Kerala Nature & Pilgrimage Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Trivandrum

On arrival assistance & transfer to hotel (hotel check-in/ out time 12pm). Rest time free to relax and personal activities. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Estuary Island Resort/Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel or similar. (5-Star hotel is available on request.)

Day 2: Kovalam (B)

City tour of Trivandrum. Visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple embellished in gold-plated covering, the temple sanctum is opened only to Hindus. Attukal Temple, rich in cultural heritage and adorned by impeccable Tamil architecture. The city has had a rich tradition of nurturing art and culture since ancient times, witness same by visiting Museums. Napier Museum, renowned for its fine collection of sculptures, paintings, and musical instruments. Kuthira Malika’s built-in 1840 is an iconic monument that gives you a curious insight into the glorious history of Kerala. The museum houses artifacts like the ethnic jewelry that was once worn by the queens, wooden paintings and carvings, armory, and idols made of the purest metal. Sri Chitra Art Gallery is a perfect place for art lovers housing some of the famous work of Raja Ravi Verma and art objects belonging to the Mughals, Rajputs, and Tanjore art schools. Drive through famous beaches which include Shankumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam Beach & Light House Beach Road. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Estuary Island Resort/Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel or similar.

Day 3: Kovalam – Kanyakumari (85kms) (B)

Drive to Kanyakumari check-in at the hotel. Later visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial built on the site where Vivekananda attained enlightenment, located at about 500 meters east of the mainland of Vavathurai and can be accessed by regular ferries. The Shripada Mandapam has a study hall and a museum, where you can explore Vivekananda`s life and work in depth. Vattakottai Fort, a seaside fort largely made of granite blocks. The historical fort provides a panoramic view of the Bay of Bengal Sea on one side and the majestic hills of the Western Ghats on the other. Kumari Amman Temple is believed to be built by Lord Parshuram 3000 years ago to worship Devi Kanyakumari who is the reincarnation of goddess Parvati, on the coast rising above the sea level while affording a beautiful view of foamy water touching the temple walls (only Hindu can enter the temple). Kanyakumari Beach, the beautiful hue-changing beach on the confluence of three water bodies: the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. Miraculously, here you can see that the water of the three seas does not mix, you can distinguish between the turquoise blue, deep blue, and sea green waters of the three seas, though the colors keep changing with the season and the day`s weather. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Anantya Resorts/ Annai Resorts and Spa Hotel or similar.

Day 4: Kanyakumari – Rameshwaram (325kms) (B)

Drive to Rameshwaram, check-in at the hotel. Later visit Ramanathaswamy Temple one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples with the world’s longest corridor and immaculate carvings on pillars. The lingam in the Rameshwaram Temple was installed by Lord Rama but, the construction was led by several rulers over the centuries. Inside the temple, there are two lingams Ramalingam and Shivalingam (only Hindu can enter the temple sanctum). Lakshmana Tirtha was constructed in the loving memory of Lord Lakshman, brother of Lord Rama. Several wonderful sculptures of Lord Lakshmana have been carved out from marble and the temple has the statues of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita too which signifies the spirit of unitedness that existed between them. Also visit Adams Bridge the chain of reefs, sandbanks, and islets that almost connects Sri Lanka with India. According to legend, this is the series of stepping stones used by the monkey army, lead by Hanuman to cross the ocean in a bid to rescue Sita from the clutch of Ravana. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Hyatt Place Rameswaram or similar.

Day 5: Rameshwaram – Madurai (175kms) (B)

Drive to Madurai check-in at the hotel. Later visit Meenakshi Temple one of the largest temple complexes in India built between the 16th to 18th centuries. Apart from the estimated 33 million sculptures there, the temple is absolutely absorbing with the endless rounds of ceremonies, prostration of countless devotees, and glittering market stalls. Thirumalai Nayakar Palace built in 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak, the palace depicts the perfect blend of Dravidian and Rajput styles. Also visit Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel or similar.

Day 6: Madurai – Thekkady (140kms) (B)

Drive to Thekkady check-in at the hotel. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates, etc. You could stop at the local market and pick some fragrant spices. Evening watch Kalaripayattu (Martial Arts for self-defense) & Kathakali Dance show performance. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County or similar.

Day 7: Thekkady – Munnar (110kms) (B)

Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. The tropical evergreen and deciduous forests teeming with elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger, and wild boar along with various species of snake including cobras, vipers, kraits, and many non-poisonous snakes is a wildlife lover`s dream. A variety of birds such as grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, woodpeckers, and bulbuls also have found a home in this sanctuary. Drive to Munnar via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock, and the highest twin statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. Arrive Munnar check-in & overnight at hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar or similar.

Day 8: Munnar (B)

Visit Pothamedu which offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations in Munnar. Mattupetty dam and its reservoir, a concrete gravity dam built between the hill ranges for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Rajamala is a hill station in Eravikulam National Park a natural habitat of the Niligiri tahr 2695 Mts above sea level. Half the world`s population of the rare mountain goat or tahr which is fast becoming extinct is now found here. Mattupedi Dairy Farm, famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm, is a highly specialized dairy farm that comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Echo Point, go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute to hear your echo back! Also, visit the Tea Museum to know more about the century-old culture a lively glimpse of how the tea culture flourished across South India Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar or similar.

Day 9: Munnar – Kumarakom (150kms) (B)

Drive to Kumarakom check-in at the hotel. Later visit Kumarakom bird sanctuary. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Eastend Lake Song/ Goldfield Lake Resort or similar.

Day 10: Kumarakom – Alleppey (50kms) (B,L,D)

Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board the houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoys palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. Pass through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. Alleppey is referred to as the Venice of the East, due to canals, backwaters, and lagoons. Boats are the main mode of transportation here, you can see Shikara boats, small motorboats, passenger boats, cargo boats, and houseboats. Evening enjoys the sunset from the sun deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. Overnight in a houseboat.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats or similar.

Day 11: Alleppey – Kochi (60kms) (B)

Drive to Cochin check-in at the hotel. Visit Fort Cochin a charming seaside area known for its Dutch, Portuguese & British colonial architecture and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Keralan specialties, and quaint shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries. Also, visit Jewish Synagogue & the Mattancherry Dutch`s Palace. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks, etc. Overnight at the hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent or similar.

Day 12: Kochi – Departure (B)

As per flight schedule Departure transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.