Kerala With Houseboat (Group Tour)
Duration
5 Nights / 6 Days
Your Itinerary
Day 1 :
Arrive Kochi - On to Munnar ( 130 kms / approx. 4 hour drive)
Welcome to your 'Romantic Getaway - Kerala with Houseboat - Premium' tour! Upon arrival at Airport in Kochi / Railway station in Ernakulam you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Munnar -the land of tea plantations. Check-in to your hotel. Set in the mountain scenery, once known as the High Range of Travancore, the hill station of Munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world's highest tea - growing estates. With its craggy peaks, manicures tea estates and crisp mountain air, Munnar is an ideal retreat. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this beautiful hill station. Overnight in Munnar - None (Meals on your own).
Night Stay at : Munnar
Day 2 :
Munnar
After breakfast, proceed to see the charming old Christ Church with its original fourteen rows of wooden pews. Later, visit Mattupetty Lake which is flanked by steep hills, woods and the small hydro-electricity dam. Enjoy a panoramic view of the dam surrounded by wooden hills and tea plantations. Also visit the Gap road for a panoramic view of the valley. Return to the hotel after sightseeing. The rest of the day is at leisure. You can explore the tea gardens in the evening. Overnight in Munnar (B)
Night Stay at : Munnar (B)
Day 3 :
On to Alleppey (176 kms / approx 5 hours drive)
Today, after breakfast, drive to the idyllic backwaters of Alleppey - A district of immense natural beauty. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as 'Venice of the East' by Lord Curzon. It connects Kumarakom and Cochin towards north and Quilon to the South. Alleppey or Alappuzha means land between the seas where a network of rivers flows into it. Backwaters of Alleppey are world famous and are the most popular tourist attraction in Kerala. The rest of the day is at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Alleppey (B)
Night Stay at : Alleppey (B)
Day 4 :
On to Kumarakom (45 kms / approx 1 hr drive)
Today, after breakfast, drive to the idyllic backwaters of Kumarakom, popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A huddle of tiny islets on the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a pictorial, unsoiled village. Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. Arrive and check-in to the hotel. Later in the day, proceed for a half day city tour of Kumarakom. Overnight in Kumarakom (B)
Night Stay at : Kumarakom (B)
Day 5 :
On to Kochi (52 kms / approx 2hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Kochi and check-in to your hotel. Kochi consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willingdon, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbour: Fort Cochin, Mattencherry and Vypeen Island. All these areas are linked by bridges and ferry. Proceed on a sightseeing tour of the Fort Kochi area where you will visit the St. Francis Church, said to be India's oldest European built church, built by Portuguese Franciscan friars. The original wooden structure was rebuilt in stone around the mid-16th century. After the occupation of Kochi by the British in 1795, it became an Anglican church and is presently being used by the Church of South India. Having passed away in Kochi in 1524, Vasco Da Gama was buried here for 14 years before his remains were taken to Lisbon. His tombstone can be seen in the church. Mattenchary Palace - built by the Portuguese in 1555 and was presented to the raja of Kochi as a goodwill gesture. The side galleries have amazing murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranic legends.
The synagogue - was built in 1568 and destroyed by the Portuguese in 1662 and rebuilt two years later when the Dutch took Kochi. It features hand painted willow patterned floor tiles brought from China. Inside the sanctuary is an ornate gold pulpit and an upstairs balcony for women who worship separately according to the community's Orthodox rites. Also visit Chinese fishing nets. They are fishing nets that are fixed land installations for an unusual form of fishing - shore operated lift nets. Later in the day, proceed for an excursion to Marari - a famous beach destination. Overnight in Kochi (B)
Night Stay at : Kochi (B)
Day 6 :
Depart Kochi
Today, bid farewell to your 'Romantic Getaway - Kerala with Houseboat - Premium' tour as you are transferred to the Airport in Kochi / Railway station in Ernakulam for your onward journey.
Night Stay at :
