Magical Southern India Tour

On arrival at Kochi Airport, you will be received by our representative & transfer to hotel. Kerala, known as the 'God's Own Country' is one of the most beautiful places in the world with its beautiful beaches, extensive backwaters and sunshine. It is a true paradise. Overnight in Kochi.

After breakfast, explore the Jewish synagogue (closed on Saturdays), built over 400 years ago. It contains beautiful Belgian glass chandeliers and is paved with hand painted tiles from China. Later, visit the “Dutch Palace” (closed on Fridays) with its wonderful murals depicting the entire story of the Ramayana. Proceed to see the St Francis Church (closed on Sundays), the first European Church built in India. Also explore the SPICE market oldest Christian church in the country, Chinese fishing nets, a XVIth century synagogue and a Portuguese-made palace… Evening, witness the Kathakali dance performance, performed by various artists. Kathakali is a traditional dance form, depicting Indian epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata). The dancers are dressed in very colorful and elaborate costumes. Their faces are painted to depict various characters of these epics. This dance has a lot of facial expressions and brisk, yet articulate body movements. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Alleppey. It is a famous town for Backwaters & beautiful Houseboat. The route will take us through small waterside villages, paddy fields and the lovely Kumarakom bird sanctuary set on Vembanad lake. On arrival, check in houseboat & relax. The House boats of Kerala, offers a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque aspects of the God's Own Country. One can cruise in it through the palm-fringed backwaters, throughout a night in waxing moonlights.

Having experienced the calm and serenity of the backwaters, we will now head into the mountains and into the famous Periyar National Park. The route consists of a combination of picturesque mountain roads and plantation roads - we will pass through tea, coffee, cardamon, rubber plantations befor entering into the National Park. This wildlife sanctuary is home to tigers and a significant elephant population, as well as rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Overnight stay in Thekkady.

After breakfast we drive higher into the mountains and enter the Tea plantation region of Munnar. The roads are great. Well surfaced, twisty. The scenery is absolutely stunning - a day you will remember for ever. Munnar which ia former Hill Station is located at 5,200ft and is known as the "Kashmir of Southern India". Overnight stay in Munnar.

After breakfast in hotel, enjoy sightseeing of Munnar which includes Mattupetty, Eco-Point, Tea Museum, Pothamedu etc. You can also enjoy boating in the Lake (optional).Overnight stay in Munnar.

After breakfast drive to the hill station of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. We will be going into the heart of the Southern Ghats - a mountain range which rises to a height of approximately 2500m and is India’s second highest mountain chain after the Himalayas. The town of Kodia sits on a plateau at 6,998ft and apparently the name means "Gift of the Forest". The drive to Kodai from Munnar is breathtaking. We will pass the 1000ft high Rats Tail Falls and ascend well surfaced twisty mountain roads. Overnight stay in Kodaikanal.

After breakfast drive to Ooty. Ooty (7,350ft above sea level) is known as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’. You will travel on the narrow twisty roads through steamy jungle, through beautiful forests and picturesque waterfalls. We will cross into the Nilgiri Hills, literally translated, means the Blue Mountains; the area is lush with vegetation and teeming with wildlife and is the source of a thousand streams and rivers. One of the most spectacular mountain ranges in South India. It is a land of peaks and precipices, rolling grasslands in the foothills and dense jungles. A day that you will never forget. Overnight stay in Ooty.

The day starts with the opportunity of negotiating the 36 hairpins bends as we descend from Ooty. These hairpins are steep and great fun. We will be heading into the Mudmalai wildlife sanctuary which boasts one of the largest populations of elephants in India. There is a really good chance that you will see a wild elephant whilst riding through the park. There are also a small number of Tigers and Leopards in the park but these are very elusive and you would be extremely lucky to catch a glimpse of these secretive creatures.

Our hotel for the night is a Jungle Retreat consisting of small cottages located in a jungle clearing. There are plenty of monkeys around you quite often see wild boar drinking at the stream. In the evening we will take you out on jeeps through the middle of the wildlife park before heading back for a BBQ and a sociable evening around the campfire.

We will now head out of the mountains and back towards the coast. A great ride awaits as we wind our way out of the Mudmalai Wildlife Sanctuary and towards the bustling town of Kozhikode. On the way back we will visit the beautiful Kappad beach, this is the historic beach where Vasco-da-Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498, with 170 men in three vessels.

After breakfast drive back to Kochi. On arrival, check in hotel & relax.

Transfer in time Kochi Airport to connect your onward flight to Next destination with life changing experience.