Kerala and Lakshadweep Tour

01 Day: Arrival Cochin

Welcome at Cochin Airport, assistance on arrival, our representative assists and escorts you by a/c car and transfer to the pre-booked hotel. After check in, you will be given all the required documents related to your tour plan; he will explain all your queries about the entire tour plan. In the evening enjoy the Kathakali, one of India’s most famous Classical dances. Lavish Costumes & Exotic makeup & Masks intensify the beauty of the dancers, intricate moments. Overnight at the hotel.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin.

02 Day: Cochin

After breakfast, take a city tour of the Cochin city; visit Fort Cochin & St. Francis Church to see the town of Vasco da Gama. We also see the Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday afternoons and all Saturdays & all Passover Days & the Mattancherry "Dutch" Palace (closed on Fridays & Saturdays). You may also visit the famous Hill Palace Museum, the largest archaeological and heritage museum in Kerala. Bolgatty Palace is the oldest living Dutch palaces outside Holland, now converted into a heritage hotel. Willingdon Island: is a man-made island created in 1933 with wonderful walkways and jetty’s. In the evening Cherai Beach, Located in Vypin Island, Kochi, Cherai Beach is one of the beautiful beaches facing the Arabian sea. Overnight stay at the hotel.

03 Day: Cochin – Athirapally – Cochin (Excursion 65 kms: 2 hr one way)

Today morning after a leisure breakfast, take an excursion to the beautiful waterfalls of Athirapally. There is a rocky road that moves around the mountain providing you with a magnificent view of the Athirapally waterfalls. You can enjoy the views of Areca nut Palms on one side and the Chalakudy River on the other side. First the river seems winding and then it crashes down suddenly, white with challenge. Only after a short distance, the river is back to its normal self again. There are some vendors here who sell jute hats and plastic flowers; they definitely make the place more tourists friendly. After visit drive back to Cochin for overnight stay.

Athirapally waterfalls, the sudden rushing sound of the cascading waterfall makes you feel that the water has begun to fall only now. Though the fact is that the waters have maintained this suddenness for a long time and they are still persevering. The Athirapally waterfalls are 80 feet high which start at the high ranges calmly and come crashing down through the gorges. Trekking is a wonderful way to explore the nearby areas, especially if you do it along the banks of the Chalakudy River. The waterfall is located at a height in the Sholayar forest ranges and is very near to the Valparai which is a popular hill station.

04 Day: Cochin – Munnar (130 kms: 4 - 5 hrs)

Today morning check out the hotel and drive to Munnar, The word "Munnar" means three rivers. 3 mountain streams (Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala) are joining together here. There are about 30 tea plantations in and around Munnar. The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar range expose its beauty. The Munnar hills are covered by tea plants, which look like a wide green carpet. You can take a short tour visiting Munnar Tea Factory & Museum (closed on Monday). Rest of the evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Munnar: the one-time 'summer capital of the British rulers', over the years now became the most sought after tourist destination in Kerala. It is the abundant gift of nature to the Western Ghats, the eastern border of Kerala, 5000 feet above sea level. Intense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and major tea, coffee and spices plantations sprawled over this region. Munnar abounds in animals like wild elephants and Nilgiri Thar and rich biodiversity teeming with flora and fauna. An ideal hill destination to enjoy the sheer nature.

05 Day: Munnar

Today morning after breakfast explore this panoramic hill station- visit Pothamedu to enjoy picturesque view of the coffee, tea, cardamom and other spices plantations in Munnar, Devikulam (7 km from Munnar), this tranquil hill station with its velvet lawns, vibrant flora and fauna with picturesque mountains, a rare experience. Blossom International Park is about 3 km away from Munnar, Mattupetty Dam and its reservoir is located 13 km away from Munnar, Mattupetty is also known for the Indo-Swiss Farm and a dairy farm, Echo Point and Kundala Lake. In the evening you can take a tea and coffee and spices plantation tour visiting tea museum. Later return to the hotel for overnight stay.

06 Day: Munnar – Periyar (100 kms: 3 hrs)

Today morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Periyar (Thekkady), on arrival transfer to the Jungle Resort, after refreshment visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, explore the park, animals found here are elephant, wild boars and gaur and birds like grey heron and ibis, here you can enjoy elephant safari in the park and boating at Periyar Lake to view animals, if you are lucky one, may see rare tiger as well and bathing elephants. Later take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, tea and coffee estates etc. On your way back to the hotel, a stopover to the local spice market to shop some fragrant spices. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Periyar: Famous for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the bank of Periyar River in Kerala, one of India's biggest wildlife sanctuaries covering 778 square kilometers, this sanctuary also houses Tiger Reserve. Periyar National Park is blend of mercerising charming beauty and affluent nature surroundings. The sanctuary houses sizable population of elephants, also Tiger, Sambars, Bisons, Antelopes and Wild Boars. Here one can enjoy Elephant safari exploring dense forests on the back of Elephant.

07 Day: Periyar – Alleppey (140 kms: 4 hrs) Backwaters tours through sailing boat

After breakfast check out the hotel and drive for Alleppey, on arrival check in to the houseboat and journey begins to explore backwaters world though sailing boat passing thorough tropical countryside, enjoying view of palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are panoramic sights. On the way one can see The Chinese fishing nets, the reminiscent of our past trade links, groups of duck swimming around and colourful birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures treasured in our memories, you can try your hands in fishing from the houseboats. In the evening enjoy beautiful sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. Enjoy the dinner of your choice cooked and served by the Chef. Dinner and overnight at the houseboat.

Alleppey: a calm backwater town is the center for backwater cruises in Kerala. It has a large network of water canals, which passes through the town, provides its lifeline & has a long sandy beach. Alleppy is also famous for Speculative Nehru Trophy Boat Race, celebrated every year- in month of August, the most colourful and exotic snake boat race in Kerala. The city is known for coir products.

Houseboat: Generated through electricity; with sitting cum dining area, private bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a Chef, and Srank (Driver).

Backwaters Tours: The mystifying intricate of forty-five rivers that creates around 900 km roundabout lakes, lagoons, canals, estuaries and deltas in the South Indian state of Kerala, This topographical persona blessed the God's Own Country with elaborate water worlds, commonly known as 'backwaters'. Cruising all along the backwaters of Kerala is an ultimate way to discern its implausible foliage, bona fide, affluent ethnicity and wildlife. The tranquil, steep and Sluggish backwaters tour is like inspiring depictions of nature’s beauty witnessed by the tourists.

08 Day: Alleppey – Cochin (55 kms: 1 hr) – Agatti, Lakshadweep (By Air)

Today morning after breakfast disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport to board the scheduled flight for Agatti. Assistance on arrival and transfer to the beach resort. Rest of the evening is free for rest and relaxation. Overnight at the beach resort.

Lakshadweep: Just off the coast of Kerala are a widely scattered group of coral islands – 36 of them – collectively known as Lakshadweep. They form part of the Union of India and are one of the country’s newest tourist destinations. Ten of the islands are inhabited by simple, peace-loving folk whose language is close to that spoken in Kerala. The islanders have lifestyles and occupations that revolve around coconut cultivation, coir matting and fishing. Even today, nothing is actually produced in the islands themselves, and everything comes from the ’mainland’, as India is somewhat quaintly referred to there.

09 Day: Agatti, Lakshadweep

After breakfast the day free for leisure and beach activities. The resort offers you a variety of outdoor pursuits - Kayaking, Catamaran sailing, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, and scuba diving. A well-equipped and professionally manned Scuba Diving facility is available at the resort. Diving courses and lagoon diving are offered for beginners too. Diving is permitted only within safe depths around 30 meters. Dinner and overnight at the beach resort.

10 Day: Agatti, Lakshadweep

After breakfast apart from diving, you can try your hand at a host of activities, ranging from the interesting to the exhilarating. Night fishing on the deep sea can be the experience of a lifetime. You can also go kayaking, wind boarding, surfing and more. (Not that there's plenty not to do...try watching the palm trees grow for two hours before lunch, just to work up an appetite...) Dinner and overnight at the beach resort.

11 Day: Agatti, Lakshadweep

After breakfast visit the tomb of Hazrat Ubaidullah, mosques of Kavaratti, Kavaratti Aquarium, Buddhist archaeological museum, and the Tuna Canning Factory are the major tourist attractions in Lakshadweep. Main attraction is a small shark that is placed in a large glass compartment and shares space with sea cucumbers, octopuses, schools of fishes and few anemones. The museum displays different types of shells, extra ordinary and numerous fishes preserved in glass jars. Just next to the museum is the Dolphin Dive centre that offers diverse PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) programs for amateur and professional divers. Dinner and overnight at the beach resort.

12 Day: Agatti – Cochin (By Air)

Today morning leisure breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to the airport to board the schedule flight for Cochin, on arrival board the connecting flight for hometown. Tour concludes here with happy memories.