Relaxing Kerala

Begin the ‘Round the Trip Cultural Serenity Tour’. Our representative will be waiting for you at the Airport to welcome you. From the airport we drive to the Marari Resort near Alappuzha – a less than two-hour drive. Check into your beach resort. The Marari beach is a totally unspoiled village seaside sand-strip – a terrific place to begin you holiday experiences. Laze in the sun without a care. Enjoy your first Kerala dinner on this tour and overnight stay at your resort.

After breakfast, we take you to board a houseboat to begin an almost magical travel experience. Feel enchanted by the scenery that is out of this world. Get a glimpse of life on the banks, which goes on in quite an unhurried pace. You reach Alappuzha in the afternoon. Experience the old-world charm of this town of numerous canals and waterways. We continue our journey and by evening you reach Kumarakom – the dream-like backwater resort in Kerala. Check into your resort; enjoy overnight stay.

Awake early and be part of the picture-postcard backwater morning. After breakfast, we drive to Thekkady where the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located. Arrive at Thekkady by afternoon. Check into your resort. Later, we take on a boat ride to get a close-up view of the Periyar wildlife. The ride is quite exciting. Herds of elephants and bison are frequently seen. Get lucky and spot more exotic animals. Take your binoculars, please! Enjoy overnight stay at your resort.

After breakfast, we leave Thekkady and proceed to Munnar – the tea garden hill station abundantly blessed with natural beauty. Arrive at Munnar by afternoon, check into your resort and relax. Or take a stroll through winding lanes fringed by fabulously landscaped tea plantations. Shop in the town for good tea and spices. Enjoy overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, we take you on a sightseeing trip in and around Munnar. Visit the Eravikulam National Park – catch a glimpse of the endangered species of mountain goat, the Nilgiri Tahr. Next we drive to Mattupetty Dam. Enjoy a boat ride amid spectacular landscapes. Visit Top-station the highest point in Munnar where you can see an abundance of Neelakurinji plants which bear flower only once in twelve years. Later, we proceed to Marayoor – the location of sandalwood forests. Enjoy the view; inhale the fragrant air. Enjoy overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, we drive down to the plains, to Coimbatore – the shopping city of Tamil Nadu. Arrive at Coimbatore by afternoon; check into your hotel. In the evening, make a shopping trip in the city. Get a good bargain on almost anything. Enjoy overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, say goodbye to Coimbatore and we proceed to Mysore – the enchanting palace city of South India. Arrive Mysore by afternoon. Check into your hotel and relax. Otherwise a mini-City Tour is optional.

After breakfast, we take you a sightseeing trip in and around Mysore. Notice the broad royal avenues. Visit the Chama Rajendra Art Gallery and marvel at Gold leaf paintings and world famous oil paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. See the Indo Sarsenic palace of the Maharaja of Mysore. Experience the grandeur of bygone times. Next to Chamundi Hills, which overlook the city of  Mysore at 1062 metres. Catch a panoramic view of the Mysore city. We then get back to the city to see the Mysore Zoo, set up under Royal patronage in the nineteenth century.

Next we drive out of the city to Sree Rangapattanam. Visit Tippu Sultan’s magnificent summer palace. Get back to Mysore by evening. Enjoy overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Mysore to proceed to Vythiri in Northern Kerala.  Vythiri is surrounded by fabulous forests and coffee estates. Arrive at Vythiri by afternoon. Check into your jungle resort. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the environs on your own. Enjoy overnight stay at your resort.

After breakfast we set out for a local sightseeing trip in and around Vythiri. Later we take you the Tholpetti Wildlife Sanctuary for an unforgettable jungle experience. Get ready for a Jeep Safari through the Sanctuary. Watch wildlife up close. Take back exciting memories. We then proceed to Thirunelli – the majestic setting of famed temple. Wash your face with water from the mountain spring – Papanasini. The spring is said to wash away all sins. Get back to your resort in time for a delightful dinner. Enjoy overnight stay.

After breakfast, we drive to Calicut – the historical town once ruled by the Zamorin Kings. Watch a performance of Kalaripayattu – the oldest martial art of the world. Take snaps of the acrobatic warriors in action. Next we drive to Cheruthuruthy, a sleepy village by the Bharathapuzha River. Cheruthuruthy is the seat of Kerala Kalamandalam – the premier performing art training centre of Kerala. Later, check into your resort. Enjoy overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy a performance of Mohiniyattom – the ‘dance of the enchantress’- at the Kerala Kalamandalam. Later, we proceed to Punnathoor Kotta near the famous temple town of Guruvayoor. Forty-five elephants make their shelter here. See them taking bath and feeding. We now drive to Cochin – the fabulous port city of Kerala. Arrive at Cochin by evening. Check into your hotel.

The evening is free for you to explore the city on your own. Later we take you to enjoy a Kathakali performance at a superb private establishment in downtown Cochin. Feel fascinated by this most popular performing art of Kerala. Request to be photographed with a performer. Enjoy overnight stay at your hotel.

After breakfast, get ready for a sightseeing trip to the historical sites of Cochin by boat. Visit the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry – ironically this palace was built by the Portuguese! Next visit St. Francis Church – the first church built in India by the Europeans. Later, in the afternoon, get ready for an unforgettable experience -  a country craft canal cruise. Enjoy the serenity just off the hustle and bustle of Cochin. Get back to mainland by evening and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience – a day and night backwater cruise in the Cochin backwaters. The night sounds and starry sky would combine to produce an ethereal feeling. You are going to talk about this night for a long, long time.

Instead of the country canal cruise you have the option to visit spiritual Kalady. If so, we drive to Kalady – a spiritual town. Visit the house where Sri Sankaracharya, the great Advaita Philosopher was born. Worship at ancient temples. Reach back Cochin by evening after this spiritually energizing trip and get ready for the adventurous day & night cruise in the Cochin backwaters.

On time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight for your onward journey.