“This slender coastal strip is defined by its layered landscape: almost 600km of glorious Arabian Sea coast and beaches; a languid network of glistening backwaters; and the spice- and tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats, dotted with fiercely protected wildlife reserves and cool hill stations such as Munnar”.
Golden beaches, emerald backwaters, lofty mountain ranges, powerful art forms…
A tropical paradise where you can rejuvenate your mind, body and soul with pristine Nature and Ayurvedic treatments, hug the unspoiled beaches and so much more.
KERALA, WELCOME TO GOD’s OWN COUNTRY.
 

Tour Highlights (one of my personal favorite):

• Cochin (KOCHI) tour: Mattancherry Palace or Dutch Palace; St Francis Church, Cochin Habor, Chinese Fishing Nets
• Munnar:Tea Museum, Mattapety Lake
• Thekkady: Boat ride to Periyar Lake
• Kumarakom, called Paradise on earth: Spice & Tea Plantations + Houseboat cruise
• Kovalam: India’s finest beaches

Package is quoted in USD per person and includes:

• 01-night accommodation in COCHIN on twin sharing basis
• 02-night accommodation at MUNNAR on twin sharing basis
• 01-night accommodation in THEKKADY on twin sharing basis
• 01-night accommodation in KUMARAKOM on twin sharing basis
• 02-night accommodation in KOVALAM on twin sharing basis
• Daily buffet breakfast at hotel coffee shop
• Transfers and tours with surface transportation using air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance to the monument
• Local English speaking guide for sightseeing in Cochin and Munnar
• All applicable taxes
• Package excludes Airline ticket

Important Notices:

• Prices are subject to change according to availability.
• Terms and conditions apply.

ITINERARY

Day 01: COCHIN
Arrive Cochin International airport. Meet & assist after customs formalities; walk out of the main exit gate. Transfer to hotel. Later proceed for city tour of Cochin. Visit The Dutch Palace (Fridays closed); Jewish Synagogue (Saturdays closed); St. Francis Church (1510); Chinese Fishing Nets at the entrance of the Cochin Harbour and Willingdon Island – a manmade island from materials dredged while deepening Cochin port.
Evening witness Kathakali dance performance, the ancient dance form of Kerala. Overnight in Cochin.

Day 02: COCHIN – MUNNAR
Breakfast, check out and drive to Munnar. Munnar is situated at the confluence of the three mountain Streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, 1600 m above the sea level. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight in Munnar.

Day 03: MUNNAR
Breakfast proceed to Munnar. Visit the Tea Museum, Mattapetty Lake. Overnight in Munnar.

Day 04: MUNNAR – THEKKADY

Breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Thekkady. In the afternoon proceed for boat ride in Periyar Lake.

• Periyar, one of the best elephant sanctuaries in India. It also has monkeys, wild boar and sambals. This beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats is 1,000m above sea level and is famed throughout India for the quality of its spices. Periyar is synonymous with pepper as 95% of India’s production comes from the district
• Explore Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary by boat, cruising the waters of the lake. The park is home to many mammals that come to the shore to drink. These include elephant, bison Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Sloth Bear and Wild Dog, plus many species of birds. During the dry season when water holes within the forest are dry, leopards and tigers also come to the lake for water. The reserve’s range of flora and fauna is breathtaking, and includes 143 orchid species, trees such as mangoes and banyans as well as wildlife like elephants and Bengal tigers.
• The River Periyar, which is known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’, originates in the park’s dense forests. The lake also attracts many species of local and migratory birds. Overnight in Thekkady

Day 05: THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM

Traditional Houseboat on Kerala Backwaters

Morning take to the road for Kumarakom. En route, visit several spice, tea plantation, and spice gardens.
Optional: Board houseboat for a scenic and leisurely backwaters cruise. The houseboats are adaptations of kettuvallam boats, which were used for generations to transport rice and spices. Allow yourself to drift away as the beautifully decorated houseboat glides through mangroves and under coconut groves. Overnight in Kumarakom.

Day 06: KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM

Breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Kovalam.
Kovalam offers one of the finest beaches of South India and is famous for its authentic Ayurvedic Massages. On the Malabar Coast along the Kerala shoreline is a small village; called Kovalam a sheltered bay endowed with unusual beauty. This natural bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves and surge, and is one of the most popular beach hangouts in India. Overnight in Kovalam.

Day 07: KOVALAM
Breakfast proceed for city tour of Trivandrum. Overnight in Kovalam.

Day 08: KOVALAM
Morning check out from the hotel and drive to Trivandrum airport to board flight for onwards destination.

VISA & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS DURING THE COVID ERA:

Past Covid-19, Visa Procedures and Requirements are continuously being updated; and may change till the day of travel date. Kindly Check ALL rules that apply to YOU in Lebanon and the City / Country of your Destination; and if You are eligible to travel; and the Type of Visa and its conditions.
You may need to check back frequently for the latest COVID-19 travel and specific testing requirements for your destination, Including any Stops for Connecting Flights. You are required to come to the airport with the appropriate travel documents.

Check Travel Restrictions: Countries or State governments may have travel restrictions in place, including testing requirements, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine requirements upon arrival. For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check or follow the Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health; or Bureau of Consular Affairs; or Ministry of Interior; or Embassies; State, Local, Territorial Government Travel restrictions; and Airlines Websites.

Customers’ Responsibilities during Covid-19: Pre-Flight Instructions at Airport, Post-Flight and Confinement upon Arrival. Some Destinations and Airlines may require but NOT limited to: 1) a negative RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, Antigen or TMA tests from authorized accredited laboratories taken within 72 or 96 hours; 2) Special travel certificates; 3) Sworn statement 4) Passenger Locator Form; 5) Travel Certificate and/or other Health Documentation; 6) download a “Covid” smart App and/or Tracking App; 7) Other requirements, if any.
Hence, customers have the ownness to check All and Any Online Relevant Sources to travel. We shall NOT accept any liability / responsibility for any denied boarding.
Expect a trip with masks, sanitizers and potentially full of Immunity passports, mouthwash tests etc.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

COCHIN
…Fort Kochi and Mattancherry exhibit glimpses of its glorious past through its European churches, palaces, cemeteries, alleyways, fishing nets and much more. It emanates a lovely blend of colonialism and local flavour to offer the best to its visitors. The spice markets, dotting islands, backwaters and beaches, which are a short drive away have slowly made their way to the list of things to do and experience in Cochin.

Visiting Bolgatty Palace on Mulavukad Island, too, is an experience that you cannot afford to miss. Other than these, the charm of Kochi lies in Fort Kochi, a place peppered with history and its remnants.

PERIYAR
The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. The Periyar forests of 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.

Wealth of Periyar Forests
Flora: There are over 1965 flowering plants including 171 grass species and 143 species of orchids here. The only south Indian conifer, scientifically known as Podocarpus Wallichianus, grows in the forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Fauna: Mammals: More than 60 species are found here which include the Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Indian Bison, Sambar Deer, Indian Wild Dog, Leopard, Barking Deer and the Smooth-Coated Otter which can be sighted during a boat cruise in the Periyar Lake. The Nilgiri Tahr is confined to the higher rocky areas whereas the endangered Lion Tailed Macaque can be found in the interior evergreen forests. Both the Bonnet Macaques and Nilgiri Langur can be seen foraging from the trees near where the boat lands.
Birds: Here we have 265 species including migrants. The Malabar Grey Hornbill, The Indian Pied Hornbill, Whitebellied Treepie, many species of Drongos, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Babblers, the spectacular Malabar Trogon, etc. can be seen near where the boat lands.
Pisces (fish): The Periyar Lake and streams have several species of fish including the Mahseer, the famous and endangered game fish of India. The Smooth-Coated Otter can be frequently spotted from the boat.
Plantations: Tea, cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations abound in the areas adjoining the Tiger Reserve.
Watch Towers: There are a few watch towers inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve which are excellent for viewing wildlife. Reservations can be made at the Forest Information Centre, Thekkady.

Reptiles: Cobra, Viper, Krait, a number of non-poisonous snakes, and the Indian Monitor Lizard.
Amphibians: Frogs like the colorful Malabar Gliding Frog, Fungoid Frog, Bicolored Frog, many species of toads, limbless Caecilians.

KOVALAM
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres.

KUMARAKOM – Paradise on Earth
…You are greeted by lush mangrove forests, paddy fields and massive coconut trees lining up on the shores with the wind dictating their course. National Geographic listed it among the select destinations in the world that one must visit at least once in their lifetime.
Its legendary bird sanctuary spread over 14 acres, is a famous haunt of ornithologists and bird watchers. Many migratory species like the Siberian Stork and Wild Duck can be seen here along with darters, herons, egret, waterfowls and cuckoos. It is also famous for its aquatic life with Chemeen (Prawns), the Konju (Tiger Prawns) and Karimeen being extremely popular among all our visitors. Houseboat rides in traditional Kettuvellams form the apex of a visit here as one gets to soak in the entirety of the place in the majestic Alappuzha backwaters and the Vembanad Lake.