kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Periyar an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. Check into your hotel. Go on a spice plantation tour today where you will be enticed by the aroma of spices.In the evening you could go for a boat ride where you will have the opportunity to sight elephants and other animals along the bank. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Periyar
Today you have the option of partaking in a three hour escorted jungle trek or engaging in a full day jungle trail involving bamboo rafting and treks. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 06: Periyar - Madurai
(170kms/4hrs)Drive to Madurai in Tamilnadu, one of South India's greatest temple towns. Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era which is more than 2500 years old. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend the popular evening ceremony where the Hindu God Siva is taken in a palanquin. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Madurai
Go on a sightseeing tour of Madurai to explore the many fascinating temples and structures of this city. Visit the famous Meenakshi temple. The 1000-pillared hall depicts beautiful sculptures showcasing stories from ancient Hindu Epics. You could also visit other places of interest such as the Palace of King Thirumalai Nayak, built in 1636 in an indo-saracenic style. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle for disposal)

DAY 08: Madurai – Kovalam
(285kms/6hrs)Drive to Kovalam, one of the most popular beach destinations in Kerala and check into your hotel. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches separated by rocky headlands. Day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 09: Kovalam
Go on a day excursion to Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Horse Palace, Napier Museum and Art Gallery OR you could simply choose to spend your day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the Resort.

DAY 10: Kovalam
Day at leisure in the resort for beach activties. Enjoy a general Ayurvedic full-body massage. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 11: Kovalam - Houseboat
(160kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Alleppey and embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or 'Kettuvalloms' are luxurious boats with well appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it's the life along the backwaters that makes this a fascinating experience.Overnight on board. (Full Board) (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 12: Houseboat - Kumarakom
(By Boat)Disembark at Kumarakom, the enchanting backwater region of Kerala and check into your hotel. The labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons which form the famed backwaters offer stunning views and is an ideal place to relax. Day at leisure. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 13: Kumarakom
Day at leisure at the resort. You could go for optional activities like canoeing, water scooter rides, boat rides etc. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 14: Kumarakom - Cochin -Departure
(95kms/1.5hrs)Departure transfer to Cochin for onward flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Cochin	2	Fort Heritage	Koder House	Brunton Boatyard
Munnar	1	Bracknell Forest	Ambadi Estate	Windermere Estate
Periyar	2	The Wildernest	The Elephant Court	Spice Village
Madurai	2	Sangam	Gateway	Heritance
Kovalam	3	Thapovan Heritage Home	Travancore Heritage	The Leela
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes
Kumarakom	2	Abad Whispering Palms	Coconut Lagoon	Kumarakom Lake Resort

Tour	1 May 11-30 Sep 11	1 Oct 11-19 Dec 11	20 Dec 11-15 Jan 12	16 Jan 12-31 Jan 12	1 Feb 12-29 Feb 12	1 Mar 12-30 Apr 12
Standard	£ 999	£ 1218	£ 1321	£ 1218	£ 1218	£ 1218
Superior	£ 1204	£ 1668	£ 1950	£ 1668	£ 1697	£ 1668
Deluxe	£ 1512	£ 2074	£ 2929	£ 2074	£ 2273	£ 2074

Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying 1 double or twin room. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. For single supplements please contact Kerala Travel Centre. Price Includes: B&B at all hotels except where cited on the itinerary, chauffeur driven AC car, sunset cruise, Ayurveda massage, all entrance fees,guide charges,assisted airport transfers. Price Excludes: International Flights - Please contact Kerala Travel Centre for booking flights.

Kerala Climate and Weather
Being a coastal state surrounded by the Arabian Sea and because of its proximity to the equator, Kerala has a more or less consistent temperature pattern in the summers and the monsoons alike. The temperature hovers around 29�32 degrees (Celsius) throughout the year with varying levels of humidity.



Best months for travel to Kerala:

The months of October through to March are considered to be the most favourable months to travel to Kerala when the weather is sunny and pleasant.
The months of April and May are also favourable for travel but the humidity tends to be comparatively higher.
August and September are also good months for travel.

Monsoon Months in Kerala:

June and July are monsoon months in Kerala, the showers being heavy at first and then easing off gradually. Whilst these are not the best months for tours, interestingly, this happens to the best time for travellers seeking the therapeutic Ayurveda treatment which is said to be most effective in these months.

Special Experiences

This tour has been designed such that you can see the best of all the regions you are visiting and therefore includes all the major highlights in each area.

Apart from these, Kerala offers a myriad of delightful, lesser known experiences. At the Kerala Travel Centre we have always been keen to showcase these little, special and off-the-beaten-track experiences that will make your Kerala holiday a memorable experience like no other.

We have compiled a partial list experiences which you could choose to enjoy on this tour. When in doubt, just ask your Kerala Travel Centre driver and he will point you the right direction.

Cochin

• Stroll down the beach in Fort Cochin to see the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. Whilst they are not as frequently used as before, you can see a demonstration of how the fishermen use these gigantic nets. It is also possible to take part in this experience along with the fishermen.
• The bustling fish markets adjacent to the fishing nets also make for an interesting visit.
• The sunset cruise in Cochin along the harbour is also a great experience where you pass other ships and boats of all sizes and can see the Cochin skyline and the Cochin shipyard which is more than 200 years old.
• Fort Cochin has a number of seafood restaurants ranging from the high end 'History' restaurant at the Brunton Boatyard to the all vegetarian 'Roti Dal' restaurant where you can try the mouth watering fish food.
• Enjoy an enthralling Kathakali dance performance while you are in Cochin. Watching the dancers put on make up before the show is also quite a fascinating experience.
• Your sightseeing excursion in Cochin includes several fascinating highlights including the Jewish synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica and others. Apart from this, you could also try exploring the streets with their many shops both in Fort Cochin and in the bustling Ernakulam part of Cochin. Cochin is great for shopping especially for jewellery and garments. (Our drivers should be able to point you to select shops that do not hassle customers). If you are a cigar aficionado don't miss the 100 year old R.Baliga & Sons who stocks cigars of all types.
•  If Henna and bangles are of interest to you, you can pay a visit to a small, yet vibrant shop selling bangles and other ornaments in Cochin.

 Munnar

• In the tea plantations of Munnar, you can go on a tea factory visit or hire bikes to cycle along the winding roads in the lush hills.
• You could visit the 'Kurunji' store in Munnar which is managed by the Tata Tea officer's wives Association. (Tata Tea is the company that manages all the tea plantations in Munnar). The store offers some excellent homemade chocolates, Indian pickles and hand woven fabrics to take back home as souvenirs.
• The CSI Church in Munnar has burial tombs of British Planters from the times of the Raj and makes for an interesting visit.
• Try the Kolukkamali Tea which is tea that is grown at the highest altitude in Munnar and can be bought only in a few select shops in the Munnar town.

Periyar

• In Periyar, we would strongly suggest the spice plantation visits and also the jungle trek.
• The Gavi sanctuary is worth a visit if you are staying for more than two nights in Periyar. Gavi is a one hour drive away from Periyar and is a great place for elephant sightings.
• Periyar has a few forest inspection bungalows. Those who are really adventurous can try these bungalows which are right inside the forest reserve.
• There are a large number of shops near the wildlife sanctuary selling handicrafts and other items. The handicraft shops are worth looking at as they make for excellent souvenirs. Please ensure you speak with your driver to point you to the appropriate shops.
  
  

Houseboat Cruise

• During a houseboat cruise, ask your captain to anchor the boat by one of the villages, where you could take a village walk along the backwaters which is an exciting way to get up and close with life along the backwaters.
• You could also go for canoe rides in the backwaters. Canoes can travel through narrower canals which houseboats cannot navigate.
• There is a boat building yard in a place called Champakkulam by the backwaters which makes the long banana boats used for Kerala's snake boat races
  
  Kovalam

• Travellers know Kovalam for being a great beach destination but few know that for those who love bikes, Kovalam has a few shops that hire out Enfield motorbikes.
• There is a Swiss bakery in Kovalam which offers some fascinating cakes.
• For veggie lovers, Kovalam has one of the best run vegetarian restaurants called 'Lonely Planet' ( not the same as the guidebook)