Kerala Tea Estate, Backwater & Beach Tour 11 days

Day 1 Arrive Cochin

On arrival at Cochin airport, assistance & transfer hotel for check-in. In the evening, enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks, etc. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 Cochin - Munnar (140kms) (B)

City tour of Cochin, the lovely seaside city flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. You will find here a unique mix and match of traditional as well as Western architecture and lifestyle. Visit Fort Cochin, a charming seaside area known for its Dutch, Portuguese & British colonial architecture and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Kerala specialities, and quaint shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries. Also visit the Jewish Synagogue & the Mattancherry Dutch Palace. Drive to Munnar, check in & overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Munnar (B)

Visit Pothamedu, which offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. Mattupetty dam and its reservoir, a concrete gravity dam built between the hill ranges for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Rajamala, a hill station in Eravikulam National Park a natural habitat of the Niligiri tahr, 2695 m above sea level. Half the world`s population of the rare mountain goat or tahr, which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here. Mattupedi Dairy Farm, famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm, a highly specialised dairy farm which comes under the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Echo Point, go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute to hear your echo back! Also, visit the Tea Museum to know more about the century-old culture, a lively glimpse of how the tea culture flourished across South India. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 Munnar - Thekkady (110kms) (B)

Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu, one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. In the evening, watch Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 Thekkady (B)

Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. The tropical evergreen and deciduous forests teeming with elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger and wild boar, along with various species of snake, including cobras, vipers, kraits and many non-poisonous snakes, is a wildlife lover`s dream. A variety of birds such as grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, woodpeckers and bulbuls also have found a home in this sanctuary. Afterwards, take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. You could stop at the local market and pick some fragrant spices. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 Thekkady - Kumarakom (132kms) (B)

Drive to Kumarakom, a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, in the Kuttanad region. Visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise, a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, Egret, Darters, Bitterns, Brahminy kites, Marsh Harriers, Teals and several varieties of Herons roost are found. For an inquisitive bird watcher, it is always advisable to carry their binoculars at all times. Overnight at the resort.

Day 7 Kumarakom - Day Cruise (B, L)

Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board a houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside, enchanting backwaters. While sailing, enjoy 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, the panoramic sights that one can never forget. Pass through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. Alleppey is referred to as the Venice of the East, due to canals, backwaters, and lagoons. Boats are the main mode of transportation here; you can see Shikara boats, small motor boats, passenger boats, cargo boats, and houseboats. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from the sun deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, a sitting cum dining area, a separate bedroom with attached English toilets, a sun deck and a fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. Start sailing through scenic backwaters, passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. Lunch on board during the 4-hour cruise. Rest time is free and easy to relax in your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 Kumarakom - Kovalam (190kms) (B)

Disembark from the houseboat and transfer to Kovalam, check in at the hotel. Rest time is free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 Kovalam (B)

City tour of Trivandrum. Visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, embellished in gold-plated covering, the temple sanctum is opened only to Hindus. Attukal Temple, rich in cultural heritage and adorned by impeccable Tamil architecture. The city has a rich tradition of nurturing art and culture since ancient times, as witnessed by visiting Museums. Napier Museum, renowned for its fine collection of sculptures, paintings and musical instruments. Kuthira Malika, built in 1840, is an iconic monument that gives you a curious insight into the glorious history of Kerala. The museum houses artefacts like the ethnic jewellery that was once worn by the queens, wooden paintings and carvings, armour and idols made of the purest metal. Sri Chitra Art Gallery is a perfect place for art lovers, housing some of the famous works of Raja Ravi Verma and art objects belonging to the Mughals, Rajputs and Tanjore art schools. Drive through famous beaches which include Shankumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam Beach & Lighthouse Beach Road. Overnight at the beach hotel.

Day 10 Kovalam (B)

Day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 Kovalam - Departure (Flight) (B)

As per the flight schedule, transfer to the airport to board the flight for the onward destination.