Palace Tours 12000 Biscayne Blvd. #107 Miami FL 33181 USA 800-724-5120 / 786-408-0610 Call Us 1-800-724-5120 A Glimpse of God's Own Country Set in the state of Kerala, often described as “God's Own Country”, this tour will take you through the colonial history of India in the city of Cochin where you can visit the Jewish Synagogue, and the oldest church built by Europeans in India, St. Francis. In this state famed for its natural beauty you will get to visit plantations, see antelope in the wild, cruise the winding backwaters on a house boat and dine on delectable dishes infused with coconut. Here you will even get a chance to visit some of the premier beach resorts in the country and enjoy Ayurvedic spa therapies that will rejuvenate your body and soul. Itinerary As some Cochin monuments will be closed on Friday and Saturday, we recommend beginning your tour Sunday through Thursday. Day 1 - Welcome to Cochin Arrive at Cochin International Airport, receive assistance upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy an afternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin, including sites such as St. Francis Church, the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue and the picturesque Chinese fishing nets. Take a relaxing sunset cruise in the harbor this evening followed by a Kathakali dance performance at the cultural center. Stay overnight at the hotel. Day 2 - Stroll among the tea and cardamom plantations in Munnar After breakfast, drive to Munnar and check in to your next hotel. Take an evening walk through the tea and cardamom plantations with a local guide before returning to your hotel for an overnight stay. Day 3 - Full day of exciting excursions After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning walk through the buffer zone of the nearby Eraivikulam National Park to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic antelope. Later, visit the Handicraft Centre and the Tea Museum to witness tea processing. After lunch, embark on a Jeep ride through the tea plantations to Devikulam Lake. Spend the remainder of your afternoon at leisure by the lake before returning to your hotel in Munnar. Day 4 - Board the houseboat for a backwater cruise Following breakfast, check out of the hotel and begin the drive to Kumarakom. Stop at Kothamangalam en route for lunch at a traditional plantation bungalow. Upon arrival in Kumarakom, board the houseboat and begin your cruise through the soothing backwaters of Kerala as you wind through the canals near Alleppey. This evening, visit Mankombu village, Bhagavathy temple and a traditional snake boat. Continue to cruise to the anchor point and spend the night on board the houseboat. Day 5 - Relaxing day at the beach resort Breakfast is served on board the houseboat as you continue your exploration of the canals. Disembark the houseboat later this morning and transfer to your beach resort in the village of Mararikulam. The afternoon is yours at leisure; you may choose to partake in the Ayurvedic spa facilities or soak up the sun on the beach. Enjoy an evening cultural show followed by an overnight stay at the beach resort. Day 6 - Beach day or optional sightseeing tours The entire day is yours at leisure to relax at the beach or spa. You may alternatively choose to take advantage of other sightseeing options, such as the "Discover Alleppey Tour" or an excursion to Haripad village and temples. Your evening concludes with a cultural show and an overnight stay at the resort. Day 7 - Departure day After a scrumptious breakfast, check out of your hotel by 12:00 noon and transfer to Cochin International Airport for your onward journey. Destination Information A Glimpse of God's Own Country(© www.palacetours.com) 1/8 Destination Information Cochin (Kochi) Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler. Kothamangalam According to the popular belief, the Marth Mariam Valiya Pally at Kothamangalam was founded in the 4th century by a few Syriac Christian families who migrated from Paravur and Angamali. Kumarakom Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala. The village of Kumarakom is actually a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake. The slender coconut palms all around, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves of nesting birds of a hundred varieties--all can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration. A picturesque world of backwaters, thatched houseboats, Cormorants, Chinese fishing nets and swaying palms awaits you here. Mararikulam The village of Mararikulam is tucked away behind a line of dense palms that rise like a sudden rampart of green out of the sands. Like all villages, it has evolved naturally, in picturesque disorder. For those seeking to undo the stresses of city life and experience a completely new pace, it is the perfect spot. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swing palms, virgin territory where you can experience the local charm & traditional Keralan hospitality at its best. The Marari Beach Resort is set in 25 acres of coconut palm groves leading down to the vast expanse of beach. Munnar Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathani & Kundala. It is a picutre-perfect retreat for those who wish a heavenly getaway. Munnar reflects the grace of Mother Nature with misty mountains, springing streams, breathtaking landscapes, sprawling tea plantions, an enchanting climate and amazing flora and fauna. One can also enjoy active sports and action including trekking, boating, riding and fishing. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands in Munnar is the Neelakurinji. This flower, which bathes the hills in the blue every twelve years, will bloom next in 2006 AD. Price Chart PLEASE NOTE: The above rates are calculated based on the local currency (INR) and are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations. Your balance payment will be due and payable based on the exchange rate at that time. An option to pay in full and lock in today's exchange rate is also available; please contact us for details. We use hotels listed in our accommodation section or ones similar to them. Please see the accommodation section to see the list of hotels used. A Glimpse of God's Own Country(© www.palacetours.com) 2/8 Your price includes: All accommodations as per above sharing basis in these fine hotels (when available) or similar: - 01 night accommodation at Brunton Boat Yard in Cochin (Sea-Facing Standard Room) - 02 nights accommodation at Windermere Tea Estate in Munnar (Coffee Cottage) - 01 night accommodation at One-Room Houseboat (A/C Standard) - 02 nights accommodation at Marari Beach Resort in Mararikulam (Garden Villa Room) Breakfast at all locations and all meals on the houseboat Local English-speaking guide for all sightseeing as per itinerary All transport service via air-conditioned Toyota Qualis or similar Assistance upon all arrivals and departures Porterage, tolls, and parking charges Entrance fees for all monuments visited per the itinerary Still and video camera fees for all monuments visited per the itinerary Boat ride at Cochin Kathakali dance performance entrance at Cochin Jeep ride in Munnar Plantation Bungalow lunch in Kothamangalam Discover Alleppey Tour or Haripad tour in Mararikulam All applicable taxes Your price does not include: Travel insurance or Mediclaim Gratuities, laundry, beverages, telephone calls, spa treatments, or other expenses of a personal nature Any domestic or international airfare Any train fare Any compulsory holiday dinners or celebrations required by the hotels Any airport taxes or departure taxes Supplement charge for Optional Two-Room Houseboat Any expenses not specifically mentioned as Included Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinner Accommodation A/C Houseboat , Alleppey () Houseboat Jetty Brunton Boatyard, Cochin , Cochin (Kochi) (5-star) Calvetty Road, Fort Cochin For what is essentially a small and intimate city resort hotel, The Brunton Boatyard possesses a remarkable sense of scale, evident from the moment you turn into the tiled forecourt. The lobby is a vault of sunlight and air, framed by arches and overhung with punkahs - enormous, old- fashioned fans of Indo-Portuguese origin. Your bags have been whisked away to your room, but why not take a turn around the corridors before you go? A rich, and colourful history marks this spot, once the century old boatyard of Geo. Brunton and Sons. On this site we recreated the splendour of the city's illustrious past, using the materials of fin de sieclé Cochin - lime, terracotta, wood and tile. The hotel's nautical past seems to follow you around. On one wall, old Dutch maps, on another, a small navigation device, in the grassy courtyard, an ancient anchor. Walk further, turn a corner, and you find yourself outside the Armory Bar. Perhaps later, you could enjoy a sundowner here, with old Portuguese armour and musketry for company. A short saunter down the corridor brings you to a little doorway. Pass through and suddenly, the whole vista of Cochin harbour opens up beyond the pool's inviting waters. This is the spot to read a boring historical novel, work on your tan and watch the ships sail by, so close you can almost reach out and touch them. Crane your neck a bit and you can spot a serried rank of Cochin's famed fishing nets.