Athirappally - Thattekkad - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarakom

Day 1 – Arrival at Cochin airport Transfer to Athirapally [70 Kilometers 2 hours]

Check inn at the resort Athirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls are a symbol of raw beauty and power. These two waterfalls are within the sholayar ranges and are on the course of the Chalakudy River. More than a waterfall, both of these have much more to offer. Being in the forest, the drive to Athirapally itself is a refreshing one.

Day 2 – Transfer from Athirapally to Thattekkad [80 Kilometers 3 hours]
Check inn to Hornbill luxury camping facility at Thattekkad. These would be tents, a little elevated with an en suite toilet. The food would be the local cuisine prepared by local people. With over 275 species in such a small area, most of them endemics, Thattekkad offers a rare view into the world of birding in Kerala. The Hornbill Camp has been specifically planned to make you get the most out of your short stay. In the afternoon – go for kayaking in river periyar and further for an evening village walk through the rubber plantations.

Day 3 - Transfer from Thattekkad to Munnar [70 Kilometers 2 hours]

Check in to a luxury tree house in Munar. It is a scenic spot offering majestic views of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The undulating hills, the lush mountain and the incredible scenery here is ideal for trekking and extensive mountain walks. In the evening, visit the Tea Museum.
Visit the Tea Museum - Munnar has a legacy of its own when to comes to the origins and evolution of tea plantations. Taking account of this legacy and to preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects on the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala’s high ranges, a museum exclusively for tea was opened some years ago by Tata Tea in Munnar. This Tea Museum houses curios, photographs and machineries.

Day 4 – Transfer to Periyar
Transfer to Periyar – and check inn to the resort. After noon visit periyar wildlife sanctuary and enjoy a 1.5 hour boat ride through the sanctuary. This is a cruise, which we can see the animals such as elephants, gaurs and bisons along the serene lake, in close quarters on the safety of the boat, If possible make the trip closer to sunrise and sunset for better chances of spotting wildlife. A camera and a pair of binoculars are highly recommended accessories.

Day 5 – In periyar

A day with the elephants - Half an hour ride on top of the elephant.  Timber drags, Elephant bath and shower, Elephant feeding, Photo session and Tea / Coffee served at the end of the program. Spice plantation visit in the evening - Periyar is, due to its location in the lower mountains around 1000 metres above sea level, blessed with numerous types of spices. Consequently, the spice plantation tour is in one of the most important activities outside the reserve that a visitor can engage in. It is an opportunity to see why the Kerala cuisine is so different from most of the other Indian cuisines. The tour gives you a chance to enjoy cardamom, pepper, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and many other varieties of spices and medicinal plants.

Day 6 – Transfer from Periyar to Kumarakom

Kumarakom is a breezy backwater fishing village on the shores of the Vemanad backwaters which is spread over four districts of central Kerala. A clear reflection of the term “God own country” is what Kumarakom is all about. The country side ambience and the closeness to the nature bodies make it a place away from the busy world. This farming village has very fertile land and is a center of farming and livestock.

Day 7 – At Kumarakom

The day at leisure. In the evening go for a sunset cruise on the Vembanad backwaters.

Day 8 – Departure transfer to Cochin Airport