Arrive at Cochin (Kochi) International Airport.

Cochin (Kochi): Kochi (also known as Cochin) is one of the most picturesque destinations on the southwest coast line of Kerala. An all-weather harbour and a grand seascape mark it as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. The peaceful city is also one of the leading commercial centres of southern India. It is the top supplier of aromatic spices to global markets, so if you’re looking for spices for your curries this is the place to buy them. Moreover, voyagers also coveted fine sandalwood, perfumes and gold that came from this market-town. Kochi kingdom dates back to the 12th  century. It is believed that Chinese and Arab traders were the first visitors to Kochi who paved the way for Portuguese and Dutch visitors, followed by the British Raj in this region. This place has been a safe haven for travel enthusiasts for several decades. Sites reflecting those influences include Fort Kochi, a settlement with tiled colonial bungalows and diverse houses of worship. Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, typical of  Kochi, have been in use for centuries. 

Upon arrival, once you clear your immigration & collect your baggage, please proceed to the arrival hall to meet our representative/driver. Transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Cochin

After breakfast proceed for half-day city sightseeing of Cochin with a local English-speaking guide. 

Cochin city sightseeing visit includes Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), Fort Kochi, St Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue.

Later in the afternoon, proceed for Cochin harbor cruise with a local English-speaking guide 

Cochin Harbor Cruise: Undoubtedly one of the most happening and picturesque part of the city, take an hour-long private cruise for a more relaxed tour of the city. Witness Bolgatty palace, Chinese fishing nets and other attractions. 

Later proceed for Kathakali show. 

Kathakali show: When travelling to South India, one must watch the traditional  Kathakali Dance which is one of the oldest theatre dance forms in the world. Kochi is one of the best places to witness this heritage dance form. Kathakali artists wear elaborate, billowing costumes with intricately painted faces, flowing scarves,  detailed ornaments, and magnificent crowns. Learn about Indian culture and its classic dance form of South India. This classical Indian dance performance tells stories of Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the  Mahabharata through footwork and hand gestures. Return to the hotel after the show.

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Cochin

After breakfast, depart Cochin for Munnar by surface (approx: 130 kms/ 5 hours)

Munnar: Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountain range in India’s Kerala state. A hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it’s surrounded by rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. Eravikulam  National Park, a habitat for the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is home to the Lakkam Waterfalls, hiking trails and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak 

Arrive in Munnar and proceed to the hotel.  Rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Munnar

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Proceed for a half-day visit to Eravikulam National Park followed by visit to Tata Tea Museum with a local English-speaking guide.

Eravikulam National Park: Eravikulam National Park is located at a drive of 45  minutes from the City Centre of Munnar and is situated atop a summit of Western  Ghats. Spread around a land stretch of 97 kilometers, this is one of the most sought place for Munnar sightseeing. It houses a plethora of flora and fauna and accounts itself amidst the other UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are around 132 different species of birds, 19 amphibian species, 26 mammalian species, 101 species of butterflies, and 20 different orchid species here. Nilgiri langur, Atlas moth, Nilgiri marten, small-clawed otter, Lion-tailed macaque, and a rare variety of the leopard and lion are some of the chief wildlife to be spotted here.

Tata Tea Museum: For more than a century, the history of Munnar has been linked with its tea plantations. In fact, Munnar is a place to find some of the best tea estates in the world. It is one significant employment opportunity for the people of Munnar.  This museum stands as a tribute to all the pioneers of tea plantations of Munnar who turned it into one of the major tea distributors of Kerala. Tata Tea Museum is a one-of-its-kind museum of India. Tourists visiting here get to know about the establishment and progress of the tea plantation industry in India. Right from the manually operated tea roller to the fully automated tea factory, you get to know about every single fact related to the Munnar’s tea plantation’s automation. 

Afternoon: Experience a visit to Tea Gardens. Rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Munnar

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart Munnar for Thekkady by surface (approx: 110 kms/ 3 hours)  

Thekkady: The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants,  unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Thekkady, with its unspoiled tropical forests and incredible wealth of animal and plant life is a nature lover’s paradise. The Periyar forests of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in  India. Spreads across the entire district are the picturesque plantations and hill towns that nestle beautiful trails for treks and mountain walks. It is one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country and the forests of Periyar is embellished by the presence of endangered species including White Tigers. 

Arrive in Thekkady and proceed to the hotel.

Late afternoon, proceed for a boat ride on Lake Periyar with a local English-speaking guide. 

Boat ride on Lake Periyar: Thekkady Boating conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented plantations. A herd of elephants or a wandering family of deer are common sights near the lake. In the hot months of  March and April, visitors stand a better chance of viewing wildlife as the animals come to the lake frequently for drinking water. You may be able to spot herds of  Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. During your boat ride, there is also a high probability of observing the antics of the Smooth Indian Otter. Return to the hotel 

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Thekkady

After breakfast proceed for a half-day visit to Spice Plantation followed by an Elephant ride with a local English-speaking guide. 

Spice Plantation: As you take a walk along the winding pathways among the plantations, the thing that strikes you first is the lingering aroma in the air. The scent may be of cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon or cardamom and sometimes a fragrance that combines the scents of two or more spices. The geographical and climatic peculiarities of Thekkady such as the cool climate and its elevation from the sea level make it ideal for spice cultivation. There are many factors that make the plantation experience a memorable one. For some, it could be the unassuming beauty of the tiny flowers of the cardamom that grow at the base of the plant; for others, the tantalising aroma of cinnamon or cloves, and for some others, the cool breeze that lovingly strokes the green plantations and everything in it.

Evening: Proceed for Kalaripayattu show with a local French/English-speaking guide.

Kalaripayattu: Kalaripayattu-the oldest of martial arts-is a gift to the modern world and known as the mother of all martial arts. legend traces the 3000-year-old art form to sage Parasurama-the master of all martial art forms and credited to be the re-claimer of Kerala from the Arabian sea. Kalaripayattu originated in ancient south  India. Kung-fu, popularized by the monks of the Shaolin temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma-an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master. Return to the hotel.

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Thekkady

After breakfast, depart Thekkady for Jetty to board the houseboat (approx: 135  kms/4 ½ hours) 

Arrive at the Jetty and embark the premium houseboat from the hotel, to have an out of the world experience.  

Houseboat: The Kerala houseboat is a modified kettuvallam, the large boat of yesteryears. In Malayalam, ‘kettu’ means to tie and ‘vallom’ means boat. These boats were held together with rope and hence the name. Their reemergence occurred with the growth of tourism. It is now a tourist attraction and a popular mode to explore the magnificence of the Kumarakom backwaters. Traditionally, a houseboat was about  60 to 70 feet long and about 13 to 15 feet wide at the beam. Some of the new luxurious houseboats have a length of more than 80 ft. Eco-friendly and easily available materials such as jackfruit tree wood, palm wood, coconut fiber, bamboo poles, ropes,  bamboo mats, etc are used for constructing these boats. The boat is made by tying together (rather than nailing) planks of wood, generally anjili (wood of the jackfruit tree) with coconut fibre. As a protective coat, black resin extracted from cashew nut shells is applied on the planks. The motors mainly run on kerosene or petrol. Bamboo poles and palm leaves are used for constructing the roof. 

Witness the Cool breeze, endless paddy fields and an endless stretch of coconut trees on your houseboat cruise.  

Lunch & Dinner in Houseboat. 

Overnight Stay: on the Houseboat

After breakfast at the houseboat, Arrive Kumarakom. 

Kumarakom: Kumarakom is a cluster of beautiful little islands on the Vembanad  Lake, Kerala’s largest lake in South India. It offers a scenic view of emerald green backwaters of Kerala flanked by luxuriant vegetation and paddy fields. Being endowed with worldwide recognition on account of its backwater tourism, the tourist places in  Kumarakom is most sought-after tourist destination due to its pristine beauty and tranquility. With miles of solitude and peace being one of the most serene offerings of  Kumarakom, this fascinating destination has got something for everybody whether you are seeking relaxation, rejuvenation or on a honeymoon trip. 

Arrive in Kumarakom and proceed to your hotel.

Late Afternoon: Proceed for a sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake. 

Sunset Cruise on Vembanad Lake: Whispering waves suggest to opt for a sunset cruise at Kumarakom. Since Kumarakom located on the east shore of Vembanad  Lake, watching sun set gazing towards west is most memorable and definitely a treat for the eyes. Witness the spectacular tranquil view of the sunset as they explore the waters of the Vembanad Lake and is an experience to behold. 

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities.

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Kumarakom

Early morning proceed for a visit to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary with a local English-speaking guide. 

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, the bird sanctuary is spread across 14 acres. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist’s paradise is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. A visit to the bird sanctuary, set within the lush acres of wooded land nearby, acquaints you to the variety of migratory birds that flock in thousands, some from the Himalayas, some even from as far as Siberia. In addition,  you can get thrilled of the native kingfishers ablaze in psychedelic colours, experience a walk under rookeries of egrets and night herons or lone golden-backed woodpeckers and even delight in the acrobatics of the paradise fly-catchers. 

After breakfast, morning at leisure for independent activities. 

Late afternoon, proceed for a Manual Canoe ride on the backwaters of Kumarakom.

Canoe Ride: Canoeing across Kerala’s stunning backwaters is the best way to experience the countryside. Apart from taking in the beautiful scenery, travellers can indulge in local life and culture. Canoe Kerala allows travellers to explore the backwaters in every way possible. With canoe rides, you can go to narrow canals and get a closer experience of the backwater villages. Canoe Kerala was conceived with the sole intention of providing travellers with a fulfilled and satisfying experience of  Kerala backwaters Evening at leisure for independent activities.  

Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities. 

Overnight Stay: Hotel in Kumarakom

After breakfast depart Kumarakom for for Cochin airport (Approx: 100 kms/3 hours).

Arrive at Cochin airport to connect your flight for Australia or onward trip.