Family Tour: South Kerala - 09 Nights & 10 Days

Tour Route
Cochin » Kothamangalam » Kumarakom » Houseboat » Kovalam » Trivandrum

Overview
This tour has been specially designed to cater for families who want to share in the adventure and discovery that Kerala offers to all ages of travellers. Combines the best of relaxation and activity such that there is something for everyone. Tour Includes: Stay in a vibrant Port town, Stay in a plantation estate, Cookery demonstrations, Visit to an elephant Orphanage, Stay in a backwater resort, Water sports, Houseboat Cruise, Visit to Palaces and Museums, Stay in a beach resort.

DAY 01: Arrival Cochin
Welcomed by Kerala Travel Centre representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you somefascinating snippets of history and culture.  Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the afternoon you could go for an optional sightseeing tour to explore the many fascinating     lights of Cochin which include - 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 In the evening enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 02: Cochin - Kothamangalam
(60kms/1.5hrs)Drive to Kothamangalam and spend the afternoon at leisure in a century old estate bungalow set in over 100 acres of multi crop plantation. Apart from exploring the estate you could also visit the local bird sanctuary. Participate in cookery demonstrations involving authentic Kerala cuisine. Overnight at the Mundackal Estate Bungalow. (Full Board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 03: Kothamangalam
DAY 03: Kothamangalam In the morning, drive to the Kodanad elephant orphanage where you will have the opportunity to get close to the elephants and can participate in their bathing and feeding. Elephant rides will also be possible. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Mundackal Estate Bungalow. (Full Board) (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 04: Kothamangalam -Kumarakom
(80kms/2hrs)Drive to Kumarakom, the enchanting backwater region of Kerala and check into your hotel. The labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons which form the famed backwaters offer stunning views and is an ideal place to relax. Day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 05: Kumarakom
Day at leisure at the resort or partake in activities like canoeing, water scooter rides, boat rides etc or laze in the pool. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 06: Kumarakom - Houseboat
Embark on your private houseboat from the resort 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. The locals travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods, door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places enroute. Overnight on board. (Full Board) (Vehicle for transfer)

DAY 07: Houseboat - Kovalam
(175kms/3.5hrs)Drive to Kovalam, one of the most popular beaches in Kerala and check into your hotel. Day at leisure on the beach. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 08: Kovalam
Today you can take up the opportunity of a sightseeing tour of Trivandrum, the capital of  Kerala. Visit the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Horse Palace, Napier Museum and Art Gallery. Overnight at the Resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 09: Kovalam
Day at leisure in Kovalam. Enjoy a full-body Ayurveda massage today. Overnight at the resort. (Vehicle at disposal)

DAY 10: Kovalam - Trivandrum -Departure
(15kms/0.5hrs)Departure transfer to Trivandrum airport for return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)

Place	Nts	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Cochin	1	Fort Heritage	The Old Harbour	Brunton Boatyard
Kothamangalam	2	Mundackal Estate Bungalow	Mundackal Estate Bungalow	Mundackal Estate Bungalow
Kumarakom	2	Abad Whispering Palms	Backwater Ripples	Kumarakom Lake Resort
Houseboat	1	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes	Muthoot River Escapes
Kovalam	3	Uday Samudra	Travancore Heritage	The Leela

Tour	1 May 12-30 Sep 12	1 Oct 12-19 Dec 12	20 Dec 12-15 Jan 13	16 Jan 13-31 Jan 13	1 Feb 13-28 Feb 13	1 Mar 13-30 Apr 13
Standard	£ 2621	£ 2956	£ 3403	£ 2956	£ 2956	£ 2956
Superior	£ 2946	£ 3668	£ 4311	£ 3668	£ 3668	£ 3668
Deluxe	£ 3580	£ 5077	£ 7472	£ 5077	£ 5354	£ 5077

Prices are total prices for a family occupying 2 double rooms. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. Price includes: B&B at all hotels except where cited on the itinerary, chauffeur driven AC car, Ayurveda massage, sunset cruise, cookery demonstration, elephant rides, all entrance fees, guide charges, assisted airport transfers. 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 fish 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.

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)