Backwaters Of Kerala And The Cardamom Hills

The Classic Tour Of Kerala

Our most popular tour is a good mix of sightseeing and relaxation that is ideal for combining with a beach stay for a fabulous 2 week holiday in Kerala.

Relax upon arrival at Fort Cochin. Most flights into Cochin arrive in the morning, so you will have ample time to wander around the historic quarter and see the Chinese Fishing Nets, which are easily seen in one afternoon.

Thekkady is Kerala’s most famous resort due to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary located around the jungle clad hills of Periyar Lake. You can go on a Boat Safari or a Guided Nature Walk to observe wild elephants

Descending from the Cardamom Hills, you reach the tropical paradise of Kumarakom, perhaps the most beautiful resort in Kerala situated on the banks of the huge Vembanad Lake and a perfect place to relax for a few days.

A Backwater Journey by Private Rice Boat on the Kerala Backwaters is truly One Of The World’s Great Travel Experiences! Disembarking from Alleppey the beaches of Marari are a stone’s throw away. Alternatively head to the famous beach resort of Kovalam with great sea-bathing or quieter resorts in the vicinity like Chowara.

Recommended For: Anyone who wishes to see the main sights of Kerala in a relaxed fashion.

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

Day 02

Cochin

The Old Harbour Hotel

Sightseeing At Fort Cochin With A Local Guide
Cochin is a cosmopolitan and bustling city that features the oldest church in India: the Church of St Francis built in 1503 by the Portuguese. You can also visit Mattancherry Palace, a 16th-century Dutch building whose interior houses a Hindu temple and museum with fascinating costumes and murals.

The Old Town with its Jewish Synagogue and surrounding quarter of are also worth a visit for their architectural interest and quaint shops, selling everything from wooden carvings to exotic spices.

The famous Chinese Fishing Nets built along the northern shores of Fort Cochin are highly photogenic wooden structures, with a careful counterweight-design evolved through the centuries.

You can if you wish, end your evening with a performance showcasing Kerala’s fabulous Kathakali Dances.

Day 03

Thekkady

Elephant Court

Drive Through The Cardamom Hills
Just a few hours' drive away from Kerala’s coast, are the famed Western Ghats of South India. These forested hilltops rise above valleys with exotic spice and tea plantations, lakes and wildlife sanctuaries.

Abraham Spice Garden And Kumily Spice Villages
Visit the most famous Spice Garden in Kerala, where aromatic plants like cardamom, vanilla, cloves, pepper and nutmeg with delight your senses.

Day 04

Thekkady

Elephant Court

Wildlife Safari At Periyar National Park
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary has 777 square kms of forestland with unique biodiversity. There are some 750 elephants, herds of Indian Bison, Wild Boar, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Indian Wild Dog and four species of primates including the rare Lion-tailed Macaque. Most elusive of all are about 40 Indian Tigers and Leopards.

Most people experience this with a 2-3 hour boat trip around the Periyar Lake (Upper Deck seats are booked) which is great for close encounters with elephants that feed at the edge of the waterline. However those with a close interest in wildlife and nature should consider half-day Guided Nature Walks in to the beautiful forest on jungle trails.

Elephant Back Ride Through Kumily Village
Highly popular Elephant Back Rides through the village of Kumily are possible on numerous well-kept and looked after domesticated elephants at Thekkady.

Day 05

Kumarakom

Coconut Lagoon

Descent From The Western Ghats
Journey back down to the coastal plains and reach Kottayam, the gateway to Kerala Backwaters.

In Kerala, the ‘backwaters’ refer to an interconnecting system of lakes, lagoons and natural waterways that link tiny settlements and farms, and which are still used by locals as a sort of aquatic highway.

Day 06

Kumarakom

Coconut Lagoon

IRelax At Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. It is an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies.

Day 07

Backwaters

Luxury Private A/C Rice Boat

The Backwaters
An overnight boat journey through Kerala’s Kuttanad Country, a 75km stretch of shimmering waterways incorporating rivers, lagoons and lakes is one of the World’s Great Travel Experiences.

The waterways are lined by swaying palm trees and Chinese Fishing Nets, cooled by a gentle breeze, and studded with water hyacinths. All kinds of craft ply these waters ferrying cargoes of spice, rice, nuts, coir (coconut fibre), copra (dried coconut) and people.

Your Luxury Private Rice Boat
Kerala’s house boats are known for their unique design and use of local material such as bamboo. They feature fully furnished A/C bedrooms with attached bathrooms and have a sun deck and private balcony.

Each boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Keralan cuisine using seafood specialties and fresh vegetables.

RICE BOAT JOURNEY – Kumarakom To Alleppey
Cruises start at 12:00 noon when your Rice Boat collects you direct from the jetty of your Kumarakom hotel. You will initially cruise through the vast Vembanad Lake the largest natural lake in Kerala. Then enter the highly scenic narrow waterways that flow into the lake from the lush Kuttanad region. At some places you can see below water level paddy cultivation

Reach Moonnattinmugham for night anchoring.

Day 08

To Kerala’s Beaches

In the morning, the cruise continues towards Alleppey Jetty where you disembark at 10:00 am

Mararikulam Beach
Marari’s great advantage is that it is only 20 minutes from the Rice Boat landing point at Alleppey. It offers endless miles of soft white sand backed by coconut groves and a local fishing community. It is one of India's best-kept secrets and the perfect retreat for those desiring a peaceful and relaxing holiday in a natural, exotic location.

Kovalam
Located about 3 hours south of Alleppey on the National Highway. Kovalam is a group of three crescent shaped beaches that make up one of the best known resorts in India. The beaches lie inside sandy crescents that are ideal for sea-bathing with headlands at each end, the most popular being the Lighthouse Beach.

Poovar
A unique mixture of beach and backwater 30 minutes to the south of Kovalam where a narrow sand bar with a beach holds back a very pretty estuary and lagoon. The hotels are built along the banks of the lagoon and the beach is reachable by boat. Many hotels here are also only reachable by boat.

NOTE: You can choose as many beach nights as you require.

Depart Kerala

Depart Kerala – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the same day.

NOTE: If you do not require a beach stay, you may need to add a stopover night at Cochin prior to your departure.

* We will send you a detailed quote with flight options, descriptions of hotels used and daily schedules.

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