Ayurveda in God's Own Country
12 Days
Best Season: Mid Oct - Mid-March
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Watch the exaggerated dance drama - Kathakali.
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Boat ride in Periyar Lake to see wildlife.
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Nature Walk in Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Bird watching in Kumarakom in motorized Shikara for about 2 hours.
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Fishing in Kumarakomusing local bamboo fishing rods.
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Cruise the backwaters in the famous houseboats.
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Ayurvedic treatment by the sea side.
God's Own Country, Kerala, is truly a paradise for nature lover. With the state blanketed in hues of green, and the coastal regions hugged by the blue waters, Kerala has a heavenly and other - worldly feel to it. Time seems to be moving at a slow pace, urging you to forget about the rush of your daily, mundane routine and enjoy moments of peace and relaxation. The networked backwaters of Kerala can be navigated on the famous houseboats, with the calm water spread all around; this in itself is a blissful experience.
With natural beauty, calm & serene environment and friendly locals. Kerala is also one of the best destinations to indulge in relaxing Ayurvedic treatment. This ancient science of Indian herbal medicine and holistic healing is performed with love and care using natural plant extracts, massage and therapies, which will leave you with a peaceful body and mind.
On this tour, we take you on a journey of mindfulness through the green paradise of Kerala, visiting and absorbing the soothing effects of green. We finally reach the beach Marari, where we can get the Ayurvedic massages and therapies, while also enjoying basking in the sun by the sea side.
Route Map
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 - Departure
Depart from your home country.
Day 2 - Cochin
Arrival at the International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to hotel. In the evening, we witness the dramatic dance / drama - Kathakali. The dance form is known for its use of excessive make up, costumes and exaggerated expressions. After the enchanting and engrossing evening, we go back to hotel for overnight.
Day 3 - Cochin / Munnar
In the morning, we drive 140 km / 4 hrs to Munnar, which is South India's largest tea growing region. Enveloped in a blanket of green tea plantations, Munnar provides a magnificent scenery. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4 - Munnar
Today, we do sightseeing of Munnar. We visit the Mattupatty dam, the still water of which reflects the tea garden around. We also visit the Eravikulam National park that houses the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. The park is also home to several species of butterflies, birds and other animals. Later, we enhance our knowledge of tea by visiting the Tea Museum, which was opened by Tata Tea - a staple name in the Indian household, to preserve and showcase the origin of the tea plantations in Kerala. It also houses antiques, machineries and photographs, which all have a story to tell. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5 - Munnar / Periyar
After a hearty breakfast in the green carpeted Munnar, we drive 110 km / 3 hrs to Periyar, which is famous for its Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of India’s 48 tiger reserves. The Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as the most protected area for elephants and tigers. The park provides beautiful scenic views of Western Ghats and has a rich biodiversity. It is rich in its flora and fauna and houses several species of birds, animals and reptiles. In the afternoon, we make a boat ride in the Periyar Lake to see the wildlife of the sanctuary. Overnight in hotel.
Day 6 - Periyar
Early in the morning, we do boat ride in the Periyar Lake to see the varied wildlife of the area. Later, we make an interesting plantation walk for about an hour, absorbing the green attractiveness of the area. The walk is a mesmerizing experience amidst all the greenery. After lunch, we take a 2 hours’ nature walk in the Wildlife National Park with a nature guide to see the diverse wildlife of Periyar. Apart from elephants and tigers, there is a good chance to spot Indian Bison, Wild Boar, Sambar Deer and Langur. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7 - Periyar / Kumarakom
In the morning, we drive 130 km / 4 hours to Kumarakom. Set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake (the largest lake in Kerala), Kumarakom is famous for its networked backwaters. The village has a renowned bird sanctuary, which is the haunt of domestic as well as migratory birds. Herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoo, wild duck are some of the domestic birds that inhabit the bird sanctuary. Rest of the time free to relax. Overnight in hotel.
Day 8 - Kumarakom
Today, we get to see and know Kumarakom closely. We walk through a village for about 1 hour where we can see Todi (coconut beer), paddy fields and locals working with coir to make various articles like rugs, door mats, and other daily use items. Later, we do bird watching by motorized Shikara for about two hours. We also have some fun fishing by using local bamboo fishing rods; it is a pleasurable and exciting activity to catch fishes using locally made rods. The afternoon is free for relaxation, or to indulge in independent activities. Overnight in hotel.
Day 9 - Kumarakom / Allepey / Houseboat
Today, we sit in the famous houseboat and cruise along the networked backwaters, with a wide expanse of water all around us. With home like facilities, the houseboat is a beautiful experience on water. Overnight we stop somewhere by the side of a canal and spend our night in the comfortable House Boat, with all the modern facilities.
Day 10 - Allepey / Marari
Early in the morning, we slowly navigate the backwaters, while enjoying the breakfast sitting outside on the deck and absorbing the beauty that lies around us. This is quite a pleasurable feeling for our soul. Later, we check out from the house boat in Allepey Boat Jetty and drive to our last destination — Marari. The drive from Allepey to Marari takes about 30 min. Overnight in hotel / resort.
Day 11 - Marari
The sea side region of Marari provides a calm respite and allows us to spend relaxing moments by the beach side, enjoying the waves hitting the shore. To know more about the locals' ways of fishing, you may go with the local fishermen early in the morning, and enjoy their way of fishing. Overnight in hotel / resort.
For Ayurveda, you can choose the number of days you would like to spend. We suggest you take out at least a week's time to reap proper benefits of this ancient treatment.
Day 12 - Marari / Cochin / Departure
After relaxing days in Marari, taking Ayurvedic treatment and enjoying the beach, we drive for about an hour to Cochin. Later, with warm, pleasant and beautiful memories, we transfer you to the International Airport for your journey back home.