Exotic Tour Packages
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4
1. Exclusive one-day Kumbalangi package – visit to the First Model Village Tourism Project of Govt. of India and Kerala State.
Kumbalangi, the beautiful, tiny village is surrounded by backwaters. Main occupations of the villagers are fishing, carpentry, boat making and agriculture. Different types of fishing activities, boat building, backwater cruising, ethnic food, traditional art forms, agricultural activities etc. are the attractions.
Itinerary
Arrival at Kochi Airport
Airport to Kumbalangi by car – 55 Kms.
Homestay accommodation
Light refreshment – tender coconut with fresh banana from the gardens.
Visit to 200 years old St. George Church, boat building yard, handicraft centre, women’s embroidery centre, women’s hotel, crab centre, fish farms, paddy fields and various other fishing activities.
Lunch – ethnic food at the homestay.
Sunset cruising on a country boat in the backwaters.
Traditional folk arts.
Dinner – Delicious with backwater fish such as prawns, crabs with fresh coconut toddy, if required.
Night cruising on the backwater to watch night-time fishing.
Night stay at the homestay, fully enjoying the fresh breeze and the lullaby of boatmen’s songs.
Next day early morning, conclude the tour package by visiting the fish auction center.
Next day, proceed to Airport or Railway station.
2. One-day package to Fort Kochi and Kumbalangi
Itinerary
To enjoy the rural charm and to spend a night at the first Model Tourism Village in India – Kumbalangi.
Arrival at Kochi – Queen of the Arabian Sea.
Airport to Kumbalangi by car - 55 kms.
Check into a homestay, have breakfast and take rest.
Visits to the crab center, coir making and boat building yards.
Lunch, comprising ethnic food.
Drive to Fort Kochi for sightseeing by car - 10 kms
Places of interest
St. Francis Church – India’s first European Church built in 1503 by the Portuguese. Vasco Da Gama was buried here and latter taken to Lisbon.
Dutch Cemetery consecrated in 1724.
Antique shops, spice markets and synagogue in Jew Street.
Chinese fishing nets erected between 1350 and 1450 A.D. by Chinese Traders.
Santa Cruz Basilica built by the Portuguese.
Mattanchery palace built by the Portuguese in 1557
Synagogue built in 1568 – the Oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth.
Return back to Kumbalanghi by 7 p.m.
Watch folk dance, followed by delicious dinner, which include fish and fresh coconut toddy, if required
Night cruising on the backwater to watch night-time fishing.
Night stay at the homestay, fully enjoying the fresh breeze and the lullaby of boatmen’s songs.
Next day, proceed to Airport or Railway station.
3. Three-day package to Kochi, Alappuzha, Munnar – Tour package from below the sea level to hills 1800 m above sea level.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Kochi Airport
Airport to Alappuzha by car – 100 km
Alappuzha is known as the ‘Venice of the east by travelers.’ It was the prosperous trading center of bygone days. It is a land of boat races, beaches, marine products and coir industry.
Refreshment at Homestay
Lunch – Ethnic food – backwater fish such as prawns, crabs, pearl spots etc. and duck meat.
Country boat cruise in Kuttanad. The region is the rice bowl of Kerala, situated two meters below the sea level.
Visit the vast paddy fields, coir factory, fishing activities, duck farms and other livelihood activities of the village folks.
Undergo Ayurvedic massage and get rejuvenated.
Have dinner and watch cultural programmes at the Homestay.
Day 2
Have a traditional breakfast comprising puttu, appam, stew, egg roast, banana etc.
After breakfast, leave for Munnar by car – 200 kms. The route covers Kuttanad and Kottayam – the land of churches and high range regions.
Reach Munnar by 1 p.m.
Munnar – the Queen of high ranges is 1600 m above sea level. This was once the summer resort of the British Government. Visit tea estates, water falls, Eravikulam National Park – home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Other attractions here include Kundala dam and Top Station.
After lunch, drive to Mattupetty and Kundala dams. Go for boating at Mattupetty
By 7 p.m. visit the Hydel Park at Munnar.
Dinner at Home stay
Sleep in the cool weather (temperature between 0 and 10 degree Celsius during November, December and January).
Day 3
Early morning, visit the Eravikulam National Park to see the Nilgiri Tahr (ibex), located at an altitude of 1800 m.
After breakfast, leave for Kochi by car.
Lunch at Kumarakom Homestay, followed by visit to Kumarakom bird sanctuary.
Back to Kumbalangi and halt at homestay.
Return by next day morning.
4. Five-day package – Spice Tourism Circuit – Travel through spice-growing villages – Govt. of India and UNDP Scheme.
Spice tourism circuit in Kerala is a unique tourism venture. Most of the tourists are familiar with the spices like cardamom, pepper, ginger, turmeric and vanilla. But they have not seen the cultivation and processing of spices and the culture of the village folks, who are indulged in spice farming. A tour in the Spice Tourism Circuit, covering Munnar, Idukki, Arammula and Kumbalangi is really amazing. A traveler reaches at the top of the high ranges (about 1800 m above sea level) and later comes down to sea level in this trip.
The climate varies from moderate to cold and again to moderate. One can experience the lush green spice gardens, spice processing units, spice cuisine, wildlife, village life, heritage and also purchase spices and handicrafts. Nutmeg, pepper, vanilla, ginger, turmeric, tamarind, cloves, cardamom, etc. are the common spices available. Besides, tourists can visit the tea estates, tea factories and coffee plantations in the region.
Day 1
Kochi Airport to Kalady – gateway to the Spice Tourism Circuit by car – 7 kms.
After breakfast, visit organic spice farms including 150 years old nutmeg trees, turmeric plants, ginger gardens and witness the process of cultivation, spice process, grading of spices and spice market.
Lunch at Homestay, comprising spicy cuisine.
After lunch visit the Sree Sankaracharya Mat (the great Hindu Philosopher), River Periyar (Crocodile ghat) and the Mural painting center at the Sanskrit University.
Visit Kodanadu Elephant training center near the Periyar River.
Proceed to Munnar – the Queen of high ranges by car – 120 kms.
Dinner at Homestay in Munnar and enjoy a good night’s sleep in the European climate. Munnar high range is 1600 m above sea level. This was once the summer resort of the British Government.
In Munnar one would find sprawling tea estates, many water falls and the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (ibex) at the Eravikulam National Park.
Marayoor sandal wood plantation of Government of Kerala, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, Mattupetty and Kundala dams and hydro electric projects, Top Station etc. are the other attractions in and around the region.
Day 2
Early morning, drive to Rajamala to see the Nilgiri Tahr at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level.
After breakfast from Homestay, proceed to Top Station. Here, one can enjoy beautiful, panoramic view of tea gardens. On the way to Top Station, visit Mattupetty and Kundala dams and may do boating.
Visit Munnar market and Hydel Park, followed by dinner at Homestay.
Day 3
After breakfast, proceed to Anakkara Spice Tourism Project, promoted by Government of India and UNDP by car - 100 kms.
The route covers a beautiful stretch of hill track and hills starting with Devikulam, Chinnakanal, Anayirankal dam, Santhanpara, Myladumpara and Pampadumpara.
Visit Indian Cardamom Research Institute at Myladumpara, Cardamom Research Station and
Rose gardens of Kerala Agriculture University at Pampadumpara.
Lunch at Homestay in Annakkara.
After lunch, visit women’s Agriculture Society, Aruvikuzhi waterfall, Chellarkoil view point (Tamil Nadu), cardamom estates, pepper, coffee, vanilla, plantations and the spice market at Kumily.
Have dinner at Anakkara and enjoy the folk dance of tribes and retire for the night.
Day 4
Early morning, proceed to Thekkady – 15 kms. Enjoy the wildlife sanctuary by boating (boating depends on the availability of boats).
Proceed to Aranmula – the Heritage Village promoted by Government of India and UNDP – 100 kms.
On the way, have a nice view of the tea estates at Peerumade, which is another beautiful hill station, Kuttikanam, Mundakkayam, Erumeli – the pilgrim centre, Ranni, Konni – elephant training center, Pathanamthitta and Aranmula.
Have lunch at Aranmula – traditional feast of boatmen (Valla Sadhya).
After lunch, visit the Vastu Vidhya Gurukulam – the Centre for mural arts, metal mirror manufacturing units; Vijana Kala Kendra – Centre for culture, classical dance run by a French lady; Parthasarathy Temple where Onam boat race is held, Palliyodam heritage museum and snake boat.
Proceed to Alappuzha via Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala – 60 kms.
Get rejuvenated by undergoing Ayurvedic massage at Alappuzha. Stay at Homestay.
Day 5
After breakfast proceed to Kumbalangi – the first Model Village Tourism project of Government of India and UNDP. It is a serene beautiful village surrounded by backwaters – 60 kms.
Visit St. George Church, heritage buildings, Siva Temple, Pokkali paddy fields, boat building yard, visit handicraft units run by women, Vanitha Hotel, Embroidery units, Fish and Crab farms.
Lunch at Homestay Traditional fish meals with full of spicy items.
Proceed to Fort Cochin – 10 kms.
Places of interest
St. Francis Church – India’s first European Church built in 1503 by the Portuguese. Vasco Da Gama was buried here and latter taken to Lisbon.
Dutch Cemetry consecrated in 1724.
Antique shops and Spice markets in Jew Street.
Chinese fishing nets erected between 1350 and 1450 A.D. by Chinese Traders.
Santa Cruz Basilica built by the Portuguese.
Mattanchery Palace built by the Portuguese in 1557 and was removed in 1663 by the Dutch.
Synagogue built in 1568 – the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.
Go for sunset cruising in the backwaters.
Folk dance arranged along with delicious dinner in the Homestay. Fresh coconut toddy will be supplied on demand.
Nighttime backwater cruising on country boat to watch fishing activities (Full moon cruising option also available)
Retire for the night by enjoying the cold fresh breeze from the backwaters and the lullaby of boatmen’s songs.
Next day morning return to airport or railway station.
Rates
One-day: 300 US $
Three-day: 1100 US $
Five-day: 1700 US $
Contact
Dr. Murali Menon
+ 91-93878-12067
menon_muralee2000@yahoo.co.in
M. P. Sivadattan
+ 91- 9349-253124
sivadattan@gmail.com
Travel Tips
Climate
Monsoon - June to August and September to October.
Rest of the year: Moderate and sunny weather.
Winter: Mid November to February
Dress
Cotton casuals are ideal, Woolen jacket preferred in high ranges.
Service
High quality packages, Delicious cuisine, Luxury cabs, Good guide service, Pleasant accommodation.
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