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Motor Vessel Vrinda (4 Nights / 5 Days)

Cruise along the backwaters of Kerala in South India aboard the exclusive Motor Vessel Vrinda. Relax in your deluxe king-bedded cabin with views of the placid Lake Vembanad, socialize with fellow passengers in Vrinda's lounge and bar area and indulge your taste buds in decadent Keralan and international cuisine. Take exciting excursions to sacred temples, quaint villages and famous monuments before returning to the ship to see traditional cultural performances. You will never forget the royal treatment and unique journey you experience aboard Vrinda. 

Itinerary :
  • Day 1 - Welcome to Cochin
    Cities Covered : Cochin (Kochi)
Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler.
Arrive this morning in Cochin, an ideal base to discover the rich heritage of Kerala. You are met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel where you may spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure relaxing or strolling about the city. This evening, you may choose to take an optional boat cruise around Bolghatty Palace and see the picturesque Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the horizon at sunset. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.
  • Day 2 - Cruise the scenic waterways of Kerala and enjoy a Kathakali dance performance
    Cities Covered : Cochin (Kochi)
Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler.
Spend your morning at leisure and then transfer to board the Motor Vessel Vrinda, which sets sail at 13:00 along the main waterway on Vembanad Lake and enters the Alleppey canal. Lunch is served on board as the cruiser sails along the scenic waterways for four hours and returns to the Vembanad Lake in time to watch the sunset. Later this evening, delight in a performance of the highly ritualized Kathakali dance which tells stories from the ancient Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabarata. The vessel anchors for the night at Vembanad Lake jetty. Enjoy dinner and overnight on board.
  • Day 3 - An exciting guided tour of the backwaters
    Cities Covered : Alleppey ,  Cochin (Kochi)
Alleppey is one of the most important tourist centers in the state of Kerala with a large number of canals providing Alleppey its lifeline; this coir-manufacturing city was once known as “Venice of India”. Alleppey the ideal headquarters for backwater tourism as well as for visits to the lovely church-filled town of Kottayam and the town of Aranmula, famous for its historic Aranmula Snake Boat Race which is an annual event. On the second Saturday in August the annual Nehry Cuo Snake Boat Race takes place, which starts with a water procession and concludes dramatically.
Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler.
Early this morning, Vrinda sets sail from the Vembanad Lake jetty and heads south, towards Alleppey. Breakfast is served on board as Vrinda enters the waterways of the Pamba river through the Alleppey canal. Sailing through scenic backwaters, you can observe the village life along these "water highways" while passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. The vessel anchors near Kanjippadam where you are then transferred to a traditional rice boat to navigate through the narrower sections of the backwaters. For the next few hours on this guided cruise, you have the opportunity to observe and experience a way of life unique to this region. This section of the cruise includes a visit to the half-statue of Lord Buddha at Karumadi and a traditional Kerala tharavad (family residence). Later in the day, return to Vrinda where lunch is served as the boat passes through picturesque stretches of the backwaters on the way back to Alleppey, known as the "Venice of the East". Vrinda again anchors for the night at the Vembanad Lake jetty. Dinner and overnight are on board.
  • Day 4 - Cruise to Nedumudy and watch a Mohiniattam recital on board
    Cities Covered : Cochin (Kochi)
Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler.
This morning, Vrinda departs from the Vembanad Lake jetty and heads south, past Kanjippadam to Chambakulam to anchor. Transfer onto the rice boat once again for a pre-lunch sightseeing excursion. Visit St. Mary's Church, established by St. Thomas in 1721, and Sree Bhagavathy Kshetram, a 100-year old Hindu temple to the Mother Goddess at Nedumudy. You may also explore the Chambakulam snake boat yard, which displays one of the traditional long snake boats used in races. A knowledgeable guide is present on board for the entire day so you may glean further understanding and appreciation of this experience. After cruising through the backwaters in the afternoon, Vrinda returns to Vembanad Lake, where a Mohiniattam recital is performed on board. This classical dance form, distinctive to Kerala, is also called the "Dance of the Enchantress" where dancers attired in beautiful traditional costumes perform with slow, graceful movements and highly emotive expressions. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay on board.
  • Day 5 - Disembark Vrinda
    Cities Covered : Cochin (Kochi)
Cochin is one of the most interesting places in India. The city is spread out over mainland, peninsula and islands. The ancient temples and the churches in this district are of special interest to tourists. You can also visit the Chinese fishing nets still present off the shores of the city. Cochin International Airport is one of the country's youngest airports with modern facilities and conveniences for the international traveler.
Vrinda sets sail north this morning along the main waterway channel on Vembanad Lake. Breakfast is served on board followed by the vessel's return to the Vembanad Lake jetty. Disembark Vrinda at 10:00 a.m. and transfer via air-conditioned vehicle back to Cochin. Here you may transfer to Cochin International Airport or continue your stay here for a longer relaxing getaway.
Accommodation :
NameAddressCity
Trident CochinBristow Road, Willingdon islands Cochin (Kochi)
Oberoi Motor Vessel VrindaC – 46 / 452 (II), Bristow Road, Willingdon Island, Cochin 682 003 M/V Vrinda
Travel Tips & FAQ's
What is the best time to travel to South India?
The best months to travel are between September and June, as July through August is monsoon season.
 
What are the passport/visa requirements for travel to India?
A passport with validity at least six months beyond your departure from India is required. Also, visas must be obtained prior to arrival in India. If you are a US citizen, please follow this link for details on obtaining an Indian Visa: https://www.indian-visa.com/.  If you are not a US citizen, Please visit www.mea.gov.in, click on "Welcome" and then under "MEA Links" at the right, click on "Missions and Posts Abroad" and then click "Consulate Generals". You can then select your appropriate Consulate General office and link directly to its website, where detailed visa information and application forms can be found.
 
How can I reach Cochin?
Cochin International Airport hosts flights from around the world. You could also fly to Cochin from within India, from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Udaipur or Jaipur.
 
What types of clothing should I bring?
We recommend that you travel as light as possible, as clothing and laundry are both quite inexpensive in India. The best outfit in the summertime is a tee-shirt worn with loose cotton trousers. It is best for women to avoid wearing tank tops or short skirts / shorts. Adventurous ladies can try wearing the Indian "Salwar-Kameez" which is comfortable and free sized.
 
If I have a specific diet restriction or preference, will you be able to accommodate my request?
All efforts are made to accommodate reasonable diet preferences. We communicate the requests to the hotels and restaurants where you would be eating and your request should generally be honored and ready. However, it is always better to re-coordinate the requirements with your escort/attendant who will be able to ensure the establishments know about your requirements. We also request you to re-inform the establishment about your requirement at the time you go for meals to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding.
 
What should I expect during the sightseeing tours?
Certain temples have dress codes, such as covering your head or going barefoot and/or do not permit any leather articles at all on their premises; please check with your guide beforehand so that you do not unwittingly give offence. Always switch off your mobile phones before entering a place of worship. Photography is not always permitted, and at many places it is permitted only at a fee (still camera and video cameras). 
Can you provide a wheelchair if I need assistance on the sightseeing tours?
Wheelchairs must be arranged for at the client's cost. Please be aware that sightseeing vehicles and many monuments are not fully wheelchair accessible.  Therefore, it will be beneficial if the party can stand and walk at least a few steps with assistance for entering/exiting vehicles and maneuvering within certain monuments.
 
What is the recommended gratuity?
In hotels, porters and room service attendants are normally tipped at the end of the stay, though an early tip is likely to get you better service. Standard gratuity for restaurants is around 10%. Tipping of taxi drivers is not customary. Tipping of your tour guides/drivers is left to your discretion and should be a reflection of your enjoyment of the tour.
What type of currency is recommended?
U.S. Dollars and Indian Rupees are commonly accepted, as well as Thomas Cook or American Express travelers' checks.  In cities you can change major foreign currencies and any brands of travelers' checks. Most big cities have ATMs which accept Visa and MasterCard as well as American Express. The ATM network is ever expanding and in some states, you can find them even in some smaller towns.
What are the health precautions and recommendations?
  • Always drink bottled water
  • Clean your teeth using bottled water for the first few days
  • Always wash fruit well before eating, or eat fruits that you can peel
  • Wash your hands before and after eating.
  • If you do catch a bug, do not panic; it will go away in a few days - but try the following tips to keep it at bay:
    • Drink lassi, a yogurt drink which will help tone down the bacteria
    • Eat plain rice or khichdi, an easily digestible mixture of rice and lentils
    • Drink coconut water – it is cooling and naturally sterile
    • Drink plenty of fluids and take electrolyte salts if the bug persists
  • Always keep a tube of mosquito repellent with you.
  • Always carry a kit of the basic emergency medicines you might need for diarrhea, fever, etc. Also, band-aids and an antiseptic ointment.
  • Make sure you bring sun protection, such as a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
  • Remember to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day
1 . Do I need a Visa for India?
       All visitors to India need a Visa
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