Kerala – God’s Own Country 6N 7D

Today arrive at Cochin International Airport. Meet and Greet by ‘Contento’ representative who will be waiting for you outside the arrival terminal. The representative will assist you to the cab assigned for you. Your 07 day tour in Kerala starts with your drive to your hotel in Cochin. This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate. Strictly speaking, Cochin is a small town. But, Cochin has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town, which now includes Cochin, Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many other nearby towns and villages. On arrival, check in at the hotel and later proceed for a sight seeing tour of Cochin. Below are the places you will be covering in your short tour of Cochin.  Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday, Saturday and on Jewish Holidays) Jewish Synagogue, situated at one end of the Jew Street in the Jew Town enclave of Mattancherry in Fort Kochi. This synagogue was built in 1568 by the Malabar Yehudans or Cochin Jewish community.  The Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday) The Mattancherry Palace is one of the finest examples of the Kerala style of architecture mixed with colonial influences. The Portuguese built it as a gift to King Veera Kerala Verma.  Chinese fishing nets Legend has it that the famous Chinese explorer, Zheng He, introduced the Chinese Fishing Nets to the fishermen in Kochi over 500 years ago. Even though he would leave, these would become staple sights in these parts.  St. Francis Church (Closed on Sunday during Mass) It is here that the famous explorer, Vasco-da-Gama, was originally buried. His remains would be taken back 14 years later but to this day, the exact spot is clearly marked. Later back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

This morning, after having breakfast from the hotel, drive to Munnar which will be not less than 05 hrs. En route you may stop to visit a couple of small water falls namely Cheeyapara and Valara. On reaching Munnar, Check in at your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

This morning after breakfast, set off to explore Munnar. Your visits for the day will feature the below places.  Eravikulam National Park (Closed during Feb & March) Hidden inside Munnar, lies the famous Eravikulam National Park, the home and sanctuary of the Nilgiri Tahr. This sacred haven for this exotic animal is a relief in a time when different species are disappearing off the face of the planet. Situated in the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki district, people also flock to this park to view the special Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every 12 years.  Tea Museum Tata Tea established a Tea Museum in 2005 which has photographs and machineries, which chronicle the journey of tea in the area. The museum set up at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea ensures that the legacy of those who worked hard to ensure the tea plantations survived this long is recognised publicly.  Mattupetti Dam Mattupetty Dam is a strong gravity dam which was constructed for power generation and water conservation. Located in the Munar hills near the Anamudi peak, the dam is situated 1700 meters high. The green valleys and pleasant ambience surrounding make up for a captivating site. Later drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

This morning after breakfast you will bid-adieu to the beautiful destination and its lovely tea estates. Your next destination is Thekkady, where you have Periyar National Park. The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Spreads across the entire district are the picturesque plantations and hill towns that nestle beautiful trails for treks and mountain walks. On arrival check in at the hotel. After noon you are free to explore the destination and go for optional activities like boating, elephant ride etc. on direct payment. Later back to hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today morning after breakfast from the hotel, drive to Alleppey, also known as Venice of the East. Alappuzha – most still call it Alleppey – is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways and more than a thousand houseboats. Wandering around the small but chaotic city centre and bus-stand area, with its modest grid of canals, you’d be hard-pressed to agree with the ‘Venice of the East’ tag. On arrival embark a private houseboat which will be waiting for you. Enjoy traditional lunch and dinner on board. The cruise today will be from 1200 noon to 1700 hrs. Houseboats in Kerala, south India, are huge, slow-moving barges used for leisure trips. They are a reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means "tied with ropes", and vallam means "boat"), which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. Kerala houseboats were considered a convenient means of transportation. Overnight stay on board houseboat

Morning after breakfast from the houseboat disembark, and drive to Kumarakom, another backwater village on the banks of Vembanadu Lake. On reaching, check in at the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Kumarakom is a village on Vembanad Lake in the backwaters of Kerala, southern India. It’s laced with canals, where houseboats ply the waters. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to many species including cuckoos and Siberian storks. Nearby, the Bay Island Driftwood Museum displays wooden sculptures. In the lake, Pathiramanal Island is a haven for rare migratory birds. Overnight stay at the hotel

This morning after breakfast from Check out and drive Cochin. Drop at Cochin Airport.