Southern Splendour(Echo Tours in Kerala)

09 Nights /10 Days
(01 N Cochin /02 N Munnar/ 01 N Thekkady/01 N Kumarakom/01 N Houseboat /02 N Kovalam/01N Kanyakumari)

Accessibility: Bangalore To Cochin

BUS	TRAIN	FLIGHT
AC Volvo at 8:00PM	Kanyakumari Exp at 9:45PM	Jet Airways at 10:20AM and Indian Airlines at 12:45PM

Itinerary
Arrive at Cochin by Train / Bus / Flight.

Day 01 – Arrive in Cochin, "Queen Of The Arabian Sea" pick up and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon for sightseeing you can choose to visit the Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets & The Dutch Palace. In the evening enjoy Kathakali dance show which happens regularly at the convention center (ofcourse has a entry fee) renowned through out the world for its harmonious blending of poetry, music & costumes OR simply go for a drive in the famous M.G.Road brightly lit, with huge shopping arcades. Overnight at Cochin.

Day 02:- In the morning after b/fast head towards Munnar, which is called as " nature lover’s paradise" with sprawling tea plantations. Munnar is1800mts above sealevel, 130 kms from Cochin (3 hrs 30 mins drive). On arrival here, check into hotel. In the evening proceed to Mattupatty dam /Kundale dam for boating, on the way a visit to Echo point & shooting point. A further 7 kms drive will take you to topstation for a spectacular view. Overnight to be spent at Munnar.

Day 03 - Munnar has the highest peak in South India – Anaimudi – which towers over 2695m(of course needs trekking) Devikulam – This serene hill township is a nature lover’s retreat. Trout fishing on the Devikulam Lake is a major attraction. Eravikulam National park - It is the best place to see Nilgiri Tahr, the mountain goat of South India. Overnight at Munnar.

Day 04 – Proceed to Periyar (95 kms & 3 hrs drive). A scenic journey past mist capped mountains, spice plantations and open grasslands lined with spectacular water falls & delightful trekking trails form the access to your hide way here. You can stay at Vandanmedu (25kms from before Periyar) or Thekkady. On arrival check into hotel, refresh yourself & be relaxed. A boat safari on the Periyar Lake extends a lifetime’s chance to spot exotic wildlife in its natural habitat. Overnight at Thekkady.
Day 05:- Drive to Kumarakom 110 kms from Thekkady (3hrs), check in to the resort located on the Banks of the Vembanad lake. Kumarakom is the ideal place to relax and rejuvenate both the body and the soul. The resort is known for the Ayurvedic massages. The resort also has different kinds of boat rides for the more enthusiastic and the adventurous one on the vast lake. Overnight stay at Kumarakom.

Day 06:- This day check out from the resort at Kumarakom and board the houseboat at Alleppey at 12 noon - a ride into the countryside in a Kettuvalam (the houseboat), you will visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary while cruising to Alleppey across the Vembanad Lake, the cruise will include other sightseeing like Kuttanad ( paddy field ), the coir village , and the local way of life . The food is served fresh inside the boat. The boat will be anchored in the evening at 6:00pm and overnight stay at the houseboat. (Lunch included)

Day 07:- After b/fast check out by 10.00 am & proceed to Kovalam(150 kms & 4 hrs drive ) a total coastal drive from Alleppey - the Venice of east. On arrival in Kovalam check in at the beach resort. Day is for exploring the coastal stretch of Kerala you can enjoy the sand, the cuisine and the massages. Evening at leisure. Overnight at Kovalam.

Day 08 – Morning after b/fast proceed for a sightseeing to Trivandrum, the capital city famous for the Padmanabhaswamy temple, the museum and off course the shopping streets of Trivandrum for Jewellery and Silks. The afternoon can be planned to visit the Veli - the model tourist village, this is a popular picnic spot on Trivandrum where the Veli Lake merges with the Arabian Sea. The garden with exquisite sculptures, floating bridge and boating in the lake are the other attractions here. Overnight stay at Kovalam.

Day 09 – Morning after b/fast Proceed from Kovalam to Kanyakumari is the southern most tip of India, also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The sightseeing includes Vivekananda Rock Memorial, 133 feet Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial and Kamaraj Memorial. It is the only place in India where sunset and sunrise can be seen from one point. On the way the other famous sightseeing not to be missed is Padmanabhapuram palace - a well-preserved wooden palace with extraordinary murals, exquisite floral carvings and the black glossy floorings. Overnight at Kanyakumari.

Day 10:- Morning after b/fast take your return from Kanyakumari by train to Bangalore.

Hotels included in the package

Destination	Standard	Deluxe	Luxury
COCHIN	Yuvarani/ Abad Chullikal	Riviera Suites/ River Dale	Le Meridian/ Avenue Regent
MUNNAR	Hill view / Chancellor / West Wood	Copper castle / Cloud 9 / T & U	Tea county / Tall trees / Siena Village
THEKKADY	Periyar House / Michael’s Inn / Lake Queen	Aranyaniwas/ Carmelia Haven / Tree Top	Jungle Inn/ Cardamom County / Taj Garden Retreat
ALLEPPEY	NON AC HOUSEBOAT		AC HOUSEBOAT
KOVALAM	Beach Castle / Azamalai / Abad palm shore	Samudra / Uday Samudra / Kadaloram	Isola-Di-Cocco / Travancore Heritage/ Poovar Island
KANYAKUMARI	Cape Residency (non ac room)	Cape Residency (Ac Rooms)	Shringar Intl

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