A Compass India Inc. representative will meet you at the airport and facilitate your hotel transfer.
The ancient port city of Cochin or Kochi comprises a cluster of islands and peninsulas in a serene saltwater lagoon. Ferries connect the islands to Ernakulam town on the mainland. Dotted with lakes and gently swaying palm groves, Kochi’s otherworldly beauty, coupled with the lure of spices and seafood, draw scores of travellers every year to this natural harbour.
Proceed for a guided tour of Cochin.
The Old Cochin area is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, and the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 is a must-see treasure of this eclectic corner of South India. Known for its distinctive tiled roof and bell towers, the synagogue’s interiors feature intricately hand-painted blue and white Chinese willow tiles of which no two are alike. Elegant Belgian chandeliers adorn its central area. An exquisite oriental rug and gold crowns received as gifts from visitors are also on display.
Also of interest is the intriguing International Pepper Exchange that deals in the global trade of black pepper. Nearby are Vasco Da Gama Square, the Santa Cruz Basilica that counts among India’s oldest churches, St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally interred, VOC Gate and Bastion Bungalow, all of which, according to local records, go back to between the mid fourteenth and early fifteenth century.
Kochi’s famed Chinese fishing nets are perhaps one of the most iconic and oft photographed sights of . Mounted on teak and bamboo poles and supported by large stone counterweights, they hang gossamer-like all along the Fort Kochi seafront. Their origins are obscure with some claiming they were imported by the Portuguese from Macau while according to others, the credit goes to Chinese traders from the court of Kubla Khan himself.
Embark on a private harbour cruise early in the evening. Enjoy dolphin-spotting as you sail out to the fishing island and the Bolgatty Palace. Sail up to the edge of the Arabian Sea to watch the sunset.
Return to the hotel for a seafood dinner in the evening.
Overnight at Cochin.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Proceed to Munnar in a spacious, comfortable Compass certified vehicle.
AT 1600 meters above the sea level and located at the confluence of three mountain rivers, Munnar is blessed with stunning panoramic views and temperate climate that made it a highly popular summer destination with British settlers in the days of the Raj. Munnar’s soil and climate is ideal for tea and the nearby slopes are dotted with plantations. Munnar serves as a trailhead for trekkers hiking to the 2695m Anamudi Peak, the highest point of South India. Munnar is at its stunning best when its hillsides burst in stunning blue with the blooming of the rare, fragile Blue Kurinji flowers every twelve years.
Check into hotel and later proceed for sightseeing.
Built by the British in 1910, Christ Church is known for its beautiful stained glass windows. On the church grounds, plaques erected in memory of British tea planters tell their own poignant story.
The tiny hill station of Devikulam, only seven kilometers from Munnar is a delight for birders, anglers and nature lovers. Its rolling green slopes, panoramic views and the crystal clear waters of the Sita Devi Lake make it among the most picturesque highlights of your exotic holiday in South India.
From the picking of leaves to the teacup, the Kundale Tea Plantation provides an in-depth insight a fascinating insight into what goes into producing the world’s most popular drink. Sundays are a great time to visit as the local planters gather for their weekly get together and swap plantation tales. The plantation’s lake makes for idyllic picnic spot.
A high vantage point that offers panoramic views of the plantations all around, Pothamedu is yet another popular hiking destination in the vicinity.
Overnight at Munnar.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Drive to Thekkady in your Compass certified vehicle.
On the banks of the Periyar river, amidst coffee plantations and the fragrant cardamom hills, lies the Periyar National Park, one of India’s major wildlife reserves. Look out for the Asian elephant, antelope, the Indian bison, the elusive Bengal tiger, the dhole or wild dog, and the extremely rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a species of ibex native to the region.
Birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of greater hornbills, darters, herons, egrets, owls and brightly coloured kingfishers.
Experience a jungle walk with a highly experienced guide in the afternoon. This is a unique programme where tourists get the chance to get deep into the forest the least obtrusive way - on foot, maximising the chances of wildlife sightings. These walks can be customised depending on how long the guest wishes to spend in the park.
You may also opt for a raft ride on the river, a unique experience that allows travellers to spot, from the safety of the raft, wildlife as they come down to the water in the heat of the day to cool off. Elephant sightings are particularly common.
Later, visit the spice market which is reputed to be the biggest in Asia.
Wind up your day with a Kathakali performance later in the evening. A traditional dance drama form involving elaborate costumes, highly stylized expressions and choreographed to hypnotic music, the Kathakali is a truly unforgettable addition to the leg of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.
Overnight will be at Thekkady.
After breakfast at your resort, enjoy the scenic road to Kumarokom dotted with traditional houses and bordered by rolling hills on either side. Stop en route to visit a tea garden.
Barely 16 kms from the city of Kottayam, Kumarokom is located by the Vembanad, ’s largest fresh water lake, and is one of the important venues for ’s famous boat races. During the festival of Onam, hundreds of traditional boats, some seating as many as fifty highly vocal rowers, steak down the lake amidst much fanfare, competing for top spot.
Also of note, a bird sanctuary renowned for its visiting flocks of migratory birds.
Your stay in Kumarokom begins with a visit to the sanctuary.
Kumarokom is also your entry point into ’s famous Backwaters, a massive 900 square kilometer network of lakes, rivers, streams, lagoons and canals that both connect and divide the region, giving rise to a unique amphibious culture and way of life that’s perhaps unique in the world. Here, the saline waters of the Arabian sea mix with fresh water from inland streams resulting in a knife-edge ecosystem that’s as fragile as it is distinctive. Teeming with fish, mudskippers, crabs, turtles and otters, the lush vegetation on its banks is home to flocks of cormorants and terns. Human habitation in the region too are a gift of the backwaters, with the brackish channels snaking into the land often being the only means of transportation between villages and towns. Tranquil and mysterious, the backwaters feature, for obvious reasons, prominently among the highlights of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.
Later, check into a traditional thatched houseboat and embark on a leisurely cruise of the backwaters. Equipped with all the modern amenities that you need, the houseboat is the best and most luxurious way to see , drifting effortlessly into places other modes of transportation cannot reach. Houseboats also allow one to take things at one’s own pace, and the rare luxury of procuring fresh produce for all meals while on board.
Overnight in houseboat.
Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard the houseboat as it gently cruises to Alleppey while on the banks, village bazaars bustle to life as the morning progresses.
The city of Alleppey or Alappuzha is the headquarter of Alappuzha district
and highly popular with travellers. The name Alappuzha means “the land between the river and the sea” and its intricate network on inland canals earn it the title of “Venice of the East.” This watery network has long been Alleppey’s lifeline, from its days as one of the best known ports on the Malabar coast up until modern times as the world’s gateway to the Backwaters. Alleppey too is an important venue for boat races, in particular the Nehru Trophy Race on the Punnamada Lake. Other attractions in Alappuzha include the beautiful Alappuzha Beach, the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, the Edathua Church and the Krishnapuram Palace.
Later in the day, drive to Cochin.
Transfer to Cochin airport for your outbound flight