Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Kovalam

Overview

Seven days from Cochin down to the far south, ending at Trivandrum rather than back where it started. The first four days are the same climb inland: two nights at Munnar among the tea plantations, a crossing of the Western Ghats to Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and a night on an Alleppey houseboat with all meals on board. From the backwaters the tour continues south to Kovalam for two nights on the Arabian Sea — the Vizhinjam lighthouse, the marine aquarium, Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach, with water sports available locally at your own cost. A full day then crosses into Tamil Nadu for Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India, for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Gandhi Mandapam, the Triveni Sangamam and the sunset, before the tour ends at Trivandrum airport.

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 – Kovalam (160 km · 4 hrs)

   After breakfast on board, check out from the houseboat and drive south to Kovalam, checking in at the hotel or resort on arrival. Later, visit the lighthouse at the southern end of Kovalam beach and the Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium, which opened in 1997 and holds rare invertebrates and ornamental fish, then Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach. Kayaking, swimming, surfing and other beach activities can be arranged locally at your own cost. Overnight stay at Kovalam.

6. 6

   Kovalam – Kanyakumari – Kovalam (90 km each way · 2½ hrs)

   After breakfast, set out on a full-day trip to Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of the Indian mainland, in Tamil Nadu. Visit the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Gandhi Mandapam and the Triveni Sangamam, where three seas meet, and stay for the sunset. Return to Kovalam for an overnight stay.

7. 7

   Kovalam – Trivandrum Airport Drop

   After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Trivandrum airport for your return flight.

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