Kerala backwater tour – Traveling in God’s own country!

Itinerary Summary

Day	Place	Highlights	Hotel Options
1 - 2	Cochin	Fort Kochi Harbor, Matancherry, Pardesi Synagogue, St. Francis Church	Eighth Bastion, Malabar House
2 - 4	Munnar	Matupetty Dam, Tea Plantations, Soft Trekking, Kannan Devan Tea Museum	The Windermere Estate, Spice Tree Munnar
4 - 6	Thekkady	Amazing Biodiversity, Spice Plantations, Kalaripayattu, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary	Shalimar Spice Garden, Spice Village
6 - 8	Alleppey	Backwater, Relaxation, Local Culture, Temple Visits, Houseboat	Punnamada Backwater Resort, Marari Beach Resort
8 - 9	Alleppey Houseboat	Backwater, Relaxation, Houseboat, Paddy Fields, Village Life	Spice Coast Cruise, Xandari Riverscapes
9 - 10	Cochin	Fort Kochi Harbor, Matancherry, Pardesi Synagogue, St. Francis Church	Eighth Bastion, Malabar House

Itinerary Details

Day 1 - 2

International Arrival

Transfer from Cochin Airport to Hotel

Cochin

1 Day

Kochi, formerly Cochin, is considered the Queen of the Arabian Sea as it was one of the first European settlements in India, due its ideal positioning for trading.

Included Activities

Highlights of Cochin (Half Day)
Cochin is an engaging city to explore, from the absorbing views of Fort Kochi harbor with its huge Chinese fishing nets, to ancient mosques, Portuguese architecture, and the crumbling remnants of the British Raj. Explore Mattancherry, where you can observe murals and antiquities at the Dutch Palace and Cemetery. Indulge your senses browsing traditional spice and antique markets. Encounter the fascinating 400 year old, fully-functioning Parsi Synagogue in the Jewish quarter. Visit the original grave of Vasco da Gama in St. Francis Church, used before his remains were returned to Portugal. Discover Hill Palace, the state’s largest archaeological museum, which is located in the regal and artistic suburbs of Tripunithura. (Half Day, Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; If you have a preference for timing, please tell your travel consultant at the time of booking, otherwise our team will schedule the tour at the best available time)

Hotel Options

Eighth Bastion – Opt 1

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Malabar House – Opt 2

Room	Deluxe
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 2 - 4

Drive from Cochin to Munnar (160 km, 4.5 hrs)

Munnar

2 Days

Munnar offers a haven of peace and tranquility within the verdant hills of Kerala.

Included Activities

Highlights of Munnar
Explore this beautiful panoramic town. Drive to Matupetty Dam and Kundala Dam; visit Echo Point via sprawling tea plantations; end at Top Station to view lush mountainsides. Dine in the city; stay overnight. Next day, enjoy a drive through winding lanes, a picture-perfect town and scenic plantations; see exotic forest and grassland flora. Do a 20min trek to the top on a paved path. Back in the city, visit the Kannan Devan Tea Museum..housing photographs and machineries depicting each turning point contributing to a flourishing tea industry; the Antiques museum exhibits antique furniture, Telephones, etc, and shows a 30min documentary on the history of Munnar along with a tea production demonstration; take a Tea Tour in the evening.

Hotel Options

The Windermere Estate – Opt 1

Room	Garden Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Spice Tree Munnar – Opt 2

Room	Spice Tree-Classic Room With Jacuzzi
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 4 - 6

Drive from Munnar to Thekkady (110 km, 3 hrs)

Thekkady

2 Days

Thekkady is a thrilling delight for nature lovers.

Included Activities

Highlights of Thekkady
Discover the ‘spice capital’! Enjoy a half day tour of Thekkady to learn more about the spices that dominate life in Kerala. Wander through charming plantations and see how various plants are cultivated. Experience relaxing boat rides on the scenic Periyar lake within the lush Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Accompanied by a trained naturalist, your boat ride allows exciting glimpses of elephants frolicking, gaurs and bisons bathing in the lake and busy River Otters, from a safe distance. Don’t forget to take your camera along!

Hotel Options

Shalimar Spice Garden – Opt 1

Room	Elegant Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Spice Village – Opt 2

Room	Standard Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 6 - 8

Drive from Thekkady to Alleppey (160 km, 4 hrs)

Alleppey

2 Days

Alleppey was once dubbed the Venice of the East by the visiting former Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon.

Hotel Options

Punnamada Backwater Resort – Opt 1

Room	Garden View Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Marari Beach Resort – Opt 2

Room	Garden Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Beach Resort

Day 8 - 9

Transfer from Alleppey Hotel to Houseboat

Alleppey Houseboat

1 Day

Cruise Kerala’s backwaters and stay overnight in a traditional kettuvallom, a boat made from coconut rope and wooden blanks.

Destination Alleppey Houseboat in South India

Included Activities

Overnight Houseboat Experience
Cruise Kerala’s backwaters and stay overnight in a traditional kettuvallom, a boat made from coconut rope and wooden planks. This unique and exotic barge experience provides all the comforts of a hotel, with furnished bedrooms, a modern shower and toilet room, a living area and a shaded balcony for relaxing on as you enjoy uninterrupted views of rural Kerala. There is also a kitchen where the boat’s crew will rustle you up deliciously fresh meals and snacks, served traditionally on banana leaves. The skipper (captain), might moor up and take you to visit a backwater village, where you can meet local people and observe ancestral homes and places of worship. After a relaxing day, drop anchor and rest your head to the gentle sounds of the swishing lake waters.

Hotel Options

Spice Coast Cruise – Opt 1

Room	One Bed Room
Meals	Full Board
Style	Houseboat

Xandari Riverscapes – Opt 2

Room	Xandari Riverscapes-One Bedroom
Meals	Full Board
Style	Houseboat

Day 9 - 10

Drive from Alleppey to Cochin (65 km, 1.5 hrs)

Cochin

1 Day

Kochi, formerly Cochin, is considered the Queen of the Arabian Sea as it was one of the first European settlements in India, due its ideal positioning for trading.

Included Activities

Highlights of Cochin
Kochi, formerly Cochin, is a vibrant, engaging city to explore, from the absorbing views of Fort Kochi harbor with its huge Chinese fishing nets to ancient mosques, Portuguese architecture and the crumbling remnants of the British Raj. Explore Matancherry where you can observe murals and antiquities at the Dutch Palace and Cemetery, and the 400 year old Pardesi Synagogue in the Jewish quarter. Visit the grave of Vasco da Gama in St. Francis Church. Discover the Hill Palace and Tripunithura and browse the spice and antique markets. Enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance or the captivating display of Kalaripayattu, a 3,000 year old martial art form.

Hotel Options

Eighth Bastion – Opt 1

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Malabar House – Opt 2

Room	Deluxe
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Transfer to the Airport

International Departure

Price & Inclusions

Option 1 From $ 2,020 /person
Option 2 From $ 2,340 /person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) on the indicated meal plan for 9 nights.
All activities as listed :
- Cochin: Highlights of Cochin (Half Day)
- Munnar: Highlights of Munnar
- Thekkady: Highlights of Thekkady
- Alleppey Houseboat: Overnight Houseboat Experience in Alleppey
- Cochin: Highlights of Cochin (Half Day)
All airport and hotel transfers
A high-quality air conditioned vehicle with unlimited mileage and a trusted chauffeur throughout your trip, apart from during your stay at a beach/backwater resort or houseboat if applicable.
All activities described in the itinerary, including entrance fees wherever applicable, accompanied by our tour guide
Your Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact, supporting you during your trip
Welcome kit including all important documents and information regarding your itinerary
Insolvency insurance
Fees and taxes

This listed price is based on two people sharing a double room. The price may vary due to the time of year you travel, the size of your group, and accommodation availability.

Backwaters of Kerala

Itinerary Summary

Ideal For

Itinerary Details

Cochin

Munnar

Thekkady

Alleppey

Alleppey Houseboat

Cochin

Price & Inclusions

Price Includes