Kerala Houseboat Vacation

On arrival in Cochin, check in at the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 02: Cochin - Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar - South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq. km. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants.

The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. The dense forest cover and the variety of flora are also among the tourist attractions in Periyar. There are trees more than 100 years old and over 50 m high.

On arrival in Periyar, check-in at the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 03: Periyar - Kumarakom
In the morning enjoy game viewing by boats, which carry you through the jungle along convoluted waterways. This biosphere reserve has a varied range of flora and fauna and you can set out for a tour of this exotic territory with camera in your hand and hope to capture the shy residents of the forest. The elephants are the most majestic among all the things to watch in Periyar. They can be spotted on the lake shores bathing and basking in the sun.

However, you can come across many other mammalian species such as leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (an endangered primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, and sloth bear

Later drive to Kumarakom - - The tourist village of Kumarakom lies in the scenic backwater area, on the shore of the pleasant Vembanad Lake, 16 km away from Kottayam. Here an old rubber plantation around the lake has been developed into a bird sanctuary. A path goes through the swamp to the main nesting area, while the island in the middle of the lake can be reached by boat.

On arrival, check in the hotel. You can take Ayurveda treatments from the hotel on direct payment basis.

Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 04: Kumarakom - Alleppey (Houseboat)
In the morning board the Rice boat Alleppey - the central hub of Kerala backwaters. Stay in a traditional Kerala house opening right over the Vembanad Lake surrounded by banana plantations. You will have the rest of the day free to relax with the option of herbal oil massage. Also relish the wonderful Kerala cuisine in ethnic way.

Rice boat - It took great skill and meticulousness to construct these Houseboats by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single nail. It usually has one or two bath rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.

The backwaters of Kerala form the lifeblood of beautiful Kerala and played a main role in the economy of the state. Rice boats and small ships used to ply in these waters, carrying coconut, rubber, rice and spices to various trading centers of Kerala. Even today, these waterways link remote villages and island with the main land .It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of the villages.

Sail along the winding network of Kerala backwaters, see the unique water world and experience its myriad charms. Eat spiced and baked rice cakes on board a floating rice barge, fish for fresh catch and have the cook onboard cook a traditional delicacy for you, lie down on the deck and count the glittering stars that garland a clear moon with crickets making pleasant sounds as your barge floats along the unending network of Kerala backwaters.

Embark at the local villages that flourish on the banks of the emerald Kerala backwaters and visit the village bazaars that are flooded with coir products, coconuts and other village produce. You can also interact with the local population see their lifestyle. Although practically surrounded by water, they still manage to keep cows, pigs, chickens and ducks and cultivate small vegetable gardens, prawns and fish.

In houseboats, traditional Kerala food will be served.

Lunch, Dinner & overnight on Boat.

Day 05: Alleppey - Cochin
In the morning after breakfast disembark the boat, and drive to drive to Cochin.

In Cochin you will visit Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, is the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Mattancherry Palace or Dutch Palace has fine collection of mural paintings depicting the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. It is closed on Fridays. In Fort Cochin visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by European in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The tombstone still remains. Also visit Chinese Fishing Nets that are the most efficient means of backwater fishing.

You can enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali Dance Show in a local theatre. Kathakali is an ancient religious pantomime dance drama handed down through generations for more than 300 years and performed by dedicated families of Kerala

Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 06: Cochin
Transfer to the International airport for onward flight.