Kerala & Goa: Tea, Tuskers & Beaches 12 Nights/13 Days

The following itinerary explains in more detail about this unforgettable holiday to this wonderful part of India.

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Inclusions

Ÿ

houseboat from Alleppey

Ÿ Invaders of the backwaters will

be wined and dined on board

Ÿ Chug across India’s plains on an

overnight train from Kochi to

Goa

Ÿ 4 nights stay at the 4 star All

Inclusive Resort in North Goa

Ÿ Delve into the life and culture of

the villages in North Goa

Ÿ Applicable entrances for each

monument & sightseeing places

Ÿ Round trip transfers by air-con

deluxe car with English speaking

driver

Ÿ Parking, toll, night halt charges

& currently applicable taxes

Overnight on an air-conditioned Ÿ We take care of flights from UK

to Kochi

Ÿ 2 nights accommodation at 4

star in Kochi

Ÿ Benefit from the expertise of

an English-speaking guide in

Kochi

Ÿ Culinary classes led by a TV

Chef & lunch with a Keralan

family

Ÿ 2 nights accommodation at the

4 star Forest Glade Resorts in

Munnar

Ÿ Go jumbo with an

unforgettable elephant safari in

Munnar

Ÿ Learn about the history of tea

with a plantation tour

Ÿ 2 nights accommodation at

Home Stay in Thekkady

Ÿ Watch the dances of the

Kathakali & martial arts,

Thekkady

UK-KOCHI

Day 1

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Day 2

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Welcome to Kochi, the most fascinating

city of Kerala. On arrival at Kochi

International Airport, you will be met and

transferred to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of

the day at leisure or start exploring with

private car and chauffeur at your disposal

until 19:00hrs.

Kochi is the magnificent entry to

Kerala and has been featured in National

Geographic Travellers “50 greatest places

of a lifetime.” Spread over several islands

and historically rich in culture with booming

industries, the city is a fantastic beginning

to exploring the vivacious diversity of

Kerala.

OVERNIGHT IN KOCHI

KOCHI

Unlock Kochi’s history by embarking on a

morning sightseeing tour that will take

you into the heart of this magnificent city.

The Dutch, British, French and Portuguese

have all left their imprint with beautiful

architecture.

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Day 3

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You will visit Fort Cochin, which has been a

sea port for centuries, Vasco Da Gama

Square and Santa Cruz Basilica. Continue

to St. Francis’ Church, considered to be

India’s oldest European church, built by

Portuguese Franciscan Friars. Vasco da

Gama was buried here before being taken

to Lisbon. Proceed to the VOC Gate, Dutch

Palace, Jewish Synagogue and marvel at

Mattancherry Palace’s murals depicting the

Ramayana and Puranic legends.

Intriguingly, the only traces of

China’s influence are the gigantic nets,

‘cheenavalas’ from 1350. According to

Diplomat Ma Haun, “The fishermen are

tourist-friendly and will happily let you join

them.” And his observation still rings true

today. You will learn about their very

unusual fishing method, operated from the

shore. In the afternoon, experience your

very own pièce de résistance with a

cooking class from a local TV personality.

At lunch, enjoy the flavours of Keralite

cooking.

OVERNIGHT IN KOCHI

KOCHI – MUNNAR

Check out after a hearty breakfast and

drive to Munnar over rugged hills, rolling

oceans of tubby green tea bushes, through

luscious grasslands, before passing the

Pallivasal tea estates.

This will be your first glimpse of

Munnar. On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

At a height of 1,500 metre, set

amidst mountains once known as the High

Range of Travancore, Munnar is a bustling

hub of tea plantations.

Prepare to be captivated by its

dense carpet of tea, sprinkled with Acacias

and Red Gum trees, and delighted by its

freshly brewed cuppas.

OVERNIGHT IN MUNNAR

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Continue with a full day sightseeing of

Munnar, to see the mountain goats in the

Rajmalai Wild Life Sanctuary. Then head to

the the Kannan Devan Hills, the perfect

getaway with panoramic views of the

Munnar Tea Estates and the lake.

After lunch you will proceed to

Mattupetty, where if you're lucky you might

come across a herd of wild elephants on

the way to Mattupetty Dam. Continue to

Kundala and Echo point followed by a visit

to Pothamedu which offers an excellent

view of the tea, coffee and cardamom

plantations in Munnar.

Next up is the Tea Museum’s

photographs and machinery during the

revolution of the industry, which includes

the original tea roller, the ‘Rotovane,’ and

the ‘Pelton Wheel’.

OVERNIGHT IN MUNNAR

Day 4

MUNNAR

Along the way you will also explore

Thekkady. After breakfast, check out from

the hotel and drive to the spice capital and

check into your hotel. The afternoon is at

your leisure. Feel free to walk through the

spice market in the Kumily Village. Leave

room in your case for the finest cinnamon

and mace!

Do not miss the opportunity to

experience Thekkady on elephant back.

Once you have finished your evening ride,

enjoy a captivating line up of culture. First

up is the Kathakali, a mixture of art, music,

dance and drama, with majestic costumes,

elaborate makeup, and mythological

stories. Kalaripayattu is the oldest form of

martial arts, with elaborate movements

and slashing swords.

OVERNIGHT IN THEKKADY

Day 5

MUNNAR-THEKKADY

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After breakfast, spend a morning at

leisure. In the late afternoon, board the

wildlife viewing boat cruise at the scenic

Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Amidst the hazy mountains of the

Silent Valley, lies Thekkady, the opening to

the renowned Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a

place where congestions are caused only

by elephant crossings.

Catch rare sightings of tigers playing

under smouldering sun sets or watch

kingfishers fluttering along the rivers. The

sanctuary is an open-air collection of

natural bio diversity and endangered

wildlife.

OVERNIGHT IN THEKKADY

Day 6

THEKKADY

After breakfast, you will proceed to

Alleppey, where your personal floating villa

is waiting to take you into the heart of the

backwaters.

Day 7

THEKKADY-ALLEPPEY

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This fascinating overnight cruise is an

added gem, giving you the chance to

discover the lovely waterways…the lifeline

to the numerous towns and villages.

While lounging in these floating

villas, you will feel like invaders of the

backwaters.

Today many of the old work boats –

Kettuvallams – have been converted into

delightful “houseboats”.

The Kettuvallams were originally

used as grain barges, with thatched roof

covers over wooden hulls, some 30 m in

length, gently punted along.

Today engines have been added and

new and old fitted out with modern

facilities including luxurious bedrooms.

As the boat passes into night, feast on

freshly plucked fish grilled in spices and

lemon, as the lanterns gently sway to and

fro in the calm current of the waterway.

OVERNIGHT ON THE HOUSEBOAT

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Day 8

KOCHI - GOA

After breakfast, check out at 10:00 and

check in at the backwater resort in

Alleppey with the rest of the day at leisure

at the beach resort until 20:00. Check out

and board overnight train to Goa at 21:30

from Alleppey railway station.

A beautiful, small state blessed with

100kms of fabled sandy beaches, Goa is a

palm fringed utopia overlooking the

Arabian Sea.

Western whispers prevail within a

tropical paradise - impossibly white 1510

Portuguese churches and monuments

represent the Portuguese colonization at

its peak in the 16th century, along with the

flamboyant carnivals and hypnotic dances.

OVERNIGHT IN GOA

Day 9

GOA

Arrive at Madgaon railway station in Goa at

10:45 where you will be transferred to your

hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to

relax on the beach.

Sinquerim Beach offers a distinct

portrait of untouched beauty: stunning pale

golden sands, crystal clear waters that

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rejuvenate the soul with just one dip and

handsome Portuguese forts pop up from

the silky shore like a huge sandcastle

glimmering in the dazzling sunlight. This is

one sand castle that won’t collapse!

In the evening we head out to the

most eagerly anticipated festival of Goa –

the Carnival! Each year just before the

beginning of the 40 day fasting period of

Lent, King Momo and his merry band of

revellers take over the streets of Panjim

with the Carnival.

Join the hundreds and thousands of

locals and relish the ambience of the

hypnotic dances, with the performers

swirling around in a rainbow of colours as

they jingle and clink to the music. After,

we will sit down to a succulent buffet feast

fit for a king. Floats, games, bands make

one live to the fullest!

OVERNIGHT IN GOA

Spend a full day at leisure either

sunbathing on the beaches or withdrawing

to the nearby villages.

Goa is essentially a village state

with 347 villages as compared to 44

towns.

The villages offer a fascinating

contrast to the modern beaches and trance

parties.

On the streets, between its vividly

painted traditional old houses and leafy

parasols of palm trees you will find chatter

and as the local band strikes up, watch as

the dancers squeeze between the tables,

hips swaying to the rustic rhythm.

OVERNIGHT IN GOA

Day 10

GOA

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After breakfast, a fascinating tour will give

you a flavour of Old Goa. The architecture

flourished under Portuguese architects and

Goan artisans. As a result they created

more than buildings – they celebrated art,

fusion of iconography and styles.

While the Muslim craftsmen

introduced Islamic motifs, the Hindu

sculptors and engravers were influenced by

temple art.

Enjoy a walk around some World

Heritage monuments, like the great Se

Cathedral (the largest cathedral in Asia),

the relics of St. Francis Xavier, St.

Catherine’s Church and Arch of Vice Roy of

Goa.

The luminous white of the plain

facades contrast with the brilliant blue

skies and the vivid green surroundings,

whilst the opulence of the interiors,

Day 11

GOA

Designed to move even the more stubborn

non-believer, is intensified by these

buildings. Woven with a dozen stories, the

churches here are reflections of a faith that

started from shaky beginnings and

through unsettled times to a sacred and

mature belief.

After a fascinating day in Old Goa,

we arrive at Miramar Beach where you will

get a beautiful view of the river Mandovi

flowing into the sea.

Listen to the wave’s symphony, as

the gentle breeze blows across the water,

herding scattered clouds towards the

towering wooded hills, donning a necklace

of evergreen forests crowned by the

Governor’s palace – the Cabo Raj Bhavan.

From here, we will visit Dona Paula

fishing village, which overlooks the mighty

ships that cruise into the all-weather port.

OVERNIGHT IN GOA

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After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing day at

leisure. Feel free to succumb to the gentle

pace of life and roll from the comfort of

your sun lounger into the hotel's cool

swimming pool, but for those who crave it,

Goa is just waiting to be explored.

From jet skiing and parasailing, to

sensational water sports, to adventure-

filled days in the wilderness and trips to

the spectacular Dudhsagar Falls high up in

the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, this

tropical paradise is truly your oyster!

For those of you craving to get onto

Goa’s maze of rivers, creeks and finally

ocean, there’s plenty to do on the water.

Try bird-watching where a variety of

migratory and local birds nest and feed

among the mangroves.

Hop on a boat ride through Goa’s

backwaters for crocodile spotting. When

dry land calls, hop off a yacht onto the

sands of your sandy hideaway to watch the

sun go down.

Day 12

GOA

After breakfast, check out from the hotel.

If there’s time discover the flea

markets which are as much a part of the

Goan experience as a day on the beach.

At the flea markets you will find

sculptures and jewellery courtesy of the

Tibetan and Kashmiri traders; colourful

Gujarati tribal women selling saris from

Rajasthan and spices from Kerala. Spoil

yourself with an enduring reminder of

your special trip to Goa!

It time to head to the international

airport for a flight to your onward

destination.

END OF TRIP

Day 13

GOA-ONWARD

This is paradise found! Goa undoubtedly

offers mouthwatering scenery and picture-

perfect palm-fringed beaches, but its true

charm lies in the warmth of its people,

whose glowing smiles are infectious and

whose chilled out approach to life will

ensure you soon settle into the Goan

dream!

OVERNIGHT IN GOA

Where you’ll stay

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City Hotel Room Type Meal PlanNo.of nights

Cochin/Kochi Fort Abode Deluxe Room Breakfast & Dinner 2

Munnar Forest Glade Valley View Room Breakfast & Dinner 2

Thekaddy Pepper County Homestay Deluxe Room Breakfast & Dinner 2

Alleppey House Boat Air Conditioned Deluxe 1

Alleppey Palm Grove Lake Resort Cottage to Relax Lunch 6 Hours

Goa Whispering Palms Balcony Rooms 4

Full Board

All Inclusive

Backwaters

Ÿ Additional meals not mentioned in the inclusions

Ÿ Room service, telephone calls, laundry charges and tips

Ÿ Advised to buy travel insurance as any costs incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political

unrest etc. are not included and will be the passengers’ responsibility

Ÿ Twin sharing accommodation unless otherwise stated

Ÿ Show and cooking class can either be done in Cochin or Thekkady upon availability

Ÿ Our endeavour is to confirm the listed hotels in the chosen packages, however in the

rarest of cases where we are not able to confirm hotel(s), alternatives will be provided

Exclusions and Terms

Superior Package – As Seen on Travel Zoo