Exploration Tour: South Kerala - 09 Nights & 10 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Munnar » Periyar » Houseboat » Mararikulam » Cochin

Overview
A 9 Night 10 day Tour for those seeking discovery with a broad mix of diverse and rich Kerala Experiences. Tour includes : Vibrant Port Town, Tea Hills, Cultural Dances, Wildlife Resort Stay, Spice Plantation Visits, Jungle Treks, Houseboat Cruise, Beach Resort Stay and a complimentary Ayurveda massage.

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, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, 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 you can opt to go on a sightseeing exploration tour of 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 believed to have been brought by Chinese traders.In the evening, enjoy the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. This dance is characterised by some great story telling, amazing costumes and extensive make-up. Overnight at the Hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Cochin - Munnar
(150kms/4hrs)Drive to Munnar a hill station located 1600 metres 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, most of which are privately owned. With its sprawling estates, rolling hills, sparkling waterfalls, picture postcard hamlets and undulating valleys, Munnar is an ideal get-away destination. Check into your hotel and unwind. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the ambience of Munnar. Overnight at the resort.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04: Munnar
Today you could take a visit to the tea museum and or the Eravikulam National Park (home to the endangered Nilgiri Thar mountain goat amongst others) or simply walk through the local enchanting tea estates and enjoy the tranquility it provides. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: 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. Either have the rest of the day at leisure or go on a spice plantation tour where you will be enticed by not only the aroma of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg but will also get to know how they are grown, harvested and processed before they reach the supermarkets. In the evening you could go for a boat ridewhere you will have the opportunity to sight elephants and other animals along the bank.Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Periyar
Today you have the option to go for a three hour escorted jungle trek or engage in a full day jungle trail involving bamboo rafting and treks. Enjoy a full body rejuvenating massage. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Periyar - Houseboat
(145kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Kumarakom 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 luxuriousboats 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 mesmerizingsurroundings it's the life along the backwaters that makes this a fascinating experience. The locals travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods, door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop atvillages, paddy fields and other places enroute. Overnight on board. (Full Board) (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 08: Houseboat - Mararikulam
(20kms/.5hrs)Disembark in the morning and drive to the picturesque fishermen's village of Mararikulam. Check into your resort. Tucked away inside quiet and lush coconut groves the resorts here are set by the pristine white sand beaches of the Marari and offer you unparalleled quiet in astoundingly beautiful settings. Marari has been inhabited by fishermen for millennia and here you will find the authenticity and the breathtaking natural surroundings have been preserved carefully. Day at leisure in the beach resort. Overnight at the resort.

DAY 09: Mararikuklam
Day at leisure on the beach. Bicycles can be organised for you so you can go biking along the beautiful coastal back roads of Marari. The area offers breathtaking views and one can bike through the beautiful fishermen's villages rightup to the Arthumkal Church which is built by the sea. You could also choose to visit nearby Alleppey town and its bazaars and historical buildings. A visit to the coir factories around the village is also very interesting. Overnight at the resort.

DAY 10: Mararikulam - Cochin -Departure
(85kms/2.5hrs)Departure transfer to Cochin airport for return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Cochin	2	Fort Heritage	Malabar House	Brunton Boatyard
Munnar	2	Bracknell Forest	Ambadi Estate	Windermere Estate
Periyar	2	Cardamom County	The Elephant Court	Shalimar Spice Garden
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes
Marari	2	Abad Turtle Beach	Beach Symphony	Marari Beach

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	£ 786	£ 890	£ 1044	£ 890	£ 890	£ 890
Superior	£ 947	£ 1296	£ 1528	£ 1296	£ 1296	£ 1296
Deluxe	£ 1035	£ 1510	£ 1704	£ 1510	£ 1567	£ 1510

Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying 1 double/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, Kathakali performance, jungle treks/bamboo rafting, 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.

Mararikulam

• While in Mararikulam, you can hire bikes and go cycling along the coastal roads.
• You could take a tuk tuk into the Allepey town and visit its bustling bazaars.
• The fishermen's village has a boat landing area where one can see the fresh catch being brought in. You can also participate in the fish auctions that are held here by the local fishermen.