Kerala Backwater Cruise
Kochi – Alleppey
CURRENT PRICE 2023-24 : USD 3,428 [Per Cabin Night] Terms & Conditions apply |
Availability of DISCOUNT : YES [Ask your booking agent] |
7 Nights / 8 Days [DEPARTURE; Every Sunday] | [OPERATES; October-April] |
The river cruise takes you through wide lakes, flowing rivers, narrow canals and tranquil lakes with many villages on its banks that are only connected by water. Life is all on these waterways with people commuting in wooden dugout canoes where school children, traders and fidhermen all mingle together to make the voyage through the bustling waters both colourful and very exciting.
Visit temples, churches, market places, traditional dance and martial art schools and ayurvedic medicine centres. Meet the elephants of Kerala and take a canoe ride through the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Experience how coir making is done and how, traditional wooden boats are built by stitching the planks of wood together with coir rope. A really delightful tropical river cruise on warm waters with a lot of sun bathing and lazing as you sail towering twenty feet above the paddy fields in canals held together by dykes or, along the Arabian Sea where the setting sun splashes the endless waters with a bright orange glow
Day 1 - Cochin, Pallippuram – Vaikom
Transfer from the hotel in Cochin to the embarkation jetty at the ancient village ‘Pallippuram’, at the southern border of Cochin. Enroute, we visit a Kalari – the traditional training centre for authentic Martial art (Kalarippayattu). Kalarippayattu in Kerala has its origin from the ancient Indian scripture, Dhanur Veda.
This training helps to understand the 107 energy points in human body, learn the practices to maintain the normal flow of the energy and to heal ailments by Marma therapy. The exercises help to gain stamina, flexibility, calibrated functioning of body and mind, and quick reflexes required for self-protection.
The south-west corner of a Kalari houses the guardian deity of the Kalari. The seven tiers symbolise the seven abilities that each person must possess: Strength, Patience, Power to command, the posture, the expression and the Sound. Flowers, incense and water are offered to the deity every day. Before starting the day’s practice, it is the norm for practitioners to pray to the deity. There is also a Guruthara inside all Kalari, where a lamp is kept burning in reverence to all the gurus (masters) of the Kalari.
After the performance, we drive to the embarkation jetty near the filial church of ST. Thomas – 2ND AD, Pallippuram. Our welcoming team on-board will help you with smooth check-in, give a briefing about the facilities on-board the safety measures to be familiar with. Relish the Sadya, the traditional freshly cooked complete meal served on clean Banana leaf. Unwind as the boat leaves behind the bustling township and cruises gently to the remote villages. By evening we arrive at the ancient pilgrim town Vaikom and drop anchor.
Take a short walk to the local cultural centre to watch Kathakali, the traditional dramatic and mimetic dance form, which plays stories from the epics. It is a unique blend of dance, music, action, literature and make-up.
Take a short tuk-tuk ride to the ancient temple. The town is centered at the ancient temple of Lord Shiva. This town made an indelible mark in the history of Casteism in Kerala, when the feudal ban on underprivileged communities from entering temples and their premises was abolished due to a massive protest of the public. This incident had set in motion the social reformation in Kerala.
The architecture of the temples in Kerala is based on ancient science of construction and geographical features of the land.
As per the traditional architecture, each element of temple represents an element of human body and, a temple is not only the space for spiritual enlightenment but also the venue for harmonious social networking. Even the devotees from far off places come all the way down to Vaikom for ritualistic ceremonies such as the first meal of babies, marriage and thanks giving offers such as meal for the poor, cultural performances and specific rituals prescribed by the Veda.
After watching the ritual by sunset, we return to boat and relax. (The pompous 12-days’ long annual festival of this temple is vibrant with ancient Vedic rituals and cultural performances of devotees.)
Return to the boat and relax.
MEAL PLAN: (L, D)
Day 2 - Vaikom – Chenganda – Kumarakom
Day 3 – Kumarakom – Kavalam
Day 4 – Kavalam – Kainakari – Mankompu
Day 5 – Mankompu – Champakkulam – Changankari
Day 6 – Changankari – Thottappalli
Day 7 – Thottappalli – Karumadi – Kanjippadom
Day 8 (Sunday) – Kanjippadom – Punnamada & Disembark at Alleppey
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit to Kalari the traditional training centre for authentic Martial art (Kalarippayattu)
- Take a short tuk-tuk ride to the ancient temple
- Spending time with the coir weavers, the shell harvesters and farmers
- A home hosted lunch
- An ancient village ‘Aranmula’ which is famous for its metal mirrors
Price Inclusions
- Entrances: Entrance Fees Naturalist/Destination
- Manager: English speaking
- Assisted Transfers: At Kochi
- Land Transport: By Air-conditioned Vehicles and Local Tuk-tuk
- Meals: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
- Internet: Available with Wifi Dongle
Tour Non-Inclusions
- Airfares: International or Domestic Airfares
- Taxes: 5% Government Tax. Or any other tax levied in the future.
- Evacuation Charges: For medical emergencies or any other reasons
- Personal Expense: Laundry, calls, extra liquor, camera fee, medical, spa etc
- Insurance: Any travel insurance or personal insurance.
- Force Majeure
- Assisted Transfers: At Alleppy
HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT?
- LAST MINUTE CHANGES: Before every tour, our guide will discuss the programme in detail and work arround your priorities & likings, to showcase the city itself in best possible ways
- SUGGESTION ON EATING PLACES: Our drivers will not only drive you arround in the most safest way, on your City tours but shall also be pleased to drive you to the best eating places in the city
- BE ASSURED OF UPGRADES: Our team will make best efforts to upgrade you a few places in the tour, get ready to be surprised
MORE SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS
Q: What is the best time to Travel? : FROM OCTOBER TILL MARCH
Q: Is customization possible on this Tour : YES
Q: Do we have Early Bird Discounts? : YES
Q: What all Tour versions available for this Programme : ECONOMY/SUPERIOR/DELUXE/LUXURY
Q: Do we offer further discounts for Families & Groups: YES
Q: Who all can take board this Tour : INDIVIDUALS/SINGLE PARENT/COUPLES/FAMILIES
Q: Is there any Age criteria or reqirement on Health condition? : NO
Q: What is the Discount available for the past customers? : 10% DISCOUNT
Q: Does the company provides any Travel Guide upon confirmation of a Tour? : YES