Exceptional Kerala

Exceptional Kerala (13 Nights)- Overview

Kerala promises a holiday experience like no other. Spend the summer surrounded by the breathtaking sights and sounds of this bohemian state, with its peaceful backwaters thronged with houseboats, dramatic highlands, paddy fields cultivated below sea level and stunning natural beauty. Rest, relax, recover and rejuvenate as you experience all that ‘God’s Own Country’ has to offer over the 13 nights and 14 days Kerala tour package. 

 

Exceptional Kerala is a 13 Nights and 14 days tour package that will take you through best tourist destinations in Kerala. Spend your first two days on the ground sight-seeing in historical Kochi and then visit the majestic waterfalls in Athirappally, before driving to Munnar for 2 nights to enjoy this serene and tranquil hill-top haven. In Thekkady for 2 nights , view a world-class nature reserve to try and spot tigers and elephants during your lake cruise. From here, head directly to the green meadow in Vagamon and then proceed to your Alleppey houseboat cruise for 1 night , then take the time to thoroughly explore coastal Kovalam, the Southern tip of India - Kanyakumari and cultural Trivandrum for 3 nights and enjoy the sights of backwaters in  Kumarakom .

Additional Inclusions

  • Pickup
  • Houseboat
  • Backwater
  • BeachVisit
  • Breakfast
  • Sunset
  • Private Car

Exceptional Kerala (13 Nights)- Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Cochin and Stay in Fort Kochi

Upon being greeted and picked up at the airport, you'll be taken directly to Kochi, where you can check in to your hotel and freshen-up from your trip. Once you are ready to hit the road, we'll head out to visit beautiful Fort Kochi,  whose fascinating history makes it a must-see for visitors from all corners of the globe.

 

Formerly known as Cochin, this city is prized as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Due to its ideal location, Kochi was one of the first European settlements in India and quickly became a nexus of international trade.

As you wander through the streets, admire the historical houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, which together create an eclectic and diverse architecture illustrating the complex and multi-layered history of India.

Your stay at  Homestay will be comfortable and homely, with delicious home-cooked meals and a relaxing lawn and garden pond, but it is also located at the heart of Fort Cochin, giving you the perfect vantage point to explore and discover.

 

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Style Traditional
Day 2

Enjoy Fort Kochi for the day

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, amble gently around Kochi as you take in the sights. Highlights include Fort Kochi beach, the spice markets, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, Mattancherry and Jew Street, as well as the impressive Chinese fishing nets. Marine drive, Broadway, and Vypin are also interesting sights, and there is plenty to keep you occupied until the evening, when you can catch the sunset from Cherai beach, one of the most loved beaches in Kerala.

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Traditional
Day 3

Visit Athirappilly Waterfalls

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, be ready to be awestruck by the stunning view as you drive out to Athirapilly, where you can visit the breathtaking Vazhachal Waterfalls and Athirapilly Falls.

ALSO SEE Athirappilly Falls- Photos, Timings, Entry Fee,Images, Routes

Recover from your day of tryst with waterfalls and a resort stay in Athirappilly.  Enjoy thee drive and the view of Athirappilly Waterfalls called as “Niagra of India”

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Economy
Day 4

Trip to Munnar

Eat a hearty breakfast before embarking on the trip to Munnar, a picturesque hill station which was once a retreat for Englishmen and their families. The verdant tea  hills of Kerala create a dramatic yet serene backdrop to the peace and tranquility of Munnar.

 

During the drive, you'll take scenic breaks to enjoy the Valara and Cheeyappara Waterfalls as well as an awe-inspiring sight of Periyar river from Neriamangalam Bridge. Once checked in at the resort in Munnar, rest, relax and enjoy!

ALSO SEE - Top Places to Visit in Munnar 

 

Make the most of your stay in this hilly haven at the Munnar Resort. This nature-friendly retreat, set in acres of herb and spice plantations nestled amid scented fruit trees is the perfect location for bird watching and nature treks, and your stay includes a complimentary spice plantation tour. The fine-dining, candle-lit dinners and musical campfires make for a magical ambience.

  • Room Misty Valley View
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Economy
Day 5

Munnar Sightseeing

Spend a leisurely day sight-seeing in Munnar. This picturesque hill station derives its name from the three mountain streams which merge here: Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundale. 

There is plenty to see in Munnar: Mattupetty dam is a favourite spot for picnics and activities such as boating and horse-riding, while the Indo Swiss Dairy Farm has over a hundred varieties of cattle, and Echo Point offers a panoramic view as well as a thrilling experience as you hear your own voice boom back at you. Other highlights include Poopara, Pothanmedu, Eravikulam National Park, the Tea Museum and the many and sundry shops. Take in the view and head back to the resort for another relaxing evening.

  • Room Misty Valley View Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Economy
Day 6

Trip to Thekkady

Leaving Munnar after breakfast, you'll arrive in Thekkady, ready to put your feet up and relax.  Thekkady is a  haven for nature lovers and addicts of the outdoors, Thekkady offers breathtaking scenery and unique wildlife opportunities.

Thekkady is most famous for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a stunning reserve of unparalleled beauty spread over 777 square kilometres. If you so desire, you can choose to cruise along lake Periyar, giving yourself an excellent vantage point for spotting elusive wildlife such as elephants, Indian gaur, monkeys, spotted deer, barking deer, and an incredible variety of birds.

Enjoy your gorgeous surroundings from the rooftop pool and lounge of the Boutique  Hotel. Set amidst lush gardens, tropical flowers and teak forests, with yoga classes and Italian and Middle-Eastern cuisine, this truly is an oasis of peace.

  • Room Deluxe Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Traditional
Day 7

Sightseeing in Thekkady

Soak in the beauty of Thekkady and its wildlife reserve. Thekkady is one of the few tiger reserves in India, so take this opportunity to try and catch a glimpse of this majestic feline. Up for an adventure? Take a bamboo raft down the river! If you prefer a bigger boat with added creature comforts, you can opt for a more sedate lake cruise.

 

If you do choose to go rafting or take a trek through the reserve, be sure to let us know so that we can make all necessary arrangements, ensuring you a comfortable and hassle-free trip. We recommend starting early for both of these activities. Those who choose the lake cruise can simply make their way to the lake pier after breakfast. Weather permitting, you'll enjoy a traditional campfire and show in the evening.

  • Room Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Traditional
Day 8

Enjoy Green Meadows & Vagamon Trip

Take this day to soak in the greenery of Vagamon which is 2 hours away from Thekkady. Eleveezhapoonchira in Vagamon is one of the best places to watch sunset and sunrise in Kerala. Run over the Green Meadows and enjoy the visit to Pine Forest in Vagamon. Visit Vagamon Falls, Suicide Point and Kurisumala. Overnight stay at the resort in Vagamon.

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Traditional
Day 9

Alleppey(Houseboat) Cruise & Overnight Stay

Enjoy the drive to your fabulous houseboat in Alleppey. Built in the traditional Kerala style with coconut rope and wooden planks, this beautiful kettuvallom will take you through paddy fields being cultivated below sea level via a myriad of intertwining canals, past rustic homes and coconut palms before delivering you safely back to Alleppey in the morning. Alleppey is awash with backwater rivers and canals, earning the nickname ‘Venice of the East.’

 Take in the views along this backwater cruise while enjoying delicious traditionally cooked food aboard the Pickadly Deluxe Houseboat.

  • Room Deluxe Houseboat
  • Meals All Meals
  • Style Traditional Kerala Houseboat
Day 10

Alleppey Houseboat to Kovalam Beach

Recover from your drive to this beautiful beach resort by putting your feet up and pampering yourself, or taking in some local sights and the three beautiful beaches. In the evening, take a stroll down to the famous Kovalam beach and the lighthouse to enjoy a beautiful sunset.  Kovalam small coastal town each in Kerala  is famous for its three  beaches, lighthouse and fishing harbour, as well as a flourishing Ayurveda and yoga scene.

Bask in the beautiful sea vistas, sunrises and sunsets visible from the comfortable room at the resort in Kovalam, located centrally to popular landmarks.

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Executive room
Day 11

Kanyakumari Sightseeing

Travel to the town where three oceans meet and marvel at the merging of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. As well as Kanyakumari's stunning natural beauty, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, Thiruvalluvar statue and the ferry ride to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which stands on a sea-bound rock where the social reforming saint is supposed to have meditated, are well worth a visit. The beach here is another excellent vantage point from which to watch the sunset in the evening.

Kanyakumari is a famed multi-faith pilgrimage site, and pilgrims from all over India come to visit the Bagavathi Amman temple, dedicated to a consort of Shiva, and the Our Lady of Ransom Church, a focal-point of Indian Catholicism. It’s also the southernmost city of peninsular India, making it a popular location for watching the sun rise and set.

  • Room Deluxe Double
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Economy
Day 12

Enjoy the capital city of Kerala- Thiruvananthapuram

Having enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, spend the day sightseeing in Trivandrum, or Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala, and the most populated city in the state. Its history under the British Raj is still palpable today, and this energetic yet easy-going hilly town has a lot of sights, sounds, and foods to offer visitors. 

 

Literally translated, this city is called Great Ananthan's City, and is named for the king of serpents, on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu rests. The temple of Ananthan is the most important in the city and is open from 4 pm till 8 pm, but to visit it, men must wear a Dhoti and women a saree or churidar.  Other significant sights include the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, with its frieze of 122 wooden horses, and Shangumugham Beach, which is known to be hard to rival when it comes to watching the sunset.  For the young at heart, Veli Tourist Village is a waterfront park with a wide range of diversions and activities, from fishponds to wading pools and landscaped gardens.

  • Room Deluxe Double
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Economy
Day 13

Visit to Kumarakom

Enjoy the lush mangrove forests, coconut groves and miles of backwater canals surrounding the beautiful Lake Vembanad, on foot or via a serene houseboat cruise. Nestled among the backwaters around Kerala’s largest lake, the tranquil and imperturbable village of Kumarakom is criss-crossed with canals and the houseboats that call them home. Its Bird Sanctuary and Pathiramanal lake island are a haven for many avian species, including rare migratory birds, cuckoos and Siberian storks.

Soak in the tranquil backwater atmosphere at Award Winning Homestay. With great views over the canals and delicious home-cooked meals, you’ll feel nurtured and unburdened.

  • Room Deluxe Double Room
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Style Traditional
Day 14

Departure from Kochi Airport

Savour your  breakfast in Kumarakom before driving to the airport, but leave timein your case for some last minute souvenir shopping based on flight timings! Relax on your journey home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after an unforgettable holiday in Kerala, God's Own Country. 

  • Meals Breakfast

Exceptional Kerala - Distance & Map

The map covers a distance of 1156 KMs; starting from Cochin International Airport and includes places like Athirappilly, Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Poovar, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Kumarakom and departure from Kochi International Airport.

Essential Information

  • Cochin
  • Cochin
  • Private A/C Car with Chaueffeur
  • 3 Star
  • Breakfast in all resorts for 11 Days
  • All Meals in houseboat
  • Camp Fire in the evening at Munnar 
  • Tea plantation Walk at Munnar 
  • Sightseeing in Kanyakumari
  • Complimentary sunset cruises 
  • Fishing in the Lake 
  • Fruit basket, Chocolates, Cookies etc.
  • Drop to any place outside Kochi City Limits
  • Full Time A/C Option available at extra cost on houseboat
  • Airfare  not included in the price
  • Indian Visa Fee for Foreign Guests
  • Travel/health insurance.
  • Entrance fees to various sightseeing places/ activities 
  • Meals & Dribks not mentioned in the Itinerary or Inclusions
  • Items of a personal expense such as telephone bills, room service, laundry, etc.
  • Tips & gratuities for drivers & guides
  • Camera/ Video charges.
  • Any Inclusions  not mentioned in the package.
  • Extra runs on the transport other than the Itinerary
  • Charges for early arrivals/ late departures.

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Questions on Exceptional Kerala (13 Nights)

K

Asked by Kara Fielding from United Kingdom
1 Year ago

How do I book this holiday?

Answers(1)

Answered by Niranjana(Travel Advisor)
December 23, 2019

You can enter your details online any time day or night, and one of our Trip Designers will call you back within 24 hours to help you with booking. Our Trip Designers will be able to assist you further in customising the holiday as per your requirements.

J

Asked by Josephine Kong from Singapore
1 Year ago

Can I customise this holiday with few hotels of my choice?

Answers(1)

Answered by Niranjana(Travel Advisor)
December 23, 2019

We specialise in Customised holiday packages in Kerala and we will be able to offer you any resort in Kerala as we have direct relationshops with most resorts. If you want to change the resorts in this package, one of our trip designers will work with you till you are happy with the package. Our Trip Designers will be also able to tell you the highlights of each resort and you can decide on whether you woud like to book the same resort

M

Asked by Michala Vestergaard from USA
1 Year ago

I want to book a taxi for this holiday. Do you offer only taxi services only ?

Answers(1)

Answered by Niranjana(Travel Advisor)
December 23, 2019

When you book a holiday with hotels and taxi together with us we will be able to offer you much lower rates than what you will get directly. As we use carefully handicked drivers who can offer the quality that we ideally want, we dont offer taxi only booking services.

M

Asked by Michala Vestergaard from USA
1 Year ago

What are the payment options you offer?

Answers(1)

Answered by Niranjana(Travel Advisor)
December 23, 2019

We offer all major payment options including credit cards , debit cards , wire transfer, net banking and UPI.


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