Best of Kerala
Day-1 : Arrival in Cochin
Your Kerala tour begins with the arrival at the Cochin Airport/ Railway Station. Meet our tour representative who helps you with an assisted transfer to the hotel. Have your lunch and take some rest to get over the tiredness. Now get ready to enjoy cruising in the Cochin marine drive. Look at the Chinese fishing nets suspended in mid-air row upon row from your boat.
Next, head to the Fort Cochin, for an exciting tour of the historical sites. Visit St. Francis Church, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and other attractions.
St. Francis Church is the oldest European Church in India and stands as a silent witness of colonial struggle. Also, get impressed at the beauty of Mattancherry Palace also known as Dutch Palace. The Palace showcases the excellent murals, palanquins and many other big and small historical items. Visit the famous Jewish Synagogue which was built in 1568. The house has a beautiful exterior Made of blue and white hand-painted Chinese tiles. Stroll through the lanes of Jews town and explore the shops which are more than 100 years old. The evening is scheduled for a special Kathakali dance performance followed by dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
Day-2 : Cochin to Munnar (130 km)
There are many beautiful places to visit in Kerala. On day 2, have your breakfast and start your road journey to Munnar, probably the most popular and beautiful hill station of Kerala. The road journey from Cochin to Munnar is filled with mesmerizing views of the Cardamom hills and lush tea plantations. As you reach Munnar, complete the check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day-3 : Munnar
In the morning, get ready for exploring the popular tourist attractions in Munnar. Some of the popular attractions that you will visit today include Indo-Swiss Farm, Mattupetty Dam, Town Market, and Old Munnar Town. Wildlife enthusiasts are going to enjoy wildlife safari at Eravikulam National Park. The park is home to the exotic and rare species of mountain goats. Enjoy the glimpse of rare species and feel the thump of your heartbeat at the sight of the big cats like tigers and leopards.
Then visit the Mattupetty Dam, constructed in late 1940 which is now a major source of hydroelectricity. The dam reservoir is flocked by birds and animals for the availability of water throughout the year. This is one of the best tourist places in Kerala. Here tourists enjoy boating and also get stunned at the view of Anamudi peak and mountain slopes decorated by tea plantations. You can also trek in the Shola forest where a serene lake is surrounded by the hilly groves.
Explore Indo-Swiss Farm a joint venture of the Indian and the Swiss government located about 3 Km away from the Mattupetty Dam. This is a cattle village on the slope of the hills where thousands of cattle graze freely on the hill. You can also visit the echo point to experience the natural phenomenon of echo.
Visit the Tea Museum, where you learn how your favorite brew is processed before you buy it. Also, enjoy boating on the Kundala Lake that will allow you the sight of spice garden in Kerala.
In the afternoon, explore the shopping places in the town market and also visit the old Munnar town. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day-4 : Munnar to Thekkady (90 km / 2.5 hrs)
On day 4 of the tour of Kerala have a delicious breakfast and check-out from the hotel. Thereafter, start your journey to Thekkady by road. The city is the home to one of the largest Tiger Reserves in India, Periyar national park. Thekkady is the ideal place for those who love nature in its wildest form.
On arrival at Thekkady, check-in at the hotel or jungle lodge and unwind yourself. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride in Periyar Lake. During your ride, spot the elephants bathing on the lakeside. Admire the beauty of the serene lake that offers eternal beauty during the sunset. If you are lucky can expect the view of the blooming neelakurinji on the slope of the mountain.
The next destination is Periyar National Park, one of the most cherished places for offering excellent biodiversity. This park is home to elephants, Royal Bengal tigers, bison, fishes, reptiles, wild boars, and birds. You may indulge in activities like hiking, bamboo rafting, and jungle patrol in the trail of the park. The brave hearts can also take a night trek in the wilderness of Periyar. Feel relaxed while enjoying your overnight stay in your jungle lodge.
Day-5 : Thekkady to Alleppey (130 km / 04 hrs)
Today after enjoying a crunchy breakfast, your Kerala houseboat tour will take you to Alleppey. Here your unforgettable journey on Kerala backwater will start. Officially known as Alappuzha, the place is famous for its backwaters which is a wide network palm-fringed canals and lakes.
After arriving at Alleppey, you will check-in at your pre-booked houseboat. Sailing across Kerala backwaters on a Houseboat is one of the most cherished dreams of the travelers. Your houseboat will sail through the serene backwaters while you will enjoy the sight of green paddy field, palm-fringed lakes, colorful birds and amazing sunset. You can also witness the locals indulged in their daily work. Savor some toddy (palm wine) on your way to add an authentic touch to your journey. Overnight stay on the houseboat.
Day-6 : Alleppey to Kovalam (160 km / 4.5 hrs)
On day 6 morning, check-out from the houseboat and savor your breakfast. Now, you will head to Kovalam a beautiful beach town regarded as one of the best places in Kerala. The serene beach town Kovalam boasts of stunning pine forest, shallow water, and authentic Ayurvedic spas. Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel. Later, you can visit the beach and relax.
Kovalam means the grove of palm trees, the place is named so because it is actually blessed with palm trees. You can go for a scenic walk on the white sandy beaches, spend some fun time sunbathing or playing with the waves. There are many things to enjoy like watching the amazing sunset while relishing seafood or relaxing amidst the breathtaking beauty of pine forest.
This crescent-shaped beach is a combination of three beaches- Hawa, Samudra and Lighthouse beach. If you want to relax amidst the tranquility of pine-line head to Hawa beach. The scenic jewel of Kovalam, Samudra beach is an ideal place if you want to treat your eyes to the outstanding beauty of nature. If you want to enjoy a panoramic view of the city, visit the Lighthouse beach. The beach also offers a variety of water sports for the adventure lovers.
You can also avail Ayurvedic treatments at one of the many spas to rejuvenate yourself. Also, practice meditation, join a yoga session or attend other cultural activities. It is also a wonderful shopping place where you can purchase aromatic spices, handicrafts, wooden statues and much more. After the excursion, retire for the night in the hotel.
Day-7 : Kovalam - Trivandrum- Kovalam (15 km / 30 minutes)
On day 7 of your Kerala trip package, post breakfast, get ready for a city tour of Thiruvananthapuram. Enjoy a visit to Aakulam boat club, Shangmugham Beach, Padmanabha Swamy temple, Museum Complex, Science & Technology Museum and Veli Tourist Village.
Start the tour by visiting Padmanabhaswamy Temple which stands tall in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. This is a holy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divya Desams. Tourists are left spellbound at the amazing beauty of the temple. Fill your heart with the sacred aura and move to the next destination, the Napier Museum. This museum was built in the 19th-century and has its own natural air-conditioning system. This museum has a great collection of historical items that includes ancient ornaments, ivory carvings, bronze idols, and a temple chariot. It is also known as the Government Art Museum and reflects a blend of Kerala, Chinese, Indian and Mughal architecture.
The Napier museum also houses a zoo in its complex. This is one of the oldest Zoological Park in India established by the Maharaja of Travancore in 1857. Spanning over 55 acres of land the park is inhabited by more than 75 different species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic lion, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, etc. It is also home to 100 species of rare and exotic animals from across the world.
After spending some time with the wild population, head to the Science & Technology Museum. This museum has a number of galleries or exhibitions that feature various fields of science. There are Galleries on, mechanics, electronics, power and motion, and mathematics, etc. Some of the interesting sections to visit include solar energy, automobile, and biomedical engineering.
You can also visit the Padmanabhapuram palace which is a fine example of traditional Kerala style of architecture and regarded as one of the most beautiful palaces in the world.
Day-8 : Departure from Trivandrum
It is the last day of your Kerala trip plan. Check out from the hotel after savoring a hearty breakfast. Our tour representative will drop you at the Trivandrum airport/ railway station for your onward journey.