Kerala

Unforgettable Kerala


Flights

NotIncluded


Starting From

USD 353 Per Person


Availability

Round The Year


8

Days


Hotel Category

3-4-5 stars

Travel Duration

8 Days / 7 Nights

Included in the trip
Entrance Tickets
Individual departures

Round The Year

kerala, a state situated in the southwestern region of India, is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. The state is blessed with a diverse landscape, which includes long stretches of pristine beaches, serene backwaters, verdant hills, and lush forests. One of the most striking features of Kerala's natural beauty is its backwaters. These are a network of interconnected canals, lagoons, and lakes that are formed by the merging of several rivers as they flow towards the Arabian Sea. The backwaters are a hub of biodiversity and provide a habitat for a variety of aquatic animals and birds. They also serve as a source of livelihood for the locals, who use them for fishing and transportation, The state is also home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which provide a haven for a variety of flora and fauna. The Periyar National Park, located in the Cardamom Hills, is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in Kerala. It is home to several species of animals, including elephants, tigers, and Indian bison. The park also offers visitors the opportunity to take a boat ride on the Periyar Lake and witness the animals in their natural habitat. In conclusion, Kerala's beauty lies in its diversity. From its backwaters to its beaches, and from its forests to its cultural heritage, Kerala has something to offer for every traveler. Its natural beauty, combined with its rich cultural heritage, makes it one of the most unique and fascinating destinations in India.

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Stages Of Tour

Land
Plane
Train

The Travel Program

8 DAYS

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Day 1

Arrival in Cochin Airport – Fort Cochin

On your arrival at the Cochin International Airport, drive to Fort Kochi. You will be welcomed traditionally at Brunton Boatyard - an elegant boutique hotel that is a mélange of Portuguese, Dutch and British influences, overlooking the historic harbour. Enjoy your time at leisure, by the pool or take a stroll through the green courtyards of Brunton Boatyard. Explore the destination with many stories, tour the old spice markets, Jew street and synagogue, the Dutch Palace, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, Chinese fishing nets and David Hall. Return to Brunton Boatyard for the night.

 

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Day 2

Fort Cochin – Thekkady

Wake up for your 5-hour drive to Thekkady. Drive through rice fields and rubber plantations. See coffee, cardamom, pepper and tea estates. Arrive 2000 ft. up at Spice Village, a reimagined tribal village very close to the Periyar forest. Get an authentic eco-living experience, complete with a spice garden, in your very own elephant grass thatched cottage. End the evening with a demonstration by the Chef on cooking with spices followed by a cultural performance. Retire for the night in Spice Village.

 

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Day 3

Thekkady

Enjoy a delicious breakfast to kick start the day with a trek through the Periyar wilderness, a protected elephant and tiger reserve with the park rangers. Join our resident naturalist on a tour of the spice garden. Learn about the abundant flora and fauna of Periyar in the evening, before settling down for dinner. Participate in a cooking demo with spices. Experience a tribal cultural performance. Retire for the night in the Village.

 

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Day 4

Thekkady – Kumarakom

After breakfast, enjoy a morning drive to Kumarakom where you’ll switch to a boat and arrive on the banks of Lake Vembanad. Disembark straight onto the reception of Coconut Lagoon, a little piece of untouched Kerala - created from restored heritage homes, set in a web of canals on the banks of the Kavanar river. Learn to cook authentic Keralan cuisine organized by the Chef, so you can take more than memories home. Relax in the evening and watch a traditional cultural performance, before calling it a night.

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Day 5

Kumarakom

Practice yoga and meditation in the morning, followed by breakfast. Go bird watching with our resident naturalist and learn about our conservation methods. Experience village life with a local, and learn all about a different world. Enjoy a lazy afternoon by the pool. In the evening, enjoy a sunset cruise on the lake in a converted rice boat, accompanied by a flute performance. Return to Coconut Lagoon for the night.

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Day 6

Kumarakom – Mararikulam

Begin your onward journey to Mararikulam, where you arrive to a traditional welcome at Marari Beach Resort - An eco-extension of a fisherman’s village, Marari Beach offers complete relaxation in natural settings. Unwind by the beach and retire for the night.

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Day 7

Mararikulam

The community surrounding Marari Beach Resort teaches you the art of indulging in the moment. Explore the region on a bicycle or take a dip in the sea. Watch fishermen reel in the catch of the day, stroll through the nearby village and harvest organic produce at Marari Beach’s four-acre organic garden. As you accompany these unique experiences with Ayurveda treatments, feel yourself unwind holistically- body, mind and soul.

 

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Day 8

Mararikulam – Cochin Airport

Begin your journey home with a drive to Cochin International Airport. As you take off, don’t forget to enjoy a bird’s-eye- view of the vast area you have just travelled and begin to plan your next holiday with us.

End of Our Services

 

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The hotels

MND Provides a wide variety of hotels

Cost Per Person For Different Categories

#No of PaxStandardSuperior Prestige
12 PaxUSD 589USD 729USD 1043
24 PaxUSD 471USD 579USD 834
36 PaxUSD 412USD 506USD 730
48 PaxUSD 353USD 434USD 625

Supplements

#PlanStandardSuperior Prestige
1H/B Meal PlanUSD 28USD 56USD 84
2F/B Meal PlanUSD 56USD 112USD 168
3Single SupplementUSD 412USD 506USD 730
#MonthsDates 1Dates 2

Inclusions

  • Accommodation as per Itinerary on twin sharing with Bed and Breakfast Plan.
  • Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle as per program.
  • Professional English-Speaking Guide. ( we can also arrange Guide in Other Languages on Request )
  • Entrance fees to museums, archaeological sites and parks. One visit to each monument is allowed
  • Night Stay in Houseboat with Lunch & Dinner
  • Mountain Jeep Safari in Periyar
  • Hotel/port pickup and drop-off. 
  • 2 bottles of water per traveler per day
  • Travel kit document bag
  • One souvenir gift from MTA 
  • Private and personalized services.
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Exclusions

  • International flights & Insurance (we can do the same on request).
  • Entry visa to India (Click Here to get informations, we can assist you to get the visa for India).
  • Possible entrance fees for cameras and camcorders (to be regulated on site).
  • Meals, drinks, personal extras and anything not mentioned in the tour or in inclusions.
  • Tipping to Tour Guides, Drivers etc. 

Enquiry Form

Please fill the below form for more information

PASSPORT


A valid passport is required for at least six months before Boarding the Flight. We encourage you to check the validity of the passport and we advise you to bring a photocopy of your passport and the page of the visa obtained, or carry multiple copies of ETA, useful in case of loss.


 


INDIAN CONSULAR VISA


To enter India, an entry visa issued by the Indian Embassy is required. It is categorically necessary that all travellers, whose itinerary includes leaving and returning to the country, have obtained a double or multiple visas. During the flight to India you will be given a disembarkation form to be filled in with your data and to be delivered to passport control. The detachable part completed with the customs declaration will be returned to you, and must then be handed over to the customs upon leaving the airport.


 


INTERNAL FLIGHTS


Air tickets for flights within India or between India and Nepal, if not included in the intercontinental flight, will be collected by your companion or our representative and will be delivered to you upon arrival. Flights within India and between Nepal are the trickiest part of the journey. We recommend a lot of patience, because it is not uncommon for flights to suffer delays, cancellations or make intermediate stops not foreseen at the time of booking. It is therefore essential to always go to the airport on time (about 2 hours before the flight). In the event of cancellations, however, the companies, according to the new regulations, will refund the cost of the ticket but have no obligation to re-route. The rebooking will then be done by our local office by purchasing a new ticket. Purchasing it on the same day, the same fare as the canceled flight is not always available. In case this exceeds that of the cancelled flight, the difference must be paid directly on the spot. If there are no other flights on the scheduled route, a land transfer by car/bus will be provided in lieu of the ticket.


 


DOMESTIC FLIGHTS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE


Since recently (August 2013) both on intercontinental flights and on internal flights, the companies are very strict in calculating the weight of the baggage and each additional kilogram is subjected to an extra payment according to the rules of the company itself. In this regard, we report the scheme concerning the baggage allowance for the economy class granted by each airline for flights within India and between India and Nepal:


 


Airline


Hand Baggage Weight


Checkin Luggage Weight


Air India


7 kg + Laptop


15 kg


Jet Airways


7 kg + Laptop


15 kg


Indigo & Spice Jet


7 kg + Laptop


15 kg


Go Air


7 kg + Laptop


15 kg


Jet Lite


7 kg + Laptop


15 kg


 


The company has the right to apply an extra cost for each kilogram exceeding the above, (indicatively from 4 to 8-euro per kg).


 


LOCAL GUIDES AND ESCORT TOURS


For the entire duration of the group tour, starting from your arrival in India, you will be assisted by a Tour Escort or local Guide (for individual tourists) in each city who will take care of every technical-organizational detail. The tour escort will also act as a local guide in the cities for which he is licensed. In the others he will be accompanied by a local foreign speaking guide or English-speaking guide as per the provisions of the Indian government. In the latter case, he will provide for the translation.


In many cities of India, in fact, there are no local guides speaking foreign languages (especially in southern India, central India and some parts of Rajasthan), or there are few.


 


THEFT


We remind you that passport, telephone and valuable accessories in general must always be kept by the passenger and never left unattended, as no service facility takes charge of any loss/theft during the tour. It is also good to have all the emergency bank numbers with you in case of need.


 


TIPS


In India, tipping is a custom rooted in local custom. The amount of tips is at the discretion of the passengers, but as a rule they are in the local custom. In restaurants it is customary to leave 10% of the bill as a tip.


 


A basic tip:


For half day drive with driver Rs. 300/ full day Rs. 500.


For porters Rs. 70 per bag


For Half Day Local Guide Rs. 500/ Full Day Rs. 800


Per Day Escorts Rs. 1000


 


(The amount is in total and refers to a group of 2/3 people, it can be increased if you are traveling in a group with more people)


For groups, even small in number but with tour escorts, it is advisable to give the guide a sum at the beginning of the tour (approximately 40/45 euros for 7/9 day tours) and he will distribute them appropriately, thus avoiding boring and continuous collections.


N.B. (This figure does not include a possible tip for the companion)


 


ROOM AVAILABILITY


The rooms are available until 12.00 on the day of departure. In India there is no day use system, therefore if the rooms want to be kept until departure they will have to be paid for the entire following night.


 


CHECK-IN ONLINE


We inform you that the check-in procedure can take place via online check-in, which can be implemented from the airlines' websites or via the automatic check-in devices specifically installed at the airport.


 


CLIMATE


The most pleasant season runs from mid-November to March, with moderate heat and low rainfall. The maximum temperatures vary from 27° to 30°, the minimums from 16° to 22°. In March the temperatures begin to rise with highs reaching 38°. The month of August records the peak of the monsoon season (from June to October) which invests the south-western regions with rainfall that varies in intensity according to the areas, limited in some to severe thunderstorms. In October and in the first half of November the south-eastern part of India is affected by a north-east monsoon.


 


CLOTHING


Clothing must take into account the period and the regions where you go. In southern India, light clothing can be worn all year round, without forgetting long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect against insects. During visits to the temples, excessively small clothing should be avoided. For those traveling to the northern regions, warmer clothing is needed, as the temperature can approach freezing in winter. In the desert region of Rajasthan the temperature varies a lot between day and night.


 


SHOPPING


In India the variety of handicraft production is practically infinite. Indian muslins, canvases, silks and brocades have enjoyed worldwide fame since ancient times and have been appreciated for the quality of the fabric, the beauty and resistance of the colors, the originality of the designs. Even today the brightly colored silk saris, embroidered or woven with gold or silver threads, the brocades of Varanasi as well as the cottons of Rajasthan, the wool or wool and silk carpets of Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh are renowned. The manufacture of fabrics is just one aspect of the varied and rich Indian craftsmanship which ranges from wood carving (teak, sandalwood, rosewood, ebony) spread almost everywhere, especially in Karnataka, to Agra marble inlays or the stone sculptures of Orissa, from ceramics to hand-painted lacquers, from brass and copper pottery to bamboo and leather objects. The skill of the Indians in the cutting and processing of semi-precious and precious stones has been known since ancient times. Haggling in the bazaars is common practice.


Do not buy souvenirs that cost animals their lives or harm nature.


 


FOOD AND DRINK


It is recommended to drink only bottled or boiled water (found in almost all restaurants and hotels). Carefully avoid tap water and ice in drinks. It is advisable to consume only well-cooked foods and packaged foods, avoiding raw vegetables and fruit that cannot be peeled.


 


MEDICAL ASSISTANCE


In India there is a great variety of doctors practicing the most diverse forms of therapy and the only hospital in Europe is located in Delhi. It is advisable to bring from Italy tablets against any gastrointestinal disorders and medicines that are difficult to find locally.


 


BEHAVIOUR


Before entering the temples, mosques and or gurdwaras it is essential to take off your shoes, generally it is allowed to keep your socks on. To avoid discomfort, do not bring leather articles of any kind with you, because they could arouse some opposition. Inside places of worship, tourists can move as they please and sometimes attend religious rites, for which it is preferable to wear modest clothes, avoiding tops, skirts and shorts. A small donation will be welcome.


The folded hands namaste is the typical Indian greeting and its use will be greatly appreciated. Especially in cities, men will gladly shake hands with tourists; in fact, this gesture is considered particularly cordial. The majority of Indian women, on the other hand, are reluctant to shake hands with a man, both Indian and foreign (a possible refusal should not be considered an offense) and are generally surprised by the informality of relations between the two sexes used in western countries. In private homes you will be welcomed as guests of honor and your lack of familiarity with local customs and traditions will be understood and accepted. If you should be tempted to eat with your fingers, remember to use onlyyour right hand.


 


GASTRONOMY


Indian cuisine varies according to the regions, with notable differences between the southern and northern regions, but has as a common feature the wise use of spices which are used not only to flavor foods but also to aid digestion. In the north it looks remarkably like that of Middle Eastern or Central Asian countries; there is great use of chili (hot pepper), the staple food is wheat, and various types of unleavened bread are consumed, such as pooris or chappatis. The meats are quite common, naturally not beef. In the south, where the Muslim influence has been less strong, vegetarian diets prevail, and the cuisine revolves around rice, consumed in an infinite variety of ways. The highly savory taste of Indian foods is related to the blend of spices frequently used in food preparation. These mixtures (kari) can accompany various vegetables, chicken or lamb meat, fish or rice. Rogan josh (lamb curry), gishtaba (spiced meatballs with yoghurt), korna (vegetable meat-based stews) are very common in the north. In the south, various vegetable dishes are widespread, including bhujia (a vegetable curry) and along the coasts, fish dishes, the Cochin prawns are delicious. Perhaps the most common dishes throughout India are, however, the simple dhal, essentially a lentil soup, and the thali, the typical vegetarian dish, usually served on a tray with small bowls full of vegetables accompanied by large -of quantity of rice. Among the desserts, kulfi, the typical pistachio ice cream, is very common, while tropical fruit is very abundant. It is a frequent habit to conclude the meal by chewing pal, a mixture of spices, betel nuts and other powders, all wrapped up in an edible leaf. Tea is the most popular drink and some varieties of Indian tea are famous all over the world. Try the rice beer.


 


LANGUAGE


In India a large number of local languages are spoken, very different from region to region, among which Hindi is the official one. English represents a strong instrument of national cohesion and is very widespread, especially in hotels or in places frequented by Westerners.


 


RELIGION


Religion forms an integral part of India's complex tradition. Four of the most important faiths in the world meet on this territory: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and among these the first two were born in India. furthermore, this country which welcomed the Jews and the Parsees (followers of Zoroaster), who then integrated into Indian life, gave rise to Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable cults and regional sects of lesser importance and which for centuries have acted and interacted with each other.


 


AIRPORT FEES


They usually already include exit taxes from the country. However, we recommend checking at the airport, as these are subject to change regulations.


 


PHONE


The cellular network is active in the country, however Italian cell phones are only active in the main cities and it is therefore advisable to purchase a card locally. To call from India the area code is 0039. To call India dial 0091.


 


VACCINATIONS


No mandatory vaccination is required for travelers from Italy. Before travelling, it is advisable to consult the competent ASL on the need to carry out vaccinations or appropriate prophylaxis. In general, subject to medical opinion, vaccinations against: diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, polio and tetanus booster are recommended. However, we recommend checking the Viaggiare Sicuri website at the link http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/index.php?india


 


CURRENCY


The legal tender in India is the Indian Rupee. It is advisable to have currency in US dollars especially for entrances, Euros are also welcome. No Indian currency can be brought into the country or exported, while any amount of foreign currency can be imported. It is very complicated to exchange the Rupee in another currency, so it is advisable to buy in such quantities as to no longer have liquids in local currency at the time of departure. Credit cards, preferably from the VISA circuit, are accepted both in authorized shops and in hotels in large cities, where automated bank branches can also be used.


 












 

Our Staff


Our guides and professional escorts have experience in the area and in-depth cultural preparation. We can provide Guides in differenr languages also in most of the sectors but in some areas there shall be only english speaking Guides available, Such as Ladakh and the Himalayan areas, Kindly do check it with our travel experts regarding the availabiluty.


 


Means of transport


Our organization boasts a large fleet of new generation air-conditioned means of transport: from standard or deluxe cars (2/3 pax) to Overland vehicles (2/3 pax); from minibuses (4/8 pax) to grand tour buses (10/40 pax), with professional English speaking drivers, always attentive to the needs of travelers. The roads that connect the main cities of India are generally good. Indian Traffic conditions limit the transfer times to an average of 50 km per hour.


 


Hotels and tented camps


In Indian Subcontinent, the official category of hotels does not guarantee international standards and does not always correspond to the expectations of the traveler. The structures that MTA chooses, from luxury hotels, to Heritage Hotels (former residences of the Maharajas), to lower category hotels, are periodically supervised by our staff. In the Himalayan areas of Ladakh, hotels are provided among the best existing and standard tented camps with limited comfort, where a good spirit of adaptation is required.


 


Flights


The Major airports where International flights Land are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Almost all of the major International Airliens have theor scheduled flights from these cities. including Swiss, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, BrusselsAirlines and Etihad.


 


Personalized trips


Our Product Managers are available to travelers to develop personalized itineraries (for individuals or groups) and offer ad hoc programming, designed with maximum flexibility and with smallest details, for those who want to immerse themselves in the magic and spirituality of " Land of the Gods” outside the classic Itineraries or with programs already present in the catalog. MTA is also available to develop personalized travels in cinema, nature, sports, honeymoons, incentive travel, business tourism and medical tourism in India.


 


India Visa


To obtain an entry visa to India it is essential to have a passport valid for 6 months from the date of travel (with at least three consecutive free pages), and two passport photos. you can apply for ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) The Link of the website is https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa Kindly check for permission Granted on ETA before boarding your flight.