21 Night/22 Day Tour of Kerala
This tour starts in Bangalore and Mysore, takes in the unspoilt rain forests of Wayanad and the plantations and wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats before taking you to the World Heritage temple at Madurai in Tamil Nadu. You can then spend a relaxing few days on the backwaters and beaches.
Day 1: Arrive in Bangalore and transfer to the Heritage city of Mysore
Day 2: Mysore was the former capital, and consequently has lots of Palaces. It is one of the most atmospheric Indian towns, with its huge Maharaja's Palace, Maharaja's Residence, and many other fairy-tale buildings. The markets are famous for the quality of their silks
Day 3: Drive South to the virgin rain forests of Wayanad.
Day 4: At leisure in Wayanad, where you can trek through the forest, visit the spectacular waterfalls and visit the wildlife parks where you have a chance to see elephant, giant squirrels, many species of birds and, occasionally, panthers and tigers.
Day 5: Drive to the old city of Calicut, one of the first ports to be used by the Portuguese in the early 15 hundreds. Overnight stay.
Day 6-8: Drive to Cochin. The port city of Cochin affords the traveller exciting glimpses of its long history through the spice warehouses, the synagogue, palaces and Portuguese and Dutch churches. In the evening you could take a sunset cruise around the port or go to a traditional Kathakali performance. Along the front of the old town are the famous Chinese fishing nets which have fished in the sea here for hundreds of years. You can buy fish from the fishermen and have it cooked in one of the restaurants which line the road.
Day 9: Drive through the mountains to the tea plantations at Munnar.
Day 10: At leisure in Munnar. Visit the Tata tea factory, the nature reserves and waterfalls of this area. Munnar is an ideal place to trek through the tea plantations and valleys in the cooler mountain climate which give stunning views of the mountains and lakes. The more energetic can hire a mountain bike!
Day 11: Drive across the fertile plains of Tamil Nadu to the World Heritage site at Madurai. The temple there is one of the largest in India, and has seen worship continually for nearly 2,000 years.
Day 12: At leisure in Madurai. Visit the market, the palace, which has been sympathetically restored and now houses a museum, and the Gandhi Museum.
Day 13: Drive back to Thekkady to cross the border into Kerala. You will drive through spice and tea plantations, and may have the option to visit one of the plantations to see how spices are grown and processed.
Day 14-15: Take the early morning boat trip on the lake at Periyar, where you have the chance to see elephant, wild pig, bison, deer and otters, trek through the reserve with a guide, or shop for spices in Kumily. You may choose to stay at one of the hotels in the park, where you can see the animals from your hotel room.
Day 16: Travel to the backwaters at Kumarakom.
Day 17-18: At leisure in Kumarakom. If you wish, you can spend one night on your own houseboat cruising the backwaters. Small boats are also available for a leisurely sail through the small canals between the paddy fields and coconut plantations. You might also visit the nearby town of Alleppey, 'Venice of India', where ancient spice warehouses line the canals. It is possible to visit coir factories to see coconut fibre being processed and woven, or to take an evening stroll along the beach with others enjoying the cool evening air.
Day 19: Transfer to your chosen beach resort, either at Marari or Kovalam.
Day 20 & 21: At leisure on the beach. There are many optional trips, for example Cape Comarin is about 3 hours from Kovalam.
Day 22: Airport transfer for your flight home.
Day 2: Mysore was the former capital, and consequently has lots of Palaces. It is one of the most atmospheric Indian towns, with its huge Maharaja's Palace, Maharaja's Residence, and many other fairy-tale buildings. The markets are famous for the quality of their silks
Day 3: Drive South to the virgin rain forests of Wayanad.
Day 4: At leisure in Wayanad, where you can trek through the forest, visit the spectacular waterfalls and visit the wildlife parks where you have a chance to see elephant, giant squirrels, many species of birds and, occasionally, panthers and tigers.
Day 5: Drive to the old city of Calicut, one of the first ports to be used by the Portuguese in the early 15 hundreds. Overnight stay.
Day 6-8: Drive to Cochin. The port city of Cochin affords the traveller exciting glimpses of its long history through the spice warehouses, the synagogue, palaces and Portuguese and Dutch churches. In the evening you could take a sunset cruise around the port or go to a traditional Kathakali performance. Along the front of the old town are the famous Chinese fishing nets which have fished in the sea here for hundreds of years. You can buy fish from the fishermen and have it cooked in one of the restaurants which line the road.
Day 9: Drive through the mountains to the tea plantations at Munnar.
Day 10: At leisure in Munnar. Visit the Tata tea factory, the nature reserves and waterfalls of this area. Munnar is an ideal place to trek through the tea plantations and valleys in the cooler mountain climate which give stunning views of the mountains and lakes. The more energetic can hire a mountain bike!
Day 11: Drive across the fertile plains of Tamil Nadu to the World Heritage site at Madurai. The temple there is one of the largest in India, and has seen worship continually for nearly 2,000 years.
Day 12: At leisure in Madurai. Visit the market, the palace, which has been sympathetically restored and now houses a museum, and the Gandhi Museum.
Day 13: Drive back to Thekkady to cross the border into Kerala. You will drive through spice and tea plantations, and may have the option to visit one of the plantations to see how spices are grown and processed.
Day 14-15: Take the early morning boat trip on the lake at Periyar, where you have the chance to see elephant, wild pig, bison, deer and otters, trek through the reserve with a guide, or shop for spices in Kumily. You may choose to stay at one of the hotels in the park, where you can see the animals from your hotel room.
Day 16: Travel to the backwaters at Kumarakom.
Day 17-18: At leisure in Kumarakom. If you wish, you can spend one night on your own houseboat cruising the backwaters. Small boats are also available for a leisurely sail through the small canals between the paddy fields and coconut plantations. You might also visit the nearby town of Alleppey, 'Venice of India', where ancient spice warehouses line the canals. It is possible to visit coir factories to see coconut fibre being processed and woven, or to take an evening stroll along the beach with others enjoying the cool evening air.
Day 19: Transfer to your chosen beach resort, either at Marari or Kovalam.
Day 20 & 21: At leisure on the beach. There are many optional trips, for example Cape Comarin is about 3 hours from Kovalam.
Day 22: Airport transfer for your flight home.
