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| Maldives
& Kerala - 13 nights |
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 About
this holiday:
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 a kaleidoscope of
underwater life. Spend six nights relaxing at Makunudu
Island Resort, a six-acre isle in the North Male Atol
then proceed to Kerala to experience to experience South
India’s historic sights, the spice-growing foothills
of the Western Ghats, the tranquil backwaters and Periyar
National Park.
Holiday
highlights
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Turquoise blue waters of the
Maldives
Islands
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An tranquil cruise through Kerala’s backwaters.
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Kochi’s ancient Fort.
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Tea hills of Munnar.
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Spice-growing foothills of the
Western
Ghats.
•
Picturesque Periyar National Park.
•
Spectacular Kathakali dance performance.
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Day 1 & 6:
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 six 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 7:
After a short flight from the Maldives you will
begin your journey to Kerala. You will stay one night
at the Travancore Heritage in Kovalam. Kovalam is the
most popular stretch of coastline in Kerala. Stay one
night to relax and prepare your self for the rest of your
holiday. The drive from the Trivandrum International Airport
is approximately 45 minutes.
Accommodation profile:The Travancore
Heritage is one of Red Dot's favourite beach properties
in Kerala, offering quality cliff-top accommodation in
beautifully reconstructed village houses. The timber houses,
complete with original wood carvings, were originally
built between 60 and 100 years ago before being painstakingly
transplanted to their new location. While most rooms have
views of the distant sea. This area offers easier access
to a magnificent beach that offers safe swimming. There
is also a highly reputed Ayurvedic Centre offering various
rejuvenation and herbal beauty care packages.
Day 8 & 9:
after breakfast leave to Alumkadavu to start
an exciting two day cruise in a traditional Kettuvallum
houseboat (reconverted rice barges) one of the highlights
of your holiday – a journey through Alumkadavu country
to Alleppy - 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 gaze ashore, soaking up a myriad of views
as you pass homes, farms, paddy fields, playful children,
fisher folk in traditional dugouts and bathing buffaloes.
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.
The drive would be approximately 3 hours from Trivandrum
Day 10:
Leave the backwaters and travel north 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. Part of the excursions
in will include a visit to the picturesque Periyar National
Park, the leading wildlife park in South India, which
was designated 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 one night 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 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 Windermere Estate. 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 one day. The plantation grows cardamom, pepper,
tea and coffee.
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Day 12 & 13:
after breakfast you will travel to Cochin, 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. After resting at the hotel, perhaps
dipping into the cool courtyard swimming pool, 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 14: Leave in good time for your flight
home. The drive to Kochi International Airport will take
one hour. |
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Cost:
TBC
Package price includes:
• Return flights with SriLankan Airlines
• 6 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
• 6 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
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