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Home > Tea Gardens and Backwaters |
| Tea Gardens and Backwaters |
| Duration of Kerala package - 8 nights/09 days |
| Kerala holiday destinations - Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarakom - Houseboat |
| Included in National Geographic Traveller Magazine's Millennium issue as one of the 50 "must see places in a lifetime", Kerala now competes with Rajasthan as India's most popular destination. This Kerala holiday package, takes you to the ancient harbour city of Cochin, through the beautiful tea gardens and coffee estates of Munnar, to the wildlife Reserve of Periyar, the serenity of Kumarakom before ending with a relaxing overnight cruise on a Kerala Houseboat. |
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| Day 01 - Arrive Cochin |
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| You will be met upon your arrival in Cochin and transferred to your chosen hotel for a 2 night stay. |
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Day 2 - In Cochin |
| Cochin's half day of sight seeing includes Cochin Harbour terminus where the Chinese fishing nets present a wonderful sight; Mattancherry Dutch Palace; The Jewish Synagogue and St. Francis Church (built in 1510 Vasco Da Gama was originally buried here). Later visit the Hill Palace which was built in the 19th century by the Raja of Kochi, the Kochi province was ruled from here. Your overnight stop in Cochin includes a Kathakali Dance Show. |
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| Day 03 - Drive Cochin to Munnar (135 kms/03 hrs) |
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| The next stop on your Kerala holiday, is Munnar, located at a height of 1600 m., in the midst of very beautiful tea gardens and coffee plantations. On arrival, check in to your chosen hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the surroundings on your own. |
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Day 04 - In Munnar |
| A relaxing day and overnight in Munnar - if you are in the mood there is the option of a tour to one of Munnar's tea gardens or Spice plantations. |
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| Day 05 - Drive Munnar to Periyar (140 kms/3.5 hrs) |
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| Drive to Periyar, regarded as one of the best places to see the Asian Elephants. After checking into your Periyar hotel for a 2 night stay, take a late afternoon boat ride into the Wildlife Sanctuary. In the cool of the evening as the sun sets wildlife comes to drink at the Lake's edge. |
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Day 06 - In Periyar |
| Morning visit to a Spice Plantation - the area is famous for cardamom, coffee and tea plantations and you will learn a bit about the many uses of the spices, both medicinal and culinary! Overnight in Periyar. |
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| Day 07 - Drive Periyar to Kumarakom (200 kms/04 hrs) |
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| Morning drive through tea and then rubber plantations, interspersed with small cardamom, coffee, ginger and pepper-growing estates to the tranquility of Kumarakom. Kumarakom, is in a picture perfect setting, with the Kerala backwaters on one side, and the Lake Vembanad on the other. Check in to your chosen retreat and enjoy the remainder of the day discovering nature's beauty at your own pace. |
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Day 08 - Kumarakom to your Houseboat |
| Board your private house boat for an overnight stay. This cruise along the beautiful backwater canals of Kerala is the highlight of any Kerala holiday for most travellers. The Kerala Houseboats, are converted rice barges or "Kettuvallams" and sail along shallow, palm-fringed lakes and narrow canals where coconut and cashew are loaded onto dugouts. You pass villages built on narrow spits of land, stopping to visit local markets by bullock-cart, or to marvel at craftsmen engaged in centuries-old boat-making traditions. |
| The Houseboats offer one or two cabins with a small sitting room and a crew of 2 staff and a chef. Onboard the cuisine is authentic Kerala cuisine, purchased fresh along the way. For most of the journey, the boat is poled, sailing only between dawn and dusk. Although the accommodation on board is basic, this is an unforgettable experience |
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| Day 09 - Disembark at Alleppey, drive to Cochin Airport (85 kms/02 hrs) |
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| Your Kerala holiday ends with disembarking the Houseboat at Alleppey and a drive back to Cochin Airport in time for your flight home. |
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| TEA GARDENS AND BACKWATERS |
| Category of Hotels |
Valid from 01st May'2012 till 30th Sep'2012 |
Valid from 01st Oct'2012 till 30th April'2013 |
Silver |
GBP 622 per person Book
Now |
GBP 780 per person Book
Now |
Gold |
GBP 670 per person Book Now |
GBP 899 per person Book
Now |
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CITIES |
SILVER |
GOLD |
| Cochin |
Trident |
Vivanta by Taj Malabar |
| Munnar |
Windermere Estate |
Windermere Estate |
| Periyar |
Shalimar Spice Garden |
Spice
Village |
| Kumarakom |
Coconut Lagoon |
Coconut Lagoon |
| Houseboat |
Houseboat |
Houseboat |
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| * Small supplements may apply for travel between 20th December'2012 and 05th January'2013 and during the month of February 2013. |
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| Inclusions:- |
# Accommodation on twin sharing
bed and breakfast basis (except on board houseboat where
all meals are included) at the hotels of your choice.
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| # All arrival-departure transfers
and land transportation using an aircon car exactly as per
the itinerary. |
| # Sightseeing tours along
with a local English Speaking Guide and including entrance
fee to monuments exactly as mentioned above in the Itinerary. |
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