TOUR ROUTE:

Cochin – Periyar – Munnar – Kumarakom – Backwaters/Houseboat – Marari

Accommodations: 

PLACE                       NIGHTS            HOTEL or HOMESTAY
Cochin                       02 Nights             Old harbor hotel (or) Parayil Home stay
Periyar                       02 Nights             Spice village hotel (or) Mayapott Bungalow Homestay                    
Munnar                      02 Nights            Ambaady Estate Bungalow
Kumarakom               02 Nights             Coconut lagoon hotel (or) Philipkutty’s Farm Homestay
Backwaters                02 Nights             Deluxe Air Conditioned Houseboats
Marari                        03 Nights             Marari Beach Resort

 

Trip Cost:

Provided based on number of passengers and dates of travel. Request details !

Included:

Accommodations as listed or similar. Daily breakfast and some meals as indicated by B/L/D for breakfast/lunch/dinner. All private transfers and transportation are provided on private air-con vehicle with a driver.

Not Included:

• Flights in and out of India with departure tax
• Travel/Medical and evacuation Insurance – optional
• Tips and gratuities (optional)

Itinerary in Details

Day 1: Arrival Cochin/transfer to hotel

On arrival in Cochin, meet a Wind Horse representative. Transfer from airport to a hotel of stay. Cochin (Kochi) a cosmopolitan city is the federal state of Kerala. Cochin is also known as the gateway to Kerala for tourist as well as business travelers. It is the ideal starting point for exploring the diversity and beauty of Kerala. It was rated as one of the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler's '50 greatest places of a lifetime'.
In the evening at 17.00hrs, visit the famous dance drama of Kerala - the “Kathakali”. This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana.
Overnight at Old Harbour Hotel (or) Parayil Homestead in Cochin

 

Day 2: Cochin sightseeing (B)

After breakfast at 9:00a.m. leave for Cochin sight seeing visiting: ‘The Jewish Synagogue’ at the heart of what is locally called the “Jew Town,” The Dutch Palace, Spice market at the narrow streets, ‘The St. Francis Church’, the oldest European Church in India, ‘The Santa Cruz Basilica’ originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. In the evening visit the “Tourism Model Village ‘ – Kumbalangi. Here you may indulge in activities like knowing different methods of fishing and hands-on activities. A short canoe ride during the sunset is spectacular.
Overnight at Old Harbour Hotel (or) Parayil Homestead in Cochin

 

Day 3: Cochin to Periyar (195kms/5.0hrs) (B)

Check out from hotel after breakfast and drive to Periyar (also known as Thekkady). The name Periyar comes after the dam made here by the English in 1895. We will stop enroute for many stunning views. On arrival check into a hotel and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel Spice village (or) Mayapott Homestay in Periyar

 

Day 4: In Periyar (B)

After breakfast you will be taken for a guided plantation tour at a garden, where various species of spices and other aromatic plants are cultivated. Onward visit spice market and tea factory in the nearby main town. Break for lunch in one of the best hotels near the Periyar National park/Tiger reserve. In the evening at 4:00p.m. you are taken for the most popular boat trip at the National park. The best way to observe wildlife is from a boat. There are many animals to see, including herds of elephants, bison and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake, usually just before sunrise and sunset.
Overnight at hotel Spice village (or) Mayapott Homestay in Periyar

 

Day 5: Periyar to Munnar (130kms/3.0hrs) (B)

Depart from hotel after early breakfast and drive to Munnar, which is know as “The Nature Lovers’ Paradise”. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft, Munnar was the favorite summer resort for the erstwhile British rulers during the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests make Munnar definitely the nature lovers’ paradise. Upon arrival at Munnar, check-in at “Ambady Estate” – A farm stay with its own character. It has old-world elegance with modern convenience. Nestled amidst 70 acres of plantation, the retreat offers an environment so tranquil and serene that staying here, you’ll discover that “Ambady Estate” has filled you with peace, delight and a wonderful sense of happiness.
Overnight at Ambady Estate in Munnar

 

Day 6: In Munnar / Sightseeing (B,D)

After breakfast, step out for a sightseeing of Munnar visiting: Eravikulam National park (The natural habitat of Nilgiri Thar), The Tea Museum in a nearby town and the processing of tea in the museum campus.
Later that afternoon, return to Ambady estate and rest of the day free for own activities.
Dine and Wine with the host family in the evening wraps your day nicely. The host family has a lot of stories to tell you about Kerala, its people and culture.
Overnight at Ambady Estate in Munnar

 

Day 7: Munnar to Kumarakom (165kms/4.5hrs) (B)

Departing after breakfast, the drive down hill through winding roads will reach you to Kumarakom – one of the most popular backwater destinations of Kerala. On arrival, a short country boat will take you across the lake to “Philip Kutty’s Farm” - set on a beautiful farm islands, which were actually reclaimed from the backwaters (Vembanad Lake) in the early 1950’s. Staying at Philipkutty’s farm is a wonderful experience, especially with a very caring host family to look after you. If you are looking for a stay on a backwater resort/hotel, then you could be accommodated at one of the best and popular property “Coconut Lagoon”. There are so many facets to the Coconut Lagoon experience: the heritage of the old feudal villages of Malabar and the vast frolic of the Vembanad lake. The shimmering waters of the canals crisscross the property. Together, they become an experiment in ecological living that remains startlingly different.
Overnight at Philipkuttys farm (or) Coconut Lagoon hotel in Kumarakom

 

Day 8: In Kumarakom / free day (B/L)

Day at leisure / free for own activities.

A day to rejuvenate with Kerala boast Ayurvedic massages. You can also experience hands-on cooking with a cookery demo. One of the dishes from the demo will be served with your major meal. Enjoy a sunset cruise in the evening on a vallam (country boat) out in the open backwaters. The sights, breeze, sounds and smell of the late evenings are indeed very soothing. If you are lucky you can also catch the moonrise.
Overnight at Philipkuttys farm (or) Coconut Lagoon hotel in Kumarakom

 

Day 9: Kumarakom to Alleppey (55kms/1.0hr) & Embark Houseboat (B,L,D)

Checkout from hotel at 11:00a.m. and drive to reach Alleppey, which is the land of backwater or so called the Venice of the East. Upon arrival at Alleppey, check into a private House Boat, which will take you on a tour through the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the landscape from the protection of the cabin. People here sail, fish and swim, alongside they do their washing and their washing-up. They are so adapted to the water that you can see people talking for a long time while dipped in water reaching up to their necks. Country boats/canoes take care of the supplies and the public transport by government is also the major mode of transport for people living on backwater lands. The trip goes through a wonderful area, which is full of coconut palms, rice fields and floating water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green Island.
Overnight onboard Deluxe Air Conditioned Houseboat

 

Day 10: Alleppey to Mararikulam (Marari) (25kms/35minutes) (B)

Disembark from houseboat at 09:30a.m. and you will be transferred to Mararikulam (Marai) - a fishing village, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holidaymaker, Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory, where you can experience the local charm and tradition at it's best. It is here where the tranquility, the stunning scenery and the feeling of being transported back in time, makes it a fantastic and memorable experience. Your accommodation for the next three nights will be at “Marari Beach Resort,” which is one of the best seaside resorts in South India. It’s the right place to explore the sea from its closest safe proximity.
Overnight at Marari Beach Resort in Marari

 

Day 11, 12 & 13: In Marari (B)

Leisure day at “Marari Beach Resort” to explore on you own.
There are many activities like: village walk, bird watching, local temple visit, spend time with fisherman on the beach when they get the fishing nets out early morning and bi-cycle ride to name a few. You can also experience the traditional “Kerala Ayuveda” and some yoga during these days in Marari. Overnights at Marari Beach Resort in Marari

 

Day 14: Departure to Cochin airport (95kms / 2.5hrs) (B)

Checkout from hotel according to your flight schedule and the tour ends with a departure transfer to Cochin airport