HONEYMOON BEACH HOLIDAYS
Duration
: 14 Days
Places Covered : Calicut - Vythiri - Malanpuzha -
Cochin - Munnar - Thekkady - Kottayam - Kovalam - Poovar - Trivendrum
Day
1: Arrival Calicut
Arrive at Calicut, meet and assist at the
airport & transfer to hotel. In the afternoon there is a city tour of
Calicut.
Day 2: Calicut -Vythiri
Breakfast will be at
the hotel. Drive 100 km from Calicut to Vythiri. After checking into the
Vithiri tree house, some of which are over 90 feet above the ground, there
will still be time to explore the flora and sounds of the local jungle.
Overnight will be at the tree-house.
Day 3:
Vythiri-Wayanadu-Vythiri
Proceed for a day excursion to Wayanadu,
enjoying the scenery and wildlife of this remote and un-spoilt tract of
jungle. Return after lunch and overnight will be at the tree-house in
Vythiri.
Day 4: Vythiri-Malanpuzha
Drive to the small
town of Malanpuzha some 50 km away. Check in at the hotel.
Day
5: Malanpuzha-Cochin
Drive to Cochin in the morning after
breakfast. Cochin is one of the world's finest harbors that used to dominate
the trade around the Arabian Sea. It used to be a colony for many years of
the Portuguese. Known as the "Venice of the East" it is dominated
by water, with many small islands and waterways. Enjoy the Harbor Cruise in
the evening.
Day 6: Cochin
Proceed for a morning tour
of Cochin to visit Fort Cochin, St Francis Church and the Dutch Palace. Also
visit the Jewish Synagogue and the Chinese fishing nets which are quite
unique. The afternoon will be free to explore and relax. In the evening
proceed for the Kathakali Dance Presentation.
Day 7:
Cochin-Munnar
Drive 130 km in the morning after breakfast to the small
hill-station of Munnar. Proceed for a tour of Munnar in the afternoon.
Munnar is surrounded by tea-plantations and once upon a time it used to be "the
escape" for European traders from the high humidity and heat of the
coast.
Day
8: Munnar-Thekkady
Morning drive to Thekkady and spend the
afternoon visiting the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. This reserve was created
when the surrounding valleys were flooded by a new dam and you explore and
game view by boat. Later there is a ride on one of the working elephants to
look forward to. In The evening visit the Spice Market of Kumily.
Day
9: Thekkady-Kottayam
Drive to Kottayam and visit the spice
plantation on your way at Abraham's Spice Garden. Drive through the tea
gardens and rubber plantations. Reach Kumarokom and board the converted rice
barge the "Vambanadu Kettuvallam", which has twin bed cabins. It
is commonly called the Houseboat. The rest of the day is spent gently
cruising through the waterways and lagoons of Kerala, watching the
inhabitants of this unique landscape live their lives by tending their
animals and crops. Meals are taken on board.
Day 10:
Kottayam
After a night on board you can rise to enjoy the dawn and
daybreak over this beautiful and tranquil landscape. A full day to relax and
watch the world slip by, stopping occasionally at a small village or point
of interest.
Day
11: Kottayam-Kovalam
Saying goodbye to your boat and crew you visit
the Kumarakom bird sanctuary to try to see some of the colourful and unique
indigenous species of bird. A drive of 190 km in the afternoon brings you to
Kovalam and your beach hotel.
Day 12: Kovalam
Relax
at the beach watching the fishermen fight against the waves to launch their
boats and then in the afternoon selling the fish they have caught. Seafood
in Kovalam is excellent too.
Day 13: Kovalam-Poovar
A
drive of 40 km brings you to Poovar and another chance to relax, this time
in the accommodation that is built on stilts over the sea. Stay at the
floating rooms for the night. This is a beautiful and memorable way to end
an interesting and unique insight into the south of India.
Day
14: Poovar-Trivendrum
Transfer to Trivandrum airport to connect the
onward flight. End the tour with sweet memories of Kerala.