Kerala Backwaters and Beaches

Arrival Note: Welcome to Kochi (Cochin), a major port city and metropolitan area in Kerala State! On your arrival at the airport, our representative will greet you and transfer you to the hotel in our comfortable private car. Our driver will help you with the check-in procedure. Once settled in, you will enjoy some free time to explore and familiarize yourself with the city. You can relax at the hotel’s rooftop outdoor pool or go out for a walk.

►  Several Reasons to Get to Kerala
Kerala means a land full of coconuts, which locals call God's own country. There are always some reasons that attract people to come here, which is yours?
1. Explore the wild nature reserves, watch tigers and the other wildlife.
2. Get to know the traditional Indian medicine such as Ayurveda, Sanskrit, astronomy, and Yoga.
3. Take a special trip to see the unique Indian classical music and dance show Katakali.
4. Explore the colonial history and trade culture left by colonizers, adventurers, missionaries, Muslims, Jews in this land during the Age of Discovery.
5. For its title rated by National Geographic: Top 10 Paradise in the World and 50 Places of a Lifetime.
6. Search for the pepper that was known as black gold by Europeans in the Middle Ages, as well as the ancient spice market that flourished for centuries.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Kochi (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: The first stop of our Kerala holiday package will be the Jew Town, an ancient market area comprising narrow alleys rich in colonial styled structures. You could enjoy various architectural styles, exotic spices and antiques. Next, we will get into the Mattancherry Palace, a Portuguese palace built in 1555 and home to many delicate frescoes depicting Hindu legends. Then our guide will lead you to see the 16th-century St Francis Church, a simply decorated European church believed to be the oldest in India, as well as the Jewish Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in the world, dating back to 1567. Finally, we will go the Kochi Harbor to see the ancient Chinese Fishing Nets, which were brought as gifts by a Chinese diplomat during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

► Tip: In the evening, if you are interested, the guide can take you to an optional performance called Kathakali, a traditional dance performance of Kerala with a history of over 400 years, at your own expense.

Mural at Mattancherry Palace
During the Portuguese colonial period, the King of Kochi built the Matancherry Palace, with several walls adorned with murals depicting Hindu mythology, reflecting India's ancient historical civilization. The Dutch renovated this palace in 1663, which later became the official residence of the Dutch governor and was renamed the Dutch Palace, becoming the governor's official residence. It is a must visit place to learn about Indian colonial history and appreciate traditional art of Southern Indian. The late Queen Elizabeth II also visited the Matancherry Palace and the Nearby Jewish Church during her visit to Cochin in 1997.

The various rooms in the Matancherry Palace are decorated with furniture from the time, and upon entering, one feels as if they are in a world of antiques. After several centuries, murals still remain fresh and enduring.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Kochi (4 stars)

In the morning, we will begin our road trip to Munnar by private car. During the 3.5 hours’ drive, you can enjoy the beautiful rural scenery of south India. We will visit the Athirappilly Water Falls on the way. At 24 meters (80 feet) high, the Athirappilly Water Falls is the largest waterfall in Kerala and features stunning landscapes. Feeling the roar of the rapids and admiring the boundless green, you will indulge in the beauty of nature. With a refreshed mood, we will then proceed to Munnar, and check into a nice hotel.

The Spice Trail in BBC Documentary
In ancient times, there were two famous trade routes in the East, one of which was the horizontal Silk Road, running from the Mediterranean, Persia to Central Asia, and then crossing the Pamir Plateau to reach China. The other is from Central Asia, heading south into India and all the way to the south, which is a vertical The Spice Trail. Through the Spice Trail, a large amount of precious spices from India and Southeast Asia were imported into the Roman Empire and various parts of Europe, becoming valuable items. Although trade on the sea had been existed for a long time, it flourished during this period. The traders imported olive oil, wine, and grains from Rome and exported spices. Before Portugal discovered chili peppers from South America, the price of pepper was the same as gold. Especially, black pepper had very high medicinal value and was considered to be able to treat epidemics and the Black Death. In order to compete for huge profits, the Age of Great Navigation arrived in 15th century.

The Spice Trail, a BBC documentary issued in 2011 with Douban rating 8.3, the host Kate Humble introduces the origin of spices and how they have made it onto people's dining tables. Black pepper from India was introduced in the first episode, which demonstrates its position in the world of spices. We earnestly invite you to explore this magical land with us.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Devonshire Green, Munnar (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: Our guide will take you to visit the highlights in Munnar. After breakfast, we will start with the Eravikulam National Park, the first national park in Munnar. It is a vast habitat for hundreds of species of birds and butterflies, and a sanctuary for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Coming out of the park, we will visit the Tea Museum showing the history and development of the tea production in Munnar. Next, we will drive to the Top Station for a picturesque panorama comprising of vibrant forests and hills. On the way, we will stop by the Echo Point known for the natural echo phenomenon. Our last destination today will be the hill town Mattupetty, where you can relax and enjoy the emerald lakes, lush vegetation and fresh air.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Devonshire Green, Munnar (4 stars)

Morning Drive to Periyar (86 km; 2.5 hours): After breakfast, we will continue to the next destination - Periyar. After a comfortable ride, we will check into the hotel in Periyar. Then you can spend some time visiting a spice plantation, full of various local spices you may never have seen before.

★ Special Experiences:
1. Boating through Periyar Tiger Reserve: In the afternoon, you will take a tour to Periyar Lake for an enjoyable 1-hour cruise. The tranquil lake is located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, a sanctuary for tigers and elephants, as well as boars, deer, monkeys and birds. During the cruise, you can not only appreciate the stunning landscape, but also catch a glimpse of free-living wildlife.
2. Watch Performance at Night (optional): If you are interested, we can book you a seat to see Kalaripayattu (pay on site), a North Indian martial art that originated in the third century.

The Traditional Martial Art - Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu has a history of over 300 years in India and is a form of Indian war dance. The South faction prefers to act with hands, daggers, shields, spears, wooden sticks, and soft knives. Some of the fighting scenes we watched in the movie today used actions from Kalaripayattu, such as Ashoka the Great, The Myth and many other movies.

Kalaripayattu was originally only practiced by men, but a woman named Meenakshi, who is now in her 80s, broke this tradition when she was 7. With the support of her family, she worked hard to practice Kalaripayattu and finally became a master. Every year, a large number of women in India suffer from discrimination and violence, even sexual harassment and rape. Meenakshi opened a women's martial arts school, hoping to make her own contribution to the healthy growth of girls.

But for the martial arts performance, every performer has undergone solid training and will definitely impress all visitors. If you are interested, please tell our driver and he will help you to reserve a seat or drop us an email earlier to make arrangements for you in advance.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Elephant Court, Periyar (4 stars)

Morning Drive to Alleppey (135 km; 4 hours): After breakfast, we will take our private car for a road trip to Alleppey, officially known as Alappuzha, popular for the Kerala Backwaters, and also known as ‘Venice of the East’. 

★ Travel Different - Houseboat Overnight Tour: Upon arrival, you will be escorted to a houseboat and start a cruise on the backwaters. Floating on the green water and watching the coconut trees glide by, you will be fascinated by the scenery and observe the local lifestyle of the small villages on the shore. For lunch and dinner, the chef on board will serve you delicious Kerala dishes. At sunset, your houseboat will dock and you will spend the night on the houseboat, which will be an experience of a lifetime.

Something about Alleppey
1. According to Indian legend, Kerala was the land born after Parasuma, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, threw his battle axe into the sea.
2. The backwater in Kerala involves intricate canals, lagoons and lakes, of which the most essence is Alleppey. And t best way is to take a houseboat and stay overnight, it is what we have arranged for you.
3. Coconut trees stand tall on both sides of the lake, various waterfowl inhabit and move around. At the same time, you can visit the villages along the water ways, and the women are washing clothes in their colorful saris. Please enjoy this vivid panorama of countryside.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lakes & Lagoon, Alleppey (Houseboat)

Morning Drive to Kovalam (158 km; 4.5 hours): Today, we will head to Kovalam, a famous beach town and one of the most popular resorts in south India. On arrival, check into the hotel and then you can enjoy the rest of day on your own.

Free Time on the Beach: The hotel we have chosen for you faces the sea and is close to the beautiful Ashok Beach. You can relax on the beach and take part in some interesting water sports.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, we will drive you to Thiruvananthapuram, formerly known as Trivandrum. Our guide will first lead you to visit the 8th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a Hindu temple built for Lord Vishnu. It is combined with the architectural styles of Kerala and Dravidia. Next, we will proceed to the Puthenmalika (Kuthiramalika) Palace, also known as the Palace of Horses, which features hundreds of wooden sculptures of horses. Afterwards, we will visit the Napier Museum, which focuses on Kerala’s art, culture and natural history.  You will see many antiques and cultural artifacts, which will help you learn more about Kerala. Finally, we will end the day at the Sree Chithra Art Gallery, which keeps a lot of rare artistic paintings from centuries ago.

The Wealthiest Temple in India
Today you will visit the wealthiest temple in India, which is the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The temple, founded in the 16th century, has been owning by the Travancore family, which remains the actual administrator of this temple even after the unification of India. Until 2010, the gold treasure that was once considered a mythological legend was unearthed in this temple, shocking the world with a total value of over 20 billion US dollars.

In 2015, the Kerala government issued a report stating that a large amount of gold had disappeared from the temple. Subsequently, the government and the Travancore family went to court, hoping to strip the Travancore family of their management rights, believing that the government was the manager of these historical and cultural heritage and assets. The government won but later overturned the verdict. When you come to visit this temple, while listening to its history, please also observe carefully, because some people suspect that the temple has hidden ways for Travancore family members to steal gold.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars)

We will leave you with a whole day to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation in your own way.

► Suggested Activities: You can get totally relaxed on the beautiful beaches. The top three beaches in Kovalam are the most-visited Lighthouse Beach, the palm-backed Hawar Beach, and the Kovalam Beach popular with the locals. You can sunbathe, swim, try exciting water sports, or you can take some local specials such as herbal oil massage.

Free Day Suggestion
In the afternoon, you can go to the light house beach and surf there. Then take a Tuktuk for no more than 10 minutes to fish market. At around 16:30 every day, the fishing boat returns to the port with a full load, and the scene of unloading goods is very lively. These fresh seafood are quickly sold out by nearby restaurants, bars and tourists. During low tide, fishermen will jump into the sea and pull their boats ashore with the ups and downs of the waves. If you are interested, you can buy some seafood and then find a restaurant to cook for you, which must be the best treat.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam (4 stars)

Departure Note: After breakfast, you can enjoy a leisure morning on your own. In the afternoon, our driver will escort you to the Trivandrum International Airport and see you off. You can catch a flight home from here or fly to Kochi or Mumbai for a connecting flight home. Have a nice journey!

Meals: Breakfast