SOUTHERN  SPICE
Duration  :  13 Days             Departures  :  Daily ; Private Tour
Trivandrum - Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarakom - Allepey - Kovalam - Trivandrum

 

DAY 01 : ARRIVE TRIVANDRUM
Arrive Trivandrum in the morning, transfer to prebooked Hotel
Afternoon, visit Thiruvananthapuram which was previously called Trivandrum is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750. The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland spreading over a total of 2,192sq.km. Visit the Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery & Padmanabhaswami temple.

DAY 02 : TRIVANDRUM - COCHIN
After breakfast, transfer to Cochin. Arrive Cochin & check-in at prebooked Hotel
In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show.

DAY 03 : COCHIN - MUNNAR (140 KMS, 03 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, half day sightseeing of Cochin including Asia's best preserved Synagouge, the Dutch Palace and the oldest European Church in India - the St. Francis Church where Vasco De Gama was originally buried. A leisurely walk through the Fort Cochin area which gives you a close look at the operation of the huge catileavered Chinese fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders which is still used in Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing.

Afternoon, leave for Munnar. Arrive Munnar and checkin at prebooked hotel.

DAY 04 : MUNNAR
After breakfast, sightseeing of Munnar. Visit the tea plantations, a tea factory (subject to permission being granted), the Eravikulam National Park - home of the endangered Nilgiri Thar (Ibex), followed by visit to the Mattupetty dam, the Indo Swiss Dairy farm, the Kundala Lake and other scenic spots. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 05 : MUNNAR - PERIYAR              (100 KMS, 03 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Periyar. Periyar has one of the world's most fascinating Natural wildlife reserves noted for its geography, diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. Arrive at Periyar and check in at Prebooked Hotel.

Later, boat ride on the Lake Periyar where one can have a unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

DAY 06 : PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM (140 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE) - OVERNIGHT BACKWATER TRIP TILL ALLEPEY
After breakfast, leave for Kumarakom in time to board houseboat for overnight backwater trip till Allepey.

On arrival in Kumarakom, commence an overnight houseboat cruise to Allepey, which gives one a fascinating insight into the life of a Keralan Backwater Village. As the boat glides along the backwaters one can see the daily life in the backwater villages. On the narrow strips of land, fisherman fishing, children swimming and playing in the water, women doing their daily chores, mobile shops in tiny canoes, the cultivation of paddy and it's harvesting (during harvest season), huge country barges ferrying the coconuts, rice, coir etc.
Note : The cruise commences at 1300 hrs with lunch served onboard and continues till dusk. At dusk the boat will anchor in a wide waterway or lake for the night. (The backwaters close to boat traffic at dusk as the fisherman lay their nets in the backwaters. Other boats are not allowed to ply in the backwaters after dusk.) On the following day the cruise commences again after breakfast and you will be dropped at Allepey by 1000 hrs.

DAY 07 : ALLEPEY - KOVALAM           (174 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
Checkout from the houseboat and proceed to Kovalam - is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala. The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes this beach paradise. Arrive Kovalam and check in at prebooked hotel. Arrive Kovalam and check in at prebooked hotel.

DAY 08 : KOVALAM
Day free to relax on the beach.

DAY 09 : KOVALAM
Day free to relax on the beach.

DAY 10 : KOVALAM
Day free to relax on the beach.

DAY 11 : KOVALAM
Day free to relax on the beach.

DAY 12 : KOVALAM
Day free to relax on the beach.

DAY 13 : KOVALAM - TRIVANDRUM
Afternoon, transfer to Trivandrum airport to board your onward/return flight