Day 01: Thiruvananthapuram
When guests arrive for the Spice Tour of Kerala, the representative will receive them and help them in getting to the resort in Thiruvananthapuram. Fresh in the morning, after breakfast guests will head for a tour of the city of Trivandrum. Mahatma Gandhi had called Trivandrum the ‘Evergreen City of India’. It is the capital of the state of Kerala. Guests will spend the night at the resort there. It is the largest city in South India.
Day 02: Somatheeram
Yoga training is given in most of the spas at Somatheeram. Ancient and traditional structures that are built in wood with carved doors and pillars are found here. The place is quite famous for its Ayurveda spas and beach resorts.
Day 03: Somatheeram
The third day of the Kerala Spice Tour at Somatheeram is free for the guests and they can enjoy it the way they want to. Guests can choose to roam around the beautiful beach and then accompany the local anglers on their catamaran boats to fish. Guests can as well stay back and experience the healing power of the Ayurvedic treatments.
Day 04: Alleppey
Guests arrive at Alleppey the central place of Kerala backwaters. The journey to Alleppey is a pleasant one. It has the large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet of "Venice of the east". Guests get to stay at the houseboat that faces the beautiful Vembanad Lake. The lake and its backwaters are a classy sight. Guests can enjoy a massage with the medicinal herbal oil and later feast on the traditional spicy Kerala cuisine. Guests will certainly remember their houseboat stay.
Day 05: Alleppey
The fifth day of the Kerala Spice Tour is for being acquainted with the life of the Kerala backwater. It is a great experience watching boats moving to and fro with goods loaded. Alleppey is also known for its spectacular snake boat races held on the second Saturday of August, annually. Guests get to watch how the workers weave thread into thread at the coir making units. They can also take part in the daily bathing ceremony of the elephants at the elephant-rearing center.
Day 06: Kumarakom
Guests arrive at Kumarakom by traveling through the backwaters. Kumarakom’s climate is rich and diverse. It houses a bird sanctuary and the beautiful backwaters add to its glory. It is spread across 14 acres of land. Houseboats and motorboats are available for the tourists. Guests will stay at the hotel here.
Day 07: Kumarakom
On the seventh day of the tour, the guests are on their own and can move freely at Kumarakom, returning to the hotel at night. One can shop for things made form coconut shells like fashion earrings, brass lamps, kathakali masks etc.
Day 08: Kumarakom – Periyar
The journey to the Periyar National Park is filled with great shows of natural beauty as guests drive past rubber plantations and dense forests. There are around 900 elephants. The varied wildlife is truly a tourist’s delight. After arrival, guests have their own time and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 09: Periyar
Post breakfast guests get their dream ride; cruising on the waters of the Periyar Lake, guests get to watch the diverse wildlife of the region. The wide variety of fauna present here is worth watching.
Day 10: Periyar – Munnar
Munnar is set at an altitude of 6000 ft in the Idukki district. The road to Munnar goes from forests, waterfalls, and the spice plantations of the region. Munnar is the highest place in the world where tea is grown. After some rest, guests can visit the tea plantations and the factory.
Day 11: Munnar
At Munnar, after breakfast guests are taken to the Eravikkulam National Park, which has the rare mountain goat Nilgiri Tahr and other wildlife species. Guests can as well spend their time visiting the other places in Munnar and come back to the hotel.
Day 12: Munnar - Kochi/ Cochin
On the 12th day guests travel to Kochi which is a centre for cultural and commerce of the state. The city of Cochin is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, in the olden times, it was a major hub for spice trade. Guests can witness the Kathakali performance and the elaborate make up process of the artists. The expressions of the Kathakali performers have been acknowledged by the artists of the world over. The evening is free for the guests to check the local market.
Day 13: Cochin
There will be a sightseeing tour of Kochi, which includes visits to places like Mattancherry Palace also known as the Dutch Palace, Jewish synagogue- the oldest synagogue in Asia of Jewish worship, old spice markets, St. Francis Church- the first European Church to be built in India, Santa Cruz Basilica that was built by the Portuguese and the Chinese fishing nets. Guests get to know the martial art of Kerala, the Kalaripayattu at the Kalari center. This is a form of the Dravidian martial arts.
Day 14: Cochin Onwards
The Kerala Spice Tour ends here and the representative will help the travelers to the airport or the railway station for their journey back home.
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