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Kerala - God's own country

Kerala

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Kerala - God's own country

Kerala: sublime to take your breath away !

Kerala in South India is synonym with calm and serene beauty, and not just for its reputed soul cleansing ayurvedic treatments; the long strands of gorgeous coastline stretching over 600 kilometres,  the sublime beaches on the Arabian Sea, the leisurely criss cross of peaceful backwaters, the palm-shaded Western Ghat hills fragrant with the cultures of tea and spices, will have unsuspecting visitors find themselves slowing down to a languorous pace to let the surrounding ambient feel of bliss invade their whole being.

This narrow coastal strip is also home to towns and villages that come to life with time-old traditions like temple festivals, plays and snake-boat races; to fascinating wildlife such as exotic birds, wild elephants and the occasional tiger; to stylish houseboats and mouth watering cuisine. Indeed, Kerala deserves its name of “God’s own Country”
Ask for an offer

Budget

From CHF 2'000
(per person in a group of minimum 02 people traveling together and sharing a room)

details of the circuit

number of days : 12D / 11N
theme of the circuit : Adventure, Spirituality, Nature, Well-being & Ayurveda
Region : Kerala

Useful information

Ideal period : From September to May
number of people : 4 à 10
Main activities : Adventure
Nature
Spirituality
Ayurveda & Well being

Highlights of the circuit

Kovalam, a small coastal town in the south of Kerala

Once you have discovered Kovalam beach, you will not forget it !

Kovalam is a small seaside town in the south Indian state of Kerala, south of Thiruvananthapuram.

A striped lighthouse with a viewing platform stands at the south tip of Lighthouse Beach. Palm trees line Hawa Beach and Samudra Beach. To the south, overlooking the bustling fishing harbour is Vizhinjam Juma Masjid mosque. Further inland is Sagarika Marine Research Aquarium, which exhibits technology used in pearl production.

Jatayu Nature Park

In Jatayu, discover the largest bird sculpture in the world; gigantic, she is following the curves of a huge rock !

Right at the heart of South Kerala tourist spots, Jatayu Earth’s Centre or Jatayu Nature Park features the world’s largest bird sculpture; 61 metres long, 56 metres wide and 21 metres high, covering a total surface of 1,400 square metres! It represents the great mythical bird Jatayu and symbolizes an era when all living creatures loved each other and shared the Earth in peace. The park was designed by Rajiv Anchal and is the first major BOT project in Kerala. This eco-friendly nature park is located at Chadayamangalam, about 38 km from Kollan and 46 km from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

Konni - with its unique elephant training center

In Konni, we take good care of elephants !

Konni’s primary attraction is the Aanakoodu, huge wooden cages built to house three to four elephants. There, experienced trainers use methodical training methods to tame baby elephants that are separated from their herd or are found wounded our roaming in the forest. Visitors have the opportunity to get a close look at the elephants and to learn about their behaviour. Baby elephants, lovable and mischievous, are a great hit with visitors.

Since ancient times, Konni has been famous for its elephant training centre, 11 km from Pathanamthitta. Elephants were captured from the dense forests of the western ghats/Sahyadri to be trained at Konni. Mahouts or trainers trained the wild elephants with the help of already tamed ones.  

Periyar National Park

A famous reserve, in the middle of mountainous relief, which works for the protection of elephants and tigers.

Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, often called the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary or Thekkady is South India most popular wildlife sanctuary. Located in the mountainous area of the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills of the south Western Ghats, it spreads over the districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in Kerala. The park is now a famous elephant and tiger preserve as well as a sanctuary for rare and threatened flora and fauna. Two major rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and the Pamba originate in the forests of the park.

Allepey - in the heart of the famous

The main asset of Allepey is to invite you to dream, in its famous backwaters, in communion with the surrounding nature ;-)

If you wander out of the pandemonium of Alappuzha (still commonly called Alleppey) city centre towards Kerala’s famed backwaters, you’ll be enthralled by the vast webwork of waterways meandering through picturesque villages and toddy shops, surrounded with luscious greenery and coconut-lined paddy fields. Contemplating the unending ballet of rice barges, punts, and a thousand houseboats floating down the cool, tranquil waters is a wonderfully relaxing and mesmerising experience.

Course of the journey

Day 0 - Day 1

Arrive trivendrum airport and transfer to your resort in Kovalam.
Overnight in Kovalam

Day 2

Relax on the beach or enjoy water based adventure sports.
Overnight in Kovalam.

Day 3

Relax on the beach or enjoy water based adventure sports.
Overnight in Kovalam.

Day 4

Transfer from Kovalam to Jatayu Earth Center.
Overnight at Jatayu Earth Center.

Day 5

Transfer to Konni in Pathanamthitta district.
Overnight in Adavi Ecotourism huts.

Day 6

Enjoy attractions in Pathanamthitta district.
Overnight in Adavi Ecotourism huts.

Day 7

Transfer from Konni to Periyar.
Overnight in Periyar.

Day 8

Full day Jungle Safari.
Overnight in Periyar.

Day 9

Tranfer from Periyar to Allepey.
Overnight at houseboat.

Day 10

Overnight at the houseboat in and around Alleppey.

Day 11

Transfer from Alleppey to Kochin.
Kochin sightseeing and shopping.

Day 12

Tranfer from Kochin to the international airport.

Course on the map

Accommodations

The Leela Hotel , Kovalam

India’s only Cliff-Top Beach Resort

Conveniently located 16 km from Tribandrum International Airport, the hotel is just a 9 minute walk from Hawa Beach.

The refined rooms that overlook the sea or the gardens offer free WiFi, flat-screen TVs and private patios or sun-decks; some are equipped with a minibar. Upgrade to a superior room or suite and enjoy a sitting area, DVD player, complimentary breakfast and evening tea, as well as the use of the gym and an ocean-view infinity pool.

Activities in the hotel :

The open air restaurant and the roof top terrace bar rank high in the dining offer. Enjoy a relaxing massage or a beauty treatment at the elegant spa and salon.The hotel also offers private beach access, a fitness centre and a game room. Free parking

Included in the offer :

Breakfast included only.

Good to know :

Accès direct à la plage, piscine, fitness et Spa Ayurvédique.
Cours de cuisine (sur demande).

Adavi eco-tourism Huts, Pathanamthitta, Konni

Spend a night in the jungle, in a fully-equipped cabin, nestled in the trees!
A unique experience ;-)
 
Spending a night in one of the huts proposed by "Ecotourism" in Adavi, at only 10 km from Konni, is a unique and wonderful experience! 
Well equipped with working showers and comfortable beds, the huts are nestled in the trees, in the heart of the jungle, along the river Kallar.

Clean and well designed, so that insects cannot come and keep you company during the night ;-), the bamboo huts enable you to hear the river flowing peacefully below and the soft rustling sounds of the night, indicative of the busy nightlife of the forest around you.

Definitely, an out of this world experience!

Included in the offer :

Nuitée(s) et petit-déjeuner(s).

Kofiland Resort, Periyar

A countryside inside a Kerala resort :-)

Located beside the road connecting Kottayam and Thekkady, Kofiland resort lies at the bottom of a valley, between the slopes of two small hills planted with coffee bushes and pepper vines. At the end of a paved driveway, the open air lobby faces a small lake formed by a stream flowing beneath the lobby.

The cluster of cottages on stilts built on the banks of the stream are overlooked by the imposing silver oak trees growing up the hillside. There is a library and an indoor game area next to the cottages, along the winding path lined with pepper vines and young beech trees. Enjoy a wide choice of cuisine in the restaurant next to the lobby or take a refreshing dip in the large pool.

Activities in the hotel :

Fishing
Bamboo rafting
Organic village walk

Included in the offer :

Breakfast only

Good to know :

Boutique de café et d’épices

Spice Routes, Luxury cruises , Kerala

A cruise so pleasantly spicy :-)

The serene backwaters of Kerala are the perfect setting for a delightful experience on board a luxury houseboat with state of the art equipment. Step aboard your floating accommodation at Allepey, the Venice of the East, and enjoy the holiday of a lifetime down the carefully planned itineraries that Spice Routes has selected to present you with a vast array of activity on the rural backwaters. Every houseboat comes with its own crew composed of a driver, an assistant and a personal cook who will tempt your taste buds with delicious local meals.

Activities in the hotel :

Walk in the village
Buy fish from the seller
Enjoy the scenic rooftop view

Included in the offer :

All meals.

Vivanta by Taj, Malabar Kochi

Old - world charm, modern and beautiful accommodation :-)
Enjoy breathtaking views of the harbour and the Arabian Sea from Vivanta by Taj Malabar.  A perfect combination of old world charm and contemporary accommodation. Located on Willingdon Island, the hotel offers a wide choice of restaurants, from sea food specialties at Rice Boat, to Thai and Chinese food at the Pavilion and The Pepper, which offer a mix of cuisines from around the world. Cinnamon Coast is a luxury yacht offering a range of sailing experiences. At Jiva Spa, you will experience ancient ayurvedic treatments such as yoga, oil applications, cleansing and relaxation, and aromatherapy.

Activities in the hotel :

The hotel also offers a range of recreational and outdoor leisure activities; complimentary Backwater Cruise every evening (not applicable for conferences), fishing and rice boat, romance on Gundu Island, breakfast cruise.

Included in the offer :

Breakfast only.

Information & rates

From CHF 2'000
(per person in a group of minimum 02 people traveling together and sharing a room)

Inclusions

  • Medium high category accommodation in Resort/Hotel/ House boat (4* plus in India) with breakfast
  • chauffeur driven private car during the tour
  • Local SIM card with enough data to last the tour
  • GST 5%

Exclusions

  • International/Domestic flight
  • Jungle Safari or water sports activities
  • Ayurveda massage
  • all entrance fees during the tour
  • lunches & dinners (except in the house boat)
  • camera fee expenses requested on certain sites of visit
  • personal expenses & laundry
  • tips to the driver/porter etc.


Good to know

Itinerary disclaimer :

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations.
The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The programme is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations of wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.


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