In this Five-Night package, we will be covering most of the places from Kochi to Alleppey covering 3 Districts and 8 Major Villages.
Day 1: Embarkation at Kochi
You will be embarked on our boat by noon. Our welcoming and wonderful team on board will help you with smooth check-in. A gathering would be held at the lounge for giving brief information on the safety of the Boat, Cruise Route, Food menu, stay, etc. Then we set sail, gently cruising by the islands interspersed along rivers, lakes, coastal estuaries, and lagoons, leaving the skyscraper-lined horizon of the city of Kochi behind. Enjoy a traditional Kerala lunch and relax on board.
Our expert will talk about Kochi, the queen of the Arabian Sea, and its geographical, cultural, and social significance. We sail through villages -Perumbalam, Puthotta. By evening we arrive in the ancient village “Vaikom”. On foot, we proceed to visit an ancient temple and also to watch Kerala cultural art “Kathakali” the traditional and mimetic dance form, which plays stories from epics. It is a unique blend of dance, music, action, literature, and makeup. We proceed by tuk-tuk/auto to the ancient temple of Siva (1KM) We take a tour around the temple to get to know about history and architecture. The architecture of temples in Kerala is based on the ancient science of construction and geographical features of the land. As per the traditional architecture, each element of the temple represents an element of the human body and, a temple is not only the space for spiritual enlightenment but also the venue for harmonious social networking. After the visit, we return back to the boat and relax for the rest of the day.
Day 2: Vaikom-Chenganda-Kumarakom
After having breakfast, we cruise to chenganda village. Chenganda village is famous for the quality of the coir ropes they spin and the geotextiles they weave. The people of this village are having a laid-back and peaceful life. Spend time with coir weavers, the shell harvesters, and farmers, engaging in conversation about the riparian life and watching various indigenous techniques of fishing.
Cruise through Thanneermukkom barrage. The barrage at Thanneermukkombuilt across Vembanad, the largest lake of Kerala, divides the lake into two, with perennial salty water to the north and freshwater, enriched by 5 rivers flowing from the hills to the south. We talk about indigenous practices of paddy cultivation in Kuttanad.
Cruise through the expanses of lake Vembanad experiencing its wetland ecosystem. The cruise continues till evening and halts at chepungal, Kumarakom
Day 3: Kumarakom-Rajapuram-Kainakary
Having an early and light breakfast, we set out by country boat to watch the migratory and endemic birds of the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, which is a cluster of lagoons of lake Vembanad, with the backdrop of mangroves, paddy fields, and coconut groves.
Waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron, and the water duck are some of the endemic species seen here. Parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, and other birds are seen here during their respective migratory seasons. Return to the boat, refresh and while cruising an elaborate breakfast will be served. Then we resume the cruise.
After the lunch cruise to Kainakari, passing through the oldest and core regions of paddy cultivation on reclaimed land from the lake. We visit Chavara Bhavan, the ancestral home of the Catholic Saint Kuriakose. Chavara is now preserved as a museum. He had dedicated his life to the upliftment of the poorest among the poor. By Evening we arrange a cruise through a narrow canal by a country boat and we take a closer look at the laid-back, yet harmonious, life along the way. After the ride, we move towards the halting place.
Day 4: Kainakary-Manakompu-Champakulam
By 8:00 am we have breakfast and proceed by cab to an ancient village called “Aranmula”. Family craftsmen who still preserve their skill in making mirrors out of a special combination of metals. The secret of craft-making techniques has been passed down through generations. These mirrors have the distinctive feature of 100% reflection, unlike the common mirror. Local people consider it auspicious to keep it at home to attract prosperity and luck. We visit a smithy to watch the various stages of the indigenous art of mirror making.
Then after that, we arrive at an ancient temple in the village. Each temple has its own uniqueness in its architecture and ritual form. Afterward, we will have a traditional lunch at a house along the bank of the river Pampa – the Holy River.
Then we visit “Palliyodam”-the legendary divine vessel, the mural art which explains the cultural heritage of Aranmula.
Then we return to the boat and enjoy a relaxing cruise.
We cruise to Champakulam village. Kerala’s old spice trade used to pass through this town, en route to Kochi and other ports on the west coast. St Mary’s church on the riverside, built in 1550, the foundations are said to be as old as the 5th century AD. We visit the old church, school, and the local artisans around the church (open on weekdays) who skillfully and passionately craft biblical heroes. Then we move towards a long Snake boat (Chundan Vallam) parked gracefully along the shores in the region, being used for races today in modern days, which were once maritime war boats. Over one hundred oarsmen power these boats in races where they sail at speed generated to the beats of drums.
Then we cruise to the remote village Thayankari, till dusk passing through the serene canals. Relax onboard.
Day 5: Champakulam-Thottapally-Kanjipadam
Have breakfast on board enjoy a walk in the village before cruising to the next village Thakazhi. We pass by tiny hamlets amidst coconut groves and reach Karuvatta. Honoring your cruise with us, we plant a sapling of the coconut-Coconut tree is considered as the “Kalpavriksha” or the divine tree of Kerala. All parts of the coconut tree are useful in one way or the other, the water inside the coconut is a healthy drink, the fresh kernel and the oil extract from the dried kernel are inevitable components of every Kerala cuisine, fiber from the coconut husk is used to make coir mats and geotextile, the palm fronds are used for thatching roof, the wood suitable for making furniture and all the dried parts of the coconut make good fire food. Last but not the least, the toddy-the boost for the laborer toiling in the fields. We reach Thottapally-take a leisurely walk to the beach to see the fisherman life along the coast.
Have lunch on board we cruise through a smaller canal called Karumadi which gives a closer look at the life of village people on the banks. If interested you can have a visit to the Buddha Statue called “Karumadi Kuttan” and reaches for a night halt at Kanjipadam.
Day 6: Kanjipadam-Punnamada and Disembark at Alleppey
After breakfast, we cruise to Punnamada lake. This lake is the venue of the annual spectacular race of Snake boats of different villages of Alleppey and its neighboring places, on the second Saturday of the month of August. We disembark by 9:00 AM.
Includes: Boat rent and meals(B)
Note:
- This package includes extra costs (as the cruise starts from Kochi and also includes outdoor excursions and activities)
- This package can be operated on our luxury houseboats Lake Ripples, and Lake Riviera.