Kerala - The Kingdoms Of Travancore & Cochin - River Cruises

Tour A – A five day tour

Day 01           
Leave Colombo in the afternoon, to arrive in Cochin in the evening- you are met and transferred to your hotel, the Abed Plaza.

Day 02
After breakfast, go sightseeing in Fort Cochin with its Portuguese churches, Jewish Synagogue (one of the last in the east). Drive to Alleppey to board your ‘riceboat’ (or kettuvallam), for a cruise on Vembanad Lake, on the backwaters.
All meals and overnight on board your houseboat. Watch the cooks as they prepare   your meal, learn their curry recipes!

Day 03
Finish breakfast and disembark to drive to Trivandrum. Sightseeing in
Trivandrum City – the great Padmanabhasamy Temple, the Kudramaliga Palace.    
Overnight at the Luciya Hotel, Trivandrum.  

Day 04
Day free for shopping in Trivandrum (own arrangements) specialities are the fine local cotton saris and vertis. Overnight Luciya Hotel, Trivandrum.

Day 05
You are escorted to the airport for your early morning departure from Trivandrum airport for Colombo.

Tour B – 6 nights/7 days

Day 01
Departure from Colombo to arrive in Cochin in the evening.
Overnight at Hotel Abed Plaza.

Day 02
Sightseeing around Fort Cochin - Jew Town (lovely bookshop and unique synagogue….etc, and back to Ernakulam on the mainland for some shopping.
Overnight Hotel Abed Plaza.

Day 03
Drive to Allepey (Allepuzha) to board your riceboat for a cruise on the backwaters. You will see village life, boat races perhaps, pass ayurveda resorts. 
All meals on board your houseboat, which is moored at a quiet lake bank for the night.
                         
Day 04
Breakfast, and by 09.30 disembark to drive to Trivandrum. Visit Trivandrum City – view the famous temple (only Hindus may enter) and the royal palace alongside it . Overnight Hotel Luciya, Trivandrum.

Day 05
You have a day free for shopping in Trivandrum. Overnight in Hotel Luciya, Trivandrum.

Day 06
You have a day free for more shopping Or take an Optional Day excursion south to Padmanabhapuram (the rambling wooden palace of the Rajahs of Travancore) and on to Kanya Kumari, the southernmost point of the sub-continent. Or  to  Kovalam or another nearby  beach resort.

Day 07
Early morning, you will be transferred to Trivandrum airport for your flight to Colombo.

Cost per person by number in the group

Cost includes

• Airfare Colombo - Cochin/ surface to Trivandrum and return flight Trivandrum - Colombo
• English speaking guide in Cochin and Trivandrum with entrance fees
• Hotels as mentioned above or similar, sharing standard double rooms with breakfast
• Air conditioned houseboat inclusive of all meals
• Check in/out 12 noon
• All present government taxes

Cost does not include

• Meals other than those mentioned
• Drinks, tips, purchases or  items of personal nature

                       
These rates are valid till 30th September 2008, and are based on current air fares which are subject to change without prior notice.

More to see and do….

The famous Snake Boat races take place this year on August 9th,  in Allepey,  We can arrange for you to see this  (cost : an additional Rs. 9.750.00 per person)

• The Onam festival held in September goes on for about a week, and includes music and dance festivals. 

• There is also a classical music festival in January, in Trivandrum, under the sponsorship of the erstwhile royal family.