Overview & Highlights
Kochi is the financial and commercial hub of the state. The city of Kochi is an attractive tourist destination in the beautiful state of Kerala, located on the southwest coast of India. It has been a major spice trading hub for centuries. Kochi has been important spice trading center on the west coast of India, connecting the mainland to the rest of the world and known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea". Munnar is home to tea plantations, virgin forests, rolling hills, valleys, waterfalls, and winding walkways. It's also known for the Neelakurinji flower, which blooms only once every 12 years, turning the hills and valleys blue. The beautiful sights of acres and acres of lush green tea plantations will make us realize that we have at last reached Munnar and of course the place is so much known for its tea estates. Alleppey is famous for its backwaters, which are a network of lakes, lagoons, and rivers that criss-cross the district. The houseboat industry in Alappuzha is one of the most famous in the world. Alleppey is known for its traditional boat races. Alleppey has temples, including Andrew's Basilica Arthunkal, the largest shrine of St. Sebastian in the world.
Itinerary
Arrive at Kochi airport.
Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel by private vehicle.
Welcome to India!
Our Customer Service executive will meet you on arrival hall at Kochi airport after you clear all immigration and custom formalities. He will be assisting you and transfer you to your hotel where you will check in for your stay. Spend the day at leisure to get over jet lag.
Check in for your stay.
Set on a cluster of islands and a peninsula, Cochin (now, Kochi) is a blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village. Here you can see the oldest church in India, winding streets crammed with 500-year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a well-settled Jewish community, a 16th century synagogue and a palace built by the Portuguese and given to the King of Cochin. Kochi can unarguably be the most ideal point if you wish to see the unfathomable beauty of the state of Kerala.
Overnight in Cochin.
Exolre the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry area.
Post breakfast visit St. Francis Church - Started in 1503 and completed in 1516 by the Portuguese this is the oldest European church in India. It gained prominence as it housed the remains of Vasco Da Gama the Great Portuguese Explorer who first came to Calicut, Kerala in 1498 and died during his third visit in 1524 in Cochin. His remains were exhumed and taken to Lisbon in 1539. The present structure of European architecture is a Protected Monument under the Archaeological survey of India but owned by the North Kerala Diocese of Church of South India.
Dutch Palace (Closed on Fridays) is a quadrangular structure built in Nalukettu style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. The glory of the palace lies in its mural paintings depicts scenes from Ramayana. The themes from contemporary literature of Kerala are also depicted here. Also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.
Paradesi Synagogue (Closed on Friday Second Half, Saturdays & Jewish Holidays) One of the oldest and very few functional synagogues, this was built by the European and Middle Eastern Jews in 1568. It is located in Jew.
Town, adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple. Unlike normal Synagogue practice this does not have a Rabbi and is lead by the elders of the community. The main highlights of this place are the Scrolls of the Law, several Gold Crowns, Belgian Glass Chandeliers and a brass-railed pulpit and the floor that has hundreds of 18th century Chinese hand-painted porcelain tiles. The Clock- tower stands top above all. Timing 1000Hrs- 1200Hrs and 1500Hrs- 1700Hrs.
Chinese Fishing Nets -These nets believed to be introduced by the traders from the Courts of the Chinese ruler, Kublai Khan are unique to Cochin. The numerous nets that dot Fort Kochi and Vypeen Island can be seen only in Cochin outside China. Each structure is at least 1m high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen.
Rest of the evening free for leisure.
Overnight in Cochin.
Drive to Munnar.
Today morning after breakfast, check-out and you will be transferred in your private car to Munnar.
On arrival at Munnar, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Munnar, is the largest tea-growing region of South India. It’s green carpet of tea plantations clipped like ornamental hedges are a sight for sore eyes. The undulating hills, green with tea and other plantations, pleasant climes, and the veil of mist covering it all gives Munnar an ethereal and almost fairy tale like character.
Overnight in Munnar.
Day to explore the beauty of the winding tea estates of Munnar.
Post Breakfast, visit the famous Tea Museum, which shows miniature functions as that in a tea factory. The Tata Tea Museum (Monday Closed) diligently portrays the growth of Munnar tea estates, veritably conveyed through some of the displays like the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Visitors to the museum can satiate their curiosity on various stages of tea processing and learn a thing or two about the production of black tea.
Later proceed to walk through tea plantations. During this visit, learn plucking of tea leaves (subject to the growth of plantation at the time of visit) from the workers, and also interact with local people and learn about their life and culture. Later visit Mattuppetty, Echo Point, Photo Point, Eravikulam National Park (Feb, Mar Closed), International Blossom (Hydel) Park.
Overnight in Munnar.
Drive to Alleppey.
Board the houseboat for your stay.
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey and you will be embark houseboat from Jetty point to board houseboat.
Climb aboard the traditional kettuvallams (rice boats) converted into houseboats with bedrooms and attached toilets. Originally these boats were used as ferries to carry rice. Cruise through the backwaters of Kerala. The backwater cruise through the narrow canals that criss-cross a typical Kerala Village, rich with green paddy fields and verdant coconut trees and is a thrilling experience. Lunch and dinner will be served on board.
Overnight in Houseboat.
Disembark the houseboat.
Drive To Kumarakom.
The cruise ends this morning. Disembark the Houseboat after breakfast; you will be transferred to Kumarakom.
Kumarakom, or the 'Venice of the East' is a veritable paradise in the lush backwaters of Kottayam. It is Kerala’s heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties.
On arrival in Kumarakom, check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Kumarakom.
Transfer to Kochi International airport and depart for onward journey.
Inclusions
- Meal Plan as stated in the itinerary (Bed and Breakfast).
- All transfers, sightseeing using AC Tempo Traveller.
- Single entry to the monuments as per the itinerary.
- Mineral Water will be available in the vehicle throughout the tour.
- Govt. service tax.
Exclusions
- Expenses of personal nature like tipping, laundry, alcoholic beverages.
- Any insurance.
- Any Visa.
Payment Policy
- If booking is 30 days in advance from the travel date: Advance of 15% of the package cost required
- If booking is between 30 days to 15 days in advance from the travel date: Advance of 30% of the package cost is required
- If travel is within 15 days of the travel date: We will require 100% payment.
Cancellation Policy
- If booking is 15 days before the travel date: 100% refund for Domestic Packages.
- if booking is 30 days before the travel date: 100% refund for International Packages.
- Between 30 days to 15 date before the travel date 10% of the total cost will be deducted on International Packages.
- Between 15 days to 1 Day before the travel date: 100% cancellation on Domestic & International Packages.