The Kingdom of God - Kerala
| Best of luxury Kerala Tours |
7 Nights & 8 Days
Destinations : Kochi –Munnar – Periyar – Kumarakom – Alleppey – Kochi'The Kingdom of God - Kerala' is one of the most preferred Kerala Tours by those who have limited time in hand and are visiting the southern part of the country for the first time. Kerala is all about scenic landscapes, culture and cuisines and this itinerary is one of the best short duration luxury Kerala tours as it encompasses myriad experiences from blissful backwaters to mesmerizing hill station, from interesting cultures to sumptuous cuisine and from traditional art forms to historical monuments.
Most luxury Kerala tours start from the city of Kochi. Even though Trivandrum is the capital city of the state of Kerala, Kochi is considered the cultural capital of Kerala. Most flights fly into Kochi and often exit is from Trivandrum. Kochi is famous for its colonial buildings and architecture. It is also known for its Chinese fishing nets that are found in the fort area of the city. Fort area is the most popular tourist hub for Kochi. Luxury Kerala tours will be incomplete without some delectable food. Kochi is one place to try some amazing south Indian food, especially sea food. At many places, food is served in the traditional way which is on a big banana leaf. This is a tradition being followed for many centuries and even today people love eating from a Banana leaf, instead of a plate. There are several restaurants that serve food on a banana leaf and one can experience this traditional method in the city of Kochi.
While Kochi is a bustling metropolitan city, Munnar is a complete contrast! Situated amidst the hills, this only hill station of Kerala is a must inclusion for all Luxury Kerala Tours. Comprising of vast expanse of plantations, Munnar is a scenic destination. It houses different plantations from tea to coffee, as well as spices. However, it is mostly known for its tea plantations.
As much as Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, Periyar or Thekkady is known for its spices. Abundant variety of spices can be found in the plantations and markets here. There are several spice gardens that are covered in our luxury Kerala tours, escorted by experienced naturalists and spice experts. Thekkady or Periyar is also known for its Periyar Tiger Reserve and National park. This national park has a lake inside and is famous for animals like elephants, deer, sambhal and several species of birds. Periyar national park has a rich flora and fauna and is always full with visitors. There is a boat ride conducted on its lake and we also organize private jungle treks with well qualified and experienced naturalists, as part of all our Luxury Kerala Tours.
Kumarakom houses a popular bird sanctuary which has many species of birds including migratory birds as well. Besides the bird sanctuary, Kumarakom is famous for its backwaters and so is its neighboring Alleppey. Both Kumarakom and Alleppey have backwater cruises on houseboats. Backwaters are the most crucial component of Luxury Kerala tours and an overnight stay on the houseboat is indeed a serene experience. One can also spot infinite coconut trees in both these towns, along with rubber plantations.
Highlights
- Luxury Kerala Tours are incomplete without experiencing the backwater cruise on our exclusive houseboats
- Breathe in the fresh air of the hill station of Munnar
- Visit a Tea plantation and also a Tea factory to see the entire processing of the Tea from the leaves plucked from the plantations.
- The serene lake in the Periyar National Park is bound to mesmerize you as you cruise along its shimmering water during the sunset.
- Witness a ‘Kathakali’ cultural dance presentation depicting the local dance art form of Kerala.
- The ‘Sword Dance’ is another not-to-miss performance during a Luxury Kerala tour.
Program Summary
Like most Luxury Kerala Tours, this one too begins in Kochi with a 2 nights stay, followed by a drive to the hill station of Munnar on the third day. You can visit the local plantations and sights in Munnar on the fifth day, before driving to Periyar the next morning. Two days in Periyar will be refreshing with the lush green sights and beautiful landscape of the Periyar National Park, where you can enjoy a short jungle trek and boating on the Periyar lake. After spending two days in Peryar, as your Luxury Kerala tour comes to an end, you would board your luxury houseboat at Kumarakom and enjoy a local cuisine meal. On the eighth day, you will disembark the houseboat at Alleppey and proceed for Kochi airport to connect your flight for onward journey.Inclusions
Double/Twin room Accommodation | Breakfast at hotels| Meet & Greet at Airports, as applicable | All airport transfers, inter-city transfers and local sightseeing by private air-conditioned Vehicle | Entrances to Monuments | Services of English speaking guide | Visit to a Spice Garden at Periyar | Short Jungle Trek at Periyar | Kalaripatthu Dance Presentation | 24x7 customer support | Indian sim card with national roaming facility | Transport taxes, Hotel taxes, inter-state vehicle permits .Exclusions
Personal expenses such as beverages, camera charges telephone calls, portage, excess luggage, laundry charges & all other items of personal nature | Food & drinks not forming part of itinerary | Return airfare from home country | Travel insurance | Any other item which is not included in tour land price includes section.Important Information
Lluxury Kerala tours are best experienced during the winter months. Being a coastal belt, Kerala stays warm throughout the year. The best season to visit is indeed the colder season between the months of December and February. If one travels during the hot and often humid months of April to July, one can lose the entire charm of the tour with the unbearable heat. Hence, to experience true luxury of Luxury Kerala tours, winter months are the most ideal!
If one is visiting Northern parts of India prior to traveling to Kerala, one can easily find direct flight connections to Kochi, from cities of Delhi and Mumbai. Kochi has an international airport as well and one can always check the outbound flight connections from Kochi itself.
Beware of houseboats labeling themselves as luxury but failing to offer even the basic standards of hygiene. There are only a couple of luxury houseboats that are booked many months in advance. Hence, it is best to contact our travel experts and they will help you in finding the right houseboat, domestic flights, naturalists, experienced guides etc., as per your specific requirements.
