DAY 01: HOME TO COCHIN

Fly from your home country.

DAY 02: COCHIN

Arrive Cochin, garland welcome, assistance and transfer to pre-booked hotel. Morning free to recharge, afternoon sightseeing to Jewish Synagogue, Mattanchery Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets which adorns the beach side of Fort Cochin. Evening make a short drive to visit the dance drama of Kerala – the Kathakali dance in a local theatre. O/n Hotel.

DAY 03: COCHIN TO PARAMBIKULAM

Morning after breakfast drive to Annamalai/Parambikulam (about 180kms/04hrs) via visiting Athirapilly waterfalls. The road winds you through Sholayar forests and Valparai hills tea estates. Upon arrival short visit the center at Anapatty. O/n Camping at Jungle House.

DAY 04: PARAMBIKULAM

Full day walk at Parambikulam Wildlife Reserve. This can be either tough Jungle trek through dense rain forest OR smooth walk along the river valley including visit tribal village. O/n Camping at Jungle House.

DAY 05: PARAMBIKULAM TO MUNNAR

Early morning drive to Munnar (about 157kms/04hrs) through Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary – a throny scrub jungle presents no where else make this sanctuary unique. There is a wide range of animals and a good number of birds in this sanctuary. Animals include elephant, gaur, sambar, porcupine, lion taled monkey etc. Birds like jungle fowl, spotted dove, Keralalaughing thrush etc are seen here. Proceed to Munnar via Marayoor – the only place in Kerala that has a natural abundance of sandalwood trees. Check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax in our beautiful hotel set amidst among the tall trees. O/n Hotel.

DAY 06: MUNNAR

Morning after breakfast we make a short drive to Eravikulam National Park. You will find yourself wondering, as you soak in the neat arrays of verdant green, dotted with the red and blues and violets of the women who are plucking tea leave...

Eravikulam National Park – this is the home of the Niligiri Tahr (locally called Varayadu, meaning rock goat), the rare mountain goat that is fast becoming extinct. Most of the remaining Nilgiri Tahr are found in this park. We explore the park by 02 – 03hrs walk, the views are stunning from the top.

Afternoon free to relax or just stroll around the tea estates.

DAY 07: MUNNAR TO THEKKADY

Morning after breakfast we start our drive to Thekkady (about 110kms/03hrs) through the cardamom hills of Idukki. Check into the hotel. Evening we explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary which spreads over 777 sq km, roughly half of which is dense evergreen forest, savannah grassland and moist deciduous forest. The forest was declared a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger, and so the name Periyar Tiger Reserve is sometimes used to denote the place as well. We will do a 02hr boat ride in an artificial lake formed during the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam in 1895 – that explains the dead tree branches sticking out of the water. These trees were submerged in the waters of the dam. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few places where the chances are pretty high that you will spot an elephant in the wild at close quarters and from the safe confines of a boat. Not just elephant, but if it’s your lucky day, gaur, masher, otter and other wildlife. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 08: THEKKADY

Morning after breakfast we will go for a full day trekking & rafting at Periyar wildlife sanctuary. The adventure starts at 0800 hrs from the Lake Periyar boat landing. Maximum of 05 persons are allowed per raft and 02 rafts are functioning. It involves a 2-hour trek in to the core area, 3-hours rafting and 2-hours return trek. There will be one-armed guard and 2 tribal trackers along with each raft. A simple vegetarian lunch will be served as well as snacks and tea or coffee. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 09: THEKKADY TO KUMARAKOM

Morning after breakfast drive to Kumarakom (about 140kms/03hrs). Much of its beauty is laid out in all its glory along the road, which winds from Periyar to Kottayam through Cardamom, Coffee, pepper and rubber plantations. Check into the hotel. Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary known for local varieties like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl and the water duck. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 10: KUMARAKOM TO ALLEPPEY

Morning after breakfast transfer to Alleppey to board our houseboat and sail through scenic backwaters, passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. The houseboat will cruise through the Chambakulam area and anchor to explore the boat yard which displays the traditional long snake boats used in races. Visit St. Mary’s Church, established by St. Thomas in 1721. Also catch a glimpse of village life along the backwaters and experience a way of life unique to this region. The boat will pass through picturesque stretches of the backwaters of Alleppey. In the evening we anchor our houseboat. O/n Houseboat.

DAY 11: ALLEPPEY TO KOVALAM

Morning after breakfast disembark from the houseboat and drive towards the southward direction to Kovalam (about 160kms/04hrs), a beach paradise with boundless blue on the Arabian Sea and unwinding miles of fine sand washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of coconut palms. A sheet of silvery sand curves into a arch water and on the other by a never ending spread of green palmgroves.

Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 12: KOVALAM

The day at leisure. O/n Hotel.

DAY 13: KOVALAM TO HOME

Morning transfer to Trivandrum Int’l airport to board flight to your home country.