Discover Kerala & Sri Lanka. - 16 days

Day 01 Arrive Cochin

Upon arrival in Cochin, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Evening Harbor Cruise.

Day 02 Sightseeing tour in Cochin

Afternoon proceed on a guided boat tour in and around Cochin. Today you have a full day tour of old Cochin visiting The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry. The Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is called the Jew Town. The St. Francis Church, the oldest Europe an church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica, originally built in 1557 by the Portugese. The Chinese fishing nets, believed to have brought to Kochi by Chinese traders. Also visit the Willingdon Island named after Lord Willingdon, is the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command of India.

Evening Kathakali show. In the evening, we take you to witness one of the most colourful and exquisite performing arts in the world – Kathakali. After two hours of glorious entertainment, remember to get photographed with the Kathakali performer.

Day 03 Cochin - Munar

After breakfast, we leave Cochin early in the morning for a long but scenic drive to Munnar – Kerala’s tea garden hill station. The Travelling time is 3.30 Hrs. You will reach Munnar by noon. Check into your resort. Visit Tea Garden in the afternoon

Day 04 Munar

After breakfast, we proceed on a daylong sightseeing tour of Munnar. Visit the Eravikulam National Park – home to the endangered mountain goat species, the Nilgiri Tahr. Take snaps of the frolicsome and rather friendly goats. Admire the valley in front of you. Next to Top-station, the highest point in Munnar and the place where you find an abundance of Nilakurinji plants, which flowers only once in twelve years.

Visit Marayoor, the location of a fragrant and picturesque sandalwood forest. You can buy sandalwood artefacts in the shops of Munnar town to take home as sweet-smelling mementos. Enjoy a fine dinner and overnight stay at your resort.

Day 05 Munar – Periyar ( Thekkady)

After breakfast, we drive to Periyar, hometown of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy the beautiful scenic splendors while driving. The Munnar-Thekkady route is considered among the best tourist circuits in India.

On arrival at Thekkady, check into Resort. There is time for relaxation. Later we take you to enjoy a rather unusual way of exploring a wild reserve – aboard a boat. The picturesque Periyar Lake is a beautiful setting. Your boat ride affords views of elephant herds and bison. If you are lucky enough you can spot more exotic animals. Don’t forget to take your binoculars! Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at your resort.

Day 06 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Today we go on trekking trails that take us closer to the majestic Nature in this area – an exciting experience. Later, visit a cardamom-curing centre to get a feel of spice industry based here. At last if time permits have an Elephant Safari too! Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at your resort.

Day 07 Periyar - Kumarakom

After breakfast, we proceed to Kumarakom – the spectacular and inviting backwater destination. Arrive at Kumarakom by noon. We set out on a memorable day & night houseboat cruise, which will eventually take us to Alleppey. See some of the most spectacular backwater scenery in the world. Enjoy the excellent amenities of your boat. Feel enchanted by the waterways and the charming views. We continue our journey to Alleppey .In the night, the boat drops anchor in the backwaters, signalling the beginning of a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you. Enjoy the fabulous sensations of mysterious night sounds. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner and overnight stay on board.

Day 08 Kumarakom - Kovalam

After breakfast proceed to Kovalam- the Beach paradise of India. The rest of the day is yours to chart an unforgettable beach holiday. Enjoy overnight stay at your resort.

Day 09 Kovalam – Trivandrum - Colombo

After breakfast, we drive to Trivandruma and fly to Colombo. Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met and transferred to Dambulla. Evening check in to the hotel & leisure.

Day 10 Dambulla

Transfer to Sigiriya and climb Siririya Rock. Sigiriya is home to the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Within its triple-moated defence the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color.

PM – Excursion to Polonnaruwa for sightseeing. Polonnaruwa - the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Century, contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatileke, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine ruins and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.

Day 11 Dambulla – Kandy

After breakfast leave for Dambulla & visit the rock temple at Dambulla. Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th - 18th Centuries. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhala people.

Thereafter leave for Kandy visiting a Spice garden & a batik factory en route. Spice Garden at Matale and see the luscious, Cinnamons, Cardamons, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices & Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints. The shop contains a wide variety of Batik items.

Afternoon commence city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Kandy - the hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.

Evening view a cultural show featuring various dance types of Sri Lanka.

Day 12 Kandy

After breakfast visit Pinnawela elephant orphanage. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 40 now, including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. Afternoon return to Kandy and visit the Peradeniya Botanical Garden. Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Sixty Seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is haven not only for Scientists but to every nature lover as well.

Evening retrun to the hotel and leisure.

Day 13 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya en route visiting a tea plantation & a factory. Tea Plantation - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on an 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium, grown, high grown into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million Kgs. of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million Kgs of tea. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 14 Nuwara Eliya – Yala

After breakfast leave for Yala via Ella. Ella - 127 miles from Colombo and 8 miles from Bandarawela, on the leeward side of the central mountains. The view from Ella Gap is one of the most spectacular scenic sights in Sri Lanka - the landscape falls away in a dizzy drop of 3000ft to the eastern plains.

PM – Do a safari at Yala national park by Jeep. Yala is a haven for Fauna both indigenous and migrant. Bird concentrations are by the Lagoons/Salvers. Here are thousands of Flamingoes, Assemblies of spotted Billed Pelicans, Spoonbills, Cormorants and various species of Herons. Pheasants, Pea Fowl, Peacocks and the Wild Fowl are found in hundreds. Wild Buffalo and herds of wild Elephants are a common sight. Whether it is birds or animals you have them all at Yala.

Day 15 Yala - Colombo

After breakfast, drive to Colombo and Overnight.

Day 16: Colombo – Departure

Transfer to airport and fly out.

***End of the tour***