DAY 01: ARRIVE IN COCHIN

Arrive Cochin airport by flight. Meeting and assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel for check in.

DAY 02: IN COCHIN

Morning proceed to sightseeing tour of Kochi. Visit the Dutch Palace (Friday closed), the Jewish Synagogue - (which remains closed on Friday & Saturday) St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica. While driving along the coastline, at the Harbour’ s mouth, one can also view the unique and still-in-use "Chinese Fishing Nets" which were introduced by the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved. Evening witness Kathakali dance performance Enjoy India's most spectacular Dance Drama based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied with drummers and musicians. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 03: DRIVE FROM COCHIN TO MUNNAR (127 KMS / 04 HRS)

This morning after breakfast leave Cochin and drive to Munnar, upon arrival check in at hotel. Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountain range in India’s Kerala state. A hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it's surrounded by rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. Eravikulam National Park, a habitat for the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is home to the Lakkam Waterfalls, hiking trails and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.

AY 04: IN MUNNAR

Morning visit Munnar: drive leads to thickly forested hills, past rubber and spice plantations and into southern India’s tea growing district headquarters at the charmingly old-world Munnar. Snuggling coyly in the green and serene Kanan Devan Hills, at an altitude of 1524 m and about 136 kms. of Cochin, Munnar offers panoramic views of low flying clouds and mist filled valleys which make it a pretty little haven with a cool bracing climate. The important places of interest include the Kundale Tea Plantation, Rajamalai Park, The High Range Club and Eravikulam National Park which is a wildlife sanctuary and home of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Macaque, sambar , elephants, tigers, gaur and many more. A little beyond lays Anaimudi, South India’s highest peak, which towers over 2695 meters. Also visit Christ Church.

DAY 05: DRIVE FROM MUNNAR TO PERIYAR (92 KMS / 03 HRS)

This morning after breakfast leave Munnar and drive to Periyar, upon arrival check in at hotel.

Periyar has a lot to offer you in sightseeing. The name Thekkady, for those who have already visited this place, brings to mind images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. Moreover, the flora and fauna of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary is absolutely thrilling. The wildlife sanctuary here is the natural habitat of a wide variety of animal species.

Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 06: IN PERIYAR

Morning visit to a Spice Plantation to watch different varieties of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee growing in their natural environment. Periyar is on 1000 meters above the sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in India is produced from here. Vasco de Gama was the first European to land at the Malabar Coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Pepper in those days was exported against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper was called black gold.

DAY 07: DRIVE FROM PERIYAR TO KUMARAKOM (120 KMS / 03 ½ HRS)

Morning after breakfast drive to Kumarakom, upon arrival check in to hotel.

Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy facilities at resort on direct payment basis.

Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 08: DRIVE FROM KUMARAKOM TO ALLEPPEY (60 KMS/ 01 ½ HRS)

Drive from Kumarakom to Alleppey, upon arrival at Jetty embark houseboat. Cruise the backwaters on one of these beautifully crafted vessels with your attentive crew – a relaxing and romantic way to explore this remarkable area. Here, on an intricate network of canals, it is possible to witness a way of life that has changed little through the ages. With women washing clothes on the river banks while children play in the shallows, kingfishers dart among the palm trees and the fishermen stand with water up to their necks, seeking out fish with their feet.

DAY 09: DRIVE ALLEPPEY TO COCHIN AND FINAL DEPARTURE.

Our services end this day with an in-time transfer airport to connect flight for onward destination.

(No accommodation envisaged this day)