Onam Festival, Kerala

Day 01 – Arrive Cochin
On arrival our representative will greet you at Cochin airport/ Railway Station and then transfer to the hotel. Check-in and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 – Cochin
Cochin has been a gathering place of merchants since antiquity and is full of bustling traders. A half day tour is planned for you which includes Fort Kochi which is the oldest European settlement in India (1500), and has a mixture of English, Dutch and Portuguese influence. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, but extensive renovations by the Dutch some hundred years later earned it the name the Dutch Palace. It has some of the best murals in India, depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other great legends. On our tour we visit the Jew town synagogue where Kochi’s surviving Jewish community come to worship. Nearby are the interesting cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets.

In the early evening we see a performance of Kathakali, which is thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala. Its origins may have come from traditional temple rituals and from an art form known as Koodiyattam. It is the face make up which makes this dancing so unique. The dancers can take up to three hours painting their faces – the features are heavily emphasized as it is the facial expressions and coordinated eye movements which are important in the dance. The dances usually portray events from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, great Indian epics. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 – Cochin – Munnar
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (approx. 135kms / 04hours), the beautiful hill station of Kerala and the place where the unfolded green carpet is waiting for you. Munnar is breathtakingly beautiful, a heaven of peace and tranquility – the best tourist destination in God’s own country.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Explore the rest of the day along with the nature at your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 – Munnar
After enjoy the sumptuous breakfast proceed for a morning sightseeing trip of Munnar, visiting the Eravikulam National Park where you can see the very rare mountain goats locally called the Nilgiri Tahr and visit Mattupetty Dam which offers many fascinating sights to relish. En-route also visit Kundala Lake, Echo Point and View Point & Green carpet of Tea Gardens.

Evening is free for relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 – Munnar – Thekkady
Morning drive through the Western Ghats to Thekkady (approx. 90kms / 03hours), a beautiful area of tea gardens, rubber estates and coffee and pepper plantations, located high in the Cardamom hills. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax in comforts of your room.

In the afternoon, visit a spice garden where you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of the spices are grown. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 – Thekkady – Alleppey
In the morning after breakfast drive to Alleppey (approx. 140kms / 03 ½ hours). It’s a coastal town of canals and channels that make up the Kerala Backwaters.

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax in comforts of your room. Late afternoon enjoy a traditional houseboat for 02hours through the region in the backwaters of Kerala. Along theses narrow channels, the villagers survive on narrow spits of land, keeping cows, chickens and even cultivating vegetable gardens. This evening we will stay near the banks of Vembanad Lake.

Evening is free for individual activity or relaxation. Overnight at the hotel / homestay.

Day 07 – Alleppey (Onam Festival)
Today after breakfast, day is free to enjoy Onam festival. It’s a most popular and biggest festival of Kerala. Onam is celebrate for 10days as it attracts the attention of tourist from all over the world.

Spend your whole day in experience this festival and later visit to a local family for Dinner. Overnight at the hotel / homestay.

Day 08 – Alleppey – Kovalam
After experience this amazing festival, we will drive to Kovalam (approx. 160kms / 03 ½ hours). Kovalam beach is known as the “Paradise of the South”. It is the place where one can see the golden sand at the day time & silver sand in the night. With high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlight nights.

Upon arrival check-in at the resort and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Rest of the day for relaxation or enjoy sunset at Kovalam Beach. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – Kovalam – Trivandrum – Kovalam (Onam Festival)
Morning after breakfast, proceed for the sightseeing of Trivandrum city. The major attractions of Trivandrum are Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, Veli Tourist Village, Shangumugham Beach where one can watch the amazing sunset. Onam festival is also celebrate in this city in grand procession.

Return to the Kovalam for overnight stay.

Day 10 – Kovalam
Morning at your leisure, day on your own to relax and enjoy Kovalam Beach. During your stay one can also practice meditation and yoga at the resort. Kerala is renowned for its herbal care and you may choose to try out various Ayurvedic massage. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Kovalam – Trivandrum (Departure)
Morning at leisure. In time transfer to Trivandrum airport to connect flight for onward destination.

**This tour can be change/ amend as per the client requirement or number of days in hand to witness this unique festival.