Destinations Covered: Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - CochinDuration: 05 Nights / 06 Days
Day 1 Periyar
Welcome to Cochin.
Drive to Periyar.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2 Periyar
After breakfast boat cruise on Lake Periyar to explore wildlife sanctuary featuring Indian elephants, Barking Deers, Indian Wild Dogs, Pythons and King Cobras.
Periyar Wildlife Park - Best-known wildlife sanctuary in South India, Kerala's Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is famous for wild Indian elephants and a century old artificial lake set in the beautiful thick woods of Western ghats. The other highlights here are Nilgiri Langoors, Nilgiri Tahrs, Bisons, Deers and Antelopes. Besides one can spot about 100 species of butterfly and 240 species of birds here and take a tour of the aromatic spice gardens around the park.
Later drive to Kumarakom.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3 Kumarakom
Day free to relax and explore the city.
Kumarakom - 14 km from Kottayam, Kumarakom is situated on the shores of Vembanad Lake in Kerala in the 'Kuttanad region' known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, the 14-acre bird sanctuary in Kumarakom is a favourite haunt of migratory birds such as Egrets, Darters, Herons, Teals and Siberian Storks. However, boat cruising in Kettuvallams, traditional houseboats of Kerala, round the islands is the best way to spot them.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4 Alleppey
Kettuvallams, the old rice-barges or Kera;a has now been converted into houseboats and are much popular with the tourists. Surprisingly, it is hand-made and not even nails are used to make these boats. The slow movement of the boats suit the purpose of leisurely enjoying the colorful village scenery of the South. After breakfast, cruising through Azhikkal Canal passing through Kuppapuram, Pallathuruthy, Swamy Canal, Meenappally Kayal, Muttael Canal, Kainakary Church Canal, Vatta Kayal, Venattukadu Canal, Aakkathara Canal and Paddy fields is once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Alleppey - One of the best ports along Malabar Coast and an important trade centre, Alleppey is known for a large network of inland canals. A hub and a base for most of the backwaters and boat cruises, has carved out quite a name for Alleppey and large number of tourists visit the city every year. These backwater cruises are the best way to see the glimpse of the rural life style of Kerala where natives still indulge in the traditional, outdated and laborious tasks of toddy tapping, fishing, coir-making industry and prawn farming and see the greenery and the rich avian life thriving in many of the lake islands.
Overnight stay at Chithira Kayal.
Day 5 Cochin
After breakfast, cruise through small villages of Chennamakery, Kainakary, Pallathuruthy and Kuppapuram to reach Alleppey finish point jetty at 1000 hrs.
Later drive to Cochin.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin including St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Chinese fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue.
Cochin - Kochi (Cochin) is rightly termed as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' with a number of islands and promontories between the Arabian Sea and backwaters. It spreads across modern Ernakulam in the east and the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin in the west, which are interconnected by romantic ferries and bridges. The profound foreign influence can be seen in the architectural styles of its monuments. Some of the city's highlights are spice markets, Chinese fishing nets, Jewish synagogue, Portuguese palace, India's first European church, Dutch homes and Kathakali dance performances.
Day 6 Cochin
Transfer to Cochin airport for flight to onward destination.
