Kerala Tea Estate, Backwater & Marari Beach Tour
About This Tour
Discover Kerala on a private 10-day journey that blends heritage, hill country, wildlife, backwaters, and beach time. Begin in Cochin with its colonial-era quar...
Duration: 10 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: Not applicable · Cities: Kochi, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thekkady, Eravikulam National Park, Kumarakom, Periyar National Park · Languages: English
Know before you go: STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
About Alappuzha
Alappuzha
The gateway to the famed Keralan backwaters, this coastal town of brackish inlets and winding rivers has some fine Alappuzha local guides eager to help travelers to the boathouses, beaches and jungle-covered backcountry.
What's Included
- Assistance on arrival at airport.
- 9 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
- Daily breakfast at hotels.
- All meals during the stay at Alleppey.
- Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
- English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per the program Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.
- Monument entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water in the car.
- Government taxes.
Not Included
- Any flight ticket.
- Camera charges at monuments if any.
- Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.
- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
- Gratuities and optional activities.
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Day 1: Arrive Cochin
On arrival at Cochin airport assistance & transfer hotel check in. In the evening enjoy Kathakali, a traditional dance form of Kerala with lavish costumes, exotic makeup, masks etc. Overnight at hotel.
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2Day 02
Day 2: Cochin - Munnar (140kms) (B)
City tour of Cochin the lovely seaside city flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. You will find here a unique mix and match of traditional as well Western architecture and lifestyle. Visit Fort Cochin a charming seaside area known for its Dutch, Portuguese & British colonial architecture and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Keralan specialties, and quaint shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries. Also visit Jewish Synagogue & the Mattancherry Dutch`s Palace. Drive to Munnar check in & overnight at hotel.
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3Day 03
Day 3: Munnar (B)
Visit Pothamedu which offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. Mattupetty dam and its reservoir, a concrete gravity dam built between the hill ranges for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Rajamala a hill station in Eravikulam National Park a natural habitat of the Niligiri tahr 2695 Mts above sea level. Half the world`s population of the rare mountain goat or tahr which is fast becoming extinct, is now found here. Mattupedi Dairy Farm, famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm, a highly specialized dairy farm which comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Echo Point, go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute to hear your echo back! Also visit Tea Museum to know more about the century old culture a lively glimpse of how the tea culture flourished across South India. Overnight at hotel.
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4Day 04
Day 4: Munnar - Thekkady (110kms) (B)
Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin-statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. Evening watch Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show. Overnight at hotel.
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5Day 05
Day 5: Thekkady (B)
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. The tropical evergreen and deciduous forests teeming with elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger and wild boar along with various species of snake including cobras, vipers, kraits and many non-poisonous snakes is a wildlife lover`s dream. A variety of birds such as grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, woodpeckers and bulbuls also have found a home in this sanctuary. Afterwards take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. You could stop at the local market and pick some fragrant spices. Overnight at hotel.
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6Day 06
Day 6: Thekkady - Kumarakom (132kms) Sailing Boat Cruise to Alleppey (B,L,D)
Drive to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. Pass through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. Alleppey is referred as the Venice of the East, due to canals, backwaters, and lagoons. Boats are the main mode of transportation here, you can see Shikara boats, small motor boats, passenger boats, cargo boat, and houseboats. Evening enjoy sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. Overnight in houseboat.
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7Day 07
Day 7: Kumarakom - Marari Beach (190kms) (B)
Disembark from houseboat and transfer to Marari Beach, check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.
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8Day 08
Day 8: Marari Beach (B)
Day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel. (transport not included)
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9Day 09
Day 9: Marari Beach (B)
Day free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel. (transport not included)
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10Day 10
Day 10: Marari Beach - Cochin Departure (Flight) (B)
As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Kochi, IN · Tour start: Kochi, IN — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
