Day 1: Arrival Cochin

Day 2: Cochin

Day 3: Cochin-Munnar

Day 4: Munnar (Trek)

Day 5: Munnar-Kolukkumalai (Trek)

Day 6: Kolukkumalai-Korangani (Trek)

Day 7: Korangani-Thekkady (Periyar)

Day 8: Thekkady (Periyar)

Day 9: Thekkady (Periyar)– Alleppey – Backwater Cruise

Day 10: Backwater Cruise – Mararikulam

Day 11: Mararikulam

Day 12: Mararikulam – Cochin & Dep.



Name of Program: Incredible Kerala

Places Visit: Cochin-Munnar- 3 days Trek-Thekkady-Backwater-Mararikulam & Dep.

Duration: 11 Nights

Best Time: Oct-March

Day 1: Arrival Cochin

Upon arrival at Cochin international airport, meet to our representative and transfer to pre-booked hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Cochin

Discover the charming city of Cochin by bike and walk in the typical alleys and old counters. Visit the synagogue built in 1568, renowned for its hand-painted blue tiles, brought from China in the mid-eighteenth century (closed on Friday and Saturday), and stroll through the spice market, which is full of smells of cinnamon, pepper and cardamom. Continue to the fish market and the main bazaar of the city. Discover the Saint Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama, who died in Cochin in 1524, had been buried there before his body was taken back to Lisbon 14 years later. His tomb is still visible in the church. Visit of the Mattancherry Palace, commonly called the Dutch Palace, whose magnificent murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and puranic legends are among the most beautiful in the region. In the evening, you will see a spectacle of Kathakali, costumed and sung drama that illustrates the great Indian epics.

Day 3: Cochin – Munnar

After breakfast proceed to Munnar the famous hill station of South India. On the way to Munnar, you will see the nice view with tea plantation and natural beauty. Arrival at Munnar, located at 1600m altitude, favorite hill station resort of the British because of its summer coolness and the beauty of its tea plantations, waterfalls and verdant hills. Rest of the time walk in the local market.

Day 4: Munnar (Trek)

Breakfast at hotel or resort, later a guided tour dedicated to the discovery of Munnar, covering the main sites: Eravikulam National Park and its Tahr of the Nilgiri, a sort of large goat with thick fur (park closed in February and March for births), tea museum and the rose garden. Walk through the heart of the spice and tea plantations, where the view of the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. Overnight at Munnar.

Day 5: Munnar – Suryanelly – Kolukkumalai (Trek)

Road to small town Suryanelly located 24 km from Munnar and located at 1700 meters above sea level. Begin your trekking in the wilderness of Kerala. Walk 10 km to viewpoints located at 2160 meters above sea level. During your journey, visit one of the oldest tea factories in the area, founded in 1935, which perpetuates the traditional methods of production and offers high quality organic teas. After a tasting break, resume your journey to the camp where you spend the night. Dinner around a campfire.

During your trek you have the services of a local guide to treks in this region, porters, a follow-up jeep in case of worry, cooks to concoct tasty and hot dishes for the breakfasts and dinners. Lunches are provided in picnic. The tent (detached camp) is alpine-style, with a small mattress on the floor, a tent is available to make a simple toilet with warm water seals (provided morning and evening).

Day 6: Kolukkumalai – Korangani (Trek)

Located on a slope to the east of the Ghats, the camp is set up on an ideal site to enjoy the magnificent sunrises. You resume your walk through tea plantations and Shola forest. Further on are verdant valleys, and sumptuous panoramas combining Western Ghats and the Tamil Nadu plains (about 10km). Before you settle down at your camp, located near a typical Tamil village, you cross a few cotton plantations. Free time to discover the surroundings. (you are 600 meters above sea level)

Day 7: Korangani – Thekkady (Periyar)

After your breakfast, walk 3 km around the village. Transfer by car to Thekkady. Stop at the Carmelia Haven for lunch. Installation at your hotel in Thekkady (Periyar). Traditional martial arts show of Kerala, the Kalarippayattu. In the evening, discover the natural park by joining the ranger during its night round. This program, called "Jungle Scout", is organized under the responsibility and control of the Forestry Department of Kerala. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Thekkady (Periyar)

Periyar, the most frequented national park of South India that extends over 777 km². It home of buffalos, antelopes, sambars, wild boars, elephants, leopards, pork pine and more than thirty tigers (these very rarely visible). Begin your activities with a hike of about 2 hours through the richest forests of the park, followed by 3 hours of rafting on bamboo boats (see special conditions for more information) on Lake Periyar. Lunch is payable locally. Recovery of the hike for about two hours through the tea plantations. For very good walkers, we can also organize an eight-hour trek with picnic. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Periyar – Alleppey – Backwater Cruise

After breakfast drive for the coastal village of Allepey which stretches along canals bordered by beautiful old trading houses. Between the ocean and the rivers, this small green Venice is the theater, in August, the Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race doing there. On this occasion, innumerable "snake boat" driven by hundreds of rowers protected by sparkling silk umbrellas clash under the gaze of thousands of spectators. Transfer to the harbor of cruises on the "Backwaters". Installation on board your "house boat", & discover Kerala in the maze of its fascinating canals.

Stop while sailing to visit villages, temples and stroll in the rice fields where time seems to have stopped. Lunch, dinner and night aboard the boat.

Day 10: Backwater – Mararikulam

After breakfast on board, end of the cruise and drive to Rani John's house to discover the project destined to the preservation of the historical heritage of Alleppey. Presentation of the city and its architecture in a traditional house. Walk through the spice market, then along the open channel of a mosque, a Jain temple and an Anglican church. Visit to a cooperative in a former British factory where traditional methods of weaving coir fiber are still being applied. Return to the traditional residence for an on-site lunch. Transfer to Mararikulam, and set up at your beachfront resort and close to fishing villages.

Day 11: Mararikulam

Free day to enjoy the pleasures of the beach and the ocean. Swimming pool, bicycle rental and ayurvedic care center are at your disposal.

Day 12: Mararikulam – Cochin & Dep.

Early in the morning transfer to Cochin and return to home with sweet memories.