Down South Kerala
Suggested Itinerary - 10D/9N
KOCHI + MUNNAR + THEKKADY + VAGAMON + HOUSEBOAT + VARKALA + KOVALAM + TRIVANDRUM
Day 1: Kochi
Welcome to Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala
Meet & assist at Kochi airport.
Proceed to the city, check-in to the hotel.
Lunch on own.
Kochi represents different things to different people. To many, it is an emerging cosmopolitan city with bustling life in the streets, the cinema halls, the shopping malls, and the skyscrapers; the commercial capital of the state, with a style statement different from the rest of the State - whether in clothes or lifestyle. To some others, Kochi is a place with deep roots in history and its streets exude an old-world charm; a place with beautiful monuments and a variety of linguistic and ethnic communities including Jews, Konkinis, Gujaratis and so on. In short, Kochi offers a cocktail of modernity, old-world charm and a global outlook that, at the same time, facilitates continuity and change. For centuries, Kochi had been a main port city, not only of Kerala, but also of the Indian Peninsula
After Lunch set off to get a glimpse of Kochi, Fort Kochi & Willingdon Island
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Kochi
Day 2: Kochi - Munnar
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out and proceed to Munnar – one of the best hill stations of Kerala
Munnar, the famed hill station of south India, is a romantic locale where natural beauty is everywhere to visit, explore and to enjoy. Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams – Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala – and the word ‘Munnar’ means three rivers in Malayalam. Situated about 1600m above sea level, the hill station had been the summer resort of the British Government during the colonial era. Imprints of the colonial past stand tall in the Munnar town in the form of English country cottages. Virgin forests, savannah, rolling hills, scenic valleys, numerous streams, huge splashy waterfalls, sprawling tea plantations and winding walkways are all part of the great holiday experience on offer for a traveler to Munnar. Munnar is also known for Neelakurinji, a rare plant which flowers only once in twelve years. The ‘kurinji season’ in Munnar is a magnificent sight when the hills and valleys get bathed in the blue of the Neelakurinji blooms
After lunch, proceed for the sightseeing of Munnar
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Munnar
Day 3: Munnar
After breakfast, proceed for full day sightseeing of Munnar including Rajamala, Eravikulam National Park, the 97 sq km park with its irresistible grace and beauty is home to the endangered Mountain goats etc. Enjoy a guided short trek in the beautiful hill station. Afternoon - Visit the Mattupetty Dam built in the mountains. Later visit Echo point, a very popular place for the natural phenomenon. The echo that reverberates after hitting the distant hills is fascinating
Overnight stay at Munnar
Day 4: Munnar - Thekkady
Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out and proceed to Thekkady, the wild-life destination of Kerala
The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. The Periyar forests of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Spreads across the entire district are the picturesque plantations and hill towns that nestle beautiful trails for treks and mountain walks.It is one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country and the forests of Periyar is embellished by the presence of endangered species including White Tigers
Arrive Thekkady and check-in to the hotel.
Lunch on own
After lunch, proceed to get a local glimpse of Thekkady and a boat riding in the Periyar river. Optionals – Kathakali show & Kalaripayattu
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Thekkady
Day 5: Thekkady – Vagamon (B/-/-)
Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out and proceed to another beautiful hill station of Kerala – Vagamon
Vagamon hill station in Idukki is among the few spots on the planet that need to be experienced first-hand to truly discover its glory. The grassy hills, velvet lawns and overall mysticism of the place cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. This quaint town lies untouched by any modern influences and is neatly tucked away in Idukki district. Visitors can avail many activities including trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing
Check-in to the hotel in Vagamon
Lunch on own
Proceed to get a glimpse of Vagamon and its pristine beauty, never ending velvety grass land. Vagamon is known for adventure activities like para gliding and trekking
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Vagamon
Day 6: Vagamon – Alleppey
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out and proceed to experience the highlight of Kerala – The houseboats
The Kerala houseboat is a modified kettuvallam, the large boat of yesteryears. In Malayalam, ‘kettu’ means to tie and ‘vallom’ means boat. These boats were held together with rope and hence the name. Kettuvallams were used for the transportation of goods like rice and spices from Kumarakom and areas of Kuttanad to neighbouring towns. With the emergence and development of modern road and rail transportation, these graceful behemoths were shelved. Their reemergence occurred with the growth of tourism. It is now a tourist attraction and a popular mode to explore the magnificence of the Kumarakom backwaters
Board the houseboat and start that wonderful experience of being in backwaters!
Lunch, evening tea & dinner will be served on board, and is part of your package
Overnight at houseboat
Day 7: Alleppey – Varkala
After a traditional breakfast at houseboat, it is time to proceed
De-board the houseboat and set off to Varkala– One of the best beaches of Kerala
Arrive and check-in to hotel
Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several tourist attractions that include a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam - Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach.
The Papanasam Beach (also called as Varkala Beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for a natural spring. Which is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name 'Papanasam Beach'
Lunch on own. Unwind your day at the beach and relax
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Varkala
Day 8: Varkala - Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out and proceed to Kovalam, another famous beach of Kerala
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them
Lunch on own
Set off for a sightseeing of in and around Kovalam
Evening relax and enjoy your time at the beach and spend some time at the beachside restaurant & pubs
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Kovalam
Day 9: Kovalam – Kanyakumari - Trivandrum
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out and proceed for the city tour of Trivandrumincluding famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Entry not included)
Check-in to hotel in Trivandrum
Lunch on own
After a brief relaxation, proceed to Kanyakumarito witness the beautiful sunset
Kanyakumari is a very beautiful location and is surrounded by hills, seas and monuments. Being at the southernmost tip of India, this place is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Kanyakumari is especially famous for its sunrises and sunsets. In the warm, full moon evening called ChitraPournami, one can see the moon rise along with the sunset. Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument in Kanyakumari, India. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda, who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock. According to legends, it was on this rock that Goddess Kanyakumari performed tapas in devotion of lord Shiva
Return to Trivandrum
Dinner on own
Overnight at hotel in Trivandrum
Day 10: Trivandrum – Airport
Breakfast at hotel
Check-out and proceed to airport for your return journey, carrying some best memories of Kerala
End of itinerary
We hope to see you again in “God’s Own Country.”