Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Fort Kochi

Overview

Six days from Cochin and back, following the same route inland and adding a night in the city at the end. Two nights at Munnar cover the tea hills and the lakes and dams around them, then the road crosses the Western Ghats to Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve. A night on an Alleppey houseboat follows, with all meals served on board. Rather than driving straight to the airport, the tour returns to Cochin for an afternoon in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry — St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Vasco House, the Chinese fishing nets and the beach walkway, the Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace and Jew Town, and Marine Drive — with a sunset boat cruise available at your own cost.

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. 1

   Cochin Arrival – Munnar (140 km · 4 hrs)

   Arrive at Cochin airport or Ernakulam railway station, where you will be met by our representative and driven up to Munnar. The road climbs past waterfalls and high mountains with low cloud passing through them, with a stop en route at the Valara and Cheeyappara waterfalls. Munnar stands at about 1,600 metres, where the Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala streams meet, and is known for its tea plantations, colonial bungalows and cool weather. Check in on arrival, with the rest of the day at leisure and an overnight stay at Munnar.

2. 2

   Munnar Sightseeing

   After breakfast, set out for a full day of sightseeing around Munnar, visiting Mattupetty Lake and Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake and Blossom Garden, the tea plantations, and Eravikulam National Park at Rajamalai. There is time to stop among the tea gardens along the way. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay at Munnar.

3. 3

   Munnar – Thekkady (90 km · 3 hrs)

   After breakfast, check out and drive to Thekkady. The road runs through the Western Ghats past cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, clove and vanilla plantations, with waterfalls and streams along the way. Thekkady is the gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve — around 777 sq km of forest wrapped around a 25 sq km reservoir, held back by the old lime-surkhi dam built across the Periyar river — and the reserve is home to a wide range of tropical wildlife. Check in on arrival, with the rest of the day free and an overnight stay at Thekkady.

4. 4

   Thekkady – Alleppey Houseboat (130 km · 4 hrs)

   After breakfast, drive down to Alleppey and board your houseboat. The cruise crosses Punnamada Lake, where the Nehru Trophy snake boat race is held, and then works through the paddy fields, coconut lagoons and narrow canals of Kuttanad — a low-lying region of reclaimed land where the water sits a few feet higher than the fields beside it, separated by dikes. Lunch and dinner are served on board. The boat moors for the night on the backwaters.

5. 5

   Alleppey – Fort Kochi (53 km · 2 hrs)

   After breakfast on board, check out from the houseboat and drive back to Cochin, checking in at the hotel on arrival. Later, visit Fort Kochi and Mattancherry — St Francis Church, Vasco House, Santa Cruz Basilica, the Chinese fishing nets and the beach walkway at Fort Kochi, then the Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace and Jew Town, finishing along Marine Drive. A sunset boat cruise is available at your own cost. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

6. 6

   Cochin Departure

   After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Cochin airport for your onward journey.

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