The Best of Kerala

From the island city of god’s own country, Kerala, journey through the hills and beaches of a truly tropical landscape. Encounter elephants, bison and tigers on a rainforest safari, drive through tea and spice plantations and linger under the palms of one of the finest beaches in South India.

Where are you going?
Day 1: Arrive Cochin and transfer to hotel.
Day 2: Cochin is situated on a number of small islands and peninsulas. Ferries join the islands and you are transported by boat through the green lagoons that form the city’s harbor. In 1653 the Dutch settled in Cochin to trade in pepper. The spice trade is still important, as is shipbuilding. In the Dutch Palace beautiful murals depict episodes in Hindu mythology. Cochin boasts a 16th century Jewish synagogue and the only Jewish neighborhood in India. The ten meter high Chinese fishnets that Marco Polo mentioned are wonderful to see - a method of fishing that originated in the 11th century. After a trip to a backwater village finish the evening with the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. Grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up characterize this dance. The stories are mostly taken from the Mahabharaata and Ramaayana.
Days 3 & 4: Hilly roads lined with tea plantations lead to Munnar. Set amid dramatic mountains scenery Munnar is the commercial center of some of the world’s highest tea growing estates. The combination of craggy peaks, manicured tea plantations and crisp mountain air makes Munnar an ideal retreat.
Day 5: The best way to observe the game in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is by boat. There are herds of elephant, and bison, packs of wild boar various species of ape including the golden langur monkey, rarely seen elsewhere in India. Turtles can often be seen sunning themselves on the pieces of wood that stick out of the water. Osprey and cormorants are the most prevalent bird species in this area.
Days 6-7: The route to Alleppey is through a beautiful landscape of tea gardens. The backwaters are crisscrossed by canals, rice fields and beautiful palms; canoes with huge sails still transport people and you can find vegetable sellers, fisherman and other household materials being brought door to door in small wooden boats. The major crop here is coconut and it is said that the name Kerala derives from an old word for coconut, Kera.
Days 8-10: Luxuriate on one of the most stunning beaches anywhere, palm fringed Kovalam, indulge in delicious seafood or take a day trip to Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of India.
Day 11: Depart. Transfer to Trivandrum airport.