FascinatingKerala.

INDIA|6DAYS/5NIGHTSRoute:Round-tripfrom/toKochiTypeoftour:Culture,natureDepartureday:Saturday(seecalendar)Validity:7October2017to31stMarch2019

Tourdesigner:AmitChaudharyTelephone:+91(120)3823603Email:amitc@goindia.co.in

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TOUROVERVIEW

Incredible India ismore thana country– it’s amulticultural subcontinentwithdozensof languagesand religions.Andnowhere is thisdiversitymoreevident than in theexotic south.With theArabianSea to thewest, theWesternGhatstowering in the east andnetworkedby 44 rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographical features and an equable climate.With tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife, Kerala is a destination that willcaptureyourheart.

TOURHIGHLIGHTS

Kochi: Sightseeing tour with visits to the MattancherryDutch Palace, the synagogue, St Francis’s Church andSantaCruzBasilicaaswell as the famousChinese fishingnets

Munnar: Visit a tea museum and plantations in thispicturesquehillstationintheheartofKerala'steacountry

Backwaters cruise: Sail on a traditional houseboat andsee a side to India few visitors ever experience on thisoptionalexcursion

DON’TMISS!

Kochi:HireabikeandgoforacycleinFortKochijustbeforesunset–theplaceisabuzzandthecoloursareincredible

Munnar:Enjoyaneveningwalkinthelocalbazaarandtrysomeofthelocallyproducedhomemadechocolates

Kovalam:Takeatuk-tuktoanearbyfishingvillageandsavourlocalfavouritessuchasbananachipsandtapiocachips

DAYBYDAY

DAY1|ARRIVALKOCHI

Meet and greet on arrival at Kochi International Airport, followed by an escorted transfer to the hotel by our airportcoordinator.Kochi,whichwasformerlyknownasCochin,isoneofthemostculturallydiversecitiesinIndia,withancientChristianandJewishcommunitiesaswellasmoretraditionalHindu,MuslimandBuddhistones.ItscolonialpasthasalsobequeathedaheritagethatfeaturesPortuguese,DutchandBritishcultureandarchitecture.

In theafternoon,walk through thehistoricdistrictsof town.Ourwalking tourwill takeus to JewTown, including thePardesiSynagogue(ClosedonFridays&Saturdays);theMattancherryPalace,knownlocallyastheDutchPalace(ClosedonFridays);FortKochi,reminiscentofEuropeanstreetsandhouses;theChineseFishingNetsonthenorthernshoreofFortKochi;andStFrancisChurch,nearatypicalEnglishvillagegreen.Enjoysometimeobservingthefishermenworking

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thenetsasthesunsets.Intheevening,youwillbetakenforone-hourKathakalidanceshow-theancientandintriguingdanceformofKerala.§ OvernightinKochihotelonbed-and-breakfastbasis.

DAY2|KOCHI–MUNNAR(210km–5.5hrs)

Taketotheroadafterbreakfastatthehotel,drivinginlandtoMunnar,whichissome1,600metresabovesealevelintheWesternGhatsMountains.Passlushandverdantlandscapes,whichbecomeprogressivelymorebeautifulthehigheryouclimb. On the way, we stop at the Athirapally Waterfalls, one of the most impressive waterfalls in India. Thesemagnificent fallson theRiverChalakudyare locatedat theentrancetoSholayarhill range.Thiswaterfalldrops fromaheightof25m(80ft)isandisthebiggestwaterfallinKerala.Inmonsoonseason,thewaterrisesgainingpower,andthestreamsjointogethertolendthefallsthenicknameof‘TheNiagariaofIndia’.AdmirespectacularviewsoftheSholayarhillsandauniqueviewofthewaterfallsfromtheviewpoint.

ContinuetoMunnar,andonarrival,check inatthehotelwiththerestoftheafternoonat leisuretoexplorethesmallmarketofthisquaintlittlehillstation.Alsoworthaganderarethestreetfoodkiosks,verypopularamongthelocals.§ OvernightinMunnarhotelonbed-and-breakfastbasis.

DAY3|MUNNAR

BreakfastatthehotelisfollowedbyasightseeingtourofMunnar.Nowadays,Munnarisallabouttheteaindustrybutitsdevelopment dates from its days as the cool summer retreat of British administrators in Kerala, and English countrycottagesaredottedaroundMunnartownanditshinterland.Thesurroundingareafeaturesrollinghillsofvirginforests,scenicvalleys,mountainstreams,splashywaterfallsandsprawlingteaplantations,whichseemtogoonforeverintothehorizon.VisittheinformativeTeaMuseumintheNallathanniEstatetolearnmoreabouttheprocessofteamaking.Themuseumhasexhibitssuchasoldmachineryusedforteaproductionaswellasintriguingphotographsrelatingthehistoryofthelocalindustry.AdocumentaryscreeningalsoinformsaboutMunnar’steaheritageandhowitwentfrombeingarainforestasrecentlyasthe1880stooneoftheworld’sprimeteaproducingareas.

ThenvisittheCSIChurchofChrist.BuiltbytheBritishin1910,thechurchboastsuniquearchitectureforthearea,builtonarockyoutcropanddisplayssomelovelystainedglassandcommemorativebrassplaques.Theafternoonisatleisureforyoutorelaxattheresortorstrollthroughthequietpathwayscrisscrossingtheendlessteaplantations.§ OvernightinMunnarhotelonbed-and-breakfastbasis.

DAY4|MUNNAR–KUMARAKOM(150km–4.5hrs)

Afteraleisurelybreakfast,drivetoKumarakomontheeasternshoreofLakeVembanad,withitsmajesticcanals,streamsanddistributariesalongitsbanksthatweaveanintricateandbeautifulweb.Onarrival,checkinatthehotel.Kumarakomis a stunninglybeautiful clusterofbackwater fishingvillages set against thebackdropof LakeVembanad.Also, spreadacross14acres,thelocalbirdsanctuaryhereisabirder’sparadise.Anenchantingbackwaterdestination,KumarakomistrulyoneofthegemsofKerala,offeringexoticsightsoffloraandfauna,boatcruises,andfishingexperiences.§ OvernightinKumarakomhotelonbed-and-breakfastbasis.

Optionalspiceplantationtour(notincluded).Afascinatingandinformativevisittospiceplantationsandthesmallerspicegardenswhoseownerspridethemselvesontheiradaptationoforganicfarmingmethods.Thevisitenablesyoutogetadeeper understanding how the spices, used in everyday cooking throughout the world, are grown, harvested andprocessedbeforefinallyfindingtheirwaytothelocalsupermarket.Amustforfoodies.

DAY5|KUMARAKOM

Enjoythedayatleisuretoenjoythevariousfacilitiesavailableatthehotel.§ OvernightinKumarakomhotelonbed-and-breakfastbasis.

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Optionalbackwaterscruise(notincluded):HeadtoAlleppeytoboardhouseboatforascenicandleisurelycruisethroughthe famed backwaters. The houseboats are adaptations of kettuvallams boats, which were used for generations totransportriceandspices.Onlynaturalmaterialsareusedandnotasinglenailshouldhavetoholdtheboattogether.Sailthroughtheintricatelabyrinthofbackwaters,canalsandbrooks,whichcrisscrosspaddyfields,marshlandsandlagoons.Theserenenaturalbeautyandsimplecharmofthebackwaterssurprisesateveryturn.ThisistheKeralacountrysideatitsbest.Asyourboatjourneycomestoanend,disembarkatAlleppeyandtransferbacktoyourhotelinKumarakom.

DAY6|KUMARAKOM–TRIVANDRUM–DEPARTUREKOCHI(55km–90min)

DepartKumarakomafterbreakfastatthehotelandtransfertotheKochiAirport.§ Breakfastincluded.

ENDOFSERVICES

INCLUDED

TOURGUIDE:§ OperatedwithaccompanyingEnglish-speakingguidethroughoutthetourACCOMMODATION:§ Fivenightsontwinsharingbasisasindicatedonabed-and-breakfastbasisMEALS:§ BreakfastinallthehotelsTRANSPORT:§ Air-conditionedtransportationENTRANCEFEESANDACTIVITIES:§ Allmonumentsandparksasindicated:MattancherryPalace,JewishSynagogueandKathakalidanceshowinKochi,AthirapallyWaterfallsvisitandTeaMuseuminMunnar

NOTINCLUDED

§ Expendituresofapersonalnature,drinksandmealsifnotstatedexplicitlyintheprogramme§ Optionalexcursionsassuggestedintheitinerary;eg.BackwaterscruiseinKumarakom,Spiceplanationtour§ Anyotheroptionalactivitiesortoursnotmentionedinincludedsection§ Anyairfare,airporttaxes,supplementforwhicharequotedseparatelyifapplicable§ Tipstodrivers,localguidesandhotelstaff§ Anyservicenotlistedabove

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RATES

Packageratesarenetperpersonsharingtwin/doubleroominUSdollars(USD)

Periodofdeparture Category Sharingtwin/double Singlesupplement

1October2017to20December2017Standard 299 172

Superior 415 307

6January2018to31March2018Standard 299 172

Superior 415 307

1April2018to30September2018Standard 257 142

Superior 369 262

1October2018to20December2018Standard 317 183

Superior 440 326

6January2019to31March2019Standard 317 183

Superior 440 326• Standardhotelcategoryequals4*hotelproperties,whilsttheSuperiorisa5*hotelequivalent.

OPTIONALTOURS

Day Destination Tour/excursion Supplement(USD)4 Munnar Spiceplantationtour 155 Kumarakom Backwaterscruise 40

THIRDPERSON/CHILDPOLICY

§ Ratesfortripleroomsareequaltothoseforthesharingtwin/doubleroom§ 50%discountontourpriceforchild2-12years,sharingaroomwithtwoadults

ACCOMMODATIONOPTIONS

Day Destination Hotel/resort Category

1 KochiStarlitSuitesorsimilar Standard

CrownePlazaHotelorsimilar Superior

2-3 MunnarSilverTipsHotelorsimilar Standard

FragrantNatureResortorsimilar Superior

4-5 KumarakomLakesongResortorsimilar Standard

VasundharaSarovarPorticoorsimilar Superior§ Theroomcategoryinallhotelsisthestandardroom.

DEPARTUREDATES

Thereareguaranteeddeparturesonthedateshighlightedbelow

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TERMSANDCONDITIONS

§ Minimum02paxneededtoguaranteedeparture§ LePassagetoIndiareservestherighttochargeontoitsbusinesspartnersalleventualchangesintrainfare,airfare,fuelsurcharges,additionalsecurityandinsurancetaxesinconnectionwithdomesticflights.

§ Kindlynotethatthisprogramisbasedontheabovementionedhotelsanditisnottobeconstruedthataccommodationisconfirmeduntilitisconveyedtoyouinwriting.Ourendeavorwillbetobooksamehotelsforyoubutintheeventthatthementionedhotelisnotavailableweshallbookothersimilarhotelinthesamecategory/zone.

CANCELLATIONPOLICY

§ >30dayspriortodeparturedate,therewillbenopenaltycharged§ >14dayspriortodeparturedate,40%ofpackagepricewillbecharged§ >2dayspriortodeparturedate,50%ofpackagepricewillbecharged§ No-show,60%ofpackagepricewillbecharged

OPTIONALEXTRAS

Awiderangeofoptionalexcursionsandpreandpost-programmeextensionsareavailableonrequest.Pleaseaskyourtourdesignerforratesandconditions

RECOMMENDATIONS

ComfortableandlightclothingisthemostsuitablefortravellinginIndia.Visitorsshouldnotwearsleevelessshirts,shorts,short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Shoes should be removed beforeenteringatempleorprivatehouse.Sunprotection,sunglasses,ahatandmosquitorepellentcanbeveryusefulduringyourstay.

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