Activity Tour: Fish, Bikes & Hikes - 13 Nights & 14 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Munnar » Suryanelli » Periyar » Houseboat » Kollam » Kovalm » Trivandrum

Overview
The complete activity tour for those wanting to partake in hobby activities while at the same time enjoying the breathtaking Kerala environment. Tour includes : Stay in a port town, elephant orphanage visits, trekking through hills and spice plantations, stay in tea hills, camping, jungle treks, bamboo rafting, houseboat cruise, biking along coastal back roads, deep sea fishing, stay in a beach resort.

DAY 01: Arrive Cochin
Welcomed by Kerala Travel Centre representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the evening enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the Secret Garden. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02 : Cochin
Take a tuk-tuk ride through the fascinating historical highlights of Cochin including the Jewish Synagogue in what is locally called the Jew Town, St. Francis Church which is the oldest European Church in India, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1557 by the Portuguese, the Dutch Palace, the spice market and the 15th century Chinese fishing nets believed to have been brought by Chinese traders. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Secret Garden. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Cochin - Munnar
(135kms/4hrs)In the morning, drive to the Kodanad elephant orphanage where you will have the opportunity to get close to the elephants and participate in their bathing and feeding. Elephant rides will also be possible. Drive along the Periyar river and the dense low altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam which are full of rubber and cardamom estates and drive upto the picturesque tea hills of Munnar. Check into your hotel and unwind. Overnight at the Olive Bracknell Forest. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04: Munnar (Trekking)
Early morning, trek up through some magnificent trails to the Chokkamudi hill, giving you spectacular views of the mountains of the Western Ghats. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Olive Bracknell Forest. (Full Board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Munnar - Suryanelli (Biking)
After a leisurely breakfast, start biking along the famed tea gardens of Munnar through the Grahamsland estate and the daunting mountain pass "Lockhart Gap", a testimony to the perseverance of the early planters. Arrive at the Campsite at Suryanelli, where you will stay in luxury cottage tents. Overnight in luxury tents.(Full Board) (No vehicle)

DAY 06: Suryanelli (Biking)
Wake up to a spectacular sunrise at the camp and after breakfast continue biking through the tea gardens to the Anaerangal dam. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way and return back to the camp by evening. Bar-be-que and dinner around the campfire. Overnight in luxury tents.(Full Board) (No vehicle)

DAY 07: Suryanelli - Periyar
Drive to Periyar an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings.  One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. Check into your hotel. You could go on a spice plantation tour today where you will be enticed by the aroma of spices.It is also possible to go for an Elephant ride today. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Aranya Niwas. (Half Board) (No vehicle)

DAY 08: Periyar
Embark on a full day bamboo rafting and hiking trail accompanied by two forest guards, which will give you the opportunity to see wildlife at close quarters. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Aranya Niwas.(Half Board) (No vehicle)

DAY 09: Periyar - Houseboat
After breakfast transfer back to the coastal town of Alleppey where you will embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or 'Kettuvalloms' are luxurious boats with well appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings it's the life along the backwaters that makes this a fascinating experience. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask  our captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places enroute. Overnight on board. (Full Board) (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 10: Alleppey - Kollam (Biking)
Disembark at Alumkadavu and cycle south along the various fishing villages and the scenic countryside to Fragrant Nature, a beautiful resort set on the river Mala. Overnight at the Palm Lagoon. (Backup vehicle)

DAY 11: Kollam (Fishing)
A day of adventure as you set out to sea with experienced fisher folk and see dolphins in their natural habitat. Have lunch in a serene location on the backwaters. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Palm Lagoon. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 12: Kollam - Kovalam (Biking)
Today, continue cycling and once again head south along the coast on the country roads stopping at the Kappil beach to watch the fishermen pull in their nets. You stop cycling at Kaniypuram from where you are transferred to Kovalam, one of the most popular beaches in Kerala. Overnight at the Travancore Heritage. (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 13: Kovalam
Day at leisure on the beach. Enjoy a full body Ayurveda massage. Overnight at the Travancore Heritage. (No vehicle)

DAY 14: Kovalam - Trivandrum
(25kms/1hrs)Departure transfer to Trivandrum airport for return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Resort	Room Type
Cochin	2	Secret Garden	Standard Room
Munnar	2	Bracknell Forest	Standard Room
Suryanelli	2	Campsite	Luxury Cottage Tent
Periyar	2	Aranya Niwas	Standard Room
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	1 bedroom AC Houseboat
Kollam	2	Palm Lagoon	Standard Room
Kovalam	2	Travancore Heritage	Standard Room

Tour	1 May 11-30 Sep 11	1 Oct 11-19 Dec 11	20 Dec 11-15 Jan 12	16 Jan 12-30 Apr 12
Standard	£ 1852	£ 2070	£ 2317	£ 2070
Superior	-	-	-	-
Deluxe	-	-	-	-

Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying 1 double/twin room. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. For single supplements please contact Kerala Travel Centre. Price Includes: Bed & Breakfast at all hotels except where cited on the itinerary, sunset cruise, chauffeur driven AC car, imported TREK/GIANT multi geared bicycles, guide charges, back-up vehicle for biking trips, Ayurveda massage, all entrance fees, deep sea fishing, jungle trek in Periyar, bamboo rafting, guides for Treks. Price Excludes: International Flights - Please contact Kerala Travel Centre for booking flights.

Kerala Climate and Weather
Being a coastal state surrounded by the Arabian Sea and because of its proximity to the equator, Kerala has a more or less consistent temperature pattern in the summers and the monsoons alike. The temperature hovers around 29�32 degrees (Celsius) throughout the year with varying levels of humidity.



Best months for travel to Kerala:

The months of October through to March are considered to be the most favourable months to travel to Kerala when the weather is sunny and pleasant.
The months of April and May are also favourable for travel but the humidity tends to be comparatively higher.
August and September are also good months for travel.

Monsoon Months in Kerala:

June and July are monsoon months in Kerala, the showers being heavy at first and then easing off gradually. Whilst these are not the best months for tours, interestingly, this happens to the best time for travellers seeking the therapeutic Ayurveda treatment which is said to be most effective in these months.

Special Experiences

Kerala offers a myriad of delightful, lesser known experiences which one does not get to enjoy on a regular tour which is packed with standard excursions. At the Kerala Travel Centre we have always been keen to showcase these special, off-the-beaten-track experiences that will make your Kerala holiday a memorable experience like no other.

We have compiled a partial list experiences which you could choose to enjoy on this tour. When in doubt, just ask your Kerala Travel Centre driver and he will point you the right direction.

Cochin

• Stroll down the beach in Fort Cochin to see the 15th century Chinese fishing nets. Whilst they are not as frequently used as before, you can see a demonstration of how the fishermen use these gigantic nets. It is also possible to take part in this experience along with the fishermen.
• The bustling fish markets adjacent to the fishing nets also make for an interesting visit.
• The sunset cruise in Cochin along the harbour is also a great experience where you pass other ships and boats of all sizes and can see the Cochin skyline and the Cochin shipyard which is more than 200 years old.
• Fort Cochin has a number of seafood restaurants ranging from the high end 'History' restaurant at the Brunton Boatyard to the all vegetarian 'Roti Dal' restaurant where you can try the mouth watering food.
• Enjoy an enthralling Kathakali dance performance while you are in Cochin. Watching the dancers put on make up before the show is also quite a fascinating experience.
• Your sightseeing excursion in Cochin includes several fascinating highlights including the Jewish synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica and others. Apart from this, you could also try exploring the streets with their many shops both in Fort Cochin and in the bustling Ernakulam part of Cochin. Cochin is great for shopping especially for jewellery and garments. (Our drivers should be able to point you to select shops that do not hassle customers). If you are a cigar aficionado don't miss the 100 year old R.Baliga & Sons who stocks cigars of all types.
• If Henna and bangles are of interest to you, you can pay a visit to a small, yet vibrant shop selling bangles and other ornaments in Cochin.

Munnar

• In the tea plantations of Munnar, you can go on a tea factory visit or hire bikes to cycle along the winding roads in the lush hills.
• You could visit the 'Kurunji' store in Munnar which is managed by the Tata Tea officer's wives Association. (Tata Tea is the company that manages all the tea plantations in Munnar). The store offers some excellent homemade chocolates, Indian pickles and hand woven fabrics to take back home as souvenirs.
• The CSI Church in Munnar has burial tombs of British Planters from the times of the Raj and makes for an interesting visit.
• Try the Kolukkamali Tea which is tea that is grown at the highest altitude in Munnar and can be bought only in a few select shops in the Munnar town.

Periyar

• In Periyar, we would strongly suggest the spice plantation visits and also the jungle trek.
• The Gavi sanctuary is worth a visit if you are staying for more than two nights in Periyar. Gavi is a one hour drive away from Periyar and is a great place for elephant sightings.
• Periyar has a few forest inspection bungalows. Those who are really adventurous can try these bungalows which are right inside the forest reserve.
• There are a large number of shops near the wildlife sanctuary selling handicrafts and other items. The handicraft shops are worth looking at as they make for excellent souvenirs. Please ensure you speak with your driver to point you to the appropriate shops.

Houseboat Cruise

• During a houseboat cruise, ask your captain to anchor the boat by one of the villages, where you could take a village walk along the backwaters which is an exciting way to get up and close with life along the backwaters.
• You could also go for canoe rides in the backwaters. Canoes can travel through narrower canals which houseboats cannot navigate.
• There is a boat building yard in a place called Champakkulam by the backwaters which makes the long banana boats used for Kerala's snake boat races.

Kovalam

• Travellers know Kovalam for being a great beach destination but few know that for those who love bikes, Kovalam has a few shops that hire out Enfield motorbikes.
• There is a Swiss bakery in Kovalam which offers some fascinating cakes.
• For veggie lovers, Kovalam has one of the best run vegetarian restaurants called 'Lonely Planet' (not the same as the guidebook).