DAY 01 KOCHI
Arrive Kochi airport by morning from your home country. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel and later we visit the charming Fort Kochi (Cochin) and its twin town Mattanchery, which is an island of slowly disintegrating stone walls, crumbling shop fronts and well-tented churches.
We start our visit with Mattanchery Dutch Palace (closed on Friday’s), was built by the Portuguese (circa 1557) as a gift for the Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi in exchange of trading rights. In 1663, the new occupants, the Dutch, largely rebuilt it. Our next stop will be nearby Synagogue (closed on Friday’s & Saturday’s & Jewish holidays) dating from 1568 (rebuilt in 1662), at the heart of what is known as Jew Town, is now a fascinating mixture of shops (some selling antiques), warehouses and spice auction rooms.
Later we make a short drive to Fort Kochi to visit the old St. Francis Church, which was originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron saint of Portugal and is the first church to reflect the new, European-influenced tradition. Our final visit will be to huge Chinese Fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. Chinese traders are believed to have originally introduced them in the late 14th century although, today, parts of the nets are known by Portuguese names. O/n Hotel.

DAY 02 KOCHI TO ALLEPPEY
After breakfast drive to Alleppey (about 65kms/02hrs), to board your houseboat that comprises furnished bedrooms, with attached bathrooms, running water, and a lounge area in which to relax and enjoy the sights on the shore. We start our 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 by mid-morning 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. In the evening, 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 and moor up for overnight in Vemabanadu Lake. O/n Houseboat.

DAY 03 ALLEPPEY TO MUNNAR
After breakfast disembark from the houseboat, drive to Munnar (about 195kms/04 ½ hrs), ), situated in the heart of the Cardamom Hills, at an altitude of 1700m, Munnar is surrounded by endless green, rolling hills and 30 of the world’s highest tea estates. Arrive and check into the hotel, rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 04 MUNNAR
Today free day to explore Rajamalai National Park to see the beautiful sight of Neelakurinji blooming.
A rare phenomenon is going to unfold again this year in Munnar, a phenomenon that makes the hills of Munnar a special place for biologists and tourists. Neelankurinji is all set to bloom this August – September. This legendary flower blooms once in 12 years and is due to cover the mountain scapes with a blue blanket of flowers. Neela means blue in Malayalam language and Kurinji the local name of the flower. For those in Munnar, the blooming of Kurinji flower is a reminder that their lives have gone past another twelve years, and for those from far off, perhaps it is a reminder of witness a once-in-a-lifetime rare sight of the Kurinji flowers covering the slopes and ravines of Munnar.
The Mudhuvar tribe, which inhabits the mountain ranges around Valparai (Tamil Nadu) and Munnar (Kerala) in the Western Ghats, calculates its age with blossoming of the Kurinji. In the Western Ghats, at an altitude of about 1600 meters, in the region of sholas and grasslands, the Kurinji flourishes as a gregarious shrub. From the high ranges to the Sahyadhri Mountains, different varities of the Kurinji flourish in valleys, on slopes and in gorges. After blossoming, the plant wilts. Though most of the varieties are blue, there are some yellow varieties too.
Though this flower has been a familiar subject for poets and for the hill folk, in modern times, two British botanists, who explored the Palani ranges – Robert Wight in 1836 and Capt. Beddome in 1857 – documented the details and let the wider world get to know about this plant. The Kurinji found has been christened “Strobulanthus”. In the Nilgiris, it was only from 1858 that we have records of the years of the plant’s blossoming.

DAY 05 MUNNAR
The day free to explore the top station area, where there is a possibility to see the Neelakurinji flower bed. O/n Hotel.

DAY 06 MUNNAR TO THEKKADY
After breakfast drive to Thekkady (about 110kms/03hrs), through the cardamom hills of Kerala. Arrive and check into the hotel further in the afternoon explore the Periyar wildlife sanctuary, which set on attractive Periyar Lake side, is in a beautiful setting and was designated a part of Project Tiger in 1973, though Tigers are very rarely seen and it is better know for its elephants, which are very likely to be seen until Mar/Apr. Most bull elephants here are tuskless. Bison, Sambar, Wild boar and the barking Deer are fairly common. In addition to 246 species of birds, there are 112 species of butterfly.
Explore the sanctuary, which offers a lovely, and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife area encircles. O/n Hotel.

DAY 07 THEKKADY
After an early 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. O/n Hotel.

DAY 08 THEKKADY TO MADURAI
After an early breakfast drive to Madurai (about 155kms/04hrs), check into the hotel and later in the afternoon visit the Meenakshi Temple, with its huge gopurams towering over the city, the life of Madurai revolves around the Meenakshi Sundareswar Temple, dedicated to Meenakshi. Evening conclude your sightseeing with the palace built by Thirumalai Nayak, 1 km southeast of the temple, testifies to their glorious reign, which built in the Indo-Saracenic style. O/n Hotel.

DAY 09 MADURAI TO KANYAKUMARI
After breakfast drive to Kanayakumari (about 240kms/06hrs), the small town at the confluence of three oceans at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. Arrive and check into the hotel and evening free to stroll around the Triveni Ghat to enjoy the enchanting sunset. O/n Hotel.

DAY 10 KANYAKUMARI TO KOVALAM
After breakfast we start our sightseeing with Vivekananda Memorial. A ferry will take you to the huge rock memorial 400 m offshore. This memorial marks the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. Later free to visit Kumari Amman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kanya Devi.
Afternoon drive to Kovalam (about 90kms/03hrs), en route visit Padmanabhapuram Palace, a magnificent wooden palace of the Travancore Maharajas. Arrive and check into the hotel and relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 11 KOVALAM
The day at leisure + optional experience some Ayurvedic massages. O/n Hotel.

DAY 12 KOVALAM
The day at leisure + optional experience some Ayurvedic massages. O/n Hotel.

DAY 13 KOVALAM TO TRIVANDRUM
Early morning transfer to Trivandrum int’l airport to board flight to your onward destination.

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