Welcome to India! Upon arrival in Cochin a travel-to-nature Asia guide/representative will be at the airport to greet and take us to our hotel. Please look out for your name-card once you exit out of arrival area.

Day to relax after long flight. Evening visit a traditional Kathakali Theatre to watch a live performance. Overnight stay in Cochin.

Cochin the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. A root-conscious people of Kerala have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.

Accommodation: The Tower House – 17th Century

Morning, after breakfast, proceed for a village backwater Cruise with lunch. Afternoon back to Cochin for sightseeing. This tour will be a combination of a Tuk-tuk ride and a short walking tour.

Village backwater Cruise
A journey in a country boat into the pristine purity of a typical village backwater of Kerala goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palm watching rare birds, witnessing coir making, toddy tapping all the while enjoying the rustic nature of Kerala. We will have an exclusive experience in our Farm House for lunch – a delicious traditional Kerala dish under a tree. While scrolling through this amazing village, we will watch the common life of the villagers for their livelihood. We will see them fishing in the river, the women do the coir making, a toddy tapper who does his job as a routine, men climbing the coconut trees to pluck the coconuts and later peeling to prepare dry and make oil extraction possible. It’s all about a life experience which we will remember throughout your life.

Cochin Sightseeing
St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama, is the first European church built in India and is the site where Vasco da Gama was buried. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, Chinese hand-painted tiles are one of the attraction. This, the only Synagogue in India has a nostalgic past of a Jewish Diaspora. The “Dutch Palace” was built in the 1550s; the palace contains excellent mythological murals and a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring – a subtle mix of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites – which gives the effect of polished marble.

Fort Cochin & Mattancherry are twin cities carry a flavor of the colonial era. Jewish,Arabs, Portuguese British all came to Cochin for trading and Mattancherry was the spice trade head quarters due to the proximity of Cochin Port.While Fort Cochin became the administrative head quarters, Mattancherry maintained its trading status. The colonial stature and buildings still make Fort Cochin a favourite destination for tourists.Its getting an upgrade once its declared as the first heritage city in India. Fort Cochin was also a part of Muziris route. It will be interesting to know that around 13 religious communities are harmoniously living in Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Jains, Sikhs etc are few among them.

Accommodation: The Tower House – 17th Century
Meal: Breakfast

Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise . We will drive through Midland crops like Rubber, arecnut, pineapple etc. On arrival in Munnar, check in your Resort. Overnight stay in Munnar.

Munnar
Breathtakingly beautiful – a haven of peace and tranquility – an idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country with unending expanses of tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests, aroma of spice scented cool air – Munnar has all these and more….! It’s the place we  would love to visit and would wish never to leave. Set at an altitude of 6,000 ft in Idukki district, situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities makes Munnar a holiday resort. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower, which bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India – Anamudi – which towers over 2695 m and is an ideal spot for campers who like trekking.

Accommodation: Chandy’s Windy Woods
Meal: Breakfast

Full day guided tour of Munnar to enjoy the nature (8 am till 5 pm)

After an early breakfast, by 8 AM we will be taken to Marayoor Village for guided walks through the nice lively village, Sandalwood forest, tribal areas etc. We will watch sugarcane making units, farm lands ,walk to the Mount of the Dead, a world famous Megalithic site with dolmens, dolmenoid and dolmenoid cists. etc. Afternoon , drive back to Munnar to visit a tea factory to see the tea making process. Overnight stay in Munnar.

Marayoor valley
Visit to a rock cut temple, ancient inscriptions etc. Walk to the Mount of the Dead, a world famous Megalithic site with dolmens, dolmenoid and dolmenoid cists.Visit to a traditional sugarcane farm and Jaggery (black sugar) manufacturing.Marayoor is famous for its Sandalwood Forest which is protected by the Forest Department.

Accommodation: Chandy’s Windy Woods
Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, drive to Periyar Sanctuary. On arrival , check into your hotel. Afternoon visit a Spice farm with a guide. Evening we may go for shopping fresh spices. Overnight stay in Periyar.

Periyar
Conjures up images of elephants, chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will see a lot of wildlife and observe the way of life of simple mountain people. Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Accommodation: The Elephant Court
Meal: Breakfast

Full day trekking in the Sanctuary

It will be a guided program by the forest Department and there are chances of closure of the Sanctuary between April and June due to the fear of wild fire/heavy rains.  At 07:30 am we have to report at the bus boarding point. Once we reach the starting point, we will finish the registration formalities and collect leech socks, packed light breakfast and a proper hot lunch etc. The program has around 12 km of soft hike and 3 km of bamboo rafting. This will be a nice program to watch possible wildlife in the sanctuary. Only physically fit travelers can do this full activity. Children below 13 years are not allowed to participate in the program. Packed breakfast and lunch are provided. Evening return to the base to return to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Note: It will be a guided program by the forest Department and there are chances of closure of the Sanctuary between April and June due to wild fire and/or heavy rains.

This is one of Kerala’s first Responsible Tourism Programs as a part of rehabilitating the tribal people who lived inside the Sanctuary and sometimes Poachers and hunters. With the help of an Eco Development Society (EDS),these people are now the guards of the forest for the best conservation and the best guides for tourists because they know the forest very well including the movement of wild animals. The revenue from these programs help the Government to give back to the Community to enable them to have decent living.

The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing unique flora & fauna. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers lots of photo opportunities. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake’s edge. Tigers are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.

Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests constitute the major part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The rest of the area is a combination of moist deciduous forests and grasslands. Of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar Tiger Reserve is the oldest in the country and the largest in the State. The abundant wildlife here attracts a lot of visitors. Apart from being a recognized breeding ground for tigers, the reserve has also been identified as the best place for researching elephantine life. The tiger population in the area is estimated to be about 40. Though it is difficult to sight them, visitors often spot pugmarks and scats around the reserve. Thirty-five species of mammals have been identified here. They include rare and endangered species. A boat ride on the lake is a great way to spot the wild elephants, the Gaur, the Sambar and so on. While the Gaur is the largest of the bovines here, the Sambar, the largest deer in India, is the main prey of the tiger and the wild dog

Apart from these, there are wild pigs, Malabar Giant Squirrels, Small Travancore Flying Squirrels, jungle cats, sloth bears etc. The endangered species in the area include Nilgiri Langurs and the Lion-tailed Macaque, that is usually seen only in the evergreen interiors. Nilgiri Tahrs are also found in the reserve, especially in the higher rocky areas. Salim Ali’s fruit bat, one of the rarest bats, is also reported to have been found in the area. The stripe-necked mongoose, usually found in the semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, the extremely rare Nilgiri Marten – the only species of marten found in southern India- and endemic mustelids are also seen here.

There are about 265 species of birds in the Periyar reserve including migrant birds. The birds include raptors, water birds, galliform birds, pigeons, wood peckers, darters, kingfishers, golden orioles, Brahmini kites, cormorants and passerines, as well as a large flock of the Great Pied Hornbill and the Ceylon Frogmouth. The endemic species include the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Blue-winged Parakeet, the Nilgiri Flycatcher, the small Sunbird and the White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. Other birds found in the area are the Black Baza, Forest Eagle Owl, Nilgiri Thrush, Little Spider Hunter, Rufous bellied hawk eagle etc.An interesting sight is that of water fowl perched on the dead trees protruding out onto the lake. Other aquatic birds include the Indian Darter and the Black–Necked Stork. Woodland birds, owls etc. can also be seen in the forest.

There are 1966 varieties of flowering plants, including angiosperms. Both dicots and monocots have been included in this count. There are about 171 grass species and 140 species of orchids in the region. The richness of the flower wealth is so outstanding that it constitutes more than 50 percent of the entire flower wealth of Kerala, which is about 3800 species. Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda, Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and bamboo are some of the trees found here. The three main endemic plants are Mucuna pruriens thekkadiensis, Habenaria periyarensis and Syzygium periyarensis. Rare plants like the Podocarpus wallichianus, the only South Indian conifer, are also found in the reserve. More than 350 medicinal plants, including trees, shrubs and herbs, have been identified at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, mainly in the evergreen and moist deciduous forests. Plants belonging to the family of Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae are the major ones among them. Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) and Kino Tree (Pterocarpus marsupium) are two plants with medicinal value found here.

Accommodation: The Elephant Court
Meal: Breakfast

After an early breakfast, drive to Alleppey to board our exclusive Houseboat at 12:30 pm for a cruise through the backwater villages followed by overnight stay on board. Our meals are cooked and served on board. Explore the amazing backwater life of Kerala!

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board.

The name Backwaters brings the very thought of Houseboats. Food and leisurely times spent on-board with the feeling and privacy of house as well as enjoying the natural beauty. A Cruise amidst marvelous mangrove forests, captivating coconut canopies, swaying palms, mangrove forests, pulsating paddy fields sprinkled with enchanting waterways and canals decked with white lilies, can be quite a rejuvenating experience for the weary traveler. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living. The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words. It’s to be lived and evolved by yourself.

Accommodation: Houseboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on board , checkout and drive to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. On arrival check in at the resort on the beach.

There are quite a few Ayurveda rejuvenation programs (optional) are offered  and we may have consultation with a doctor in order to determine which treatment methods suits best. Rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the Resort.

Marari originates from “Mararikulam”, one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch.

Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience the local charm/and traditional Keralan Hospitality at it’s best. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more. An authentic experience of the world of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a recreation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. The village of Mararikulam lies on a forgotten shore, midway up the Malabar coast, where the Indian Ocean finally decides that it has now become the Arabian Sea.

Accommodation: Turtle Beach Resort
Meal: Breakfast

The resort offers several optional programs on Ayurveda rejuvenation, daily Yoga etc along with myriad of therapeutic and curative programs. Please let us know in advance if you wish to join any of these program/s (optional).

Ayurveda Detoxification and Rejuvenation Program
(Panchakarma and Rasayana)

Aimed at purifying and de-toxifying 7 elements that constitute the human body. A perfect balance of tridoshas and pancha mahabhuta is achieved with this program. Includes snehapana, swedana and Sodhana/Panchakarma treatments.

Benefits: Consistent BMR, enhanced immunity, healthier nervous and muscular co-ordination, improved body nourishment, memory and intelligence, prolonged life span and physical endurance.

Body Slimming Program
(Sthoulya Nirharana)

Ayurveda recommends loss of weight through holistic treatments, controlled diet and exercises that depletes the excess fat and improves body metabolism. Includes deep tissue and powder massages, lymphatic drainage, marma/vital points massage, medicated baths etc.

Benefits: Rewards stable and distinct physique, body lightness, balanced BMI and reduces systemic/lifestyle disorders.

Stress & Burn out Relief Program
(Mana Svaasthya)

The loss of balance between mind and body is reflected as stress/burn out in individuals. Ayurveda adopts definite procedures to regain this balance through purification and restoring treatments, yoga / meditation and internal medicines.

Benefits: Regained tranquillity of mind, body and soul. Improves hypertension and other systemic disorders.

Spine Care & Neck Care Program
(Prishta Raksha)

Includes special treatments like abhyanga, elakkizhi, podikkizhi, kati/prishta vasti, pizhichil, nasyam, ushmasweda, spinal baths, navarakkizhi, sneha vasti, kashaya vasti and internal medications for neck pain and low back pain arising from various conditions like muscular, neural and position.

Benefits: Heals spondylosis, spondylitis, disc herniation, sciatica etc

Therapeutic and Curative Program
(Niramaya)

– Diabetes & Hypertension sequel
– Allergy/Skin diseases
– Arthritis
– Psoriasis
– Post Pregnancy & Post-Menopausal sequel
– Eye and E.N.T
– Lymph oedema
– Neurological and muscular disorders (Paralysis, Multiple Sclerosis, SLE etc)
– Tendon/Ligament injuries
– Gastro intestinal and Respiratory diseases

Accommodation: Turtle Beach Resort
Meal: Breakfast

Transfer to Cochin International airport (2.5 hrs) for your howeward-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast