Kerala Hills-Hues & Madurai

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Cochin Airport - Cochin

Arrive at Cochin Airport. You will be met and transferred to Fort Cochin (60 Min). 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.
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 02: Cochin

After your breakfast you will enjoy sight-seeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. You will visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India where the Vasco Da Gama was buried. The Dutch Palace, with its murals, the Synagogue with is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi was held here. 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.

Day 03: Cochin – Munnar

Morning after breakfast you will be transfer to tea county 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.
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.
Evening enjoy a walk to the near-by viewpoints.

Day 04: Munnar

Morning you enjoy a sightseeing tour of the high ranges. 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.

Day 05: Munnar – Madurai

Morning drive to Madurai (05 Hrs). Much like Varanasi in the north, Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India. Situated on the banks of Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu, the city is known for its Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
Stay at Hotel for 01 night.
Evening enjoy a martial arts show in a near-by theatre.

Day 06: Madurai - Periyar

Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar (04 Hrs). 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.
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.
Evening enjoy a martial arts show in a near-by theatre.

Day 07: Periyar

Morning enjoy boating in Lake Periyar to spot wild animals. 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. Later enjoy an Elephant Safari through the Spice Plantation.

Day 08: Periyar– Houseboat (Alleppey)

Morning drive to Alleppey (4 Hrs). By noon board your AC Deluxe Houseboat (All meals) from the Vembanad 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 one bedroom each with en-suite facilities and exterior space to sit and relax. Bed rooms will be air-conditioned from 9 Pm to 7 Am.

Day 09: Houseboat - Mararikulam

Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Mararikulam (1 Hrs). Mararikulam is a beach village in the district of Alappuzha. It was rated as one of the world’s top five HAMMOCK BEACH by National Geographic survey. With its stunning backwaters, scenic surroundings, and vast expanded Arabian Sea, Mararikulam or Marari continue to charm tourists.
Stay at Hotel for 2 night.

Day 10: Mararikulam

Full day at leisure

Day 11: Mararikulam - Cochin Airport Departure

Like all good things, your tour in Kerala comes to an end but you will always carry memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience. Today you will be assisted and transferred (2.5 Hours) to Cochin International Airport to connect your flight home.

The Tour Ends!!