CRUISING THE KERALA BACKWATERS 18 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH 2022 FROM £2,890 PER PERSON Tour Leader: Marie-Thérèse Hill AN ENCHANTING JOURNEY ALONG EMERALD WATERS Join Marie-Thérèse Hill on a pioneering cruise through Kerala, from the modern port city Cochin (Kochi) to the ancient port town of Alleppey (Alappuzha) passing through Kottayam, land of rubber and spices. Travel aboard a traditional nine-cabin wooden rice barge on what promises be an enlightening as well as an extremely relaxing holiday. Kerala has an extensive network of waterways that lace its interior coastline, stretching along almost its entire length of around 600 kms. It is a land of copious rainfall which flows from the hills and mountain passes in freshwater canals and streams to join the 40 odd rivers in the state. This labyrinthine network of canals, streams and rivers, which converge to form lagoons, make up the Backwaters and give rise to a unique eco system which is a haven for nature. The area has been named by National Geographic as the ‘Green Venice of the East’ due to the green coconut trees which turn the backwaters a vibrant emerald green, with the setting sun adding splashes of red, all contributing to the serenity of this tropical destination. The waterways teem with life as wooden boats are the only way of travelling between villages. Along the way we will visit temples, churches, marketplaces, paddy fields, beaches and boat yards. We will learn about and experience the vibrant culture of the region including coir handloom weaving, snake boat regattas, traditional toddy tapping, local dances, martial arts and festivals. Kalaripayattu Alleppey Traditional Kathakali dance 12-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 18 FEBRUARY 2022 18 February London / Cochin Zheng He in the 14th century. fishing and coconut farming. Return to the boat and cruise through the Suggested flights (not included in Lunch under own arrangements. Thanneermukkom Barrage which the cost of the tour) Emirates EK2 Afternoon at leisure. Welcome dinner divides the lake into two: one half with departing London Heathrow at at the Rice Boat Restaurant. perennial saltwater and the other with 13.40 hrs. freshwater enriched by the rivers. 21 February Cochin / Maradu / Lunch at a farmhouse located on an 19 February Cochin Vaikom island which was made by the men Arrive in Dubai at 00.40 hrs and Check out and drive to the nearby of the house, by reclaiming land from connect to EK530 departing Dubai at village of Nettoor to visit a Kalari – a the Backwaters. Take a walk on the 02.45 hrs arriving Cochin at 08.05 hrs. training centre for Kalaripayattu, the farm and enjoy a demonstration of Transfer to the Taj Malabar Resort martial art form of Kerala – and witness traditional Syrian Christian cuisine & Spa where two nights are spent. a performance. Drive to Maradu Village by the mother and her daughter-in- Situated on Willingdon Island with a in the southern part of Ernakulam (the law. Return to the boat and continue magnificent view of Cochin harbour, urban area of Cochin) to embark on the cruising. Dinner on board. the Taj Malabar Hotel combines river cruise boat RV Vaikundam. old-world elegance with modern day Traditional lunch on board. Set sail convenience. The Heritage Wing of to explore the Backwaters of Cochin, 23 February Kumarakom & Lake the hotel was built in 1935 and houses a magnificent network of waterways Vembanad / Kavalam graceful Victorian interiors whilst the formed along the coastal belt by the Early this morning set out by local Tower Wing rooms mix the classic rivers from the Western Ghats before boat to watch the migratory as well with the contemporary. With varied draining into the Arabian Sea. Talk as endemic birds of Kumarakom Bird restaurants and a fantastic swimming on Cochin, the Queen of the Arabian Sanctuary, which is made up of a pool this is an excellent hotel in which Sea, and its geographical, cultural and cluster of lagoons of Lake Vembanad to relax. Lunch and dinner under own social significance. Stop at the ancient with a backdrop of mangroves, paddy arrangements. village of Vaikom in Kottayam, the fields and coconut groves. Waterfowl, land of natural rubber latex and spices. cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the Walk to the cultural centre in Vaikom to water duck are some of the endemic 20 February Cochin watch a performance of the traditional species seen here. Parrots, teal, Walking tour of Mattancherry, the dance Kathakali. Tuk tuk ride to the larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, and bustling part of Old Fort Cochin and ancient Temple of Shiva, one of the other birds are seen here during their the epicentre of the spice trade for largest in Kerala, where following respective migratory seasons. Return centuries. The tour reveals Cochin’s Keralan tradition each element of the to the boat for breakfast. Cruise the multi-layered past, a rich brew of temple represents an element of the lake, passing expanses of the oldest Arab, Portuguese, British, and Dutch human body. Dinner on board. paddy cultivating regions reclaimed influences. See St. Francis Church, from the lake and below sea level. India’s first European church famed as Lunch on board. Arrive in Kavalam the original burial site of Portuguese 22 February Chenganda / Kumarakom where the River Pampa reverses its explorer Vasco de Gama. Cruise to Chenganda Village and see course and drains into Lake Vembanad. Next visit the picturesque Chinese the locals making coir, demonstrating Take the local ferry to explore fishing nets, unique to Cochin, how to collect mussels and prawns the region, walk along the dykes introduced by the Chinese explorer and their indigenous methods of surrounding the expanses of paddy 020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK Snake boat St. Francis Church, Cochin fields and interact with the farmers and Architecture and Mural Painting. famous for ornate locks, lamps and a women’s collective. Cruise on until Return to the boat and cruise to vessels used in temples. sunset and, along the way, meet toddy Champakkulam Village, settled more Return to the boat for lunch. Arrive tappers and learn about the process than 1000 years ago by Syrian Christian in Karumadi Village. Here an 11th- of making toddy, a local alcoholic traders, who later converted to Roman century statue of Buddha is preserved beverage made from the sap of the Catholicism under the Portuguese. in a small shrine. After taking a walk flower of coconut palm and usually Their cultural heritage can be seen in through this quiet and rustic village, consumed accompanied by tapioca. the monumental St. Mary’s Church cruise to Kanjippadom Village to visit Dinner on board. on the riverside, built in 1550. Visit the a boat yard where traditional wooden church and meet the local tailors and boats are built and repaired. You might artisans who make biblical figurines. be able to see the art of traditional 24 February Kainakari / Chavara Cruise on to the remote village of Kettuvallum or coir rope lashed Bhavan / Mankompu Changankari. Dinner on board. wooden plank boat building. Return to Cruise to Kainakari, another vibrant the boat for a farewell dinner. village in the interior, and take a local boat through the narrow canals. Stop 26 February Changankari / at Chavara Bhavan, the ancestral home Thottappalli 28 February Punnamada / Alleppey / of Saint Kuriakose Chavara, the first Early morning walk in Changankari Cochin canonised Catholic male saint of Indian Village. Continue sailing towards the Cruise to Punnamada Lake, where origin. The ancestral home of the Saint coastal village of Thottappalli, passing the annual Snake Boat Race is held has now been preserved as a museum. by the spillway in the southern area of using traditional boats, once maritime Lunch on board. Continue cruising with Kuttanad, which prevents the saline war boats, decorated in Keralan style. an onboard talk by an Ayurveda doctor water at river mouth from flooding Cruise to Alleppey, the ancient port about this ancient form of treatment the low-lying paddy fields. Learn town, criss-crossed by rivers, lakes, and holistic way of life. Arrive in about indigenous practices of paddy canals, lagoons and paddy fields, Mankompu village and see a cultural cultivation on reclaimed land below known as the Venice of the East. performance. Dinner on board. sea level. Disembark and take walk through the Lunch on board. Stop to plant a marketplace. Transfer to Cochin. coconut sapling to mark the cruise. Lunch at the Courtyard by Marriott 25 February Aranmula / The coconut tree is considered the Hotel. Overnight at the Courtyard Champakkulam / Changankari ‘Kalpavriksha’ or the Divine Tree of by Marriott Hotel. Dinner under own Drive to Aranmula Village which is Kerala because all parts of coconut arrangements. home to a family of craftsmen who are tree are used in one way or the other. skilled at making mirror from a special Drop anchor at Thottappalli and take combination of certain metals. Visit the a walk along the beach to see local 1 March Cochin / London workshop of the mirror makers whose coastal life. Dinner on board. Transfer to Cochin Airport for secret formula has been passed down suggested flights (not included) through generations. See the nearby Emirates EK531 departing at 09.40 hrs ancient temple of Krishna ‘Aranmula 27 February Mannar / Karumadi / arriving Dubai at 12.10 hrs. Connect to Sree Parthasarthy’. Kanjippadom Emirates flight EK3 departing Dubai at Lunch at a local house with beautiful Drive to visit a temple where serpents 14.30 hrs arriving London Heathrow at architecture, located on the banks of are worshipped, the only temple with 18.20 hrs. the Pampa, the holy river of natives.