THE KERALA TOUR 7 Nights / 8 Days

Destinations & Tour Routing

Cochin Thekkady Kumarkom Kovalam

Trivandrum Cochin

Accommodation Chart

Days Destinations Nights 3* Hotels

1 Cochin 1 Deshanan Plaza http://www.deshadan.com/

2 & 3 Munnar 2 Grand Plaza http://www.grandplazamunnar.com/

4 Alleppey 1 Deluxe A/C Houseboat

5 & 6 Kovalam 2 Sagara Beach Resort http://www.sagarakovalam.com/

7 Cochin 1 Deshanan Plaza http://www.deshadan.com/

8 Depart Cochin!!!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive Cochin

Arrive at Cochin. Our representative will assist you in getting transferred to your pre booked hotel. Check in enjoy evening in Cochin. Stay overnight at Hotel.

Day 2| Cochin Munnar

After breakfast, get driven to Munnar. Reach there and check in at the pre booked hotel. The drive takes you through the scenically vibrant valley of the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats. It's a journey through extensive tea and spice plantations and for most part of our journey; the air is rendered with the fragrance of tea and spices. Munnar, a hill station on the Western Ghats is beautifully situated at the confluence of three rivers - the Muthirappuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.

Day 3| Munnar

After breakfast at the hotel you will be taken for the tea plantation tour which Munnar is famous for and a half day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Stay overtnight at the hotel. There are a number of tourist attractions in the hill station of Munnar. Travelers can have panoramic view of the verdant surroundings and forested hills from Munnar. Walking and hiking around the small town of Munnar offer an exhilarating experience. Travelers can also enjoy walking amongst the numerous tea estates of Munnar and view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of tealeaves to their processing at the Kundale tea plantation. Anaimudi (2,695m), the highest peak in southern India, can be viewed from Munnar. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4| Munnar Alleppey

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and get driven to Alleppey; also known as Alappuzha to board the houseboat at Alleppey. Check in at the pre booked house boat. Enjoy this beautiful experience for rest of the day and relax. Stay overnight at the house boat.

Day 5| Alleppey Kovalam

After breakfast, check out and get transferred to Kovalam. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing of Kovalam includes Padhamanabha Swamy temple, Museum, Horse Palace, Art Gallery. The evening will be free for leisure in Kovalam Beach. Overnight at Hotel. Kovalam: Thirty years ago, Kovalam was a hippy idyll: a picture perfect tropical beach; a traditional fishing village providing fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer). Today this tiny beach is the focus of a multi-million dollar business, drawing thousands of tourists for a week dose of ozone, UV and a refreshing Indian Experience. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum. Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South". "Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The crescent-shaped beach has three parts. The southernmost beaches, and the most popular, is light house beach. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern Samudra is a laidback one and time seems stands still here. The middle, hawah, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Azure water and

favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming. Sea here is pacific and shallow where you can take a dip in the saline waters. The clean white sandy beach will arouse a temptation irresistible: to lie idle on the sands and tan your body.You could get into any of the Ayurvedic massage centre and indulge in a rejuvenating herbal, body-toning massage and holistic therapies. Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation.

Day 6| Kovalam

Spend this day in the ayurveda centre. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Ayurveda: The exclusive Estuary Ayurvedic Spa offers an extensive menu of over different body and beauty treatments, integrating the traditional Indian systems of Ayurveda with the more contemporary western spa approach. The spa experience strives to achieve the ultimate harmony between the physical and the mental realms of the individual. With unique focuses on the traditional Indian sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda, Estuary Ayurvedic Spa provides the skillful synthesis between age-old therapies and modern spa technology. The personalized therapy and activities programs are designed to meet individual needs and health goals? de-stress, detoxification and cleansing, deep relaxation, anti-aging, weight & inch loss, while also offering guidance in the areas of nutrition and exercise.

Some of the treatments offered at the Ayurveda Centre are:

General Massage: This is a full body massage with herbal oil that improves the peripheral circulation, lymphatic and venous drainage and also tones up the body. Duration: 45 to 60 minutes Rejuvenation Massage: This kind of massage is done with the hands and foot as well for 60 to 90 mts. This is excellent for rejuvenation, sexual enhancement, relaxation and also to improve the general vigor and vitality. Duration: 60 to 90 minutes Relaxation Massage: This is for the complete relaxation of the body and mind. Duration: 90 minutes Cream Massage: This massage is done with a special kind of herbal mixture to improve the skin texture and complexion, also to reduce cellulite. Duration: 45 to 60 minutes Powder Massage (Udwarthanam): Here the massage is done with warm herbal powder in a reverse manner. This is effective in reducing weight, gives stability and strength, gives better skin luster etc. Duration: 45 to 60 minutes Head Massage: Special massage to the head with different strokes. Duration: 15 to 25 minutes Marma Massage: This is to normalize the energy flow by inducing the vital points in the body. Duration: 60 to 90 minutes Chakra Massage: This is a therapeutic massage to revitalize nerve centres. Duration: 45 minutes Chavittithirummu (Foot Massage): This is a special massage with the foot. Duration: 30 minutes Kolthirummu: Special massage using smooth rounded herbal sticks. Duration: 60 minutes Mukhalepam (Herbal face pack): This is the facial treatment with herbal paste, very effective for wrinkles, blackheads etc.. This treatment beautifies and rejuvenates the facial skin. Sareeralepam (Herbal body pack): This is the body treatment with herbal paste, very effective for old-age skin problems. This treatment beautifies and rejuvenates the skin. Steam bath: In this medicated steam is introduced in to a wooden cabin for 15 to 20 minutes which helps to dilate the minute channels in the body in order to cleanse the body.

Thaila Dhara: In this treatment medicated oil is poured on the forehead in a rhythmic way. This is mainly for stress, mental tension, headache, insomnia, and impaired memory. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Thakra Dhara: In this treatment medicated buttermilk is poured on the forehead or the whole body in a rhythmic way. This is good for stress symptoms and some therapeutic skin conditions. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Ksheera Dhara: In this treatment medicated milk is poured on the forehead in a rhythmic way. This is done especially for sleeplessness, anxiety, nervousness and some neurological disorders. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Dhanyamla Dhara: Here a specially prepared herbal liquid is poured all over the body in order to increase the lipid metabolism. Duration: 45 to 60 minutes Kizhi: Here massage is done using special type of bolus which is made from herbal

mixtures, on the whole body or on the affected part by dipping it in a suitable oil or herbal liquid. These are good for pain, stiffness, internal inflammation, obesity, muscle weakness, sprain, strain, water retention, cellulites etc. Elakizhi-(with herbal leaves), Podikizhi-(with herbal powder), Njavarakizhi-(with herbal rice and milk), Narangakizhi-(with lemon and herbs), Mamsakizhi (with mutton and herbs) Muttakizhi-(with eggs and herbs) Lavanakizhi-(with salt and herbs) Manalkizhi-(with salt and sand) Sirovasthy: A cap is fitted on the head and medicated oil is poured into it. This treatment is effective for insomnia, headaches, facial paralysis, numbness in the head, dryness of nostrils and throat. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes

Kadivasthy: Here warm medicated oil is kept on the lower back of the patient with a herbal paste boundary. It is useful in low back pain, spondylosis and other problems in the lower vertebral column. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Urovasthy: Here warm medicated oil is kept on the chest of the patient with a herbal paste boundary for 30 to 45 minutes. It is useful in asthma, bronchitis, chest congestion and also to improve heart function. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Greevavasthy: Here warm medicated oil is kept on the back of neck in a herbal paste boundary. It is useful in cervical spondylosis, neck stiffness and other inflammatory conditions in the neck. Duration: 30 to 45 minutes Pizhichil: This is a swedana treatment in which warm herbal oils are applied on the whole body in a rhythmic way. This treatment is very useful in rheumatic problems, arthritis, hemiplegia, paralysis, paraplegia, sexual weakness and nervous disorders. Duration: 45 to 60 minutes Nasyam: This is a Panchakarma treatment in which herbal juices or oils are dripped to the nostrils which cleanses head. It is effective for facial paralysis, headaches, migraine, sinusitis, and for some mental disorders. Snehavasthy: Herbal oil or ghee is applied into the rectum (Enema). Kashayavasthy: Mixture of herbal decoction, oil, honey etc. is applied into the rectum. Dhoopanam: Medicated fumes are puffed to the face, ears or scalp. Tharpanam: The treatment is to cleanse and prevent the diseases in the eyes. Here, the eyes are treated with various herbal preparations.

Day 7| Kovalam Trivandrum Cochin

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and get driven to the Trivandrum train station to board your train to Cochin. On arrival, our representatives will assist and drive you to the Pre booked hotel at Cochin.

Then get ready for a half day local city tour which includes Jew Synagogue, Santa Cruz Basilica, Dutch Palace at Mattancherry, St. Francis Church, Chinese fishing net etc. Spend your evening watching Kathakali Dance performances during Cochin Beach Tour. Stay overnight at the hotel. Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.

Day 8| Cochin Fly back home

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and get driven to the Trivandrum train station to board your train to Cochin. On arrival, our representatives will assist and drive you to the Cochin Airport to board your flight to your onward destination.

***Tour Ends***