God’s Own Land - Kerala
10 Nights / 11 Days
2N Cochin – 2N Munnar – 1N Thekkady – 1N Alleppey – 4N
Kovalam
PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS:
➢ Cochin – Dutch Palace, Spice Market, Kathakali Scholl visit & Dance Performance.
➢ Munnar – Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea, Kundala tea plantations and the
Kundala Lake
➢ Thekkady – Spice Plantation Tour, boat ride at Lake Periyar – Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
➢ Alleppey – Houseboat for Overnight in Backwaters
➢ Kovalam – Napier Museum, Shree Chitra Kala Art Gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Visit the Kuthiramalika Palace, built by the
King of Travancore, Excursion of Kanyakumari.
➢ English Speaking Guide
➢ Assistance at airport and sightseeing tours by private air-conditioned vehicle
➢ Start From Cochin and End in Trivandrum
ITINERARY:
Day 01 : Arrive Cochin by Flight
After clearing through the airport’s immigration and baggage reclaim and then out into the arrivals hall where you will meet TwoMinds representative who will then assist you to the waiting vehicle and on to the hotel. You will be assisted with the
check in to your hotel.
Its name itself brings up thoughts of fishing nets, spices, Ayurveda, and ships sailing over the blue sea. Appearing to be
growing daily and different from the rest of Kerala, it’s a fusion of traditional and modern cultures. With skyscrapers
touching the sky on one hand against the shadows of the majestic Fort, Kochi is everybody’s delight. Interestingly, the
common factors between both these worlds are the red city buses, yellow auto rickshaws and ever-friendly people. From
old times, the city has been host to Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, French and the British traders who also came here
to admire this piece of beauty. It now is one of the fastest growing cities in the country with three IT parks in close
proximity. It isn’t difficult to determine the potential of this city in terms of business and employment. To sum it up, Kochi is the best starting point to explore God’s own country, since most famous places in Kerala are here, close to each other.
OVERNIGHT STAY IN COCHIN.
Day 02 : Sightseeing of Cochin
Breakfast at the hotel. Later start your tour of Cochin including tour of the satellite towns of Kochi (Cochin) and Ernakulam
which include visits to the Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday), the Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday & Saturday), St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica followed by visit to Spice market. See the Chinese fishing nets, which dot the harbor as you drive along the coastline. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved. Also visit Jew Street which is famous for its antiques. Included evening visit to a traditional Kathakali school to enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is a traditional dance from Kerala and is performed only by men. OVERNIGHT STAY IN COCHIN.
Day 03 : Cochin – Munnar (130Kms/ approx. 4Hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Later you will be driven to Munnar. There is nowhere else quite like Munnar, and that is why so
many travelers have a holiday in Munnar as top of their wish lists while travelling to Kerala. Located at an altitude of
1600m, at the confluence of the Muthirappuzha, Chadavurai, and Kundaly rivers, it was once the summer resort of the
British. Munnar holds great appeal for those with an appreciative eye for exquisite beauty – from unending expanse of tea
plantations to pristine valleys and the verdant mountains of the Western Ghats; and from national parks and sanctuaries
teeming with wildlife, to the beautiful lakes. OVERNIGHT STAY IN MUNNAR
Day 04 : Sightseeing of Munnar
Today, enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Munnar. In the morning, visit the Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate of Tata
Tea (Closed on Monday), which showcases some of the exquisite and interesting aspects of the genesis and growth of tea
plantations in Munnar. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs, and machinery. Also visit Mattupetty, located about
13 km from Munnar. Mattupetty is known for its dam and the beautiful lake, which offers pleasurable boat rides. Later
visit the Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala Lake… the mountain slopes here are thick with undulating, evergreen
tea plantations. The shimmering blue lake is the most photographed part of Kundala. Take a stroll in the tea estate and
enjoy the refreshing mountain breeze. Here you can view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of tealeaves
to their processing. OVERNIGHT STAY IN MUNNAR.
Day 05 : Munnar – Thekkady (140Kms/ approx. 4Hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Later you will be driven to Thekkady. On arrival in Thekkady (Periyar), check in at the hotel.
Stationed at the Idukki district of Kerala, Thekkady is one of the important tourist destinations in India. It is located at a
distance of about 160 miles from Thiruvananthapuram and is well known for wildlife preservation. Unlike other wildlife
sanctuaries, Thekkady is unique and abundantly rich with flora, fauna, and a wide range of birds. Here, you can get a
glimpse of wildlife in a close range, and one can also have an opportunity to see and film the wildlife while they are in their
natural habitat. Thekkady is a paradise with its natural scenic beauty, clear waters and the serene atmosphere literally
captivates the visitors.
Later in the afternoon experience Spice Plantation tour. Depending on the season, you could take a day trip and visit a
pepper plantation. Walk amidst the rows of vines creeping upwards on trellises. The correct time to pluck the peppercorns
is when they are beginning to redden, just before they are completely ripe. Try your hand at it but be sure to wash up
before touching your eyes or nose! Walk past the rows of mats on which the plucked peppercorns are left to dry. The scent
of pepper mingles with the fresh mountain air. This is the starting point of the centuries old spice trade and that delicious
Flavour which makes such a difference to foods worldwide.
Late afternoon experience boat ride at Lake Periyar. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Periyar, is best known for its wildlife, it is a
must-see for all visitors to Kerala. The Periyar Lake, lying at the heart of the sanctuary provides one with a unique
opportunity to view wild animals in their natural surroundings. The Asiatic wild elephant, majestic gaur, deer, wild boar,
tortoise, flying squirrels and the distinctive nilgiri langur are often spotted along the lake and water birds. Sprawled over an
area of 777 sq km. Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and an efficiently managed reserve, it
is a repository of rare, endemic, and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of
Kerala, the Periyar. Situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Post-1975
Periyar finds itself in the enviable position of being a national park as well as a protected tiger reserve. OVERNIGHT STAY IN
THEKKADY.
Day 06 : Thekkady – Alleppey (140Kms/ approx. 4Hours)
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your houseboat which will be home for
the night. These houseboats or Kettuvallam as they are traditionally called were at one time the mode of transportation
for man and goods. Today, these are made to cater to the discerning guests who can lay back and enjoy a gentle cruise.
Cruise the backwaters from the main Vembanad Lake through the small estuaries that link small villages to the mainland.
Today, these are refurbished, and all modern conveniences have been added for tourists who visit this beautiful water
locked region of the country. An overnight cruise in the backwaters takes off through a network of canals with a backdrop
of villages and coconut trees on the shores. Enjoy all meals on-board prepared by skilled staff. The house-boat docks at a
jetty for the night. OVERNIGHT STAY ON HOUSEBOAT.
Day 07 : Alleppey - Kovalam (170Kms/ approx. 5Hours 30Minutes)
Breakfast on board. Later disembark the houseboat and start your drive to Kovalam, (located close to the state capital
Trivandrum, it is internationally famed for its palm-fringed beaches and rejuvenating centers. This coastal town initially
came to notice with the construction of Halcyon Castle by the last Maharani of Travancore – Sethu Lakshmi Bayi. With the
arrival of hippies in 1970s, the place gained recognition as a tourist destination and is today renowned for its 17 km-long
coastlines, which is formed by three beautiful beaches – Lighthouse, Hawa and Samudra. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel and
spend remainder of the day at leisure. OVERNIGHT STAY IN KOVALAM.
End of our services.
Day 08 : Kovalam
After breakfast, explore highlights of Kovalam- covering lighthouse, Vellayani Lake and Valiyathura Pier. Afternoon, enjoy
a half-day sightseeing trip of Trivandrum. Visit the Napier Museum (Closed on Monday), built in the 19th century. This
Indo – Saracenic structure boasts of a “natural” air-conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and
historic artifacts… bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot, and ivory carvings. Located near the Museum, the
Shree Chitra Kala Art Gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich, and exquisite
works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of Art. Visit the Kuthiramalika Palace, built by the King of Travancore.
The palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal family. OVERNIGHT STAY IN KOVALAM.
Day 09 : Excursion to Kanyakumari
Today, enjoy a full day excursion to Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India and the
meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The multi-colored sand is a
unique feature of the beach here. Visit the Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore. It is
dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati. Swami Vivekananda is said to have sat in deep meditation here. Visit the famous
Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in 1970. Also visit the Gandhi Memorial, built on the spot where the urn containing the
Mahatma’s ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. OVERNIGHT STAY IN KOVALAM.
Day 10 : Excursion to Kanyakumari
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend rest of the day at leisure. OVERNIGHT STAY IN KOVALAM.
Day 11 : Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. In time, assisted transfer to Trivandrum airport to board for onward destination
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:
• 10 nights’ accommodation in well-appointed rooms as mentioned above/similar hotels.
• Chauffer at the airport till End of the Tour – Toyota Innova Crysta
• Sightseeing as per itinerary by tourist vehicle – Toyota Innova Crysta
• Meals as per request.
• English speaking guide during the sightseeing.
• Boat ride at Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• Monuments Ticket as mentioned in the Itinerary.
• Drivers’ allowances, toll taxes and Govt. Service Tax.
PACAKAGE EXCLUSIONS:
• Air tickets and airport taxes
• Any Monument entrance tickets
• Additional food which is not included in the cost.
• Optional activities are subject to availability. Charges additional.
• Items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, tips to guides / drivers etc.
• Camera / Video camera fees applicable at monuments
NOTE:
Hotel Check – in 1400hrs and check out 1200hrs.
Package cost – will not be valid on public holidays, festivals, exhibitions