Kerala Backwaters & Wildlife

Days 1 & 2. Kumarakom [B (day 2 only)]

Depart London today for Kumarakom via Cochin where you have breakfast at a local hotel before driving (approximately three hours) to Kumarakom for the night at the Coconut Lagoon Hotel. Perched on the banks of Lake Vembanad is the sleepy town of Kumarakom. At the heart of Kerala's famous backwaters, Kumarakom has changed little since the middle ages but for it's string of exotic resorts that makes it the perfect jumping-off point to explore the backwaters.

Day 3. Kerala Backwaters [B, L, D]

Today you board a private house boat (built in a traditional style) for a cruise along Kerala's picturesque backwaters looking out for the many birds that reside here.

Kerala's Backwaters are a vast network of lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas of 44 rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters are a self-supporting ecosystem teeming with aquatic life, and the canals are still the main highways for the villages in the area with over 900 kilometres navigable. A typical cruise will pass through Keralan villages, surrounded by lush bright green paddy fields and soaring coconut trees. One of its charms is the possibility of observing rural life and customs without feeling intrusive. The birdlife is amazing with a huge variety of species including kingfishers, cormorants, woodpeckers, ducks, bee-eaters and raptors.

The House Boat traditionally known as 'Kettuvallam' is made entirely of natural materials; wood, rattan and bamboo. It has neither engine nor machinery of any other sort on board. 23 metres long and three metres wide, it sits low in the water. In front, roofed but otherwise open to the elements, is the living and dining area. You spend the night onboard the boat to get the most out of the tranquil backwaters.

Days 4 & 5. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary [B, L, D]

Drive to Periyar this morning for a 2-night stay at the Lake Palace Hotel.

Periyar which is located around five hours drive from Cochin is set high in the Cardamom Hills area of the Western Ghats in southern India. It is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The park has a diverse range of flora and fauna with 1800 flowering plants, 44 species of reptiles, 112 species of butterfly and a wide range of mammals, including a large number of Elephants, Gaur, Wild Boar, four species of primate (Bonnet Macaque, the endemic Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and Slender Loris), Sloth Bear, Leopard, Dhole, Common and Clawless Otter and even Tiger. The reserve has a rich and varied birdlife with nearly 300 species recorded. Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Loten's Sunbird and occasionally Ceylon Frogmouth may be seen here. One of the most popular activities here is to take a boat ride on Lake Periyar to view herds of wild Elephants frolicking in the water.

The Lake Palace Hotel was a former summer palace, built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in the 18th Century. It is reached by hotel launch, the accommodation being comprised of air-conditioned rooms/suites with en-suite facilities; there is a restaurant/bar, lounge area, as well as numerous courtyards, fountains, and a small swimming pool.

Days 6 & 7. Munnar [B, L, D]

A drive of about five hours takes you to Munnar where you spend the next two nights at the Windermere Hotel and enjoy visits to a nearby tea estate and also Eravikulam National Park.

Eravikulam National Park, is situated in the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats. It was established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered species of wild goat and the only one to be found south of the Himalayas.

The Windermere Hotel is a cosy guest house on the Windermere Cardamom and Tea Estate near Munnar. Accommodation is in 15 rooms spread throughout the main farmhouse and nearby cottages. Some rooms have private balconies and the valley view rooms offer spectacular views across the Chithirapuram Valley below. The farmhouse dining room offers tasty cuisine with a large balcony offering fabulous mountain views.

Day 8. Cochin [B]

From Munnar you head straight for Cochin for the night.

A walking tour of Fort Cochin will take you through the streets still graced with traces of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial architecture. There will be plenty of time at leisure here to explore and in the evening of can enjoy an evening of Kathakali dance - the traditional dance-form of the region.

The Taj Malabar Hotel sits in a fabulous location on the northernmost tip of Willingdon Island. It commands magnificent views of the harbour from three sides and catches the cooling sea breezes. Accommodation consists of 96 rooms and suites divided between the main modern tower and a heritage wing with graceful Victorian interiors reflecting the hotel's colonial past.

Day 9. Homeward

Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK where you arrive in the early hours.