|
|
| Kerala
& Maldives Combo – 21 nights |
 |
|
 About
this holiday:
The Kerala & Maldives Combo brings together the best of
two nations. First, the Indian Ocean archipelago Islands of
the Maldives with its beautiful turquoise blue waters, fine
sandy beaches, and a kaleidoscope of underwater life. Followed
by a short flight to Kerala, to experience South India’s
historic sights, tea-growing hills, and the amazing wildlife.
Nights on a houseboat, a quite beach resort built on a six
acre Indian Ocean island, a Planter’s retreat, a Maharaja’s
Palace and much more – experiences of a lifetime.
Holiday highlights
• Turquoise blue waters and the fine sandy
beaches
of the Maldives Islands.
• Two-day water journey on a
houseboat
in Kerala.
• Kochi’s ancient Fort.
• Kerala’s tea-growing hills.
• Spice-growing foothills of the Western Ghats.
• Picturesque Periyar National Park, South India’s
famous
wildlife park
in South India.
• Vibrant Kathakali dance of Inida.
|
Day 1 to 7:
Depart from London, flying direct to the Maldives,
the Indian Ocean’s most sought-after beach escape, an
archipelago of islands offering turquoise blue waters, fine
sandy beaches, and for snorkelers and divers, a kaleidoscope
of underwater life. Spend seven nights relaxing at Makunudu
Island Resort, a six-acre isle in the North Male Atol.
Accommodation profile: Makunudu
Island resort is found in the North Malé Atoll on its
own six-acre isle. It is reached easily from Malé International
Airport by a 55-minute speedboat trip. Makunudu is perfect for
a short break of sun worship, especially for couples. With comparably
few facilities, Makunudu's reputation relies upon its excellent
dining and beautiful location whilst providing a few quality
excursions such as fishing trips. The accommodation is in a
traditional Maldivian cottage-style, all leading onto the beach
and have been tastefully decorated by removing the sight of
any modern appliances. Makunudu is a value for money, good-quality
resort perfect for those wanting to relax rather than pursue
an active holiday.
Day 8 & 9:
Kerala's famous cultural triangle Today you begin your
journey to Kerala. At Kochi Airport you will be met by a Red
Dot Tours representative and transferred in one of our comfortable
Ambassador cars to For Kochi, an ancient trading port since
at least Roman times that provided a safe port of call for sailors
on the main trade route from Europe to China. The journey from
the airport will take approximately one hour before you check-in
to Malabar House. After resting at the hotel, dipping into the
cool courtyard swimming pool and enjoying you first taste of
Kerala’s distinctive, spicy cuisine, we suggest you wander
around the fort in the late afternoon. Walk along the fort promontory
and see the unique Chinese Fishing Nets and generally soak up
the atmosphere of the town. During the evening you may wish
to watch a Kathakali dance performance – a noisy, colourful
and spellbinding 400-year dance-drama. The following day, hopefully
after a refreshing night’s sleep, we will show you around
the fort, the highlights of which include Mattancherry Palace,
a gift to the Raja of Kochi back in 1557, St. Francis Church,
first built in 1510 and the resting place of Vasco de Gama,
and a magnificent synagogue dating back to 1568.
Accommodation profile: The Malabar House
is a fascinating and sophisticated boutique hotel that has become,
quite understandably, one of the most sought-after properties
in Fort Cochin. Formerly a Dutch colonial mansion which has
been lovingly restored, there are 17 individually designed suites
that mix contemporary design with vibrant colours and local
antique furnishings. The atmosphere is serene and peaceful.
The staff is friendly, cheerful, attentive and discreet. The
fusion food is acclaimed.
Day 10 & 11:
Today you journey east to Munnar, the major centre
of Kerala’s tea-growing hills. The spectacular drive will
take four hours. The town itself is not particularly charming,
but the surrounding countryside is beautiful with its soaring
peaks in the distance and neatly-clipped tea estates in the
foreground. We have recommended staying at Tall Trees, an unpretentious
and natural hotel property with friendly and caring staff. Rest
during the afternoon after the long drive. The following morning
you have several options: laze on your veranda with a good
novel; go walking in the tea estates or hiking at the Top Station,
an idyllic spot 41km from Munnar which
offers fine views over Tamil Nadu, or in the Eraikulam National
Park, a 100 sq km park of moist evergreen
forest and grassy hilltops that is home to the Nilgiri Tahr,
one of the world’s rarest goats, and also the
starting point for a climb up Anaimudi, at 2,695m the highest
peak in South India; go off-road cycling; play golf; or visit
a nearby tea factory.
Accommodation profile: Windermere
Estate, a beautiful small planter's retreat in the hills, is
situated 1600m above sea-level in the upper reaches of the Western
Ghats, a short drive from Munnar, a tea-growing hill station
town built around the confluence of three mountain streams,
Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. The bungalow-style hotel
offers breathtaking views, spacious and comfortable rooms, attentive
service and accomplished food. It is a property for peaceful
contemplation, a natural hideaway for those wishing to escape
the modern world for a few days. The plantation grows cardamom,
pepper, tea and coffee.
Day 12 & 13:
Leave the hills, travelling south across dramatic ridges and
Through thick forests to the spice-growing foothills of the
Western Ghats, an area dubbed Cardamom Hills after its most
important crop. |
Your destination is the picturesque
Periyar National Park, the leading wildlife park in South India,
which wasdesignated as part of Project Tiger in 1972. The lakeside
sanctuary, best explored by boat or on foot with a trekking
guide, is home to a relatively small population of game but,
encouragingly, thanks to enlightened anti-poaching policies
of the Kerala Forest Department, the game numbers are increasing
fast. The forest department have successfully co-opted the support
of the indigenous Mannan community who now conserve the reserve
in exchange for money from eco-tourism. You are likely to see
elephant grazing by the lakeside and bison, sambar, wild boar
and barking deer are also commonly spotted. But the tigers are
shy and are usually heard not seen, especially during the nights
as they prowl the jungle for their prey. We recommend staying
in the middle of this national park, in a small six-bedroom
former Maharajah’s game lodge called Lake Palace. Spend
two nights here, relaxing on your island, cruising around the
lake and trekking through the jungle. We can also organise a
spice plantation tour, a night trek, elephant rides and even
a bullock cart ride (an innovative idea to prevent unsustainable
sandalwood logging) if you can tear yourself away from your
island home.
Accommodation profile: Lake Palace,
a former Maharaja’s holiday home now managed by the Kerala
Tourism Development Corporation, is a very special six-bedroom
property because of its idyllic peninsula location inside the
heart of Periyar Wildlife Reserve, overlooking the lake and
surrounding jungle. Supplies and guests are ferried in across
the lake, a tranquil a beautiful 20-minute journey. Elephants
stroll close-by and in the night tigers, leopards and wild dogs
can often be heard hunting their prey. A former Maharaja’s
palace that was handed over to the state government, it also
contains many old-world memories and has, thankfully, been preserved
as a heritage property. Very little has changed since its royal
past.
Day 14 & 15:
From Periyar you travel south to Kumarakom, an island on the
large Lake Vembanad that is blessed with an idyllic location.
The area has attracted several exotic hotels offering backwater
and Ayurveda holidays. There is also a wonderful bird sanctuary.
We head straight for Coconut Lagoon, one of Red Dot’s
favourite properties in Kerala for a relaxing two-night stay.
Accommodation profile: Coconut
Lagoon is an architectural triumph, a boutique hotel that has
been cleverly crafted from the fragments of ancient village
homes and palaces. In some cases whole houses, complete with
beautiful woodcarvings and its original brass work, have been
painstakingly transplanted into the property piece-by-piece.
The result is the ultimate backwater resort, a property where
fine traditional craftsmanship and the stunningly beautiful
natural surroundings makes it utterly impossible not to relax,
unwind and dream. The Keralan cuisine is delicious and the staff
is friendly and attentive. Like the other Casino Hotels, there
is a special emphasis on caring for the environment. In fact,
they are so serious about the natural environment that there
is a fulltime director in charge of there environmental policies,
which include comprehensive waste management schemes and a breeding
programme to protect the endangered Vechoor cows.
Day 16 & 17:
Relax during the morning at Coconut Lagoon and wait for the
arrival of your traditional Kettuvallum houseboat (reconverted
rice barges) around noon for one of the highlights of your holiday
– a journey through Kuttanad country to Kollam, a land
of shimmering waterways, dense tropical greenery and age-old
village livelihoods so vividly described in Arundhati Roy’s
remarkable novel The God of Small Things. Your houseboat, fully
staffed with a friendly and attentive crew, will chug slowly
through canals and creeks allowing you to relax and unwind.
Hours slip by easily as you aze ashore, soaking up a myriad
of views as you pass homes, farms, paddy fields, playful children,
fisher folk in traditional dugouts and bathing buffaloes. See
fish eagles circling for prey and wise cormorants perched on
the riverbank. At 6pm the houseboat will moor up and the staff
will cook a sumptuous traditional feast. Sleep contentedly in
your cabin. Spend the following night on the houseboat as well.
Day 18 to 21:
After breakfast depart for a four-night stay at the
Marari Beach Hotel.
Accommodation profile: The Marari
Beach Hotel has real character and personality: 52 thatched-roofed
cottages spread over a huge 25-acre plot, compiled of open parkland,
fruit-lade n orchards and winding pathways. The cottages are
styled on the old village houses with palm roofs swooping low
over raised verandas. The interiors are simple and attractive.
Like all the other CGH Earth properties, the quality of the
food is top-class with a heavy reliance on local produce and
its own organic garden.
Day 22: Leave in good time for your flight
home. The drive to Trivandrum International Airport will take
one hour. |
| Cost: TBC |
Package price includes:
• Return flights
with SriLankan Airlines
•
12 night’s BB hotel accommodation on twin-sharing
basis
(FB at Lake Palace) in Kerala
•
2 night’s full-board accommodation on non-a/c
houseboat in Kerala
•
7 nights HB accommodation in Maldives (Deluxe Bungalow)
• Speedboat transfer from
Male to Maldives Resort
•
Airconditioned car and English-speaking driver for
transfers and tour
•
Entrance fees: St. Francis Church, Mattancherry
Palace, Synagogue, Kathakali
dance performance, spice plantation tour, one guided
trek in Periyar
National Park, unlimited boat rides in Periyar
|
|
|
|
|
|
