KERALA SPICE COAST TOUR

Duration: 12 Nights/13 Days by road 
Route: Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom – Lake Vembanad – Marari - Cochin
Price: On request
Season: All year round

Highlights: Chinese fishing nets & Dutch town at Cochin, wildlife viewing & boat ride on Periyar Lake, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, House-boat on Lake Vembanad, beach holiday at Marari

Introduction: Kerala, is a land of tranquil palm groves potted with brilliant green paddy fields, tea, coffee and rubber plantations, pungent spices and miles of narrow canals and waterways. Here is a journey that takes you through varied attractions of Kerala. Staying at the exclusive CGH Earth properties.

Stretching from Kochi to Quilon, interlinked by several rivers and the Vembanad, Punnamada, Kayamkulam and Ashtamudi lakes, it is a distance of about 150 km.

After Lake Superior in China, Vembanad happens to be the second largest freshwater lake in South Asia, and the largest in India. Stretching for 110 odd km, spanning three districts and formed because of the joining of the three rivers Periyar (Kochi), Meenachil (Kottayam) and Pampa (Alapuzha), Vembanad is as huge as the sea. At its widest point at Kumarakom, it measures 6 km across and its other end simply disappears from view.

Apart from all four cormorant species, Kumarakom and its adjoining area has recorded as many as 135 species of birds.

Outline itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Cochin
Day 02: Cochin
Day 03: Cochin - Periyar Tiger Reserve (by road)
Day 04 & 05: Periyar Tiger Reserve
Day 06: Periyar - Kumarakom backwater (by road)
Day 07: Kumarakom
Day 08: Lake Vembanad (House boat)
Day 09: House boat - Marari Beach
Day 10 to 12: Marari Beach
Day 13: Marari to Cochin and depart for onward destination


Detailed itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Cochin - Brunton Boatyard
Arrive Cochin international airport. Met by our representative and transfer to the Brunton Boat Yard hotel at Fort Cochin. Set amidst lagoons and back waters on the Malabar Coast, Cochin is also known as the Venice of the East. Late afternoon a special sunset harbour cruise will set the tone for you cherished holiday. Overnight at the hotel

Day 02: Cochin - Brunton Boatyard
Morning, city town visiting the Dutch Palace, with its 17 century murals of Ramayana. Jewish synagogue built in 1568, contains grand scroll of the Old Testament. Also visit Fort Cochin and St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. Vasco de Gama who discovered the sea route to India was first buried here. Afternoon witness a Kathakali dance performance and stroll down to the Chinese Fishing nets. Overnight at the hotel

Day 03: Cochin - Periyar – Spice Village
After early breakfast drive to Periyar National Park, noted for it's elephant herds and a rich variety of bird life. The journey is spectacular, leaving the plains behind passing through rubber, tea and finally spice country en-route you stop at a Planters Bungalow for rest and lunch before proceeding to your destination. Overnight at the resort

Day 04: Periyar – Spice Village
Enjoy the morning boat safari at lake Periyar. Take in herds of Elephants, Bison, Deer and the spectacular bird life. Evening live cooking demonstration using fresh spices from the surrounding areas. Overnight at the resort

Day 05: Periyar – Spice Village
Visit the farm lands of a village lying on the valley beyond the mountains of Periyar - bullock cart side is conducted by a group of people who were engaged in sandalwood smuggling later surrendered before the forest department. Lunch at Spice Village. You share an appointment with our naturalist for an introduction to various spices and tiger club show. Tiger club slide shows brighten your eyes to familiarize wild animals and birds found in Periyar lake. Overnight at the resort

Day 06: Periyar – Kumarakom – Coconut Lagoon
You will leave just after breakfast driving back down the coast and the melodically named town of Kumarakom on the banks of lake Vembanad. Here, you hop on to a boat to Coconut Lagoon, an eco-friendly resort created from restored heritage homes set in a web of canals on the bank of the Kavanar river.Enjoy a presentation we call "Conquering the Coconut". Here you will witness the coconut being plucked, de-husked, broken, grated and cooked. Evening finds you on a sunset cruise on the lake. Overnight at the resort

Day 07: Kumarakom – Coconut Lagoon
A walk to the village nearby accompanied by a naturalist. Spend the afternoon the intricate of Keralean seafood dishes. Overnight at the resort

Day 08: Lake Vembanad – House Boat
After breakfast get ready to board Houseboat - traditional houseboats of Kerala called Kettuvallam. The cruise offers the visitor to Kerala and entirely new kind of experience combining water dining, pleasure boating and ecological living in an exhilarating. Ever had a meal prepared by the hands of a boatman? He is not a chef, but he is the carrier of an ancient tradition of hospitality. You cruise through the canals of Kumarakom and Alleppey. Overnight in houseboat

Day 09: Lake Vembanad - Mararikulam – Marari Beach
After breakfast disembark to proceed to Marari beach, a paradise of Sun, Sea, Sand and Surf. Modeled on the fishing villages of the coast, this is a beach resort that offers peace and natural beauty rather than raccoons. Overnight at the resort

Day 10, 11 & 12: Marari Beach
Free for optional activities or at leisure on the beach resort. Overnight at the resort

Day 13: Marari to Cochin and Depart
In time transfer to the airport to board the flight for onward destination. End of our services


Culture Tours in India:
1857 Mutiny Tour, North India Culture Tour,
Varanasi and Khajuraho Tour, Kerala Spice Coast Tour,
Rajasthan Culture Tour, Camel Safaris in Rajasthan