15 days
ID 2210 - P a g e 1
What's included Arrival & departure transfers Ground transport with driver Accommodation (refer to itinerary for meal plan) English-speaking guides Entrance fees to sites & parks What's not included not mentioned in itinerary Drinks Visa fees Tipping Camera / video camera fees Personal items (laundry, telephone, etc.) Medical expenses Any services not mentioned in itinerary All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking. ID 2210 - P a g e 2
Your Itinerary Explained Date Place visited : The first part of the text in each day is the itinerary schedule and will explain what you will reakfast normally see/do during this day of your itinerary. --L: The part of the day s text in italics (and comes after the three dashes --- ) is background Lunch information on the places or sites on that day of your itinerary. It is not part of your D: itinerary and may mention places that will not be visited on your itinerary. If you have any Dinner questions please ask us. Travel times where noted are only meant as a guideline. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Wayanad Calicut - Wayanad On arrival into Calicut Airport you will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative and transferred to Wayanad. En-route you will stop at Pookot Lake, before continuing your journey to the resort in Wayanad. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Wayanad. --Pookot Lake, also known as Pookode Lake, is a freshwater lake in the Wayanad district in Kerala. The lake is nestled in an evergreen forest, at an altitude of 2100m above sea level, which makes it the highest freshwater lake in Kerala. D Known as the "Land of the Paddy Fields", Wayanad district is located at altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 metres above sea-level. Although the least populous district in Kerala, Wayanad is home to many indigenous tribes, as well as unseen tropical mountains, the Edakkal Caves and 4th century C petroglyphs. Overnight in Windflower Resort & Spa, Vythiri ID 2210 - P a g e 3
Day 2 Muthanaga Wildlife Sanctuary Wayanad Today you will visit the Edakkal Caves and Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. This afternoon you will have free time in Wayanad. Overnight in Wayanad. --The Edakkal Caves, are famous for their ancient rock etchings and drawings. There are various hunting scenes depicted on the walls of the two main chambers. The etchings date back to at least 5,000 C, indicating the presence of a prehistoric civilization or settlement in this region. The ancient carvings of Edakkal are rare and are the only known examples from South India. LD Established in 1973, the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in bio-diversity and an integral part of the Nilgiri iosphere Reserve. Scientific conservation is key here, with special consideration for the general lifestyle of the tribes and others who live in and around the forest region. Elephants roam freely here, and if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of a tiger. Deer, monkeys and birds are also found in this reserve, along with many species of butterflies and insects. Overnight in Windflower Resort & Spa, Vythiri Day 3 Wayanad - Calicut After breakfast you will be transferred to Calicut. On arrival check into your hotel and have some free time at your leisure. Calicut Day 4 Chalakudy Later this afternoon you will be taken on a city tour visiting the eypore shipbuilding yard, Calicut beach and a local bazaar. Overnight in Calicut. --Calicut, also known as Kozhikode, is the largest city in Kerala. In the past, it was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. In 2012, Calicut was given the tag of "City of Sculptures" because of the various architectural sculptures located in various parts of the city. Overnight in The Gateway Hotel each Road, Calicut Calicut - Chalakudy Today you will be transferred to Chalakudy, on arrival check in to your hotel and have the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Chalakudy. --Chalakudy is a town in the Thrissur District of Kerala, situated on the banks of the River Chalakudy. Chalakudy was once famous all over India as a place for conducting sacrifices, which makes the area very sacred. Chalakudy is blessed with scenic beauty and refreshing weather, making it an ideal destination for nature and wildlife lovers. Overnight in Rasa Gurukul, Chalakudy LD ID 2210 - P a g e 4
Day 5 Chalakudy Today you have a free day to spend as you please at the resort. Overnight in Chalakudy. LD Note: The following activities are availbake at the resort; Visit to the organic farm, yoga and meditation classes, bullock cart ride, interactive session with the cooking team, a visit to see the process of making Uruli (ronze vessel) and blacksmith sharpening knives. Chalakudy Day 6 Overnight in Rasa Gurukul, Chalakudy Chalakudy - Cochin Today you will be transferred to Cochin, on arrival check-in to your hotel. Later this afternoon you will have a sightseeing tour of Cochin, including the Fort Cochin area. You will visit; The Jewish Synagogue, The Dutch Palace, St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets. This evening you will have a sunset cruise on the harbour. Overnight in Cochin. --Cochin, the 'Queen on the Arabian Sea', is a major port city that was once a much-prized Chinese fishing pawn for the English, Portuguese and Dutch due to its strategic location and prominence in the lucrative spice trade. This history of foreign colonies has resulted in a diverse culture, nets with European influences visible in much of Cochin's architecture and overall development, aiding it to become the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. The Jewish Synagogue in Cochin, also known as the Paradesi Synagogue, was built in 1568AD.There are a number of antiquities of interest in this synagogue including, the Great Scrolls of the Old Testament and the 10th-century copper plates of privileges given to Joseph Rabban, the earliest known Cochin Jew. The floor of the synagogue is tilled with hundreds of hand-painted 18th-century Chinese tiles, each of which is unique. The Dutch Palace, also known as Mattancherry Palace, was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Cochin in 1555AD. It acquired its current name after 1663 when the Dutch carried out extensions and repairs on the palace. Its interiors are decorated with murals from the Ramayana and there are some lively displays of royal costumes and palanquins. Saint Francis Church, in Fort Cochin, is a Protestant church originally built by the Portuguese in 1510AD. It is believed to be the oldest church built by Europeans in the whole of India. The Chinese fishing nets line the sea-front in Fort Cochin and exhibit a mechanical method of catching fish by local fishermen. They are said to have been brought from China by traders of Kabalai Khan's Court. Overnight in Tissa's Inn, Cochin ID 2210 - P a g e 5
Day 7 Munnar Day 8 Munnar Cochin - Munnar Today you will be transferred to Munnar,known for it's rolling hills and lush tea plantations. On arrival check-in to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure. Overnight in Munnar. --Munnar, located at 1,650m above sea-level, is the most breathtakingly-beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats. The area's pristine green valleys and mountains provide the perfect setting for anyone in search of peace and tranquility. elieved to mean three rivers, Munnar used to be the favourite summer resort of the ritish rulers during colonial days. It is the tea plantation capital of India and the local Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat, is a popular destination for visitors. Overnight in The Tall Trees Resort, Munnar Munnar Today you will have a sightseeing tour around Munnar, including the Tea Museum, and Eravikulam National Park. The park offers magnificent views over the tea plantations of Munnar, and once in every twelve years the Neelakurinji flower blooms, which is endemic to this part of the Western Ghats. Overnight in Munnar. --At the Tea Museum you will see tea pickers busy with their jobs picking up tea leaves. You will be able to meet a few of the workers at this Tea Plantation, and follow the process from picking the tea leaves to sorting and weighing the leaves. Take a relaxing walk through the lush Tea Plantations. Eravikulam National Park is situated along the summit of the Western Ghats in the high ranges of Idduki district in Kerala. This is the land of the "Neelakurinji", a flower that blooms once every twelve years. The park is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best mountain ranges in the Alps. The highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas - Anamudi is located here, therefore nature enthusiasts have ample opportunities for trekking expeditions and wildlife spotting. The park holds the maximum viable population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (a species of mountain ibex), Nilgiri Marten (only species of marten found in southern India), rudddy mongoose, small clawed otter and dusky striped squirrel. Overnight in The Tall Trees Resort, Munnar ID 2210 - P a g e 6
Day 9 Thekkady Day 10 Munnar - Thekkady Today you will be transferred to Thekkady, the gateway to Periyar and the best spice plantations in India. On arrival you will check-in to the resort and day at leisure. Overnight in Thekkady. --Centred around a large artificial lake, Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary - one of India's largest wildlife sanctuaries, which spans across the entire district. Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978, the sanctuary supports 62 species of mammals (many of which are rare and endangered) and 320 species of birds, as well as a host of reptiles, amphibians and fish. Overnight in Poetree Sarovar Portico, Thekkady Thekkady This morning, before breakfast, you will be taken on a nature walk. This program is unique as it is being conducted by a team of poachers turned protectors of the forest. You will return back to the resort for breakfast. Thekkady This afternoon you will have a guided tour of the spice plantations. You can expect to see, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon and cardamom. Afterwards you will return to the resort and the rest of the day will be at your leisure. Overnight in Thekaddy. Overnight in Poetree Sarovar Portico, Thekkady Day 11 Thekkady - Alleppey This morning you will be transferred to Alleppey where you will board a houseboat for the night. Kettuvallams, rice barges, provide the best way to experience the colourful, backwaters of Kerala. Overnight onboard. --Also known as the 'Venice of the East', Alleppey is a town with a large network of picturesque canals, backwaters, lagoons and beaches. In the past, Alleppey was one of the Vembanad Lake busiest trade centres along the Malabar coast. LD Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest in the state of Kerala, where it spans several different districts. Vembanad Lake has been identified under India's National Wetlands Conservation Program, and forms the heart of Kerala's backwaters. The lake is also home to more than 20,000 waterfowl and is an excellent habitat for shrimps. Overnight in Houseboat, Vembanad Lake ID 2210 - P a g e 7
Day 12 Alleppey - After breakfast onboard you will return to land and be transferred to Anantya Resort situated on, Kanyakumari District. On arrival you will check-in to the resort and have the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight at Anantya Resort. Overnight in Anantya Resort, Day 13 Today you have a free day at the hotel to spend as you wish. Overnight at Anantya Resort. Note: The following activities can be arranged; Fishing, cycle ride, night sky walk, rubber tapping walk/visit to rubber plantation, elephant ride/elephant bathing, culinary workshop, bird watching with guide, yoga & meditation. (Please be advised some of these activities will incur an extra charge) Overnight in Anantya Resort, Day 14 Today you have a free day at the resort to spend as you wish. Overnight at Anantya Resort. Overnight in Anantya Resort, Day 15 Departure Transfer to Trivandrum airport at an appropriate time for your departure flight. ID 2210 - P a g e 8 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)