DAY 2: HERITAGE COCHIN

After breakfast, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry with an English speaking guide. Cochin is arguably the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty of Kerala, rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler’s ’50 greatest places of a lifetime’.

Visit Chinese fishing nets which is the main attraction in the Fort Cochin area. Walk through the “Heritage Zone”; the Fort Cochin area, where the Portuguese settled in the 16th century.

Visit the Palace of the Raja (Dutch Palace) situated in Mattancherry. Also walk through the Jew Street; the area around the Synagogue which is a centre of spice trade and curio shops.

If interested, you can go for a shopping in the afternoon at Lulu Shopping Mall, the largest shopping mall in India. Overnight stay at Cochin.

DAY 3: COCHIN/MUNNAR

Morning after a leisurely breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to the charming destination Munnar (around 3 ½ to 4 hrs drive) the misty hill station of tea gardens.

Munnar is a hill station – breathtakingly beautiful – a haven of peace and tranquillity – the idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations – pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests – aroma of spice scented cool air – yes! Munnar has all these and more.

On arrival check in to your hotel and relax. Afternoon visit the Tea factory museum in the town.
Overnight stay at Munnar.

DAY 4: MUNNAR

Morning after a leisurely breakfast, proceed to Eravikulam National Park. (During February to April the park will be closed for breeding of Nilgiri Tahr).

Eravikulam National Park:

A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr, the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills. Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc.
Later visit Mattupetty Dam, Echo point etc. If interested, you can enjoy a speed boat ride at the artificial lake at Mattupetty.

Mattupetty Dam: The most attractive part of Mattupetty dam is its still water which reflects the tea garden around. You enjoy the pretty natural surroundings of this beautiful dam. Adventure lovers also have options here like trekking in the Shola forest. In the midst of the hills, surrounded by the tea gardens, Shola forest and hilly woods lays a beautiful lake, just a few miles away from the Mattupetty dam. The serene ambience of the lake will take you to a world of peace. You have endless options – either you can go for boating in the lake or you can sit on the shore enjoying the tranquillity here.

Rest of the day free for shopping and independent activities. You can buy fresh tea bags, natural coffee, homemade chocolates, spices, natural oils etc..
Overnight stay at Munnar.

DAY 5: MUNNAR/THEKKADY

After breakfast, check out and drive to Thekkady (around 3 ½ hrs. drive).

Thekkady, one of India’s major wildlife sanctuaries, sprawled over an area of 777sq.kms is rich in varied flora and fauna. It is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations of tea, cardamom, pepper, cloves and cinnamon in the High Ranges and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

On arrival, check into your hotel. Later proceed for a spice plantation tour. Later do a boating through the lake near Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to see the wildlife in close range. Elephants, wild boar, bison are the main attraction here.

Overnight stay in Thekkady.

DAY 6: THEKKADY/ALLEPPEY (HOUSEBOAT)

After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed to Alleppey (around 3 hours drive).
Around 12:00 noon board a traditional Kerala houseboat at Alleppey and cruise along the serene backwaters.

During the cruise, the countryside offers a close look into an engaging rustic life. You can see skilled fishermen launching their cockshell boats, large flotillas of ducks waddling down to the water from thatched houses on the banks, women neck-deep in water, with their waist-length hair heaped in a crown, searching for fish with their feet and aimless cattle grazing in lush pastureland, where white lotuses lie here and there in small, low-lying pools.

The personal chef on the houseboat will prepare delicious Kerala style cuisine for you on board. Evening, after cruise till 17:00 hrs, the boat will be anchored in the lake for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 7: ALLEPPEY / KOVALAM

Morning after breakfast around 9:00 AM disembark houseboat at Alleppey and drive to Kovalam (around 4 hrs drive).

Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
On arrival check into a beach resort and relax. Overnight at Kovalam.

DAY 8: KOVALAM/TRIVANDRUM/KOVALAM

After breakfast drive to Trivandrum for a city tour.

Trivandrum is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750. The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Places of interest are: Napier Museum, Shri Chitra Art Gallery, drive through the Kanakakunnu Palace & other government buildings.

Afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay at Kovalam