CLASSIC KERALA

On arrival at Cochin International Airport, you are greeted by a Floohoo representative and transferred to your hotel in historic Fort Cochin (01 hour drive). Spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, you will view a Kathakali dance performance at an auditorium nearby. Overnight at your hotel.

Fort Kochi is a water bound region to the south west of mainland Kochi – wandering through its serene by-lanes and bustling thoroughfares lined with examples of early colonial history in the subcontinent is indeed a special with its narrow islands and peninsulas. While mainland Ernakulam boasts of concrete shopping malls and glitzy apartment buildings, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi exude an old world charm with their blend of Dutch, Portuguese and English architecture and quaint narrow streets.

In the morning you will be taken on a guided tour of the heritage in Fort Kochi – visiting the St.Francis church and Chinese fishing nets. From Fort Kochi the tour will go on to an ancient spice market in Mattancherry, explore the antique shops on Jew Street, visit the oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations, the Paradesi Synagogue and then the Dutch Palace. On conclusion of the tour you will return to your hotel for lunch. In the evening, you will enjoy an exclusive sunset cruise and if you are lucky spot Dolphins frolicking at the mouth of the river. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, you will leave the coastal plain for the hills ( 200 kms, 05 hours drive). The drive is punctuated with views of rubber, tea and spice plantations. On arrival at Thekkady and completion of check in formalities you will be taken on a guided tour of a spice plantation. The tour will give you an insight into the growing, harvesting and processing of various spices grown in the area. In the evening, you will witness a Kalaripayattu demonstration at a theatre nearby. Overnight at the hotel in Thekkady.

Thekkady is situated on the periphery of the Periyar National Park, one of India’s largest and a must visit for wildlife enthusiasts. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 777 Sq. Kms, around an artificial lake. Also, a tiger reserve, the sanctuary is a veritable treasure trove of tropical flora and fauna and home to numerous endangered wildlife species. The 120 years old ‘Surkhi’ dam, Mullaperiyar Dam, built across Periyar (river) that flows through the sanctuary is another major tourist attraction.

Early in the morning you will be escorted to a boat ride on the lake in the sanctuary. This is the bewitching hour when herds of elephants, deer, gaur and wild boar come to the lakes edge to drink and graze on the lowlands near its shores. Numerous birds, darters, egrets and kingfishers, to name a few, can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. On conclusion of the boat ride you return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, you will drive to Kumarakom a hamlet beside the Vembanad Lake (140 kms, 04 hrs drive). On arrival at Kumarakom check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You could opt to enjoy an Ayurveda massage. In the evening the hotel’s chef will hold a cookery demonstration of how some of Kerala’s traditional cuisine is made and you could perhaps learn a few recipes. And later before dinner the hotel will showcase some of the traditional art forms of Kerala. Overnight at Kumarakom.

Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and the bird sanctuary spread across the islands is home to a fascinating variety of endemic and migratory birds.

Begin the day with a session of yoga. After breakfast, you will be taken off a tour to a village nearby where you will get to view certain aspects of the daily life of the people that live there. You check out of your resort on returning from the village visit and board a houseboat for an overnight cruise through stretches of the fascinating backwaters here. The cruise continues passing through palm fringed canals, past paddy fields and quaint villages, with the lullaby of the water lapping against the hull of the boat. The cruise continues until close to sunset when the boat will anchor in the middle of the lake or else close to shore. Overnight on the houseboat.

After breakfast, you will continue the cruise toward the boat jetty in Pallathuruthi/ Alleppey where you will disembark. You will then be transferred to Marari beach. Check-in to an exclusive villa at a beach resort. Spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the serene charm of the secluded beach and perhaps walk to explore the fishermen’s village in the neighbourhood. After lunch you laze in a hammock in a coconut grove or rest in your room. In the evening the resort will hold a classical music performance and a cookery demonstration and classes. Overnight at Marari.

In the morning you could opt for a session of yoga and after breakfast explore the fishing villages nearby on a bicycle or else take a dip in the sea. After lunch at the resort spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. You could opt to take an Ayurveda massage or else explore the resorts vegetable garden. Overnight at Marari.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in Cochin to board your flight to your onward destination.