Kerala Houseboat Tour

Kerala Houseboat Tour

Destination Covered: Cochin - Alleppey - Kumarakom - Cochin TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Cochin St. Francis' Church, Dutch Palace (Built by Portuguese), Jewish Synagogue, spice market, Chinese fishing nets & Kathakali Dance Show Alleppey Houseboat Kumarakom Backwaters & Bird Sanctuary

Day 1: Arrive Cochin (By: International Flight)

Arrive, Cochin, after a traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our representative would assist you at the airport & transfer to hotel for check in. Cochin always had a very popular & historical sea trade connection with Middle East, Mediterranean Europe & Dutch. It has one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian coastline. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings & structures representing different regions of the world. Later we visit Jew Town, synagogue, built in the year 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles & Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. Also visit the spice market, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices & history that brought the world to its doorstep. Chinese fishing nets, (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Evening see Kerala's most popular classical dance, Kathakali. Overnight Hotel – Cochin (B)

Day 2: Cochin - Alleppey (70 kms – Approx. 1.5 Hrs)

Today we drive to Alleppey, Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, is a town in Kerala. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters & lagoons, it was described as the Venice of the East. It has a wonderful past, it owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams & canals with lush green coconut palms, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece & Rome in BC & in the middle Ages. Alleppey now is the hub for backwaters tourism in Kerala. On arrival we board the houseboat, locally called Kettuvallam, cruise around backwaters of Alleppey to Kumarakom to observe & experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters. Overnight Houseboat (B, L, D)

Day 3: Alleppey- Kumarakom (Overnight Houseboat)

Day on-board the houseboat. Overnight houseboat. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Arrive Kumarakom

Morning after breakfast we disembark the houseboat in Kumarakom. It is a cluster of little islands, on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Kuttanad, the 'Wonder Land' believed to have been lying below the sea level, sprang out into the marshes when the sea receded later. The land of lakes, canals & paddy fields, Kumarakom transports you to sheer ecstasy. Holiday on the houseboats, traditional Kettuvallam, are an out-of-this-world experience. Furthermore Vembanad Lake is home to several types of marine life exclusively the Karimeen (Pearl Spotted Fish), Chemeen (Prawns) & Konju (Tiger Prawns). Later we visit Kumarakom Bird sanctuary. There are two seasons for birds: between October & February there are cormorants, teals, & other ducks & from February to July there are darters (snake birds), night herons, egrets, & Siberian storks. It also has golden backed woodpecker, crow pheasant, white-breasted water hen, tree pie etc. Overnight Hotel – Kumarakom (B)

Day 5: Kumarakom - Cochin (50 kms – Approx 02 Hrs) and Departure from Cochin

Today after breakfast, you will be driven back to Cochin. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the airport to board flight for your onward destination. Our tour concludes We thank you for your patronage & look forward to serve you again in near future.