The best of Kerala and Tamil Nadu is packed in this 10 days and 9 nights tour. Travel through the coastal city of Cochin, the land of tea estates, Munnar, the wildlife reserve of Thekkady, the serene backwaters of Alleppey and the idyllic beaches of Kovalam, before moving to Tamil Nadu. Enjoy the spiritual town of Kanyakumari and the temple towns of Rameswaram and Madurai.
Arrive at the harbour city of Cochin and meet our representative on arrival. Proceed to check in the hotel and start your full day sightseeing of Cochin including Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace - Portuguese palace with exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi, Jewish Synagogue and St. Francis Church - one of oldest European churches in India from 1503 where the body of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried in 1524.
Return to the hotel and overnight stay at the hotel.
Depart for Munnar, the land of tea plantations, after breakfast in the hotel. Enroute, you visit Cheeyappara Waterfalls, Valara Falls, Karadipara View Point and Blossom Park with a wide array of flowers and migratory waterbirds. Arrive at Munnar and check in to the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
After a tasty breakfast, proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Eravikulam National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located around the Western Ghats is the first stop, home to the Atlas moth, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri Thar-Goat and more animal species. The next stop is the Mattupetty Dam, built in the mountains of Kerala and is a popular picnic spot. Later, proceed to Anamudi (2695 m), the highest peak in Kerala and South India, giving you a good view of the hills. Pothamedu viewpoint, famous for sunset views, gives a panoramic view of the valley and its plantations. Also visit the Tea Museum and Rose garden, which is a spectacular sight to behold with its many rare flowers.
Return to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, depart for Thekkady, known for the Periyar National Park. The drive will take you through spice plantations like those of black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. At the Periyar National Park, enjoy an elephant safari or a boat cruise on the Periyar Lake. In the evening, watch a kathakali dance performance.
At the end of your day, return to the hotel and enjoy your overnight stay at the hotel.
If you wish, you can even opt for a Kerala special ayurvedic massage.
After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Alleppey. Arrival at Alleppey and check in to houseboat. Relax and enjoy all meals (lunch, tea and dinner) on the houseboat, while your boat cruises through the backwaters. Enjoy the views of paddy fields and villages on your one of a kind overnight stay on the houseboat.
After breakfast, check out of the houseboat and proceed to the coastal town of Kovalam. Visit the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple from 1729, with an 18 feet tall idol of Lord Vishnu and the city’s famous museums - The Napier Museum and Kuthiramalika Palace Museum.
Later, drive to Kovalam, where you check in to your hotel. Relax on the palm fringed beaches of Kovalam in the evening.
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and depart for Kanyakumari, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal merge. Check in to the hotel and proceed on a sightseeing tour visiting Kanyakumari Temple followed by Thiruvalluvar Statue (Valluvar Statue), a 133 feet tall stone statue of the Tamil Saint Poet Valluvar. Also, visit an iconic monument surrounded by the sea on all sides, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who would meditate here.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Witness the sunrise that Kanyakumari is famous for and then check out of the hotel to drive to Rameswaram, one of the holiest towns in India. Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Then, visit Pamban Bridge and APJ Abdul Kalam House, the residence of the former President of India.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel at Rameswaram and proceed to the ancient city of Madurai. Enroute, visit Tirupparankundram, an important pilgrimage centre. Later, visit the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her consort, Lord Shiva, with its 14 towering gopurams of which, the tallest is almost 170 feet tall. Then, visit the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace, a 17th century palace famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer you to the airport / railway station.