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Day 01 - Cochin

A representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

Day 02 - Cochin

You will go on a full day city tour of Cochin. With its wealth of historical associations and its magnificent setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, Cochin is one of the most fascinating cities of coastal South India. It is a city with indelible marks of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Jewish traditions. Of special mention is the older parts of the Fort Cochin area. It more or less exists as it used to be a thousand years ago. This part of the city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English country life grafted on to the tropical Malabar Coast. The 16th century Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is a fascinating fort with elegant buildings and interesting collections from the Royal traditions of the region. The unique feature of Cochin is the unexpected and isolated Jewish community, whose origins date back to AD 52. They are self-contained and have their own synagogue. The area around the synagogue, known as 'Jew Town' is one of the main centers of spice trade. Scores of small firms huddle together in old dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the aroma of ginger, cardamom, cumin, turmeric and cloves. Cochin has an interesting fishing community, where they still use ancient cantilevered fishing nets called Chinese fishing nets. The nets are fixed to long bamboo poles on the shore. When fishing, the poles with the nets are lowered by a primitive fulcrum mechanism. Then the pole and nets are lifted along with the catch.

In the evening, you will watch the Kathakali dance show. A special treat awaits us in the strength and vigor of the Kathakali dance drama as it enacts episodes from great Indian epics. The extremely stylized gestures, the elaborate make-up, the masks and the splendid costumes of these all-male dancers recreate an incomparable sense of pageantry.

Day 03 - Cochin / Periyar

In the morning, we drive to Periyar and the cool, misty Cardamom Hills. This is a magnificently scenic region 4000 feet and higher, with forests and valleys, roaring streams and pristine jungles. We will visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's first Project Tiger Reserves and an excellent place to view elephants and many other animals. In the afternoon, we will go on a spice plantation tour with guide.

Day 04 - Periyar

In the morning, we will go on a guided jungle walk in Periyar National Park. You will have the afternoon to spend on your own.

Day 05 - Periyar / Alleppey

In the morning we drive to Alleppey for an overnight backwater cruise on a houseboat. The houseboat provides all comforts - beds, a kitchen, western toilets and an upper deck. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. The cuisine is of traditional Kerala flavour along with the local specialties. You will spend the day cruising on the boat through remote tribal villages along the tranquil backwaters of Kerala. Sensational in its own silent way, the cruise takes you along snake boat docks, friendly cheering villagers, coir (jute) making communities, toddy (local spirit) shops, fishing nets pitched for the day's catch, bunded paddy fields and manual canoes of different sizes crisscrossing each other. The experience enables you to reach beautiful untouched areas.

Day 06 – Kumarakom / Kovalam

After breakfast, we disembark at Kumarakom and drive to Kovalam. Here, you will have some free time to go to the beach or enjoy an ayurvedic treatment.

Day 07 - Kovalam

You will have the entire day to spend at the beach or to enjoy ayurvedic treatments.

Day 08 - Kovalam

You will have the entire day to spend at the beach or to enjoy ayurvedic treatments.

Day 09 - Kovalam / Trivandrum

You will be taken to Trivandrum airport for your flight.

Includes

- Accommodation for 8 nights at hotels of chosen grade

- 4 breakfasts and all meals onboard the houseboat and at Ayurveda Resort at Kovalam

- Air conditioned transportation on sharing basis

- Ayurvedic treatment package

- Luxury houseboat on Kerala Backwaters

- Cooking demo

- Monuments entrance as per itinerary

- Local English speaking guide during sightseeing

- Assistance on arrival and departure by a representative

- All applicable taxes

Excludes

- Domestic flight tickets (price will vary according to seat availability at the time of booking).

- Meals and drinks not included in the description

- Personal expenses

- Tips and gratuities

- Optional activity costs