Kerala Backwater Houseboat Tour

On day 1, you will arrive in Kochi and from there you will be taken to your hotel. A ‘samurai of great national significance’ and the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’; Kochi presents an amalgamation of medieval Holland, Portugal, and an English village. Familiar for different types of spices for a number of centuries, the name of the city derives from a Malayalam term Kochazhi that means a small lagoon. Put on the world map by Vasco-de-Gama, the history of the city is glorified with the impression of the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Arabs. Popular for Kathakali dance, Kochi is the second most important city on the west coast of India. Spend the night here.

During the morning, you will be taken to some of the renowned spots in Kochi including the Portuguese churches, temples and ancient mosques along with the Jewish synagogue. Kerala is famous for Chinese style giant fishing net. With 10m of height, it consists of cantilever along with an outstretched net, which is suspended in the sea as well as one huge stone suspended on the other side with ropes for the counterweights. A group of six fishermen always operate the installation process of the fishing-net. During the afternoon, you can stroll around places like Hill Palace, Kochi Fort, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Marine Drive, Cherai Beach, Kochi International Marina, and many more. Overnight is in Kochi.

Today, you will be transferred by road from Kochi to Munnar, the largest tea-growing region. Situated on the Kannan Devan Hills, the low mountain scenery is marvelous. You will often see veils of mist that clings to the mountaintops. Blessed with the highest peak in South India, Anamudi and surrounded by myriad wild life sanctuaries that is the home to the grizzled giant squirrel, gaur, elephant, Sambar, Nilgiri langur, and many more; it is the popular honeymoon destination in Kerala. If luck is in your favor, you may see the Neelakurinji, a blue flower that blossoms once in every 12 years.

Spend the afternoon to explore the nearby areas of Munnar. Set amidst, hills as well as jungles, Atukkad Waterfalls is a marvelous waterfall that will awestruck you. Next, you will be driven to Chithirapuram, famous for its tea plantation. In Floriculture Centre, you will find different types of flowers along with the herbal plants. To enjoy an elephant ride, come to the Elephant Arrival Spot. Top Station will offer you a bird’s eye view of the Western Ghats. To help you learn, how tea is processed, you will be taken to the Tata Tea Museum. You will also explore plentiful animal sanctuaries as well as waterfalls in different parts of the land. Overnight is in Munnar.

On day 4, you will be driven from Munnar to Kodaikanal, a misty hill station. Familiar as the "Princess of Hill stations", Kodaikanal means "The Gift of the Forest". Situated in the 120km northwest of Madurai in the protected Palani Hills; Kodai rambles up and down hillsides with patches of shola (virgin forest). You will also be driven to Kodaikanal Lake, a manmade lake where you can hire horses, bicycles, and boats. Popular for its streams, meadows, grasslands, gardens and waterfall, Kodaikanal offers a religious flavor with La Salette, Lutheran Mission, St. Peters Church, Durgai Amman Kovil, Church of South India, Kurinji Andavar Kovil, Ellis Villa, Munjikal, Mariamman Kovil, Union Church, and many more. Spend the night in the hotel.

Today, you will explore the beautiful hill station. With a wide array of species of shrubs, trees, myrtles rhododendrons and varieties of roses, the beauty of Bryant Park will spellbind you. To experience a good collection of about 500 species of birds, animals, as well as insects and a good collection of live exotic orchid species, you will come to Shembaganur Museum of Natural History. While Green Valley view offers a wonderful view of the plains, Dolphin's Nose, a flat rock, projects over a 2000 meter chasm. You will also visit Silver Cascade, Bear Shola Falls and Pillar Rocks, three giant rock pillars. Overnight is in Kodaikanal.

On day 6, you will be driven to Periyar animal sanctuary, also popular as Thekkady. A home to plentitude animals including Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, wild boar, monkeys, wild dog, sambar, leopard, langur and many more, Periyar is well-known as an Elephant and Tiger Reserve. You will also witness different types of birds and plants here, frame them with your camera. To give you the possibility of watching different animals, you will take a boat ride on the Periyar Lake. Surrounded by diverse plantation regions for coffee, tea, visiting the Park is a worth. If you have time in your hand, manage a soft trek to the nearby areas. Spend the night here.

On day 7, you will watch animals in Periyar. You can also go for a soft trek or visit the local bazaars or choose a boat ride on the lake. Spread across 700 km and famous for dense forests as well as savanna grass lands, Periyar National Park is the abode to a wide number of birds and animals. To experience something amazing, take a boat ride. You will see herds of elephants and several other animals. Other places of interest to visit are Murikkady, Chellar Kovil and many more. Overnight is in Periyar.

Today, you will be taken from Periyar to Alappuzha. Earlier familiar as Alleppey, it is a wonderful place. Termed as the ‘Venice of the East’, this picturesque is crisscrossed with canals and offers you beaches, backwaters, and lagoons. To carry an unforgettable memory, experience a cruise in the backwaters. On the Punnamada Lake, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on the second Saturday of August in every year. Acquainted as the ‘rice bowl of Kerala’, Kuttanad with continuous paddy fields and lush green coconut palms is one of the few places in the world where rice is cultivated below sea level. Spend the night in Alleppey.

Today, you will explore the wonders of Alappuzha. Popular for its boat races, beaches, backwater holidays, marine products as well as coir industry, Alappuzha is referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’. Your Kerala backwater houseboat tour remain incomplete if you don’t come here. A network of large lakes formed by rivers and canals, the Kerala backwaters are formed because of the waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands. Board a houseboat and spend the night there, familiar as kettuvallam. Used to ferry the grain, the boats are like floating cottages that come with a sleeping area, dining area, toilets, and a sit out on the deck. The food is cooked on board by staff. Spend the night here.

On day 10, you will drive from Alappuzha to Mararikulam. Unwind your body and mind at the beach during the evening. Mararikulam a beach village is popular for Mararikulam beach. Rated by National Geographic survey, as one of the world’s top five hammock beaches, it is the most beautiful beach destinations. To experience an idyllic lifestyle, come to Mararikulam, a sleepy little village situated 11 kms away from Alappuzha. Overnight is in Mararikulam.

Spend the full day at the beach. If you want you can visit the nearby places. 12 kms away from the Mararikulam, Cherthala has many religious places. A large number of devotees come all through the year in Karthyayani Devi temple and Muttathu Thirumala Devaswam temple. In the Karthyayani Devi temple complex, you will also find temples of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ayyappa as well as Kshethrapalakan. You will also find several roosters around the temple. The Muttathu Thirumala Devaswam temple is famous for deities like Saligrama and Sree Venkatachalapathy Moorthy with Bhoo Devi as well as Sree Devi. A large number of people from all over the world come here to witness the annual festival around March at the Kandamangalam Sree Rajarajeshwari temple. Spend the night here.

You have another day to visit the beach. Stroll around the nearby places. To get a religious flavor, visit Saint Augustine Church. Located near Aroor, it is one of the oldest Latin Catholic churches. To explore more, visit the Karthyayani Temple as well as the Vattakkeril Temple. Located at Arthunkal, St. Andrues Basilica is the largest shrine in the world. Next, you will be driven to Devi Temple as well as the Christian church at Thycattusserry. Situated at Kadakkarappally and Andhakaranazhy; Kandamangalam Rajarajeshwari Temple, the Kandakarana temple and Vyathara Trimurthi temple are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Overnight is in Mararikulam.

Today, you will be driven to Kochi airport to board your flight. End of your Kerala tour.