Kerala Backwater Tour

As you arrive in Mumbai, India, our company representative will be there to welcome you.

He will be waiting for you with a placard with your name. He will transfer you to your hotel, where you will be welcomed in the traditional Indian way.

He will also simultaneously complete all the check-in formalities. The first night is spent in the hotel itself.

The next day morning, you will be taken on a one-hour boat ride across Mumbai Harbour to reach the Elephanta Island. Here, you can visit some of the huge and intricately carved Elephanta Caves that date back to the 8th century.

The tour also includes 'Gateway of India' overlooking the Harbour, the 'Towers of Silence', 'Marine Drive', the 'Colaba Causeway' - the commercial heart of Bombay and the Dhobi Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. We also drive you to the Malabar Hill to the lovely 'Hanging Gardens' and the Kamla Nehru Park from where you will get a wonderful view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea. Also included in our visit are the Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi, and the bustling Crawford Market.

On the third day, you are transferred to the airport to catch the connecting flight to Cochin, Kerala, India. Upon arrival, at Cochin, you are transferred to a hotel where you will have lunch. After lunch, we drive you to Periyar (190 kms), where on arrival, you check into a hotel.

Periyar, sprawling across 777 sq. kms. of Cardamom Hills, is home to one of the largest wildlife reserves in India. Alive with exotic flora and vibrant wildlife, it is the perfect getaway tucked away among green hills.

Day 4: Tour Periyar, then travel to Kumarakom - Early in the morning, on the fourth day, you can embark on a boat cruise on the lake of the famous Periyar Sanctuary and explore the rich wild life that tourists travel to Kerala, India to see. Periyar Lake, an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on the Periyar River is the heart of the sanctuary. Wild elephants, Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and even tigers, come to the shores of the lake for a drink. Later you return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast a guided walk is arranged around the Spice Village where you get to see the various spices native to Kerala, India, which are grown in the resort garden. Thereafter, we drive you through the winding "Ghats" lined with prosperous tea plantations to arrive at the fascinating countryside destination of Kumarakom, amidst low-lying paddy fields and palms. This famous tourist spot is approximately 190 kms from Periyar.

Kumarakom is a beautiful backwater village on the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake, lined with meandering waterways and ancient cottages. Holidaying at Kumarakom gives you an altogether different experience when you travel to Kerala, India, especially when you are staying at Coconut Lagoon because each "tarawad" or cottage that you will be staying in, is at least a century old, reconstructed piece by piece in accordance with ancient architecture. Once you arrive here, you can relax at the waterfront, with only a native rowboat that occasionally glides by for company. The night is spent at the hotel.

Day 5: Laze at Kumarakom Houseboat - The morning of the fifth day can be spent at leisure at Coconut Lagoon. Then you can go for boat rides in traditional country canoes called "vanjis" to explore the agricultural activities of the local people, living along the backwaters. You can also visit the beautiful bird sanctuary present here. In the afternoon, you can board the traditional rice boats, called "Ketuvallam" and begin your journey through the picturesque backwaters and small lakes, simultaneously experiencing the way of life and activity of the local people. Then you can transfer yourself to the one bedroom boathouse with a lounge that has been exclusively arranged for you. Here, meals will be cooked and served to you as per your request. You get to spend the night also on the houseboat.

Day 6: Travel to Alleppey
On the sixth day, you sail to Alleppey and disembark at Puthenagady Jetty. On arrival at Alleppey, you proceed directly to Mararikulam, which is 30 km away. Mararikulam is one of the picturesque fishing villages that dot the lovely coastline of Kerala, India. This private, shallow beach is fringed with unending lines of coconut palms. Rest of the day is spent at leisure. The night is spent at the hotel.

On the seventh, the entire day is at your disposal where you can relax and enjoy the facilities of the resort.

After breakfast, we drive you to Cochin, which is 60 km away. Cochin, popularly known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is the oldest European settlement in India. Frilled with backwaters and rich with old world charm, this city has lured many a great voyager to travel to Kerala, India.

Once you arrive at Cochin, we help you check into the hotel. Later you are taken on a tour of Cochin, also known as the palm green, commercial capital of Kerala. From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British & Portuguese voyagers have followed the sea route to Kochi and left their impression on the town. Modern Kochi is thus a splendid mosaic of these myriad influences. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, the Church of St. Francis, the Bolghatty Palace & the famous Chinese fishing nets.

Besides this, you can indulge in a harbour cruise - Cochin has one of the finest natural harbours. The backwaters extending to the east & south from the harbour are dotted with tiny islands, formed naturally by alluvial deposits from the rivers.

In the evening, you can witness the Kathakali make up demonstration as well as dance performance. Kathakali, a unique dance form of Kerala, India, which is 2000 years old, has more than 100 different 'mudras' or gesture depicting deities, demons, heroes, heroines and kings - each based on the episodes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the two epic Indian myths.

Later you can have dinner and spend the night at the hotel.

Day 9: Travel back to Mumbai - On the ninth morning, you are transferred from the hotel to the airport to catch the flight to Cochin and then to Mumbai at 1055 and 1240 hrs. Upon arrival in Mumbai, you will be transferred to the hotel where rooms will be provided for wash and change. You can enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace. Later, you are transferred to the International airport for your outbound flight from India at the end of your Honeymoon Backwaters Tour.