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Itinerary Summary for Kerala Backwaters Cruise and Bangaram Island - [14 days]

Day 1 - Cochin - Arrive Cochin. Once a much prized pawn between the Portuguese, Dutch and English, Cochin has a history of being a premier port along the fabled "spice route" to the east. The story of Cochin Jews is fascinating. The Jews were the first to arrive as early as 587 BC and many trace their origins to King Solomon. Overnight at Brunton Boatyard.

Day 2 - Cochin - Visit the sights of Fort Cochin and the Pardesi synagogue, at the heart of what is called locally ?Jew town?. Overnight at Brunton Boatyard.

Day 3 - Cochin - Kumarakom - Drive to Kumarakom. (about 2 hours) Kumarakom is a beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies and blue water hyacinths. Kumarakom is a sanctuary for birds with a sleepy agricultural and fishing township. Almost surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is formed by the 40 odd rivers that flow down into the Arabian Sea from the cardamom hills in the west. Overnight at the Coconut Lagoon

Day 4 - Kumarakom - Leisure day with options to visit nearby villages and experience the traditional life of the inhabitants of the backwaters. relax, experience Kerala?s famous Herbal Rejuvenation Ayurvedic treatment and possibly attend a cooking class. Overnight at the Coconut Lagoon

Day 5 - Kumarakom - Thekkady - Drive to Thekkady (about four hours.). Thekkady is situated on the Western Ghats in Kerala. This spectacular and scenic drive takes you through gentle hills, which are punctuated with vast expanses of tea plantations, rubber and coffee plantations, meandering upwards to the aromatic forests where spice grows in abundance. Overnight at The Spice Village.

Day 6 - Thekkady - Leisure day and boat ride on Lake Periyaron to view the extensive and varied wildlife on the lake shore. Overnight at The Spice Village.

Day 7 - Thekkady - Leisure day to enjoy the beautiful resort and its beach. Overnight at The Spice Village.

Day 8 - Thekkady - Houseboat - Drive to Alleppey Jetty. (about four hours.) Alleppey is an important tourist center in Kerala, with a large network of inland canals earning it the title "Venice of the East". Transfer to your private de-luxe houseboat which has a bedroom and full-size bed, en-suite bathroom and shower, lounge and outside sitting area. Your personal attendants run the houseboat and meals are cooked on board. Overnight on The Houseboat.

Day 9 - Houseboat - Gently cruise the narrow canals and channels of the Kerala backwaters aboard a private traditional houseboat, which is shady and airy, and view and experience the traditional life of the inhabitants of the backwaters. Overnight on The Houseboat.

Day 10 - Houseboat - Cochin - Agatti - Drive to Cochin airport (about two hours)/ Fly to to Agatti for transfer to Bangaram Island Resort by boat. The resort offers superb scuba diving, snorkeling and deep sea fishing as well as kayaking and beautiful beaches. Overnight at the Bangaram Island Resort

Day 11 - Bangaram Island - Leisure or chosen activities. Overnight at the Bangaram Island Resort

Day 12 - Bangaram Island - Leisure or chosen activities. Overnight at the Bangaram Island Resort

Day 13 - Bangaram Island - Leisure or chosen activities. Overnight at the Bangaram Island Resort

Day 14 - Bangaram Island - Agatti - Cochin - Transfer by boat to Agatti for flight to Cochin. Transfer to Brunton Boatyard.

Day 15 - Depart early hours for onward destination

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