Hike, Bike & Boats
Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places to See: Mumbai - Calicut - Kappad - Vythri -
Calicut - Cochin - Kumarakom - Kovalam - Neyyar - Kovalam -
Trivandrum
Day
1 : Arrival Mumbai
Arrive at Mumbai (Bombay), the commercial capital of India.
Upon arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. Proceed for
an afternoon city tour of Mumbai. Visit the Gateway of
India, built to commemorate the royal visit of George V and
Queen Mary in 1911. Stop by the Dhobi Ghat, the Flora
Fountain and the Hanging Gardens. Drive by the Mari
ne Drive,
the Chowpaty Beach and the Parsi ''Towers of Silence''. Also
visit the Indo-Saracenic Prince of Wales Museum. Stay
overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 : Mumbai - Calicut
In the morning, board the
connecting flight for Calicut, now known as Kozhikode where
Vasco da Gama landed. Upon arrival transfer and check into
the hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of Calicut, visiting
the Pazhassiraja Museum, the Art Gallery, the Krishna Memon
Museum and the market. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day
3 : Calicut - Kappad
In the morning, drive to Kappad. This historic beach is
locally known as Kappakadavu. This is the place where the
Portuguese Navigator Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. Upon
arrival check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Beypur,
one of the ancient ports of Kerala. The boat-building yard
here is famous for the construction of Uru or Country Craft,
which used to sail to Gulf countries with heavy luggage. The
technique of this boat building is now available with few
families. It is also a major fishing harbor. The rest of the
day would be spent at leisure. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 : Kappad - Vythri
In the morning, drive to Vythiri and check into a hotel. The
rest of the day would be spent at leisure. Stay overnight at
the hotel.
Day 5 : Vythri
The day
would
be spent at leisure to enjoy the Eco-Friendly nature at its
best. The hotel is situated close to the Pookode Lake,
evergreen forests with perennial steams and stunning
waterfalls. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : Vythri - Calicut - Cochin
In the morning, drive to Calicut to board a train for
Cochin. The city is now known as Kochi which with its wealth
of historic associations and its setting of a cluster of
islands and narrow peninsulas perfectly reflects the
eclecticism of Kerala. Upon arrival transfer and check into
the hotel. The evening would be spent at leisure. Stay
overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 : Cochin
In the morning, enjoy a city tour. Visit the Mattancheery
Dutch Palace where the superb series of murals painted on
the wooden walls are its main attraction. Also visit the
16th century Jewish Synagogue and the Church of St. Francis.
Vasco da Gama was originally buried in the Church''s
cemetery. Walk around the Fort Cochin area and admire the
Chinese Fishing Nets. Chinese traders are believed to have
introduced them in the late 14th century. The afternoon
would be spent at leisure. In the evening, there would be a
Kathakali Dance show. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 : Cochin - Kumarakom
In the morning, drive to Kumarakom and check into the hotel.
The rest of the day can be spent at leisure or one can visit
the villages,
the
Bird Sanctuary, the Country Boat Cruise, or go for an
Ayurvedic Massage. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 : Kumarakom - Houseboat
The morning would be spent at leisure. In the afternoon,
check into a Houseboat and depart for a cruise through the
scenic backwater towards Alleppey. Enjoy the endless stretch
of water running miles to nowhere; its banks lined with
swaying palms fanning the lush green rice fields below
dancing in rhythm with the gentle sea breeze carrying a
medley of flavors of fish, coconut and spice. Stay overnight
on the Houseboat.
Day 10 : Houseboat - Kovalam
In the morning transfer to Alleppey by road. Later, drive to
Kovalam. Upon arrival, check into a hotel. The rest of the
day would be spent at leisure on the beach. Stay overnight
at the hotel.
Day 11 : Kovalam - Neyyar
In the morning, drive to Neyyar situated in the base of the
forest, Agastyarkoodam, where the Hindu Saint Agastya spent
his life in meditation. This area has rich in flora and
fauna with lots of medicinal plants and orchids. Upon
arrival, check into the hotel. The rest of the day would be
spent at leisure, enjoying nature and trekking. Stay
overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Neyyar
Early
in the morning, attend Yoga and meditation sessions. The
rest of the day would be spent at leisure enjoying nature
and mild trekking. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 : Neyyar - Kovalam
Early in the morning, attend Yoga and meditation sessions.
Later, drive to Kovalam visiting Aruvikkara en route. Upon
arrival, check into the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a
city tour of Trivandrum, visiting the Padmanabhaswamy Temple
where the corridors are lined with 368 sculpted stone
pillars and adorned with murals and ornamentation, the
Museum, the Handicrafts Institute and the Art Gallery.
Return to Kovalam and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 : Kovalam - Trivandrum - Departure
In the morning, transfer to the Trivandrum airport for your
onward connection.
