Kerala Tourism, Kerala Tours, Kerala India Tour, Kerala Tourism Package, Tours to Kerala, Holidays in Kerala, Kerala Backwaters, Backwater Tours in Kerala

Picture rice fields fringed with palm trees. Verdant coastal areas sloping up into the blue

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coloured Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Then the hills, covered with plantations of tea,coffee, rubber and cocoa plus the spices that China, Britain, Portugal, the Romans and the Arabs fought over; cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, peppers and nutmeg. Their aromas will awaken all your senses.

A Brief Introduction to Kerala & Tour Proposal

Take a backwater cruise down the canals on your private "kettuvalam"-rice boat and admire the village life as you sail by. Attend a Kathakali dance performance, a drama played out by male dancers in incredible costumes and makeup; take a boat safari over the lake at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for it's herds of wild elephants; treat yourself to the relaxing experience of an Ayurvedic massage, a centuries old treatment inherent to Kerala.Visit the Islands of Cochin by ferry and visit the historic sights, culminating with a sunset cruise around the Chinese Fishing nets. After all the activity, chill out on a tropical beach enjoying the freshly caught catch of the day with your favourite cocktail as you watch the sun drop into the blue waters of the Arabian Sea.

Any itinerary canbe made to fit your wishes, your budget and the amount of time you have available. We can offer you different levels of accommodation, from small hotels, Ayurvedic Centres with Heritage style accommodation, to the most upmarket addresses.Spare some time to read the itinerary below. All information is based on our own travels through Kerala and our profound knowledge of the area and the travel industry.

8 Day Coconut & Spice Tour of Kerala

Day 01 Cochin - Thekkady
Arrive at Cochin Int'l Airport and transfer by A/C car for the approx. four hour drive to Thekkady. The drive is through lush green coconut groves, rubber plantations and finally tea plantations. Thekkady is nestled in the Nilgiri Hills at 3000 ft and famous for it’s spice plantations and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.Check-in at The Spice Village. Set in 15 acres of forest, A Tribal village set in a spice garden best describes this property. Facilities include a swimming pool and Ayurvedic Centre. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 02 Thekkady
Early morning boat safari over Lake Periyar. Return to Spice Village for breakfast. Afternoon visit to a private spice plantation. Wear closed shoes - it feels like a jungle walk. Spices growing here include vanilla, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and mace, surrounded by coconut palms, bananas and jackfruit. Rest of the afternoon at leisure - time to try out an Ayurvedic massage at Spice Village. A cooking demo.will be given in the evening followed by a cultural programme. Overnight at Spice Village.

Day 03 Thekkady - Kumarakom
Morning drive to "K" jetty. Board the launch for the sail to Coconut Lagoon. Marooned in the beautiful Vembanad Lake, this resort is a re-creation of a traditional Keralan village, surrounded by the tropical greens of rice paddies and coconut groves. Early evening board a "Kettuvalam" converted riceboat, for a sunset cruise as you listen to the magical strains of the Indian flute. Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.

Day 04 Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Morning visit to the bird sanctuary followed by breakfast and a visit to the Farm House. Day free at Coconut Lagoon. Laze at the swimming pool, sip a tall drink taking in your surroundings, or enjoy a relaxing Ayurvedic massage. A fish restaurant opens every evening serving the catch of the day. Late afternoon cruise down the backwaters, the waterways of Kerala. See how people live on the ridges of land, cultivating coconuts, rice, raising ducks and of course, fishing. Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.

Day 05 Coconut Lagoon - Marari Beach
After breakfast, transfer by launch across the Vembanad Lake to the Marari Beach. This resort is made up of individual cottages set in 30 acres of garden filled with coconut palms and tropical plants which leads down to the white sands of the Arabian Sea. Facilities include a huge swimming pool with sun terrace, tennis courts, Ayurvedic centre and a "beach shack" serving long drinks all day. For al fresco evenings there is a cookout for the freshly caught fish and seafood. Overnight at The Marari Beach.

Day 06 Marari Beach
A whole day at leisure by the beach to do nothing at all or whatever you please. Overnight at The Marari Beach.

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Day 07 Marari Beach - Cochin Brunton Boatyard
After breakfast, drive north to Cochin (1 hr) to The Brunton Boatyard. This beautiful period style property stands on the site of the original 19th century boatyard. All rooms face the Arabian Sea on one side and the harbour mouth of Cochin on the other. Watch the dolphins play amongst the myriad of boats and ferries, large and small, crossing just in front of you. Sightseeing will include Jewtown and it’s Synagogue, the Black Pepper Stock Exchange, St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Cathedral and the Dutch Palace, all situated at your doorstep at Fort Cochin. Take a drink by the poolside and watch the sunset over the Chinese Fishing Nets, located just to the left of the Brunton Boatyard.

Late afternoon visit to a performance of Kathakali. This 500 year old dance drama is performed by male dancers accompanied by music, who play out a story using eye & face muscles, hands and feet. A must is to reach the theatre ahead of time, in order to see the performers putting on their incredible make-up and their magnificent costumes. Rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the Brunton Boatyard.

Day 08 Cochin - Airport
Breakfast at Brunton Boatyard. Rest of the day at leisure. You will be taken by car to the airport in time for your onward destination.
** Since the Summer of 2002, some airlines are operating direct flights to Cochin/Kochi (e.g. Emirates, Indian Airlines) thus bypassing Delhi or Mumbai.

The package includes :
Accommodation as per the itinerary mentioned, Breakfast at all hotels, All prevailing taxes, All transfers by boat and by A/C car from arrival at Cochin Airport until departure from Cochin Airport, Cooking demonstrations at Spice Village and Coconut Lagoon, Lunch and tour at the Plantation Bungalow, Palai, Boat Safari at Lake Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Spice Plantation visit in Thekkady, Bird Sanctuary visit in Kumarakom, Visit to the Farmhouse in Kumarakom, Backwater Cruise and Sunset cruise at Coconut Lagoon, Sightseeing of Fort Cochin & Mattancherry in Cochin, Visit to a Kathakali dance performance in Cochin.

IMPORTANT NOTE :

Both of the above tours can be extended to include a visit to the famous temple town of Tamil Nadu, -Madurai, and / or the tropical island of Bangaram, see below :

Madurai is famous for the Sri Meenakshi temple complex. The gopurams are covered by a coloured profusion of Hindu gods and goddesses, animals and mythical figures. A visit to Madurai shows the visitor the spiritual side of South Indian culture. The temple complex is a hive of activity from early morning until evening, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike. For 1rupee the resident elephant will place a "tilak" on your forehead with his trunk. Madurai is just a morning’s drive from Thekkady. The drive itself is beautiful, taking you over the Nilgiri Hills down on to the plains of Tamil Nadu.

Sri Meenakshi Temple and Bangaram Island

For travellers with more time, your visit can be extended with a stay on a tropical island paradise. Of the 36 Lakshadweep Islands, Bangaram is the gem. This exotic island is everything you imagine a tropical island to be. The resort comprises 30 simple but comfortable huts. The cuisine is fresh fish and tropical fruits and a beach bar serves your favourite drinks. This is a paradise for sun worshippers, divers and snorkellers or for anyone who wants to get away from it all.

Flight Information: Indian Airlines has 6 flights a week from Cochin and 3 flights a week from Goa to the Island of Agatti, from where you will be taken by boat to Bangaram.

Lakshadweep Permit Issue
Necessary for all travellers - we will take care of this for you.

Casino Group of Hotels

The Casino Group of Hotels operates in all the prominent destinations in Kerala & also in Lakshadweep. We are pleased to use their properties wherever possible. Apart from the Casino Hotel, Cochin and the renowned Coconut Lagoon at Kumarakom, the chain includes The Marari Beach at Mararikulam, Spice Village in Periyar, Spice Coast Houseboats, Bangaram Island Beach Resort in Lakshadweep and their flagship property, The Brunton Boatyard Hotel in Cochin.

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