Honeymoon Tour: 09 Nights & 10 Days

Tour Route
Kovalam » Houseboat » Periyar » Kumarakom » Cochin

Overview
Designed for couples wanting to share a truly romantic and memorable experience in some of the most romantic and sensuous places in Kerala. Tour includes ; Beach Resort Stay, Stay in a backwater resort, Romantic Houseboat Cruise with floral decorations, Couples Aromatherapy massage, Candle lit dinner with champagne, Stay in a wildlife resort, Sunset Cruise, Stay in a vibrant port town and even the opportunity to see a romantic Bollywood flick.

DAY 01: Arrival Trivandrum - Kovalam
(25kms/1hrs)Greeted by Kerala Travel Centre representative and driven to Kovalam, one of the most popular beach destinations in Kerala. Check into your hotel. Kovalam consists of three adjacent  rescent beaches separated by rocky headlands, of which the southernmost, Lighthouse Beach, is the most famous. The Azure waters and favourable climate make Kovalam a favourite year-round destination for beach lovers. In the evening enjoy a romantic massage and a complimentary bottle of champagne. Overnight at the Resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Kovalam
Day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the Resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Kovalam - Houseboat
(175kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Allepey to 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. For this special occasion we will deck the entire boat with flowers. 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 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 at villages, paddy fields and other places enroute. In the evening, enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner with champagne. Overnight on board  (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 04: Houseboat - Periyar
(150kms/4hrs)Disembark in the morning and 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 could go on a spice plantation tour today where you will be enticed by the aroma of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Periyar
Today morning you can go for an escorted jungle trek. In the evening visit a Kalaripayattu center. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Periyar - Kumarakom
(130kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Kumarakom, the enchanting backwater region of Kerala and check into your hotel. The labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons that form the famed backwaters offer stunning views and is an ideal place for a romantic getaway. Day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 07: Kumarakom
Day at leisure in Kumarakom. In the evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the magnificent Vembanad Lake. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 08: Kumarakom - Cochin
(70kms/2.5hrs)Today you could 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 believed to have been brought by Chinese traders. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 09: Cochin
Day at leisure in Cochin. Watch a romantic Bollywood flick today and experience the magic of the song and dance in an Indian movie. You could spend your last day in Cochin shopping in the bustling part of Ernakulam. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 10: Cochin - Departure
Departure transfer to the airport for onward flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Kovalam	2	Uday Samudra	Travancore Heritage	The Leela
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes
Periyar	2	Cardamom County	The Elephant Court	Spice Village
Kumarakom	2	Abad Whispering Palms	Backwater Ripples	Kumarakom Lake Resort
Cochin	2	Fort Heritage	The Old Harbour	Brunton Boatyard

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	£ 885	£ 1022	£ 1150	£ 1022	£ 1022	£ 1022
Superior	£ 979	£ 1216	£ 1423	£ 1216	£ 1216	£ 1216
Deluxe	£ 1180	£ 1739	£ 2269	£ 1739	£ 1865	£ 1739

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, couples aroma massage, candle lit dinner with champagne on houseboat, sunset Cruise in Kumarakom Floral decorations on houseboat., 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

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.

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).

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.

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.