Tour Itinerary: 10 Nights / 11 Days Places Covered Trivandrum – Kovalam – Kumarakom – Alleppey – Periyar – Munnar- Kochi
Day 1: Arrival in Trivandrum – Kovalam
Welcome to take our India private tour with daily departure, which can be tailored to meet your individual interests. You will enjoy a more personalized experience as the trip is only for your private party, with no other people.
On arrival in Trivandrum, you will be greeted at the airport and from here transferred to your hotel in Kovalam. Kovalam is a world-renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. You will have a wealth of leisure options on the beach, including sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs and catamaran cruising.
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars) – or similar
Day 2: Kovalam (Excursion to Trivandrum)
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum. On arrival here start your tour with a visit to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple in prescribed dress code. Guest of other religions cannot enter the main temple but enjoy the exterior architecture of the building. After this proceed to visit Puthenmalika (Kuthiramalika) Palace (Closed on Monday). This palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, the King of Travancore who was a renowned poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. The palace museum displays paintings and priceless collections of the royal family. Then visit the 19th century Napier Museum built in the Indo-Sarcenic style houses are rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts. Located near to the Museum is the Sree Chithra Art Gallery which displays original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich. After visits we will drive back to Kovalam.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars) – or similar
Day 3: In Kovalam
After breakfast, the full day is at leisure to relax on the beach (No car and guide service for today).
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars) – or similar
Day 4: Kovalam – Kumarakom
After breakfast you will be transferred from Kovalam to Kumarakom. Stop-over for coffee break and photo stop on your request. On arrival check in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist’s paradise is a favorite 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 colors, 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.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lake Song, Kumarakom or similar
Day 5: Kumarakom – Alleppey
After breakfast you will be transferred to Alappuzha which was earlier known as Alleppey. This picturesque town also known as Venice of the East is crisscrossed with canals and offers you backwaters, beaches, and lagoons. A cruise in the backwaters is an unforgettable experience. Every year, on the second Saturday of August the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on the Punnamada Lake. Kuttanad with continuous paddy fields and lush green coconut palms is known as the rice bowl of Kerala. This is one of the few places in the world where rice is cultivated below sea level. Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha. Here you will board a houseboat in Kerala’s backwaters. This houseboat trip is quite interesting as you will be passing by small villages. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover Kerala’s rural lifestyle. You’ll see that Kerala is known for its cashew nuts, coir trade, rice, pepper crops & coconuts. Your chef on houseboat will prepare delicious Kerala specialties on board.
Friendly Tips:
It is advisable to board the houseboat between 12:00 – 13:00 Hour. The houseboats do not keep sailing throughout the night and the sailing time stops around sunset i.e. 17:00 – 18:00. After sunset the houseboats are moored on the dock for overnight while the fishermen comes in to through nets into water to catch fish, so at that time houseboats are not allowed. The houseboat sails for around 4 – 6 hours only during afternoon time.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lakes & Lagoon, Alleppey (Houseboat) – Lake Royale Premium Houseboat
Day 6: Alleppey – Periyar
After breakfast disembark from houseboat and then drive to Periyar, stopover for coffee break or photo opportunities are at your request any time en-route. On arrival check in at the hotel. After checking into your hotel, you have time to stroll through one of the spice plantations this area famous for and learn about the many different uses of spices, both in medicine and food.
Afternoon take a cruise on the picturesque Periyar Lake at the heart of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Periyar Lake is a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. The 1 hour boat trips around the lake are the main way to tour the sanctuary. You might see deer, boar and birdlife. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crown Valley or similar
Day 7: Periyar – Munnar
After breakfast you will be transferred from Periyar to Munnar. Stopover for coffee break at your request. On arrival check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: White House or similar
Day 8: In Munnar
After breakfast start your day with visit to Eravikulam National Park which is one of the main attractions near Munnar. This park is famous for its endangered inhabitant – the Nilgiri Tahr. This park is also home to several species of rare butterflies, animals and birds. After this proceed to visit Tea Museum. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs and machineries; all of which have a story to tell on the origins and growth of tea plantations in Munnar. From here head to Echo Point. This scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. Echo Point, situated on the way to Top Station from Munnar is a stopover for tourists visiting Top Station – the highest point in Munnar and the rare Neelakurinji (Strobilanthus) blooms here. End your tour with visit to Mattupetty. Situated in the famous hill town of Munnar, Mattupetty located 13 km from Munnar is situated at a height of 1700 m, and is a delight for nature lovers. Rest of the day at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: White House or similar
Day 9: Munnar – Kochi
After breakfast you will be transferred from Munnar to Kochi, which was earlier known as Cochin. Stopover for coffee break at your request. On arrival check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu or similar
Day 10: In Kochi
After breakfast start your exploration of Cochin. Follow the footprint left centuries ago by Dutch, Portuguese, British, Arab and Chinese and soak up the cultural atmosphere as you stroll along the quaint narrow lanes of Jew Town (close on Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays), a great place for shopping in Cochin. It is famous for antique shops. Then head to Mattancherry Palace which is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace. Also visit St Francis Church originally built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India and has great historical significance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent. Your next stop will be at India’s oldest Jewish Synagogue also known as Paradeshi Synagouge and is the only one of the seven synagogues in the area still in use. End your tour with visit to the harbor where local fishermen manipulating the old Chinese fishing nets introduced and erected centuries ago. Afternoon is at leisure in which you can partake in the activities of your interest. This evening you can choose to enjoy Kerala’s signature performance of Kathakali (Supplement cost applicable), this is a classical form of dance, drama and music that is more than 400 years old.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu or similar
Day 11: Departure from Kochi
After breakfast you will be dropped off at airport to board your onward flight. We wish you a nice trip home!
Our professional travel consultant is very happy to customize this private tour to your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you!
Meal: Breakfast
!! Tour Concludes with happy memories of Kerala Tour!!
Total Package cost: USD 1550/- Per Person on Twin sharing with following hotels and inclusion:
Hotel Undertaken:
Kovalam : Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort or similar
Kumarakom : Lake Song or similar
Alleppey : Lakes & Lagoon / Lake Royale Premium Houseboat
Periyar : Crown Valley or similar
Munnar : White House or similar
Kochi : Radisson Blu or similar
Please be aware that the hotel supplement for public holidays and festivals is not included in the tour price. If your travel date happens to meet any holidays, please contact us for the tour quotation.
Package cost includes:
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- Accommodation on twin sharing as per selected hotel category or similar in same category for the mention night
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- Meeting and assistance on arrival/departure at Airport/hotel by our representative.
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- Accommodation in standard room on bed & breakfast basis except in Alleppey (Houseboat) where stay will be on full board basis.
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- Spice plantation visit with local naturalist in Periyar.
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- Regular shared boat ride on Lake Periyar in Periyar.
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- Monument entrance fee for the city tours mentioned in the itinerary.
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- 02 Bottles drinking water per person per day & wet tissues in vehicle.
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- All presently applicable taxes.
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- All Hotel taxes & Service charges.
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- English speaking guide (Locally) at Trivandrum and Kochi only
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- Should there be any further levy of Govt. / statutory taxes / charges, the same shall be chargeable extra as and when applicable.
Tour Cost does not include :
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- Any domestic or international airfare
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- Items of personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, Room service, Lunch / Dinner, etc.
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- Any Service not mentioned in Inclusions.
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- The payments for additional services taken at the hotel are to be settled directly at the hotel.
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- Weekend or Holiday Surcharge (if applicable)
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- The airfare of arrival in Trivandrum and departure from Kochi.
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- Lunches and dinners except in Alleppey, but advice freely available.
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- India visa fee.
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- Personal expenses (travel insurance, drinks, camera fee etc).
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- Tips for guides and drivers.
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- Kathakali dance show in Cochin @ USD 6 Per Person
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- Kalaripayattu martial art show in Periyar @ USD 5 Per Person.