LONGER TOURS – 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS
Andhra Pradesh, the largest state in Southern India is a major link between the North and South of India. A treasure house of handicrafts like Bidriware, Hyderabadi pearls, bangles, Poccham Palli sarees. The state represents a synthesis of religious traditions. This tour covers the temple of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala – one of the most venerated Hindu temples in India, ancient mosques of the erstwhile Hyderabad state and the remains of Buddhist structures at Nagarjunakonda dating back to the 2nd century BC.

HIGHLIGHTS
Tirupati Hyderabad Warangal Nagarnjukonda Amravati Vizag Araku Valley Tribal area

Day 1 – Chennai
Arrive in Chennai, met and transfer to hotel. Later take a city tour of Chennai.

Day 2 – Chennai
Half day excursion to Mahabalipuram, a world heritage site with important rock-cut temples and bas-reliefs showing the ancient style of Indian worship. Afternoon free.

Day 3 – Chennai/Kanchipuram/Tirupati
Drive to Tirupati enroute visiting Kanchipuram the Golden city of temples famous for its elegant Silk Sarees as well. Late afternoon check in at hotel at Tirupati.

Day 4 – Tirupati
Morning visit Lord Venkateshwara temple – the richest in India, always full of thousands of devotees. Continue visit of Chandragiri Fort and Temple. Evening depart by train at 1915 hours. Overnight on board the train.

Day 5 – Hyderabad
Arrive at Secunderabad railwlay statin at 08 15 hours, met and transfer to hotel in Hyderabad. Afternoon visit Salarjung Museum considered the largest one-man collection of artefacts and antiques in the world.

Day 6 – Hyderabad
Full day visit Hyderabad endearingly called the Pearl City including Char Minar, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Mecca Masjid and Golconda Fort.

Day 7 – Hyderabad/Ramappa/Warangal
Drive to Ramappa and visit the Temple built in 1213 AD. Return to Warangal for stay.

Day 8 – Warangal/Hyderabad
Morning visit 1000 Pillars Temple at Hanamkonda and Warangal Fort. Afternoon drive to Hyderabad.

Day 9 – Hyderabad/Nagarjunakonda
Drive to Nagarjunokonda and visit the excavated remains preserved on this unique island-museum in the midst of the man-made Lake. Stay at a motel in Nagarjunasagar, a modern township.

Day 10 – Nagarjunasagar/Vijaywada
Drive to Vijaywada enroute visiting Amravate – one of the four renowed Buddhist centers of learning since 3rd century BC. Afternoon visit Kanakdurga temple and Undavalli Buddhist caves.

Day 11 – Vijaywada/Vizag
Drive to Vishakhapatnam (Vizag) enroute visiting Lord Shiva temple at Biccavolu. Check-in at hotel upon arrival.

Day 12 – Vizag
Visit Vizag including Simhachalam.

Day 13 – Vizag: Araku Valley
Full day excursion to Araku Valley inhabited by tribals. On the way visit Borra Caves home to the spectacular, million-year-old stalacite and stalagmite formations.

Day 14 – Vizag/Chennai
Transfer to the airport and fly to Chennai Transfer to your hotel. Day at leisure.

Day 15 – Chennai
Transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
‘Kerala – One of the ten paradises of the World’ – National Geographic magazine. With the Arabian Sea on the west, the Western Ghats towering 500 to 2, 700 metres on the east and networked by forty-four rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographic features in an equitable climate. A long shoreline with serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters with palm fringed waterways, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife in the tropical forests, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields. Ayurvedic health holidays, enchanting art forms, magical festivals, historic and cultural monuments and exotic cuisine… all of which offer you a unique experience. Kerala, the land of backwaters beckons you for an unforgettable holiday! The backwaters are a combination of lakes, lagoons, canals, rivers and estuaries. An eco-rich area, unpolluted, known for its village life, flora, fauna and migratory birds.

 

KERALA WITH THE TAJ GROUP – 12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS
India’s largest hotel group and one of the most professionally managed in the country, Taj Hotels run a number of resorts throughout the state of Kerala. This tour offers an opportunity to experience some of these properties as well as an unforgettable overnight cruise on board a traditional Kerala houseboat, which is easily the highlight of the trip.

HIGHLIGHTS
Cochin Periyar Backwaters Houseboat Verkala Beach

Day 1 – Cochin
Arrive Cochin. Met upon arrival and transfer to hotel Taj Malabar. Evening harbour cruise of Cochin. With one of the finest natural harbours in the world, Cochin was once a major center for commerce and trade with the British, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and the Dutch.

Day 2 – Cochin
Morning sight seeing of Cochin including Dutch Palace, Synagogue Chinese Fishing. Afternoon free. Evening witness the Kathakali dance show. Kathkali, popular as the art form of Kerala has been referred to as the first theatre of imagination of the world owing to its elaborate costumes, ornaments and facial make-up.

Day 3 – Cochin/Periyar (Thekkady)
Drive to Thekkady. The drive is most scenic as you come across the rivers and valleys, waterfalls and high mountains, Tea and spice plantations. Check in at Taj Garden Retreat. Afternoon visit the Periyar National Park by boat.

Day 4 – Periyar (Thekkady)
Morning visit the tea, cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations that surround the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 5 – Periyar/Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom – a unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake. Check in at Taj Garden Retreat. Sunset cruise on the Vembanad Lake in the evening.

Day 6 – Kumarakom
Day at leisure to relax at the resort. The resort offers comfortable accommodation and exclusive leisure options like ayurvedic message, yoga, meditation, boating, fishing, angling and swimming or a cruise along the Vermbanad Lake to experience the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

Day 7 – Kumarakom/Alleppey (House boat)
Embark on the Kettuvallam – on the typical houseboats. Houseboats a traditional country boats, which used to carry tons of cargo in * backwater region in ancient times when roads were non existent. The large country boats have now been converted, with one or two bedroom with attached bath, a kitchenette and sitting area. Each boat has at lea 3 crew members and meals are prepared and served on board.

Day 8 – Varkala
Disembark at the boat jetty from houseboat and drive to Varkala. Check in at Taj Garden Retreat – atop terraced cliffs with a stunning view of the coastline, this resort moulds itself harmoniously with the incline landscape of Varkala Beach. Rest of the day at leisure on beach.

Day 9 to Day 11 – Varkala
All the days at leisure on beach.

Day 12 – Varkala/Trivandrum or Cochin
Transfer to international airport (either Trivendrum or Cochin).

 

LONGER TOURS – 15 DAYS/14 DAYS
This popular tour meets the best of the verdant State of Kerala. History, the backwaters, hill country, coconut rubber tea and spice plantations, beaches and wildlife. Stay in the award-winning Casino Group Hotels.

HIGHLIGHTS
Cochin Periyar Coconut Lagoon Houseboat Backwaters Marari Beach

Day 01 (Sun) – Trivandrum /Varkala
Arrive in Trivandrum, met and transferred to Taj Garden Retreat at Varkala, a luxury resort set on a low bluff above a small sandy cove.

Day 02 (Mon)- Varkala
Relax in Varkala, by the sea.

Day 03 (Tue) – Varkala/Cochin
Drive to Cochin and stay in the Casino hotel. Afternoon take a guided city tour of Cochin, to include the ancient synagogue, Mattancaherry Palace and St. Francis Church. In the harbour see the Chinese fishing nets and Balgatty Island. In the evening attend a cultural show.

Day 04 (Wed) – Cochin
The morning is at leisure, to relax by the pool. In the afternoon take a harbour cruise.

Day 05 (Thu) – Cochin/Periyar (Thekkaddy)
Drive to Periyar via Plantation House at Palai, for toilet, refreshments and lunch. Check into the Spice Village. In the afternoon take a boat ride on the lake in the Periyar National Park, a ‘Project Tiger’ reserve. Overnight stay.

Day 06 (Fri) – Periyar (Thekkaddy)
In the morning take a soft trek in the forest. Afternoon visit plantations, tea, cardamom, and pepper. In the afternoon attend a Kerala cooking demonstration. Overnight in Spice Village

Day 07 (Sat) – Periyar/Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom to connect with a boat transfer to Coconut Lagoon. Relax by the pool and then take a sunset cruise on Lake Vembanad. Overnight at Coconut Lagoon.

Day 08 (Sun) – Kumarakom
The morning at leisure by the pool and then in the afternoon pay a visit to a local form. Overnight in Coconut Lagoon.

Day 09 (Mon) – Kumarakom
Following breakfast board a Kettuvallam (houseboat), for a full day and overnight cruise on the backwaters. All meals are prepared and taken onboard. Overnight on the houseboat.
The Houseboats are man-powered (with motor assistance against wind and tide), and you glide silently and slowly through the waterways.

Day 10 (Tue) – Marari
After breakfast disembark at Puthenngadi, drive to Mrari Beach and stay in the beautiful Marari Beach Resort, set in a palm grove that runs down to the beach. Relax on the shores of the Arabian Sea.

Day 11 (Wed) – Marari
At Marari beach.

Day 12 (Thu) – Marari
At Marari beach.

Day 13 (Fri) – Marari
At Marari beach.

Day 14 (Sat) – Marari/Trivandrum
After lunch, drive to Trivandrum and stay in the Muthoot Plaza Hotel.

Day 15 (Sun) – Trivandrum
Early drive to the airport and check in for the 0730 international flight.

 

12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS
The tour is highlighting Kerala’s most popular tourist circuit, which was actually made popular by the pioneers’ of Hospitality Industry in Kerala – The Casino Group. The excellent Eco-Friendly resorsts at Kumarakom, Periyar and Marari can easily be the highlight of this tour.

HIGHLIGHTS
Cochin Periyar Backwaters Houseboat Marai Beach

Day 1 – Cochin
Arrive Cochin. Met upon arrival and transfer to Hotel Casino. Evening Harbour Cruise of Cochin. With one of the finest natural harbours in the world, Cochin was once a major center for commerce and trade with the British, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch.

Day 2 – Cochin
Morning sightseeing of Cochin including Dutch Palace, Synagogue Chinese Fishing. Afternoon free. Evening witness the Katahakali dance show. Kathakali, popular as the art form of Kerala has been referred to as ‘the first theatre of imagination’ of the world owing to its elaborate costumes, ornaments and facial make-up.

Day3 – Cochin/Periyar (Thekkaddy)
Drive to Thekkady. The drive is most scenic as you come across the rivers and valleys, waterfalls and high mountains, Tea and spice plantations. Check in at spice Village, recreatig the mood of a local tribal community. Afternoon visit the Periyar National Park by boat.

Day 4 – Periyar (Thekkaddy)
Morning visit the tea, cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations that surround the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 5 – Periyar/Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom – a unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake. Check in at Coconut Lagoon. Sunset cruise on the Vembanad lake in the evening.

Day 6 – Kumarakom
Day at leisure to relax at the resort. The resort is set on the shore of Lake Vembanad on an abandoned coconut plantation, in the very heat of the fascinating backwaters. The various options on offer are ayurvedic message, yoga and meditatin, country boat expeditions, fishing, swimming or a cruise to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

Day 7 – Kumarakom/Alleppey (House boat)
Embark on the Kettuvallam – the typical houseboats. Houseboats are traditional country boats, which used to carry tons of cargo in the backwater region in ancient times, now converted, with one or two bed rooms with attached bath, a kitchenette and sitting area. Each boat has at least three crew members and the meals are prepared and served on board.

Day 8 – Marari
Disembark at the boat jetty from the houseboat and transfer to Marari Beach Resort. The Marari Beach, let us be clear, is not the place for a raucous beach holiday. There are no rave parties here, no noisy water scooters, no sellers of trinkets. But for those seeking to undo the stresses of city life and experience a completely new pace, it is the perfect spot.

Day 9 to Day 11 – Marari
All the days at leisure on beach.

Day 12 – Varkala/Trivandrum or Cochin
Transfer to international airport (either Trivandrum or Cochin).

 

LONGER TOURS – 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS
The tour covers the entire state of Kerala including the most popular tourist circuit of Cochin, Periyar and Kumarakom and also lthe undiscovered north Kerala and the hills. The region of Malabar is gifted with the best of scenic beauty where rich tradition still continues. The tour also covers the hill station of Munnar 1600 metres above sea level, once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. The tour ends at internationally renowned Kovalam Beach.

HIGHLIGHTS
Calicut Guruvayur Cochin Munnar Periyar Kumarkom Kovalam

Day 1 – Cochin
Arrive Cochin. Met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Evening harbour cruise of Cochin.

Day 2 – Cochin
Morning sightseeing of Cochin including Dutch Palace, synagogue, Chinese fishing nets. Afternoon free. Evening witness the Kathkali dance show.

Day 4 – Cochin/Kadavu (Calicut)
Drive to Kadavu. Check in at Kadavu Resort set in a sprawling ten-acre coconut grove among swaying, graceful palms. It’s architecture is authentic Malabar, constructed as it is, with laterite and palm wood.

Day 5 – Kadavu (Calicut)
Morning free for boating, fishing etc. Afternoon visit Calicut including Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery and Kappad Beach – an historic beach where Vasco de Gama landed in 1498.

Day 6 – Kadavu/Guruvayur
Drive to Guruvayur. Check in at the hotel. Afternoon visit Punnathorkotta – the home of 50 elephants offering an unusual spectacle of the gentle pachyderm.

Day 7 – Guruvayur/Munnar
Drive to Munnar. The hill resort with the highest peak in South India, Anmudi 2695 meters. Afternoon free.

Day 8 – Munnar
Morning visit Eravikulam National Park – the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (a rare mountain goat) and Kundala tea estate.

Day 9 – Munnar/Periyar
Drive to Periyar on the way witness Power House waterfall. Afternoon visit the Periyar National Park by boat.

Day 10 – Periyar/Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom – a unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake. Evening sunset cruise on Lake.

Day 11 – Kumarakom/Quillon (House boad)
Embark on the Kettuvallam – the typical House Boats and sail through the most beautiful backwater region towards Quillon. All meals and stay on board the houseboat.

Day 12 – Thottapalli/Trivendrum/Kovalam
Disembark at the Thottapalli boat jetty from houseboat and transfer to Kovalam. Afternoon visit Trivendrum. Overnight stay at beach hotel/resort in Kovalam.

Day 13 to Day 14 – Kovalam
All the days at leisure on internationally renowned beach.

Day 15 – Trivandrum/Return
Transfer to Trivandrum international airport. Departure for onward destination.
 

15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS
Experience some of the best luxury hotels and resorts of Kerala in one tour. Start hour holidays with a Grove cottage right at Kovalam beach. Spend a night on the backwaters in an exclusive luxury houseboat. A pool villa in luxurious Kumarakom Lake Resort, an oasis of eternal calm on the backwater country. Tour of Cardamom Hills famous for its plantations of spices, tea and rubber.

HIGHLIGHTS
Kovalam Houseboat Backwaters Periyar Kumarakom Cochin

Day 01 – Trivandrum/Kovalam
Arrive in Trivandrum where you are met and transferred to your hotel on Kovalam beach. A grove cottage is a beautiful experience. Take 10 steps forward, you reach the sea and 10 steps backward, you are at the swimming pool.

Day 02 – Kovalam
Relax in Kovalam, by the sea.

Day 03 – Kovalam
Relax in Kovalam, by the sea.

Day 04 – Kovalam/Kottayam (Houseboat)
Drive to Thottapally, embark on the houseboat for a day and overnight cruise on the backwaters. Explore the mesmerizing waterways of Kerala and observe the unurried pace of kaleidoscopic everyday life along the ways. All meals are prepared and taken onboard. Overnight on the houseboat.

Day 05 – Kottayam/Periyar
After breakfast disembark at boat jetty and drive to Periyar. Check into the Spice Village.

Day 06 – Periyar (Thekkady)
Morning visit spice plantations surrounding the resort. In the afternoon take a boat ride on the lake in the Periyar National Park, a ‘Project Tiger’ reserve. Overnight stay.

Day 07 – Periyar (Thakkady)
Day at leisure to explore the area. Varioius options like forest treks, cookery classes, jeep safaris are available.


Day 08 – Periyar/Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom. Check in at the pool villa at Kumarakom Lake Resort. Done up extensively in wood, the villas after wormth and comfort. A blend of traditional interiors and ultra-modern amenities to swirl you into the world of imagination. Stretch yourself and finish a few laps on the 250-metre length of the meandering pool. Lay down thereafter to watch the moonlight on the backwaters. Experience the pristine opulence and luxury of these pool side villas.

Day 09/Day 10 – Kumarakom
Relax in Kumarakom by the backwaters.

Day 11 – Kumarakom/Cochin
Drive to Cochin and Stay at Bruton’s Boat Yard.

Day 12 – Cochin
City tour of Cochin including the synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church and Chinese fishing nets. In the evening attend a cultural show.

Day 13 – Cochin
Day to explore Cochin or to relax at your hotel.

Day 14 – Cochin or Trivandrum
Transfer to international airport for flight to onward destination. OR transfer to Trivandrum by car. Overnight stay at Hotel Muthoot Plaza.

Day 15 – Trivandrum
Transfer to the airport.