Tour route: India : Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Alleppey - Kovalam
2018 Early BirdWelcome to Kerala! Upon arrival at Cochin Airport, you are greeted by our representative. Transferred to hotel where our representative helps you check in and briefs you about the following tours. Have some free time on your own.
Overnight: Cochin
After breakfast start your exploration of Fort Cochin. Follow the footprint left centuries ago by Dutch, Portuguese, British, Arab and Chinese and soak up the cultural atmosphere as you stroll along the quaint narrow lanes of Fort Cochin to visit the Dutch Palace (close on Fridays and national holidays), St Francis Church and India's oldest Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town (close on Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays). Later head to the harbor where local fishermen use the old Chinese fishing nets introduced and erected centuries ago.
Overnight: Cochin
Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast then head to Munnar, a beautiful hill station situated 1600 meters above sea level. Upon arrival you'll be transferred to hotel. The rest of the day at leisure. You can stroll around and enjoy the peace and freshness of mountain air along with its breathtaking beauty.
Overnight: Munnar
Meal: Breakfast
After breakfast you start your exploration of Munnar, the idyllic tourist destination in Kerala. Explore the sprawling tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests and enjoy the aroma of spice-scented cool air.
Overnight: Munnar
Meal: Breakfast
After breakfast drive to Periyar Tiger Reserve, India’s earliest sanctuary and one of the best places to see Asian Elephant. After checking in to your hotel, stroll through one of the spice plantations this area famous for; learn about the many different uses of spices, both in medicine and food.
Take a late afternoon cruise on the picturesque Periyar Lake at the heart of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, as the coolness comes in the evening many wildlife drink at the water edge. This night you can choose to take an optional martial art performance, the ancient Kalaripayattu that is said to be 3000 years old.
Overnight: Periyar
Meal: Breakfast
In the early morning (around 7 am), you'll enjoy a forest trek inside the National Park, which takes 1-3 hours regarding to your interest. After the trekking, drive back to hotel for a quick shower, then head to Alleppey, embark on your houseboat and start an enchanting cruise along the reputed backwater of Kerala; just relax and lay back while you navigate slowly through the tranquil waterways. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover Kerala’s rural lifestyle. You'll see that Kerala is known for its cashew nuts, coir trade, rice, pepper crops & coconuts. If you like, have a refreshing bath in the backwaters on the tranquil Vembanad Lake. Your chef on houseboat will prepare delicious Kerala specialties on board.
Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast on the houseboat, disembark at Alleppey and say goodbye to backwater then head to Kovalam, a world-renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. You will have a wealth of leisure options on the beach, including sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs and catamaran cruising.
Overnight: Kovalam
Meal: Breakfast
Day at leisure to relax on the beach.
Overnight: Kovalam
Meal: Breakfast
Today you have a free day to relax at the hotel.
Overnight: Kovalam
Meal: Breakfast
Morning at leisure. Afternoon bid farewell to Kerela, our representative will escort you to the airport in Trivandrum to board your onward flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Price Details:
Staying at comfortable 4-star hotels from US$1209 1109pp
Travel from Jan 7 to Mar 31, 2018
Book before Oct 31, 2017
Price Inclusions:
Recommended Accommodation for Your Journey
Good accommodation choice will in no doubt enhance your tour experience. Our well-established partnership network with key hotel chains in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri-Lanka will bring you the benefits of competitive hotel rate and guaranteed room availability.
We pick hotels for you based on:
Location: geographically convenience values for your precious holiday time. So properties we use are either in downtown area close to main city attractions and amenities, or convenient for sightseeing or transportation.Hotel Criteria for Each Tour Class
Note: Bhutan is less developed with fewer hotels criteria for choice, and most of the hotels there aren't as high standard as those in Western society.
Hotel Arrangement for Standard Tour Class
Usually conveniently located and meet the basic requirements of a comfortable stay: decorative lobbies and nice guest rooms with AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms. On-site restaurants may be average in size but offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. In most cases, staffs have basic command of English. Usually 3 star hotels are adopted.Hotel Arrangement for Comfortable Tour Class
Normally you'll stay at formal and large hotels conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby. Quality service, fully furnished rooms, restaurants, room service, fitness center and swimming pool (in some cases there is no pool) all together offer an above-average accommodation experience.
Usually good 4-star hotels are adopted or boutique hotels at request. Hotels best available will be arranged if no qualified choice, e.g. in remote area.
Hotel Arrangement for Superior Tour Class
Usually properties are conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby and offer a better service and hotel facility than that in hotels of Comfortable Tour Class. Usually 4-4.5 star hotels or boutique hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for First Tour Class
Deluxe hotels with high-end service and an extensive range of facilities for an excellent accommodation experience. Multiple restaurants on site with extensive menus for choice, room service available 24/7, fitness center and concierge service round out the experience. Usually 5 star hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for Deluxe Tour Class
The most luxury hotels are used and only available in some particular cities. These properties have top-notch service and unique location, such as a lake or a historic site, and usually incorporate some of the country’s most exquisite architecture traditions. Usually top 5 star or the best available hotels are adopted.
Meals
Normally, India Odyssey Tours put breakfast in your itinerary except for in Bhutan (all meals included). Lunch won’t be included for the sake of tour convenience, while dinner is also excluded as some travelers might want a little culinary adventure themselves. But surely your tour guide/driver is always glad to offer their advice.
It is normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, the breakfast would be in western style, local style, or a combination.
Usually lunch won’t be included considering the fact that sometimes travelers may want to stay somewhere longer/shorter or need other minor changes during daily sightseeing, and it’s better to decide the lunch site then rather than pre-arranging it. For sure our tour guides/drivers will be happy to advice good places to you, and we strongly suggest qualified local restaurant or hotels around the scenic spots for the sake of your health.
Dinners will not be included in your meal plan unless you have that requirement. Enjoying the local food could be one of your best experiences in the incredible India & South Asia. This is why we offer you this flexibility of food choice, and you can always get advice from your tour guides/drivers.
If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel across South Asia. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
All tour guides of India Odyssey Tours are qualified professionals and registered English Speaking Tourist Guides who are reassessed annually. All of our tour vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, manned with licensed & experienced drivers.
You will always be greeted punctually on arrival at each destination airport. At every departure, you’ll be escorted & assisted until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint.
All of our tour guides in every destination are locals. Knowing the area well, they are good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for best photos.
If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience.
With our comfortable and safe private transportation, your tour will be more relaxing and less tiresome, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most out of your journey across South Asia.
Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained. Your private driver is licensed and always put your safety first.
Reviews on: Best of Kerala Tour with Backwaters
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May 7th, 2017 Any part of this itinerary can be altered to fit your need, e.g. accommodation, add/skip city, tour length.
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