Day 1: Arrival in Cochin
Once you arrive at the Cochin airport, meet an ITX representative who helps you with an assisted transfer to your pre-booked hotel. After completing the check-in formalities, you are free to spend the day as per your liking. You can visit the popular attractions, can relish the lip-smacking dishes of the local cuisine, can indulge in shopping, can interact with the locals and more. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Cochin – Aboard Vrinda
On day 2 of the tour, after breakfast, get picked-up from the hotel and get transferred to the Vembanad Lake jetty and to get board the vessel at around 1 p.m. As and when all the guests will get aboard, the Vrinda vessel starts sailing on the sea waters of the Vembanad Lake. Gradually, it enters into the Alleppey canal. Relish sumptuous lunch on-board.
While cruising, enjoy the sights and sounds of the nearby surroundings. Treat your eyes to the natural lush beauty that is spread all around you. This goes- on for 4 years, Later, the cruise sails back to the Vembanad Lake so that you can marvel at the beautiful view of the sunset. The evening is scheduled for attending a Kathakali dance performance, depicting stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata- 2 ancient epics of Hindus. Stay overnight on-board (Note: All meals aboard).
Day 3: On -board Vrinda including a rice boat excursion
On the 3rd day of the tour, relish your breakfast while Vrinda is sailing towards Alleppey, entering River Pamba through the canal. This route is quite interesting- indulge in bird watching of the colourful water birds, witness the locals in the villages indulged in the daily activity, lush coconut groves, areas where farming is being done below the sea level and more. The boat anchors at Kanjippadam. Indulge in guide-related rice boat excursion by going aboard a Ketuvallam, a traditional houseboat that steers through the narrow backwater areas. Observe the daily way of life taking place the shore. Visit a traditional Kerala family house, called Nalukettu and the half-statue of Lord Buddha at Karumadi.
Back aboard the cruise for lunch while it is passing through the enchanting stretches of the backwaters returning back to Alleppey, the ‘Venice of the East’. Overnight aboard (Note: All meals on- board).
Day 4: On- board Vrinda, including Ketuvallam excursion
Today, enjoy your breakfast while the cruise is sailing the South. Anchor near Chambakulam. Indulge in sightseeing, accompanied by a guide while riding a rice boat. You visit attractions like St. Mary’s Church, founded by St. Thomas (one of the 12 apostles of Lord Jesus) in 1721, a 100 year old Sree Bhagavathy Kshetram temple placed in Nedumudy. Another highlight is a visit to the Chambakulam snake boat yard, displaying one of the traditional long snake boats that is used in races.
Back to the vessel for lunch while it is cruising through the backwaters. The evening is scheduled for attending ‘Mohiniattam’ recital, displaying the richness and the beauty of traditional costumes. Marvel at the excellence of the performers while they are moving gracefully. Stay aboard. (Note: All meals on- board).
Day 5: Cochin- Departure
Today is the last day of the tour. Have your breakfast, while the vessel is slowly sailing towards the North along the key waterway channel. Breakfast is followed by disembarkment. Get an assisted transfer to the Cochin airport to board flight for your onward destination.
Note: Motor Vessel does not sail between the months of May and October.