Best of Kerala Hills & Backwaters Tour

COST INCLUDES:- 

• Assistance upon arrival by our Kerala Airport/Railway Station representative. 
• All transfers & sightseeing by private AC Vehicle. 
• Welcome drink on arrival.
• Accommodation on twin / double sharing basis.
• Daily buffet breakfast in hotel. 
• All sightseeing and tour as per itinerary.
• Well experience & bilingual drive till the Departure.
• All expenses related to Vehicle such as Toll Tax, Parking, Permit, and Driver Allowances. 
• Child below 5yrs on complimentary basis.

Note: - Only for Houseboat stay.

Air conditioned houseboat with all meals (breakfast, lunch, Evening tea and snacks & Dinner)
Houseboat AC will provide from 9PM to 6AM.
 
COST EXCLUDES:- 

• Airfare to and from Kerala.
• Any kind of bus or rail fare.
• Personal and medical insurance.
• Personal expenses such as tips, laundry, phone call etc.
• Any kind of drinks (alcoholic, mineral, soft or hard and starters.)
• Entrance fees, camera fee, and monument guide services 
• Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Cost Inclusion”.
• Adventure activity like Safari, Boating, Surfing etc. 
• Extra nights in hotel due to ill health, flight cancelation or any other reason.
• The service of vehicle is not included on leisure days & after finishing the sightseeing tour as per the itinerary.
• Extensions of tour programme or diversions in the tour itinerary for any reasons eg. Due to bad weather, road closure, Transport Strik, breakdown or any natural calamities.
• GST 5%

Day 01: Arrival at Cochin – Munnar (140Km/4 hrs)
On arrival meet and greet our representative would receive you and drive to Munnar enjoying the scenic beauty & the marvelous waterfalls, high mountains with the low flying clouds passing by. Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, and perched about 1600 m above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India. This hill station is marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows, rivulets, waterfalls and cool weather. It is also an ideal destination for trekking and mountain biking. On arrival check- in to the hotel & Rest of the day at Leisure. Overnight stay at Munnar.
 
Day 02: Munnar Sightseeing
After morning breakfast start for full day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Here visit to Mattupetty Lake & Dam, Echo Point, Kundale Lake, Blossom Garden, Rajamalai, Tea Plantation and Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Enjoy and relax near the tea gardens and appreciated the beauty of nature as you share romantic talks. Later return back on time to the hotel and enjoy the stimulating hot tea sitting outside in the garden. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at Munnar.

Day 03: Munnar – Kumarakom (160 Kms/4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast check out from hotel & drive to Kumarakom Check-in your resort / hotel and go for sightseeing to Kumarakom beautiful bird sanctuary bird seen there included water fowl, cuckoo, owl, duck…etc. This is an ideal site for enjoying the back water and boat cruise. Country boat and speed boats are available there. You will enjoy by the backwaters and boats, The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by canoes, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. This 14 - acre Bird Sanctuary is located on the eastern banks of the Vembanad Lake. If you are lucky you will chance upon a Siberian Crane, a special visitor during the migratory seasons, Enjoy the day by being in the sanctuary and Overnight stay at hotel/resort.
 
Day 04: Kumarakom– Alleppey Houseboat (45 Kms/1 hrs)
Morning after breakfast check out from hotel & process to Alleppey. Alleppey or Alappuzha is the Venice of the East; It is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors. You enjoy Houseboat cruise is the best way to explore the beauty of backwaters by your own. Enjoy your evening on the sundeck away from polluted cities and maddening crowd. Overnight stay in Alleppey.
  
Day 05: Alleppey to Cochin Departure
After breakfast check out from hotel & Depart as per schedule to the Airport/ Railway station at Cochin.

Booking:
On confirmation of booking, your contract is with Himachal Tourism Online. A contract exists between us when we confirm your tour/travel services and have received the deposit amount from your end.

Payment:
For the services contracted, a minimum deposit of 25% of the total cost is to be paid by you to Himachal Tourism Online. The deposit is required to hold the booking on a confirmed basis.

Balance Payment:
Balance payment is to be made 15 days prior to the date of the start of services. Late bookings (made within 15 working days of the service date) require full and final payment at the time of booking.
For special train journeys, hotel or resort bookings during peak seasons / Blackout dates, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Mode of Payment:
Clients can make payments using any of the following methods:

• By Cheque / Demand Draft
• By Bank Transfer
• By QR Code
• By Payment Gateway

All payments should be free and clear of any withholding tax and deduction.
Bank charges for remittance would be borne by the payer.
In case of payment through QR code using credit/debit cards, applicable bank charges are to be borne by the payer.

Special Note:
Himachal Tourism Online employees or agents will not ask for your Net Banking login, Password, OTP, etc. Please do not share sensitive information. If someone ask for it please contact us.

Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation charges are effective from the date we receive written notice and are as follows:

• 60 days & prior to arrival – 10% of the tour/service cost.
• 59 days to 30 days prior to arrival – 20% of the tour/service cost.
• 29 days to 15 days prior to arrival – 25% of the tour/service cost.
• 14 days to 08 days prior to arrival – 50% of the tour/service cost.
• 07 days & less, prior to arrival or no show – NO REFUND.

Minimum 10% service charge applies in case of client-initiated cancellations after booking.
In case of company-initiated cancellations, clients can opt for a Credit Note or a refund with a minimum 10% service charge.
Note: Written cancellation will accept on all working days, except Sunday, Any cancellation sent on Sunday's will be considered on next working day (Monday).

Refund:

• Refund for unused/unutilized services is processed based on the cancellation policy, and the process may take 7 working days.
• Jeep Safari, Canter Safari & Forest Lodge booking amount is non-refundable.

Mandatory Identification Document:
All guests must provide a valid Photo ID at the time of booking confirmation, as per the category:

• For foreign nationals: Passport + Visa
• For Non-Resident Indians (NRI): Passport
• For Overseas Indian clients with OCI/PIO card: Passport + OCI/PIO card
• For domestic clients: Driving License / Voter ID Card / Passport / Aadhar Card

Check-in and Check Out Hotel Policy:

• Check-In Timings: 1200 – 1500 Hours
• Check-Out Timings: 1000 – 1200 Hours
• Early Check-in & Late Check-out, depending on the room availability and hotel policy.

Extra Usage of Vehicle:

• The cost of extra vehicle usage is not included in the services, and extra usage after transfer or sightseeing is not allowed.
• Vehicle is as per the Itinerary only
• AC will work in Hills area.

Special Note for Helicopter Journeys:

• Helicopter Tickets & Fare are subject to availability and may change.
• Himachal Tourism Online will make every attempt to arrange an alternate Helicopter journey in case of unavailability due to unforeseen circumstances.

Special Note for National Park / Jungle Safari:

• Jeep Safari / Canter Safari / Other Safaris / Ride & Govt. Forest Lodge booking amount will be non-refundable.
• In case your safari is not booked due to reasons like technical error or non-availability of seat, we will refund the whole amount in your given bank account.
• If the government increases the safari price then you will have to pay the difference amount.
• All safari bookings are subject to availability and must be confirmed in advance.
• Confirmation will be provided upon receipt of full payment for the safari package.
• Himachal Tourism Online cannot guarantee a specific safari zone as it depends on availability. We reserve the right to change the safari zone based on availability, and guest cannot claim a particular safari zone. 

Liabilities & Limitations:

• After finalization of the tour cost, any increases in fees, taxes, or charges by authorities will be passed on to the client.
• Himachal Tourism Online  acts as an agent for hotels, airlines, transporters, Jungle Safaris and contractors. The sole contract is between clients and the service providers.
• Itineraries are sample schedules, subject to changes for safety and other considerations. Himachal Tourism Online reserves the right to amend the itinerary without notice.

Force Majeure:
If there is any natural calamity like landslides, Heavy Snowfalls, Road Blockage, or political disturbances (strikes) & if your trip is canceled or affected, in that case, Himachal Tourism Online will not be responsible.
Himachal Tourism Online is not responsible for failure to perform due to Force Majeure events beyond its control. Both parties will make their best efforts to offset the effects of such events.

Jurisdiction Clause:
All disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Delhi Courts.

Special Note:

• Please be advised that all payments should be made directly to the official company account. For security reasons, we do not accept payments through personal accounts or other channels. This ensures transparency and protects both parties. Kindly verify the account details before making any transactions.
• Separate terms & conditions apply for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Daman Diu and National Parks, advised on a case-by-case basis.
• We will let you know in advance if there are any changes in government taxes, hotel prices, safari fees and any other service charges. You will need to pay difference amount before your travel date. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Meal services, including Room Service, Buffet Service, and À la Carte Service, are offered based on the hotel's occupancy and operational policies, with Buffet service being the usual format. The hotel management reserves the right to alter these services on the same day, if deemed necessary.

Q1: What is the best time to visit Kerala for this package?
A1: The best time is from October to March, when the weather is cool and perfect for sightseeing, boating, and houseboat stays.

Q2: Is an overnight houseboat stay safe and comfortable?
A2: Yes, houseboats are fully equipped with modern amenities, private rooms, meals on board, and safety measures, ensuring a comfortable and unique experience.

Q3: Can I customize this package by adding Thekkady or Kovalam?
A3: Absolutely! This package is fully customizable – you can extend your trip to include Thekkady (wildlife) or Kovalam (beach stay).

Q4: What activities can we enjoy in Kumarakom?
A4: You can enjoy bird watching at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, canoe rides with locals, Vembanad Lake boating, and traditional Kerala village experiences.

Q5: Is this itinerary suitable for honeymoon couples?
A5: Yes, this package is one of the most romantic Kerala tours, combining Munnar’s tea gardens, Kumarakom’s peaceful backwaters, and a private Alleppey houseboat – perfect for honeymooners.