Kerala – Tea and Spice Country

Fly with Emirates to Cochin via Dubai.

Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel for two nights. Kochi earlier known as Cochin, is the oldest European settlement in India. Many influences including Chinese, Arab, Jewish, British, French and Portuguese are contained within its environment. Traders from the West came to Kerala as far back as the 3rd century B.C. and took back with them spices, ivory and teak. Modern Cochin is a splendid mosaic myriad where Portuguese architecture and British influences all blend harmoniously with the basic thread of Kerala's rich heritage.

Morning City tour of Cochin includes visit to the Dutch Palace housing a fine collection of mural paintings. The Jewish Synagogue built in 1568 & magnificently decorated with Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Visit the St. Francis Church, which is the oldest church, built by Europeans in India. See the Chinese Fishing nets that line the tip of Fort Cochin. In the evening see the famous Kathakali dance performance. (Optional).

Morning leave for Munnar. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the British in the colonial days. It has unending expanse of tea & Cardamom plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests, aroma of spice scented cool air. Afternoon tour includes visit to a tea plantation. Stay for one night.

After breakfast drive to Thekkady, located on the cool hills of the Western Ghats, in the land of coffee, tea, pepper and cardamom plantations. Afternoon wildlife viewing by motor boat in the Lake Periyar. Pariay National Park is famous for its wild elephants and boasts a large population of Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog and many species of birds. Stay for one night.

Morning visit to a spice plantation, where you will be shown how some spices are grown. Later drive to Kottayam and take a boat cruise to Allepy, passing through picturesque inland waterways and narrow canals observing life in the backwaters. Stay in Kumarakum for two nights.

Morning at leisure on the shores of the Vembanad Lake .At your leisure you may like to visit the nearby bird sanctuary or a local village. Evening Sunset boat trip in the Vembanad Lake.

Drive to Kovalam, an uncluttered beach of silver sands with rows & rows of tall palm. Stay for two nights.

Day at leisure to enjoy the Sun, Sand and the Sea.

Return flight to London with Emirates via Dubai.