Kerala & Tamilnadu Kerala & Karnataka Wynad

KERALA & TAMILNADU

Tour Code : SV 101 Duration : 14 nights / 15 days Day 1 : Arrival at Trivandrum. Transfer to Paravoor a small village on the banks of the backwaters near Kollam town or a unique floating resort near Kovalam. Rest of the day at leisure. Day 2 & 3: Transfer to Mararikulam Beach and check into a theme resort. At leisure at the resort to enjoy the beach and the surf. Day 4 : AM transfer to Cochin to check into a heritage hotel located in historic Fort Cochin. Freshen up and go on a guided 1/2 day local S/S tour in and around Fort Cochin to visit : St. Francis Portuguese church. Jewish Synagogue. Dutch Palace. Antiques and Spices market. Bishops house to see church relics. Lunch back at the hotel. Noon: Shopping trip to Ernakulam city. Evening: Attend the Kathakali show. Dinner return to the hotel. Day 5 : AM after a leisurely breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to " Puthengadi boat jetty " to board the Houseboat by 12 noon, for and an overnight cruise along the scenic backwaters. Enroute stop by at small coir making units, local churches, temples, villages etc. Day 6 : AM after breakfast on board the houseboat, disembark at a resort set in the heart of the backwaters of Kumarakom. Accommodation here is in old, reassembled wooden traditional Kerala houses. Rest of the day at leisure at the resort. Evening option of visiting the Kumarakom bird sanctuary next door. Day 7 : Check out from the resort and transfer by road to Thekkady / Periyar ( 4 hrs ). Check in by lunchtime into a resort set in the midst of a Spice plantation. Evening go for a guided trek through the forests. Day 8 : At Thekkady / Periyar. Early morning go for a 2 hr boat ride on Periyar Lake to see the Wildlife the only way to see it. Return to the resort for breakfast. Later in the morning go on a guided Plantation tour to visit Tea estates, factory and a Spice farm. Lunch at the resort and the rest of the evening on your own to explore the town. Day 9: AM check out from the resort and transfer by road to Madurai ( 3 1/2 hrs ). Check into the hotel. Noon at leisure to explore this bustling Temple town. Evening visit the Madurai Meenakshi temple to watch the colourful and interesting closing rituals. Day 10: At Madurai. Shop for souvenirs, Silks etc. Visit the Tirumalanayak Palace and museum. Day 11: AM transfer to " Swamimalai " in Kumbakonam; enroute stop by at Trichy ( 129 kms ) to see the Rock Fort temple, Sreerangam temple and Tanjore to see one of the World Heritage Monuments - Brihadeeswara temple, Saraboji Palace and Library, The Art Gallery and the famous Music hall Sangeeth Mahal. Late lunch at a city hotel and proceed to the Swamimalai resort to check in by evening. The resort organizes different theme dinners and concerts which are well thought-out and enjoyable. Yoga and Ayurveda facilities are also available at the resort. Day 12: Based at Swamimalai visit Chidambaram - Temple of the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja, Gangaikonda Cholapuram a Chola period sculptural monument. Evening return to the resort and relax or go for a walk through the surrounding village. Day 13: AM visit nearby places of interest like Dharasuram, a 12th century Temple known for its musical steps and which is also one of the three replicas of the Tanjore temple. Vaitheeswaran Kovil famous for Palm leaf futurologists and the Institute of Iconography where you can get beautiful Bronze sculptures, icons and statues. Noon return to the resort and rest of the evening at leisure. Day 14: Early morning check out from the resort and transfer to Kumbakonam railway station ( approx. 4 Kms ) to board the train to Kollam. Dep: at 0405 reaching Kollam at 1620. Train no 6705 Chennai - Kollam A/C 2 tier steeper available. Placard pick up at Kollam station and transfer to Trivandrum ( 2 hrs ) and check into a city hotel. . Day 15: AM check out from hotel and transfer to Trivandrum International airport to board the flight out of Kerala. END OF TOUR. KERALA & KARNATAKA Tour Code : SV 102 Duration : 17 nights / 18 days Day 1 : Arrival at Trivandrum airport. Transfer to Paravoor a small village on the banks of the backwaters near Kollam town or a unique floating resort near Kovalam. Rest of the day at leisure. Day 2 & 3 : Transfer to Mararikulam Beach and check into a theme resort. At leisure at the resort to enjoy the beach and the surf. Day 4 : AM after a leisurely breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to " Puthengadi boat jetty " to board the Houseboat by 12 noon, for and overnight cruise along the scenic backwaters. Enroute stop by at small coir making units, local churches, temples, villages etc. Day 5 : AM after breakfast on board the houseboat, disembark at a resort set in the heart of the backwaters of Kumarakom. Accommodation here is in old, reassembled wooden traditional Kerala houses. Rest of the day at leisure at the resort. Evening option of visiting the Kumarakom bird sanctuary next door. Day 6 : Check out from the resort and transfer by road to Thekkady / Periyar ( 4 hrs ). Check in by lunchtime into a resort set in the midst of a Spice plantation. Evening go for a guided trek through the forests. Day 7 : At Thekkady / Periyar. Early morning go for a 2 hr boat ride on Periyar Lake to see the Wildlife the only way to see it. Return to the resort for breakfast. Later in the morning go on a guided plantation tour to visit Tea estates, factory and a Spice farm. Lunch at the resort and the rest of the evening on your own to explore the town. Day 8 : AM transfer to Cochin to check into a heritage hotel located in historic Fort Cochin. Rest of the day to relax at the hotel. Evening: Attend the Kathakali show. Dinner return to the hotel. Day 9: At Cochin go on a guided 1/2 day local S/S tour in and around Fort Cochin to visit St. Francis Portuguese church. Jewish Synagogue. Dutch Palace. Antiques and Spices market. Bishops house to see church relics. Lunch back at the hotel. Noon: Shopping trip to Ernakulam city. Day 10 & 11: Morning transfer to Tellicherry in North Kerala and check into a unique Heritage house overlooking the sea. This luxurious home has a private swimming pool, large A/C bath attached rooms all furnished with antiques. The highlight of the stay here is the regional cuisine where the emphasis is on the fresh Seafood. Enroute stop for lunch at a resort on Kappad beach. Activities: - there is an excellent beach a short drive away and various places of interest located nearby like the. - Parassinikadavu temple to watch the dramatic and colourful closing evening rituals, where Theyyam dance is performed. Cinnamon gardens - 300 acres. Beedi - local hand rolled cigarettes made of dried Tendu leaves. Local fish market. St. Angelo's Fort at Kannur. Handloom weaving units where cloth is woven on Shuttle weaves. Muzhipilangad beach. Day 12 & 13: Transfer to Mysore. ( 5 hrs ). Check into a palace hotel or a modern one in the city. Local S/S trips to see the Palace, Chamundi hills temple etc. Shop for Silks and sandalwood. Day 14: Transfer to Chikmangalur ( 190 kms) and check into a hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Day 15: AM after breakfast check out and proceed to Bangalore. ( approx. 250 kms ). Enroute visit the old Hoysala temples at Belur / Halebid with the option - of visiting Sravanabelagola to see the huge Buddha statue and Jain temples. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Late evening check into a city hotel in Bangalore. Day 16: At leisure at Bangalore for Shopping, S/S etc. Day 17: Transfer to Bangalore airport to board the daily flight to Trivandrum. Placard pk up at airport and check into a city hotel at Trivandrum. Noon option - Local city tour to visit Napier museum, Sree Chitra Art Gallery etc. Day 18: Early morning transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight out of Kerala. END OF TOUR

WYNAD Interesting locations for trekking

Wynad - 750 mts. Trekking season - August to April Soochipara is 22 kms drive away from Kalpetta is a 3 tiered waterfall. Drive 22 kms and walk 2 kms through dense equatorial forests. Camp at Chooralmala. Chembra peak 1500m Edakkal carve - walk from camp site at Chembra peak to this prehistoric rock shelter formed naturally of 3 boulders resting on each other. The caves have ancient carvings and scripts and can be termed as a pictorial gallery. Return from the caves to Meenmkutty for the night halt. Kurava - 370 acres of unique combination of various types of forest surrounded by the Kabini river. Rare species of birds, ornamental orchids and herbs are found here. Access is by means of a boat. 10 kms drive from Kalpetta. Option : At Wynad, located in North Kerala Access : By flight & rail - Calicut By road from Mysore, Ooty and Cochin Tariff for a 2 nights / 3 day camp with hotel accommodation on arrival and departure @ US$ 155 per head. Cost Includes: Nylon Tents, gas, cooking utensils and the services of a professional & well experienced trekker are included in above cost. Trekking to Chembra peak / Soochipara waterfalls etc. Hotel accommodation also included. Room only. Transportation: Transportation to and fro to the base camp from Kalpetta / Meppadi will be at extra cost and dependant on group size. Train tickets from Calicut at extra cost.

Day 01: Arrival at Calicut and transfer to Kalpetta and check into "Green Gate". O/N

Day 02: AM transfer to Meppadi and start trek up Chembra peak (1500m from base) and return to camp overnight at a halfway point near pool.

Day 03: Continue trek. O/N camp.

Day 04: Return to base and transfer by van to Calicut - Kappad Beach Resort. O/N

Day 05: Morning check out and transfer to station to board the train to Cochin. Train tickets at extra cost. END OF TOUR.

Kerala & Tamilnadu Kerala & Karnataka Wynad