KERALA SPICE SUMMER 2010
11 Nights/12 Days-Cochin-Munnar-Periyar-Kumarakom-Houseboat-Marari Beach

Tour Day 01 - Cochin
On arrival at Cochin,Kerala, you will be met & transferred to CasinoHotel or Brunton Boatyard. Evening watch a classical art performance at Greenix Theatre which is a kaleidoscope of Kerala classical arts like Kathakali, Kalaripayattu (Martial Arts),Bharatanatyam etc. Overnight at Hotel.

Tour Day 02- Cochin
Morning, after breakfast, you have the option to go for a Kerala village backwater cruise at Poothotta, an island backwater village. Afternoon enjoy a guided  tour of Cochin. Overnight at Hotel
Village backwater Cruise – An unforgettable journey in a country boat into the pristine backwater villages of Kerala.... goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palms.....watch rare birds....country boat making....a natural fish farm where you can go fishing…You will witness coir making, toddy tapping and enjoy a typical Kerala lunch at a farmhouse.

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.

Tour Day 03 : Cochin – Munnar 
Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise (04 Hours).Afternoon for free walks through Tea Plantations. Overnight at CGH Munnar Bungalows.

Munnar …breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. Unending expanse 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 you would love to visit… It’s the place you would wish never to leave.

Tour Day 04: Munnar
Full day tour of Munnar. Visit, Eravikulam National Park,Mattupetty, Echo Point, Kundala etc... Overnight at Munnar Bungalows.

Set at an altitude of 6000 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, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower, which bathes the hills in blue colour 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 to do some trekking.

Tour Day 05 – Munnar – Periyar  ( 4 Hours drive)
Today, you will be transferred to Periyar ,the famous wildlife destination of Kerala.  Rest of the day at leisure to walk through the border of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Overnight at Spice Village.

Periyar - The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday. With the animals of the wild and the 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.

Tour Day 06 – Periyar
Full day explore the wildlife of Periyar. Morning go for a boating in the Periyar Lake the best way to watch wildlife.Afternoon visit a Spice Plantation.Option for Elephant safari which will be an attraction to the kids. Overnight at Spice Village.

The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing wild life. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers a soul-stirring pleasant experience. 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. The tiger and leopard are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.

Tour Day 07 – Periyar – Kumarakom(4.5 Hours drive)
After breakfast, check out from the Hotel & proceed to Kumarakom, which is famous for its backwater & scenic beauty, sprinkled with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and Tranquility. On arrival at Kumarakom check in at  Coconut Lagoon.Your Kerala tour takes a magical turn at this backwater peninsula.Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.
Water and history are the defining elements at Coconut Lagoon.Water surges in clockwork rhythms on its shores, through its canals and pools. And history stands watch from the grounds above.From the centuries-old beams of the heritage mansion to the carved woods of the reception,the past comes alive as liquid reflections, mirrored in ripples and shades wherever you look.Fittingly, Coconut Lagoon can be reached only over the water. The great Vembanad lake, an inland sea that stretches clear across central Kerala, forms a breeze-laden watery highway. Your coach transfer happens via a generously clunky wooden boat with a little inboard motor (so as not to disturb the fishes). And the lobby, when you arrive, turns out to be a reconstructed 19th century mansion with a stone jetty attached. Your boat putters sedately through a narrow canal, its banks covered with flowers. Tiled-roof bungalows peer through the foliage. And with a reviving coconut cocktail in one hand, you step off the boat and up to the reception desk, all ready to check in.Conde´ Nast Traveller once described Coconut Lagoon as one of the 25 best destinations in the world. Our guests tell us that the journey inward is an experience to match.

Tour Day 08 – Kumarakom
Full day to explore the beauty of the Kerala backwaters. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.You have the option to take a rejuvenating Ayurvedic Massage.Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.


Tour Day 09: Kumarakom – Houseboat
After a leisurely  breakfast, board the houseboat from the resort jetty for a nights stay with on board lunch and dinner, covering the nearby  villages and the ethnic life around these villages. Overnight in the houseboat.
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 well furnished bedrooms with aircon, 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 you 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 rejenuvated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living.

Tour Day 10 – Alleppey - Marari
Morning after breakfast on board, checkout & proceed to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. On arrival check in at  Marari Beach Resort (built in the style of a traditional fishing village with thatched villas that have been designed to be in keeping with the local village style).You may opt to have a rejuvenating Ayurvedic Massage.Overnight at 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. Completely new to the holiday maker. 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.

Tour Day 11 – Marari
Full day at the resort. You have the option for taking a tour through the butterfly garden,organic vegetable farm or simply explore the beach. Overnight at Marari Beach Resort.
 Marari Beach sprawls across 55 acres of lawns, far-flung lotus ponds and whispering coconut groves, all threaded through with stone- flagged pathways. A windbreak of palms runs the length of the property, a protective cover that reduces even the gustiest sea winds to mere caresses. And beyond is a milk-and-azure ocean, fringed by a beach more ochre than yellow, a sand-meets-sea combination you're not likely to find anywhere else.

Tour Day 12– Cochin Departure
Like all good things, your tour in Kerala comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience. Today, you will be assisted and transferred to Cochin International airport for your flight home!!

Tour Cost :

GBP (was 695) Now 630
EURO (was 765) Now 690
USD (was 1150) Now 1035
per pax on twin sharing subject to a minimum 7 nights stay at CGH Properties

Hotel List :
Place                                                                                      
Cochin                  Casino (www.cghearth.com)                                     
Munnar                 Munnar Bungalows (www.cghearth.com)               
Periyar                  Spice Village (www.cghearth.com)                                  
Kumarakom          Coconut Lagoon (www.cghearth.com)                       
A/c Houseboat       Spice Coast Cruise(www.cghearth.com)                               
Maraikulam            Marari Beach Resort (www.cghearth.com)             

Package Cost Includes:
* 02 Nights accommodation based on 01 Double share room at Cochin as mentioned above
* 02 nights accommodation based on 01 Double share room at Munnar as mentioned above
* 02 Nights accommodation based on 01 Double share room at Periyar as mentioned above
* 02 Nights accommodation based on 01 Double share room at Kumarakom as mentioned above
* 01 Night stay at a 01 bedroom A/c Houseboat (Kumarakom - Alleppey) with all meals
* 02 Nights accommodation based on 01 Double share room at Mararikulam as mentioned above
* Daily Breakfast at all the hotels/ resorts
* All meals on Houseboat & at Munnar Bungalows
* English speaking guide at Cochin
* Greenix Show at Cochin
* Boating & Spice Plantation Tour in Periyar
* All transfers and sightseeing as per attached itinerary by A/c standard car.
* Driver allowance, parking, fuel, state entry fee
* All currently applicable taxes including Government Service Tax
 
Package Cost Excludes :
* Any meals other than those specified
* Any sightseeing unless otherwise specified
* Any train/ air/ Ship fare other than those specified.
* Any entrance fee, Camera fee, Ride, Guide fee etc.
* All expenses of personal nature like soft/ hard drinks, Telephone/ Fax, Laundry, Tip etc.
* All other services not mentioned under package cost includes section. 

Supplementary Cost :
* Village Backwater Tour with lunch: GBP 18/EURO 20/USD 30 per pax
*Half Board supplement for the whole tour: GBP 60/EURO 66/USD 100 per pax
*Full Board supplement for the whole tour: GBP 120/EURO 132/USD 200 per pax
* Upgrade Hotel Casino at Cochin to Brunton Boatyard (www.cghearth.com) : GBP 32/EURO 35/USD 53  per pax
* Entrance Fee at Munnar & Periyar GBP 8/EURO 9/USD 14
 
Note :
* Confirmation of all services with full payment only.
* Above mentioned rates are valid at the moment are subject to change without any prior notice.
* Confirmation of all services are subject to availability at the time of booking.
* Above mentioned rates are applicable to Foreign Nationals only
* At houseboat A/c will be available from 09 PM to 06 AM only.
* Rates are Valid from 01 May 2010 till 30 Sept 2010 only.