After landing in Kochi you will be met by our representative after exiting baggage claim. He will transfer you to the hotel and make sure that everything is perfect for your stay.

Lush, green, beautiful! That is the first impression you will get as you drive from the airport to Kochi city. As finest natural harbor in the world and the oldest European settlement in India, Kochi has quaint cobbled streets and vivid architecture that seem to have been plucked straight out of fairytale. Historians believe that Kochi sprang into being in 1341 when a flood created a natural safe port that swiftly replaced the town to the north and became a natural haven for the royal family that settled here in 1405.

Cruise in a beautiful ferry around man-made islands with lush green lawns sloping down to the water’s edge. Settlements of Chinese, Arab, Jewish, British, French and Portuguese have left their own distinctive imprint here. A great city to explore on foot - the quaint alleys and by-lanes of Kochi will transport you back in time.

Kochi as a town is spread across islands and promontories and lies in a stunning location between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters. Its main sections - modern Ernakulum in the east and the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin on a peninsula in the west - are linked by a complex system of ferries and it is an exciting place to visit as you travel around by boat.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, you will enjoy a half day tour of the satellite towns of Kochi (Cochin) and Ernakulum. You will visit the Jew Town in Mattancherry with its marvellous Jewish synagogue (closed on Friday and Saturday) and the Dutch Palace (closed on Friday) which was actually built by the Portuguese. Later on some Dutch additions were done to the building. Do take a minute to see the gorgeous murals which adorn some of its rooms, and are considered among the finest examples of Kerala’s school of painting. Fort Cochin, lying northwest from the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, is a wonderfully peaceful place to walk around with some fine houses built by the wealthy British traders, and classical Dutch cottages. Perhaps what Cochin is most famous for however, are the huge elegant Chinese fishing nets that line the northern shore of Fort Cochin - adding grace to an already interesting waterside views. They are said to have been introduced to the region by traders from the court of Kublai Khan. Suspended from arced poles and operated by levers and weights, it takes at least four men to control them and it’s charming to watch them work in tandem to lower and pull up the nets according to the tide!

Walking around the St. Francis Church is a must-do experience as this was the first European church in India. Originally built in wood and named Santo Antonio, it was probably associated with Franciscan friars from Portugal. Vasco da Gama was originally buried here before his body was moved to Portugal.

In the evening you will visit a traditional Kathakali School to enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is a traditional dance form of Kerala and is performed by men only (or boat ride at harbour).

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, you will drive for 2 hours to Alleppey, which is where the beautiful backwaters of Kerala are. On arrival you will check in at your houseboat which will be home for the night. These houseboats, or Kettuvallam as they are traditionally called, were at one time the only mode of transportation in rural Kerala. Today, these are made to cater to the discerning guests who can appreciate the languid life that still revolves around the backwaters. Cruise the backwaters from the main Vembanad Lake through the small estuaries that link smaller villages to the mainland.

The deluxe houseboat takes you on a journey through the tranquil waterways of ‘God’s own country’. Soak in the beautiful scenery and the local sights as the cruiser meanders through a series of picturesque canals and lakes. Tastefully appointed cabins on the boat are spacious and offer spectacular views. The luxurious interiors, gentle lapping of water and balmy breezes come together to make this a perfectly relaxing retreat.

The wood commonly used to make the houseboats is 'Anhili', which is found in abundance in central Travancore area. Large planks are tied together using handmade coir ropes and beaten coconut fibres. This gives the houseboats enough strength to withstand heavy waves in the sea. These long cargo boats are a familiar sight on the backwaters. These traditional houseboats undoubtedly form one of the most abiding images of the backwaters in Kerala and the luxuriously furnished houseboat is a must-do on any Kerala itinerary.

The boats cross through shallow, palm-fringed lakes studded with Chinese fishing nets, and along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre), copra and cashews are loaded onto boats. Stops are made at small settlements where people live on carefully cultivated narrow spits of land only a few metres wide.

Enjoy all meals on-board prepared by the expert staff. The houseboat docks at a jetty for the night.

Overnight on board the houseboat (A/C Deluxe Cabin)

After breakfast, drive for 3 hours to Periyar. On arrival you will check in at a hotel.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is best known for its wildlife, and is a must-see for all visitors to Kerala. The Periyar Lake lying at the heart of the sanctuary provides one with a unique opportunity to view wild animals in their natural surroundings. The Asiatic wild elephant, majestic gaur, deer, wild boar, tortoise, flying squirrels and the distinctive nilgiri langur are often spotted along the lake as are water birds. Sprawled over an area of 777sqkms. Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and efficiently managed, the reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms.

Overnight at the hotel

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Day free for walks around Spice Plantations.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom. On arrival you will check in at the hotel.

Kumarakom in Kerala is a beautiful backwater destination. Located on the picturesque Vembanad Lake it is enthrallingly beautiful. The blue backwaters and the surface of Vembanad Lake reflect the azure sky. The amazing shades of green of the vegetation that include mangroves, coconut palms, and paddy fields cover the verdant countryside. Channels and waterways wind their way through this green paradise. Water lilies and lotuses bloom in the water and birds from the bird sanctuary on Vembanad Lake call as they fly across the clear tropical sky. Kumarakom is an idyllic holiday destination that you must visit on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater. Here you can see how people have adapted their lives to the waterways and do everything by these winding canals.

Overnight at the hotel

Day at leisure at Kumarakom. Optional activities include:
Visit to Farm
Take a rowing boat out on the lake Go fishing
Borrow a book from the library and relax with a drink
Overnight at the hotel

Day at leisure at Kumarakom.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, drive to Kochi airport (88kms, 2½ hours) to connect with onward flight.