Essence of Kerala (Kochi - Munnar - Periyar - Houseboat)

On arrival at Kochi Airport, you will be met and transferred to Cochin (60 Mins). Fort Cochin is the home to some of the oldest European architecture in India and has been a significant settlement ever since Cochin Harbour was discovered. Unlike the bustling Ernakulum, the twin cities of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have preserved an extraordinary wealth of early colonial architecture spanning the Portuguese, Dutch and the British eras- a crop unparalleled in India.

Evening enjoy Kathakali dance performance, the traditional art form of Kerala. Kathakali dance is the ancient pantomime dance drama of Kerala. The performance is for about 2 and half hours, with an hour of make-up, a short introduction about the dance and an hour of dance performance. Stay overnight at Kochi.

Morning after breakfast, enjoy sight- seeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry with a guide. Unlike the bustling modern part- Ernakulam, the twin cities of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have preserved an extraordinary wealth of early colonial architecture spanning the Portuguese, Dutch and the British eras a crop unparalleled in India. You will see Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue etc. Stay overnight at Kochi.

Morning after breakfast you will be transfer to Hill Station of Munnar (4 Hrs). Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Evening enjoy a walk to the near-by waterfalls and tea plantations. Stay overnight at Munnar.

Morning you enjoy a sightseeing tour of Munnar with your driver. You will visit the Tea museum to see the processing of tea; it also has the history of tea in the region. There are other viewpoints like Eravikulam National Park famous for Nilgiri Thar, Mattupetty Dam and scenic place and these tend to be very popular with tourists. You could also visit Srishti, a welfare center in Munnar which is managed and run by Tata Tea. It comes under Tata Global Beverages’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. This Tata initiative houses a school for lesser abled children, a textile factory, a recycle paper factory, a bakery and a little shop where they sell their home made products

Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Periyar (4 Hrs). This is a wildlife sanctuary around an artificial lake at Thekkady high in the Western Ghats. The mountains around the lake covered with dense deciduous forests and grass savannas make this a picture-perfect destination. Tourists can make boat trips in the lake and watch the wild animals.

Evening is free to enjoy walks in the beautiful area. Stay overnight at Periyar.

Morning enjoy boating in lake Periyar to spot wild animals. Periyar Wildlife sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to watch and photograph wild elephants at close quarters. The reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna .The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Periyar Lake, is spread across 777 sq. km, of which 360 sq. km is thick evergreen forest.

Later visit the spice plantation, where you can see the locally grown spices in Periyar like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper cloves etc. You will have a person to explain how they are grown, harvested and processed.

Morning you will be transferred to Alleppey ( 4 Hrs)

By noon board AC Premium Houseboat (All meals) from the Alleppey House boat jetty for an overnight Cruise with on board lunch and snacks and dinner, covering the nearby villages and the ethnic life around these villages to Alleppey, through the famous Vembanad Lake. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a relaxing cruise through the waterways which gives you an opportunity to observe rural Kerala up close. For the people living on the banks, the backwaters are a part of their day to day life. You stop to look at paddy cultivation, watch local fishing, and see historic churches and local temples. Your Houseboat will have tow bedrooms with en-suite facilities and exterior space to sit and relax.

After Breakfast, disembark the Houseboat and transfer to Kochi airport for your flight back home. THE TOUR ENDS