Day 1 : Cochin
You are welcomed at Kolkata airport by a representative from our local agency or your english-speaking guide, who will ensure your transfer to the hotel reserved for two nights. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 2 : Cochin
This morning, after breakfast, you will visit the Mattancherry Palace. Also known as the "Dutch Palace," this palace was built in 1555 by the Portuguese (the first Westerners to arrive in the region) as a gift for the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma. Its nickname is actually due to the restoration carried out by the Dutch in 1663. Despite its Western origins, the palace is built in the Indo-Keralan style, with beautiful crafted woodwork, magnificent coffered painted ceilings, and roofs reminiscent of Chinese pagodas. In the afternoon, you will visit the Kochi Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in all Commonwealth countries (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), and the Jewish Quarter. In the evening, you will have the chance to attend a Kathakali dance performance. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 : Cochin / Munnar (130 km / 4h)
After breakfast, you will visit St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica before exploring the Fort Kochi area to see the large suspended Chinese fishing nets. After breakfast, depart for Munnar. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Later, visit the Tata Tea Museum and its magnificent tea plantations (closed on Mondays). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Munnar
After breakfast, embark on various visits in the city of Munnar, including the Eravikulam National Park, which spans 97 km² and is a UNESCO World Heritage site within the Western Ghats mountain range.The Rajamala Hills, also part of the Western Ghats, are famous for housing the Nilgiri Tahr, a wild goat, and offer picturesque landscapes, tea plantations, and hiking trails near Munnar. Visit the Mattupetty Dam, a concrete gravity dam constructed in the mountains of Kerala. Next, visit Echo Point, popular for its natural echo phenomenon, located about 200 meters above sea level, offering lush green landscapes due to tea plantations. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 : Munnar / Periyar (98 km / 3h30)
After breakfast, depart for Thekkady, a small village near the Periyar Reserve and many spice plantations. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. In the late afternoon, visit the spice plantations of Kumily, which include cardamom, pepper, ginger, and turmeric plants. In the evening, attend a Kalaripayattu performance. Kalaripayattu is a martial art derived from battlefield combat techniques of the 11th and 12th centuries. Performed by skilled and trained artists, this show highlights their combat skills with bare hands and weapons such as swords, spears, shields, and more. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Periyar / Alleppey (130 km / 3h30)
After breakfast, depart for Alleppey. Arrive and settle in your houseboat. Then, take a short cruise on the backwater canals to explore the surrounding villages. Dinner and overnight on the houseboat.
Day 7 : Alleppey / Mararikulam (15 km / 28mn)
After breakfast, you leave for a ride on the backwater canals before leaving for Mararikulam. Arrival and check in at the hotel. Your afternoon is free and you can enjoy relaxing on the beach. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 : Mararikulam / Cochin (42 km / 1h) / Flight back
After breakfast, you are free until your departure for Cochin, and you can relax on the beach and enjoy your last day on Indian soil. You will then head to Cochin before being transferred to the international airport for your return flight.