Trip Includes
- Accommodation for (8) nights on the twin or double share basis in superior class (4*) hotels or resorts.
- Daily breakfast at your hotel and full board while in the houseboat.
- English speaking local guides.
- Sightseeing admission fees.
- A private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing.
- Boat ticket in Lake Periyar.
- Currently applicable taxes
Trip Does Not Include
- Airfares.
- Meals other than indicated in the itinerary.
- Drinks, tipping, laundry, phone, internet usage, and other personal expenses.
- Extra expenses due to nature and unforeseen events.
- Travel insurance.
- Additional fees for the camera.
- Early check-in and late checkout fee.
Note on itinerary
We do our best to adhere to the plan, but it's subject to change for several reasons beyond our control such as weather, travel conditions, government holidays, etc. The sightseeing or the travel order may change to adjust the local conditions.
Hotels
The hotels in this trip are first class properties, classified four stars by local standard with adequate amenities and facilities. You will have a private bathroom with running hot and cold water. During the backwater cruise, you have one night in a traditional houseboat. Usually, the houseboats have one or two bedrooms with an en suite bathroom. If listed hotels are not available under the circumstances, we will provide you the best possible alternative.
Meals
Your trip includes daily breakfast at your hotel. The houseboat cruise, the crews will cook meals for you. Most hotels do have on-site restaurants, and your guide can also recommend restaurants in the town that serve local as well as western style dishes. Please, budget $10-15 per meal.
Tour Guide
You will have a private tour guide to accompany you throughout the tour. Your guide will be a local individual, well versed in English and knowledgeable about local history, geography, culture, and religion. You will meet your guide upon arrival in Cochin. Tour Guide and driver are the different persons.
Transportation
Depending on the group size, we provide good conditioned minivan or minibus for all transfers and sightseeing. Your vehicle will be well kept, air-conditioned and driven by an experienced driver.
Getting in and away
The trip starts in Cochin, now called Kochi and concludes in Kovalam. Cochin has an international airport served by major Asian and Middle-eastern airlines. Flights to Kochi arrive from major cities of India, Middle-east and South-east Asia. If you are already traveling in South India, you can also get to Kochi by train or public transports. The trip concludes in Kovalam and the nearest airport -Trivandrum is 45 minutes' drive away.
Best Time to Travel
In terms of weather, South India is usually hot, but the period between October and March has comfortable the temperature. April and May are the hottest months, but due to its proximity with the tropics, it's not so humid. Monsoon season begins from June and lasts in early September, and this is the right time if you are into Ayurveda treatment.
Booking Deposit and Payment Schedule
We request an initial deposit of US$ 300 along with the completed trip registration and a passport scan. Typically the balance payment is due 90 days prior departure, but we may also ask you second payment if any hotels or suppliers require payment before that. Payment by credit card except the initial deposit will attract an additional 3.5% fee.
Cancellation and refund
If you need to withdraw from the trip, please, send us a notification in writing, by fax or email. Following cancellation charges will apply.
- Ninety days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 150 per person
- 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 300 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Forty-five days to 59 days before departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Thirty days to 44 days before departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than 30 days: 100%.
Cancellation and refund of air tickets cost will be as per the airline's policy plus a service charge of US$ 25 by the consolidator. Cancellation terms and conditions of particular services may vary which we will notify you on case to case basis.
No refund or adjustment to other services will be made for any unused land or air services for any reason whatsoever, once the tour begins. We highly recommend that all travelers purchase trip cancellation insurance.
We reserve the right to cancel any trip before departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup or logistical problems that may impede trip operations. We also reserve the right to refuse your participation on tour with or without any reason. So, please do not purchase your international airfare until we confirm your participation on the trip.
Final trip dossier
We will send you a comprehensive trip dossier about two months before the trip date. The trip dossier includes the final itinerary, list of confirmed hotels and flights and service details. The document will also cover travel notes, including weather, packing suggestions, currency information, etc.
Travel Insurance
While we plan and do our best that your trip goes seamlessly, there are always chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather conditions, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage, etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It's also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation, or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Far & High's Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses, and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.