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Day
1 -Arrive Cochin
Arrive
into Cochin transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2 - Cochin - Munnar
Morning
sightseeing of Fort Cochin area with remnants of the
various influences of the historical port. Many
different cultures including Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese
and Jewish have traded with the Malabar coast in Spices
and Tea since the 16th century. Visit St Francis Church,
where Vasco De Gama was first buried, Chinese fishing
nets, Mattancherry Palace with well preserved fresco
paintings and the oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth.
The area around Jewtown is still a bustling market where
spice trading continues today. After lunch drive 120kms
(3hrs) to Munnar.
Munnar
is situated in the cradle of tea plantations stretching
in all directions. The area is surrounded by verdant
forest, excellent trekking areas and the Eravikulam
Wildlife Sanctuary , home to the endangered
Nilgiri Thar, a rare species of mountain goat.
Day
3 - Munnar - Periyar
Morning
free for trekking with a naturalist, a wide range of
birds also inhabit this area. Time also for a visit to
Eravikulam. After lunch take a scenic drive to Periyar (
110kms/2.5hrs). Periyar is part of the Project Tiger
scheme and is also home to large herds of elephants,
bison and deer. It is also famous for it's wide range of
waterbirds and is unique in that the wildlife spotting
is done by boat with a 2 hour boat ride on Lake Periyar.
Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for
seeing elephants and other animals coming to the lake to
drink and bathe. Overnight in Periyar.
Day 4 - Periyar - Kumarakom
Take
an early morning boat ride and visit the various spice
plantations where cardamom, nutmeg and pepper are grown.
After lunch drive through lush agricultural areas down
the hills to Kumarakom. Kumarakom is located on the
Backwaters and is home to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
Take a boat ride at sunset to see the birds coming into
nest for the night. Overnight in Kumarakom
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