Classic Tour: All Kerala - 13 Nights & 14 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Houseboat » Kumarakom » Periyar » Munnar » Athirampally » Wayanad » Tellicherry » Calicut

Overview
One of our Classic Tours which gives the traveller a broad selection of the main highlights of Kerala. Tour includes stay in a vibrant port town, Stay in the tea hills of Munnar, Stay in Wildlife Resort, Jungle treks, Houseboat Cruise, Stay in a backwater resort, Spice Plantation visits, Martial arts demonstration, Wildlife sanctuary visit, visit to a bustling fish market, Drive-in-Beach

DAY 01: Arrival Cochin
Welcomed by a Kerala Travel Centre representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Cochin. Cochin is place that never ceases to amaze. Whichever direction you look, there's always a little piece of history lurking around, reminding you of various cultures and people that have influenced it's past. Once you have settled into your room, go on a sunset crise and watch from your vantage point in the estuary as the Marine Drive comes alive waith a million lights.Overnight at the Malabar House.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Cochin
Today you can go on a sightseeing tour to explore the many fascinating highlights of Cochin which include - The Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica, the Dutch Palace, the Spice market and the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. In the evening, enjoy a performance of the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. Overnight at the Malabar House. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Cochin - Houseboat
(65 km / 1.5 hrs)Drive to Alleppey, 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 coast that adds a touch of exotica to this 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 at villages, paddy fields and other places, enroute. Overnight on board. (Full Board)(Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 04: Houseboat - Kumarakom
Disembark from your houseboat 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. Today you can experience a rejuvenating full body Ayurvedia massage. Overnight at the Coconut Lagoon. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Kumarakom - Periyar
(135 km / 3.5 hrs)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.You can go on a spice plantation tour today 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. It is also possible to go for an Elephant ride today.Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Elephant Court.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Periyar
Today you can go on a three hour escorted jungle trek. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Elephant Court.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Periyar - Munnar
(110 km / 4 hrs)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, most of which are privately owned. With its sprawling estates, rolling hills, sparkling waterfalls, picture postcard hamlets and undulating valleys, Munnar is an ideal holiday destination.Check into your hotel and unwind. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the ambience of Munnar. Overnight at the Ambady Estate.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 08: Munnar - Guruvayoor - Athirampally
(150 km / 4 h)Drive to Athirapally and enroute visit Guruvayoor, the temple town near Thrissur. One of the most sacred and important pilgrim centres in Kerala, the main attraction in Guruvayoor is the Sree Krishna Temple. Though non hindus are not permitted inside this temple exploring the streets leading to the main temple entrances is quite fascinating. Athirapally locates near the entrance to the sholayar forest range. A shimmering expanse of tranquil beauty, the highlight is a breathing 80 ft high waterfall. Check into the rainforest resort, which offers stunning views of the waterfall. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Rainforest.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 09: Athirampally - Wayanad
(261 km / 6 ½ h)Drive to Wayanad set in the picturesque Western Ghats and mountains at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. Littered with tropical rain forests, dense hills, rolling paddy fields, spice plantations and valleys, Wayanad is a hitherto undiscovered location offering breathtaking views.Today you can visit the Edakkal Caves. It is a pre-historic rock shelter formed naturally out of a strange disposition of three huge boulders making one to rest on the other two with its bottom jutting out in between and serving as the roof. Overnight at the Tranquil Plantation Hideaway. (Fullboard) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 10: Wayanad
Today you can visit the Wayand sanctuary where you can see many different species of birds and animals. In the afternoon drive to Kuruva Island, an uninhabited cluster of islands in the middle of Kabani River. Overnight at the Tranquil Plantation Hideaway. (Full board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 11: Wayanad - Tellicherry
(160kms/4hrs)Drive to Thalassery, a vibrant fishing town in the north of Calicut which is famous for the 3 C's - Circus, Cricket and Cakes. It is known for being the first British settlement in Kerala and needless to say Cakes and Cricket were both introduced here by the British. Check into the majestic Ayesha Manzil. In the afternoon/evening you can visit the colourful and entrancing Theyyam dance in Kannur. Overnight at the Ayesha Manzil. (Full board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 12: Tellicherry
Today you can visit the bustling fish markets of Tellicherry or visit the ancient fort built by the British. You could also drive to the fascinating Muzhipillangad Beach which is Kerala’s only drive –in beach where you can drive along miles of virgin white sands or laze on the beach and be mesmerized by the beauty of the place. In the evening take part in a cookery demonstration by Faiza your hostess, who is renowned for her ‘Mopilla’ cuisine. Overnight at the Ayisha Manzil. (Fullboard)(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 13: Tellicherry - Calicut
(70 km / 2 hrs)Drive to Calicut (Kozhikode), once the erstwhile capital of powerful Zamorins and a historical town. Calicut was a significant port for trade and commerce in the early centuries and the quality cotton, ‘Calico’, is believed to have originated here. Today you can enjoy a relaxing full body Ayurveda massage at the resort. In the evening visit Hindustan Kalari Sangam, which imparts training in ‘Kalaripayattu’ the martial art of Kerala. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kadavu Resort.(Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 14: Calicut - Departure
Departure transfer to Calicut airport for your return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Resort	Room Type
Cochin	2	Malabar House	Deluxe Room
Alleppey	1	Muthoot River Escapes	01 Bedroom AC Houseboat
Kumarakom	1	Coconut Lagoon	Heritage Bungalow
Periyar	2	The Elephant Court	Patio Room
Munnar	1	Ambadi Estate	Cottage
Athirampally	1	Rainforest	Luxury Room
Wayanad	2	Tranquil	Standard Room
Tellicherry	2	Ayesha Manzil	Standard Room
Calicut	1	Kadavu	Deluxe River-view Room

Tour	1 May 12-30 Sep 12	1 Oct 12-19 Dec 12	20 Dec 12-15 Jan 13	16 Jan 13-31 Jan 13	1 Feb 13-28 Feb 13	1 Mar 13-30 Apr 13
Standard	-	-	-	-	-	-
Superior	£ 1619	£ 1982	£ 2244	£ 1982	£ 2008	£ 1982
Deluxe	-	-	-	-	-	-

Prices are per person based on two people occupying a 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, sunset cruise, guide charges, cookery demonstration, chauffeur driven AC car, Ayurveda massage, all entrance fees, assisted airport transfers. Price Excludes: 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

Kerala offers a myriad of delightful, lesser known experiences which one does not get to enjoy on a regular tour which is packed with standard excursions. At the Kerala Travel Centre we have always been keen to showcase these special, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Wayanad

• You could visit the 'Meenmutty' and 'Soochipara' water falls in this region.
• Most temples in Kerala are not open to non Hindus. However you can visit the 'Valliyarukavu Bhagavathi' Temple – which is the principle shrine of tribal community of Wayanad region.

Calicut

• Visit the Beypore boat building yard which has been building boats of all sizes since early centuries. One of the highlights is that the carpenters build massive boats with precision, without the use of any drawings.
• If you are a food enthusiast, you will love Calicut. The region is famous for its 'Mopilla' cuisine and its 'Biriyanis' (dish comprising of rice and meat). You could try authentic Biriyanis at the Paragon and Sagar Hotel. Calicut is also the best place to try a 'falooda'- a dessert made of noodles, jelly, ice cream, takamaria seeds and nuts.
• Try the sweets at what is appropriately called the sweetmeat street where a number of Gujarati (North Indian community known for their sweetmeats amongst other things) shops near the beach offer a large variety.