Itinerary Day 1 | Fly to Cochin Fly overnight to Cochin. Day 2 | Arrive in Cochin and enjoy an evening Kathakali performance Arrive in Cochin and transfer to the 5-star Casino Hotel on Willingdon Island for the night. Relax among gardens by the salt-water pool before this evening’s trip to historic Fort Cochin for a two-hour Kathakali performance. Day 3 | Visit Cochin’s palace, church and synagogue, then travel to Munnar Explore some of Cochin’s most famous sites. First, head to the lantern-lined streets of Jew Town, home to the vestigial Jewish community and visit Paradesi Synagogue, founded in 1568. Continue to nearby Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese around 1545 for Cochin’s Maharaja but later taken over by Dutch rulers. Finally, stop at India’s first European-built church, St. Francis, which was originally built by Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503. Afterwards, drive east along spiralling mountain roads to Munnar (4hrs) and stay at The Valle for two nights, a 5-star hotel perched on a hill overlooking the tea-covered landscape. (B) Day 4 | Explore Munnar by Tuk Tuk and enjoy a tea-tasting session After breakfast, head out on a Tuk Tuk tour with photo stops along mountain roads surrounded by the patchwork fields of Munnar, one of south India’s largest tea-growing regions. Delve into this history with a trip to a Tea Factory, then head into the factory to learn about the entire tea-making process, from bush to cup. Visit Munnar town for a tasting session at Tea Tales and sample a variety of locally-grown tea varieties. Take a stroll through the town, visiting a market where you can interact with traders selling produce, tea and crafts. Return to your hotel for a quiet evening. (B) Day 5 | Morning at leisure in Munnar and drive to Thekkady Have a leisurely breakfast, sip tea while soaking up the views from your private terrace or even book an Ayurvedic treatment at the spa. Next, drive south to Thekkady (3hrs), which is the gateway to Periyar Tiger Reserve, home to around 40 endangered Bengal tigers. Stay at the 4-star Cardamom County for two nights, an eco-friendly nature retreat that lies next to the reserve. Settle into your cottage with balcony and lie by the pool in the tropical gardens, where indigenous trees draw monkeys and birds from the reserve. (B) Day 6 | Cruise Periyar Lake, visit a spice farm, martial art performance Rise early for a 1.5-hour boat trip on Periyar Lake, which was formed when Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed in 1895. Sail across the 26-square-kilometre lake, which is studded with tree stumps where birds perch and is home to otters, crocodiles and over 40 species of fish. Look out for animals drinking on the banks, common sightings including elephants, bison, sambar and deer. Afterwards, return to your hotel for breakfast and some free time before a visit to the Spice Farm, with a chance to taste and buy local spices. End the day with a traditional Kalaripayattu martial art performance in town, watching as competitors duel on mud floors with swords and daggers. (B)
Day 7 | Travel to Allepey Drive west to Alleppey (4hrs) on the Arabian coastline. The town is bisected by canals and acts as the gateway to Kerala’s vast network of backwaters. In the mid-19th century, hundreds of wooden kettuvallam (rice barges) transported spices, coir, coffee, tea and produce along the narrow waterways, using Alleppey as a major port. Check into the 4-star Lake Canopy for two nights, set on the banks of Punnamada Lake just north of Alleppey’s busy city centre. Settle into your cottage nestled amid lawns and coconut groves, with canals running through the gardens, admiring the view from your private terrace. The rest of the day is yours to lie by the pool, relax and sample the hotel’s authentic Indian dining. (B) Day 8 | Enjoy a houseboat cruise with lunch Rise early and start your day with an optional village walk taking a canoe across the river to explore on foot, immersing yourself in daily village life (bookable locally). Afterwards, board a houseboat for a scenic day cruise along the backwaters. Enjoy a welcome drink while you journey deep into the winding canals. Spot birds overhead as you cut through mirror-like waters dotted with lily-pads. Enjoy lunch on board, featuring fish curry, rice and vegetable dishes, followed by afternoon tea and snacks. Return to your hotel for the evening. (B, L) Day 9 | Travel back to Cochin Have breakfast and relax by the pool before travelling up the coast to Cochin (1.5hrs). Here, you’ll check back into the Casino Hotel for the night. The rest of the day is at leisure; have a massage at the spa or lounge by the pool in the gardens. Alternatively, head back into Fort Kochi for more sightseeing; pick up souvenirs in the pretty streets lined with grand houses built by the Dutch, British and Portuguese and watch fishermen haul in the day’s catch from their iconic Chinese nets. End the day by watching the sunset as you stroll along the waterfront, followed by a final Keralan meal at one of Fort Kochi’s popular restaurants. (B) Day 10 | Fly home from Cochin After breakfast, transfer to Cochin Airport for your return flight. (B) For the full itinerary for this tour visit: vjv.com/kerala
47 For more information & to book online visit vjv.com or call us on 020 3553 3945
Powered by FlippingBook