Itinerary

1. Day 1- Explore the Port City of Cochin

   • Meet your tour guide at the Cochin airport and transfer to hotel. 

   • Head for a city tour of the Cochin historical city monument like:

     • St. Francis Church (the first European church built in India).

     • Paradesi Synagogue (the oldest of the commonwealth).

     • Mattancherry Palace (built by the Portuguese and gifted to Kochi Maharaja).

   • Engage in activities of:

     • Harbour cruise through the backwaters.

     • Kathakali (a classic Kerala Drama) and Kalaripayattu shows (Keralan martial art) at local theatres. 

   Overnight in a hotel.

2. Day 2- Cruise in the Backwaters of Alleppey

   • Have breakfast at the hotel and drive to Alleppey, a backwater town. The backwaters here are serene and beautiful.

   • Board a houseboat from here and enjoy the cruise through the enchanting backwaters. The houseboat comprises a double/ twin bedroom with attached bathrooms, running water, and a lounge area to relax and enjoy the sights on the shore. 

   • Set sail through scenic backwaters, passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level.

   • Enjoy a 1-hr shikara ride (canoe boat) in the narrow backwaters after having lunch.

   • Return to Cochin in the evening.

   Overnight in a hotel.

3. Day 3- Stroll through the Town of Guruvayoor

   • Drive to Kozhikode after breakfast and enroute visit Guruvayoor, a pilgrimage town. It’s known for the centuries-old, red-roofed Guruvayur Temple, where Hindu devotees make offerings of fruit, spices or coins, often equivalent to their weight. Nearby, Mammiyur Mahadeva Temple contains shrines of the deities Vishnu and Shiva. South of the town is St. Thomas Church.

   • Arrive in Kozhikode (Calicut), the land of Zamorins, a prominent city in Malabar and check in at the hotel. The city has some well-known martial art houses where you can witness an authentic form of Kalaripayattu (Martial art from Kerala).

   Overnight in a hotel.

4. Day 4- Visit the Landmarks on the Way to Mangalore

   • Head towards Mangalore after breakfast. En-route, visit Thalassery, Kannur & Bekal.

   • Start with Thalassery, one of the strategic centres of British India. Several Anglo-Indian wars were fought at Thalassery, and the Thalassery Fort that overlooks the sea is a mute witness to all these wars. 

   • Proceed to Kannur and visit 16th-century St. Angelo Fort, once occupied by European colonial forces, which shows the city’s significant role in the spice trade. Housed in a former palace, the Arakkal Museum highlights Kerala's one Muslim royal family. 

   • Behold as the historic Bekal Fort appears to emerge from the sea. Almost three-quarters of its exterior is in contact with water. 

   • Continue to drive towards Mangalore and check in at the hotel. 

   • Visit the Marvel of Mangalore- St. Aloysius Chapel located at the St. Aloysius College. The chapel's interior is hand-painted by Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899. The doors and windows of the chapel are closed as part of preserving the paintings. Photography is prohibited inside. 

   Overnight at the hotel.

5. Day 5- Reach the Holy Town of Gokarna

   • Make your way to Gokarna after breakfast, and en route, visit Udupi.

   • Continue to drive to Gokarna, the holy temple town on the west coast of India and check in at the hotel. The Mahabaleshwar temple is a pilgrim center, and visiting Gokarna is considered holy for Hindus. The Gokarna beach is a hippy paradise. 

   Overnight at the hotel.

6. Day 6- Experience the Charm of Goa

   • Drive towards Goa after breakfast and en-route visit Karwar, a port city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. It’s known for beaches like Rabindranath Tagore Beach, with dive spots, and black-sand Tilmati Beach to the north. 

     • The INS Chapal (K94) Warship Museum, in a former missile boat, has artifacts and videos on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. 

     • The hilltop Sadashivgad Fort has a temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, plus views of the Kali River and the Arabian Sea.

   • Continue to drive to Goa, a popular tropical beach destination in India on the Arabian sea coast. On one side, you see a lot of crowded beaches, bars, discotheques, pubs and restaurants, which is the most happening part of Goa. But on the other side, South Goa is pristine, calm, rustic, agrarian, and nature-oriented. 

   • Visit the markets to taste the awesome Goa food like Goa pork sausages, Goa fish curry rice, Rava fried fish, Kaju Feni & Limca, Kokum, Bibinca, and the Vindaloos and Cafreals, two lip-smacking masalas in which meat and vegetables are cooked, are all authentic to Goa. 

   Overnight in a hotel.

7. Day 7- Explore Goa for another day

   • Embark on a full-day city tour after breakfast.

   • Visit the following sites:

     • Basilica of Bom Jesus: a World Heritage Site. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. 

     • Se Cathedral dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria is the largest church in Asia with giant bells and exquisite architecture. 

     • The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, built from 1517 to 1521 AD, is a stunning and charming building where architecture has a combination of Hindu and Christian elements. 

     • Church of St Augustine Ruins- 46-meter high tower, built in 1602 with the combined efforts of 12 Augustinians. They also built a convent besides the church. The Church of Marry Immaculate Conception is one of the most famous landmarks of Goa. This church is supposed to be one of the earliest churches to be constructed in Goa.

   • Take a walk through Fontainhas, a colourful colony known for an eccentric experience. The state was once a Portuguese colony and still has many beautiful reminiscent of the Portuguese era.

   • Relax by the beach. 

   Overnight in a hotel.

8. Day 8- Witness the Beauty of South Goa

   • Visit South Goa temples and visit the following:

     • Sri Bhagawati Temple supposed to be over 500 years old and is dedicated to Goddess Ashtabhuja. The temple is constructed in a grand style and the entrance is flanked by two statues of elephants. 

     • Shri Shantadurga Temple dedicated to the Goddess known as Shantadurga who is known to be a peaceful form of Goddess Durga. The temple is constructed beautifully and is located amidst scenic landscapes. 

     • Shri Mangesh Temple- this beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The lovely temple attracts lots of devotees and the architecture of the temple follows every norm of the traditional Hindu architectural style.

   • After sightseeing, hop-off at some beautiful beaches. Enjoy some rest time and relax. 

   Overnight in a hotel.

9. Day 9- Departure

   Breakfast at the hotel. 

   • Transfer to the airport and board the flight for onward destination.