Magical Kerala

Cochin – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey – Cochin

Day 1, Arrival at Cochin

Upon arrival at Cochin international airport a representative of Ayurveda for health awaits you and private transfer to the hotel of your choice.

Cochin is one of the most interesting cities of India and stands out with its natural harbour almost right in the middle of the town. Your private guide will be waiting at the hotel and together you will explore the city Queen of Arabian Sea. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays) and St. Francis Church and Santa the Cruz.

Enjoy a special drive through Mattancherry with a former  original tuk tuk driver. The former tuk tuk driver and current english speaking guide knows every corner in Matancherry and will pass on his insider knowledge to you.

During the walk through Matancherry your guide will show you special spice shops, art museums of all kinds, hidden shrines, shops with handicrafts, cafes and restaurants.

Note: Not recommendation from April -September due to weather conditions in India. However it is available 12 months of the year.

In the afternoon entertainment by a traditional Kathakali dance performance (Katha = story, Kali = game) possible. It is an artistic performance, dominated by costumes and body language. Mythological stories of the Mahabharata and Ramayana are told, the clothes and the make up of the dancers is imitated like old times. Kathakali is probably the most famous performance throughout Kerala.

Overnight: Hotel in Cochin.

Day 2, Cochin – Munnar                                                          128 Km, 5 hrs drive

After breakfast departure and private transfer to Munnar and check-in at your hotel of choice.

Munnar is surrounded by a kilometre wide green flowering carpet of tea and coffee plantations. This hill station was already a popular refuge for the Europeans as early as the colonial period. Munnar is situated where the rivers Muthirappuzha, Nallathanni, Kundaly meet and is known for its clean, neat and radiant – almost like painting – environment. The beautiful scenery, the warm weather and the constant smell of tea makes Munnar one of most heavenly places in South India.

Munnar is near Anai Mudi summit, the highest in the Western Ghats. The hills are covered with a sea of exotic flowers. Here you also find the rare flower Neelakurunji which blooms only every 12 years. The next time she will bloom will be in the year 2018.

In the afternoon we will visit a tea-plantation and tea-museum (Mondays closed)

First, visit of the tea museum together with your guide who will give you all the necessary information and will be able to answer all your questions. The museum is located in the Nallathanni settlement in Munnar. Here is the origin of the famous Tata Tea, also responsible for Munnars tea plantation center development. The museum gives you a nice overview of the essential processes of the tea production.

Afterwards return transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel in Munnar.

Day 3, Munnar – Thekkady                                                     85 Km, 3,5 hrs drive

After breakfast private transfer with your chauffeur to Thekaddy.

Along the way we will stopp at Periyar National Park. The Periyar National Park is located in the exotic southern India, in Kerala. The 925 square kilometre protected area extends into the Cardamom and Pandalam hills on the southern foothills of the Western Ghats, along the border of Tamil Nadu. The Periyar National Park is a particularly remarkable reserve of some 1,000 elephants and 40 tigers. Various bisons, horse-deer, and wild boar call Peryiar National Park their home. In 2012 the park received the award for worldwide ‘Best Tiger Reserve’ from UNDP.

Enjoy a classical boatsride on Lake Perivar with a breathtaking ambience.

Experience Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art that originally emerged in Kerala and is still widespread in southern India. This fighting technique has its historical roots in the approach of ancient Indian war leaders. In order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed of their armies two Kalaripayattu-soldiers had to fight against each other for their rulers till death. The warriors were recruited from the matriarchal society governed the Nair and where the Maharajas elite bodyguards.

Overnight: Hotel in Thekkady.

Day 4, Thekkady – Alleppey                                                 140 Km, 3,5 hrs drive

After breakfast transfer with your private chauffeur to Alleppey.

Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey, is a harbour-city in the southern Indian state of Kerala with about 174,000 inhabitants. Southern Indian Kerala is a truly unique place: The backwaters. Humans and nature still live in perfect harmony. The best to explore these amphibious landscape is per traditional houseboat. All Kerala houseboats are small works of art and still manufactured in traditional handicraft. Masterpieces of its kind with a long tradition. Approximately 1000 houseboats are inhabited.

The houseboats have single, double and triple rooms with sun deck, private balcony with comfortable armchairs. The rooms are fully furnished with bathrooms, which have shower, sink and toilet. Each boat has a well equipped kitchen, where your chef will prepare authentic fish- and vegetables dishes.

These houseboats invite you to experience the fascinating beauty of the backwaters in a unique way. In the evening the boat is anchored and you can experience a romantic sunset in the Arabian Sea behind the unique backdrop of the backwaters.

Overnight: Houseboat in Alleppey.

Day 5, Alleppey – Cochin, Departure Cochin                                53 Km, 1,5 hrs drive

Just before sunrise the sound of the birds will wake you up in the morning. While you are still enjoying your leisurely breakfast around you on the lake there is already a hive of activity. Fishermen are on their way to work. Workmen also bring sand and mud from the backwaters, which they use for building houses and for fertilising. So the lagoons are saved from silting up.

After a leisurely breakfast you leave the houseboat. Your driver will meet you in time and transfer to Cochin airport.

Hotel recommendation:

SERVICES INCLUSIVE:

• 4 Nights single/double room as per recommended hotels, or similar
• Daily buffet-breakfast at the hotel
• Full board on houseboat in Alleppey
• Transfers as per itinerary in private air-conditioned Toyota Innova
• All toll and parking fees, local government taxes, porterage at hotels and airport
• 1 Kathakali Dancing Show at Cochin
• 1 Traditional boat ride in Thekkady
• Entrance Fees as specified in the itinerary
• Local english speaking guide for sight seeing as per program
• 2 Bottles water per person per day
• Local assistance on site – arrival and departure coordination
• All required taxes

EXCLUSIVE:

• All personal expenses, such as gratuity, laundry, telephone, drinks, medical assistance and others
• Any travel insurance or medical insurance or other insurance required

NOTE:

Hotel Check in: 14h00 / Check out: 12h00