Day 1: Arrive Cochin

Arrive Cochin airport. On arrival met by our representative and transfer to Hotel.

Day 2: COCHIN

After breakfast, drive 45 minutes to Viakom, a small village to experience the rural Kerala. Reception will be arranged in a traditional house and further enjoy the life-style of the villagers and village backwater cruise through narrow canals for 3 hours with a local guide. Enroute visit coconut farms, Coir villages, spices and herbal farms, bird watching and other village activities.

Since there are no industries here, the village is free from all types of pollution. The main occupation of the villagers is making ropes with coconut fiber, mat weaving with leaves of wild-pineapple, pottery, traditional coconut processing, collecting sand from river-bed, fishing, farming, etc. The cruise will bet through the narrow canals of 4 feet in depth and the boat passes through coconut palm groves like a canopy, providing a cool atmosphere. We conclude this excursion by enjoying a ‘Sadya’ - solemn lunch served during Kerala's regional festival ONAM and Hindu marriage functions. This is served on banana leaves with different curries. After lunch drive to Cochin for Shopping and own activities or plan to try a traditional Ayuvedic massage – another specialty of Kerala not to be missed. The exact treatment will be decided after consultation with the doctor.

Evening Kathakali Dance show. This is India''s most spectacular dance forms, based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied with drummers and musicians. (BL)

Day 3: COCHIN – MUNNAR (135 km, 4 hours)

After breakfast drive across Willington Island and the Kochi Shipyard to Mattancherry. Visit the St. Francis Church, one of the oldest European built churches in India. Visit t the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 AD (which is closed on Saturdays), and it is the oldest in the commonwealth and adorned by hundreds of blue and white hand-painted tiles. Visit the Mattancherry Palace Museum and continue onto the giant Chinese Fishing harbor. Kochi is also known as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea". It is a cluster of islands and a narrow peninsula, with a rich vibrant history. Cochin has the finest natural Harbor in the world. The older parts of the city are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast.

After lunch drive to Munnar - located at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in Southern India. It is located on the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower which bathes the hills by blue colour once in every twelve years. The Neelakurinji, will bloom next in 2018 AD. (B)

Day 4: MUNNAR

After breakfast drive to visit Eravikulam National Park. The Park holds the largest viable population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) and also is the abode of other little known fauna such as Nilgiri marten, ruddy mongoose, small clawed otter,dusky striped sqirrel etc. After visiting the National Park drive to Mattupetty Dam and manmade lake. Boating facilities by speed launch, slow speedboat and motorboats are available on hire as optional activity. On completion drive to Munnar for lunch.

After lunch drive to visit Tata Tea Museum, displaying different aspects of evolution and growth of tea plantations and processing stages. Museum displays photographs, curios and old machineries used here for tea processing. Some of the unique display items includes the original tea roller called as ‘Rotorvane’ of the year 1905, rail engine wheel of Kundale Valley Light Railway that was used to transport both men and goods from Munnar to the hill top, ‘Pelton Wheel’ which was used to generate power etc. There is another section in which wooden bathtubs, bungalow furniture, iron ovens, magneto phone etc as displayed.

If one is curious to locate an item with some antiquity, then the burial urn from the second century BC found near Periakanal estate is the most important to locate. A sundial, placed on a granite block, made in 1913 by the Art Industrial School at Nazareth, Tamil Nadu is also displayed here. There is a demonstration room where one can taste the tea that is produced here. There is a wide variety of tea and the visitors here get a chance to taste them. (B)

Day 5: MUNNAR – ALLEPPY (140 km, 4 hours)

Morning after breakfast, proceed to the start point of the boat ride at Alleppy. Check into your deluxe houseboat to take you on the well known emerald backwaters of Kerala. The complex network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals fringing the coast of Kerala forms the basis of a distinct regional lifestyle.

Enjoy a cruise on the emerald palm fringed backwaters of Kerala gliding past enduring villages and lush greenery under an azure sky. The Kerala Houseboat consists of comfortable double room with attached bath. There is a lounge and an open area where one can relax and watch the world drift by. The whole day boat cruise through the waters of Vambanad lake. All meals served on board. The lake is flocked by many migratory birds in winter and inhabited by many local & permanent water birds. (BLD)

Day 6: ALLEPPY – KOVALAM

Ater breakfast in houseboat, drive to Kovalam Beach Kovalam. Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. is 15kms to the south of Thiruvananthapuram and is one of the finest beaches in India. It has been developed into an integrated seaside resort. On arrival transfer to hotel. (B)

Day 7: FLY HOME

In the morning after breakfast drive to Trivendrum. Thiruvananthapuram which was previously called Trivandrum is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750. The name is derived from 'Tiru Ananta Puram', the abode of the Sacred serpent Ananta, upon whose coils Vishnu lays in the main temple. It is a peaceful attractive city built across seven hills, the city's old quarter clusters around the temples including Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Visit Government Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, The Zoological Gardens, Caudhiyar Palace Museum and Veli Tourist Village. In time transfer to airport to board your schedule flight. (B)

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