TRIP NOTES Captivating Kerala 7 days | Starts/Ends: Kochi Uncover the delights of tropical • Traditional Kathakali Dance Show in Kochi colony in Kochi in the 16th century, then Kerala in India's deep south. Visit (entrance fee excluded) the Dutch quickly followed and eventually, • historic Fort Kochi, the picturesque Houseboat cruise along the Keralan the British. The cosmopolitan mix of cultures backwaters makes the city truly captivating. Meet your hill station of Munnar with its • Escorted by an English-speaking Indian guide and the rest of the group at your verdant tea plantations and spend tour guide (for groups of 6 or more) hotel at 14:00 for a welcome meeting and a night aboard a houseboat, gliding • Services of English-speaking Indian enjoy some time at leisure before we watch along the tranquil, palm fringed specialist guides at some sites a Kathakali performance. Kathakali is the backwaters. • Airport arrival and departure transfer on fascinating traditional dance form of Kerala. days 1 and 7 Overnight - Kochi • All relevant transfers and transportation in HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS private A/C vehicles Days 2-3 : Kochi sightseeing & Munnar Trip Highlights What's Not Included • Kerala Backwaters – Cruise along the • Tipping Kitty: USD$25-35pp, paid in local famous backwaters on a deluxe rice boat, currency past lush forests and local villages • Entrance Fees: USD$15-25pp, paid in • Kumarakom – Enjoy two days relaxing local currency at leisure and visit the biodiverse • International flights and visa Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend • Kochi – Tour the winding streets of the you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Fort Kochi neighbourhood and watch a Tipping your guide is an entirely personal Kathakali dance show gesture • Munnar – Stroll through a tea plantation Kochi - Munnar - breakfast. On the morning of on a guided walk and explore the day 2 we enjoy a guided tour of historic Fort DETAILED ITINERARY beautiful surroundings independently Kochi. We see the elegant Chinese fishing nets and explore the winding streets of the What's Included Day 1 : Kochi old town, visiting St Francis’ Church, Parsi Saturday. Welcome to India. You'll be met • Synagogue (exterior only) and a Dutch palace. Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 2 dinners at Kochi airport and transferred to your • 5 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels and 1 hotel. Long famed in the history books, After our sightseeing in Kochi we drive east night deluxe houseboat Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) offered to Munnar - a picturesque hill station nestled • Guided sightseeing - Kochi, Fort Kochi refuge to Jews more than 2,500 years ago. on the verdant slopes of tea plantations. and Munnar tea plantation The Portuguese founded the first European Located at a lofty height of 1600m, Munnar Captivating Kerala - 7 days updated on 01-10-2021 12:45:52 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 1 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 TRIP NOTES Captivating Kerala in South India offers breathtaking views Keralan Backwaters - Kumarakom. After of the surrounding hills carpeted with tea breakfast on day 5 we disembark plantations. From many locations in Munnar, the houseboat at Kumarakom. Perched one can view Anamudi (2695m), South India’s sleepily among a tangle of lush tropical highest peak. The rest of the afternoon is free waterways known as the Keralan backwaters, to relax or explore the area. Kumarakom is technically a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad - one of Asia’s largest On day 3 we'll take a stroll through one of the freshwater lakes. This is an ideal place to Clouds Valley Leisure Hotel many tea plantations with our guide, who will relax for the next two days and enjoy the Set in the valley of the Kennan Devan give us a brief explanation about the different beautiful scenery. There is also a wonderful Hills, the Clouds Valley Leisure Hotel is a varieties of tea and how they are processed. bird sanctuary spread across 14 acres, which contemporary accommodation. Guest rooms Then we'll visit a local market before heading is a favoured haunt of migratory birds are bright and spacious with beautiful views back to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for and provides an opportunity to see the of the surrounding mountains. Rooms are you to spend at your own leisure. Overnight - endangered Siberian Crane. Overnight - also all en suite, have modern amenities Munnar (B:2, D:2) Kumarakom (B:2) and comfortable beds. The hotel benefits Day 4 : Kerala backwaters from an onsite restaurant that serves up Day 7 : Kochi a tasty selection of both Indian and South Alleppey - Kochi - Today marks the end of our Indian food as well as Chinese and European memorable journey. After breakfast we travel dishes. back to Kochi and transfer to the airport. Please Note: Your flight from Kochi on day 7 should not depart any earlier than 2pm. If your flight leaves late afternoon/evening, a day room at a hotel in Kochi can be arranged for an additional fee (payable locally). (B) Munnar - Alleppey - Keralan backwaters. Early HOTELS Deluxe Houseboat this morning we set off on a scenic 4-5 hour There are few things as serene and tranquil drive to Alleppey. Upon arrival, we board Highlighted below are some of the hotels as floating along the Keralan backwaters in a simply furnished private rice-boat for a which we frequently use on this tour, though the comfort of a luxurious houseboat. Deluxe journey through the lush backwaters. Our rice- we reserve the right to substitute these houseboats are elegantly furnished, with up boat carries us sedately along the enchanting hotels to ones of a similar standard. to four bedrooms, equipped with modern en palm-fringed backwaters, covering a distance Please refer to your Tour Voucher for your suites, an open lounge, dining area and a of some 20 kms past local villages full of confirmed arrival hotel and further arrival deck to relax and admire the beautiful views fascinating scenes of everyday rural life. information. of the lush green palms and rice paddies. Watch a beautiful sunset over the backwaters Air conditioning operates in the bedrooms and enjoy tasty meals (starting with lunch) Casino Hotel between 9pm to 6am only. The cruises are prepared by the on-board chef using fresh Casino Hotel is a modern hotel located on full board, with tasty meals freshly prepared local produce. Willingdon island, set in tropical gardens it by the onboard chef. is a beautiful blend of art deco and colonial Overnight - Deluxe rice boat (B, L, D) Indian architectural styles. With a large pool Days 5-6 : Kumarakom and and spacious comfortable rooms this hotel offers a fantastic experience when in Kochi. Casino Hotel boasts 2 restaurants, a 24-hour health club as well as free wifi in public areas. Eastend Lakesong Nestled among the serene backwaters of Kumarakom, Eastend Lakesong comprises of 8 acres of facility packed leisure land. Guests sleep in villas and cottages, which are all Captivating Kerala - 7 days updated on 01-10-2021 12:45:52 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 2 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 TRIP NOTES Captivating Kerala well furnished with colourful interiors and Ayurvedic medicine Proof of COVID-19 immunisation must comfortable beds. The onsite restaurants Kochi is the place to shop for Ayurvedic be provided to us no less than offer an excellent selection of local and medicines as the plants used are grown in the 4 weeks prior to travel. We accept international cuisine. Why not treat yourself Western Ghats region. Over 2000 plants are COVID-19 digital certificates, NHS Covid to a relaxing massage at the Ayurveda on described in Ayurveda and the most common Pass or Vaccination Record Cards e- site Spa? It is the perfect way to unwind after and frequently used of these are readily mailed to [email protected] or you a long day of exploring in the fierce Indian available. You could also pamper yourself and can upload your vaccination history heat. have an Ayurvedic massage. yourself via our traveller login. https:// www.onthegotours.com/Login Sightseeing The information you will need to upload Please note the following for your free time: includes: Administering national authority or Kochi sites are closed on the following days, government, document No, name of Vaccine, Parsi Synagogue - closed Friday afternoon date/s of vaccination.