South India Heritage and Wildlife Tour — 13 Days

Day 01: Delhi 
On arrival at Delhi international airport, one of our representatives will collect you and transfer you to your chosen accommodation. After breakfast you will take a rickshaw around Delhi’s famous ChandniChowk, and to see the Lotus Temple. 
(This sight seeing for the first day depends on the time of the international flight. If one arrives late at night these sights will be added to the next days tour).

Day 02: Delhi 
After breakfast your driver will pick you up and take you on a sight seeing tour around Delhi, this will include the following places and monuments: The QutubMinar, India’s gate (War Memorial) the Presidents House, Parliament House and Secretariat Buildings, the Raj Ghat (cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi), and the Jama Masjid. We will end the days sight seeing by driving past the Red Fort (closed on Monday) After the tour is finished you will be returned to your chosen accommodation.

Day 3: Delhi to Cochin (By flight)
After breakfast you will be driven on to Delhi airport where you will fly on to Cochin.
Your driver will collect you and transfer you to your chosen accommodation. Cochin is the most historical destination of Kerala having a rich ancient heritage. Check into the hotel located in city. Afternoon proceed for a half day sight sightseeing tour(since the monuments will be closed on Fridays and Saturdays, you are given the sightseeing in Cochin on the same day) visiting the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Indo – Portuguese Museum, Santa Cruz Basilica and the Chinese Fishing Nets.

Day 4: Cochin (No Driver)
Today you are free to explore the lovey heritage town by walk and later go for a shopping and in the evening watch the Kathakali Dance Show (the traditional art form of Kerala).

Day 5: Cochin > Munnar (4.5hrs)
After breakfast your driver will pick you up and drive you on to Munnar. Munnar is the known to be the most beautiful hill station in Kerala, full of tea plantations and misty clouds. On arrival relax in the resort and later explore the hill station in your own time. You also have the option for trekking nearby.

Day 6 : Munnar 
After breakfast your driver will be taken on a sightseeing tour visiting the Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala Peak which is home to endangered species of NilgiriThar (mountain goats), Tea Museum (closed on Mondays), Mattupetty Dam where speed boating can be done, Echo Point, etc. After the tour is over you will be left to enjoy your free time. Here we suggest a visit a local tea plantation.

Day 7 : Munnar to Periyar (146km 4hrs)
After breakfast your driver will pick you up and drive you on to Periyar, famous for its wildlife sanctuary and for a large variety of spices found here. After checking in to your chosen accommodation you will be left to enjoy some free time. We suggest you explore the amazing local spice market.

Day8: Periyar
After breakfast you will be driven to then Periyar lake to enjoy a boat cruise, this boat cruise is available from morning 7am to afternoon 4pm and takes approximately 2 hours. Afterwards one can continue by also joining a nature walk, border hiking group, jungle safari, bamboo rafting, jungle patrol, the Periyar tiger trail, plantation and/or sightseeing.

Day 9: Periyar to Alleppey (91km 2.5hrs)
After breakfast you will be driven on to Alleppey, once you have checked into your chosen accommodation you will be taken on a small boat trip along the backwaters where the larger boats can’t go.

Day 10: Alleppey (Night on Boat)
After breakfast you will be driven to where you will take your private houseboat at 12.30pm and start your cruise along the narrow canals. During the journey you can visit ancient temples, churches, paddy fields and can watch the daily activities of the local people who live nearby. Your crewmembers will serve delicious Kerala food on board and will take good care of you. In the evening at around 5:30PM, you will be anchored at one of the beautiful local villages where you will be free to do some fishing (during the night time there will not be any cruise). Overnight stay in an air-conditioned luxurious houseboat(a houseboat cruise with an overnight stay is the most thrilling experience which Kerala offers and undoubtedly this is the highlight of any trip to South India)

Day 11: Alleppey to Marari (16km 0.25min)
After breakfast you will leave your houseboat and be driven on to Marari, once checked in to your chosen accommodation you will be you be left to relax in the beach resort, in the pool or have some Ayurveda massages and optional seafood from the beach side restaurant.

Day 12 : Marari
After breakfast you will be taken on a sightseeing tour around Trivandrum city visiting the monuments/ museums as per your interest. Afterwards you will once again be returned to your accommodation to relax and enjoy your last evening on the beach.

Day 13 : Marari to Cochin (48km 1.5hrs) to Delhi Airport
After breakfast you will be transferred to Cochin airport to fly on to Delhi. If you have a late flight a driver will collect you and there will be an opportunity to do some last minute shopping and have dinner before being dropped off at the airport to catch your international flight home.

Departure

All our tours are guidelines. If you wish to change anything please do not hesitate to contact us. All are tours can be done using diverse categories of accommodation. Homestay’s Heritage, 3*, 4* and 5*, a mixture is also possible. All our tours can also be done using trains and planes alongside having your private driver. At IAT we live under the “motto” everything is possible.