Great
Railway
Journeys
SD Enterprises Ltd: Company Background  
   Indian Railway Travel.Indrail passes: 2 Days - 90 Days for unlimited rail travel in India. Palace on Wheels. The Golden Chariot. Deccan Odyssey. Tailor-Made Travel. Charter flights to Goa & Kerala. Personalised Road Itineraries. Rail/Hotel Combinations in India, China & Thailand. The Yangtse River Cruise. Kerala Backwaters & houseboats. Trekking in Nepal.
Personalised
Itineraries in
India & Nepal.
Palace on Wheels
The Golden Chariot
Deccan Odyssey
Heritage on Wheels
Indian Rail
Indrail Passes & Classes of Travel
Train Times & Rail Bookings
Rail / Hotel
Holidays.
Rail/Hotel Holidays in India
North India Sampler: Rajasthan, Agra & Varanasi
North India Sampler plus Darjeeling & Calcutta
Steam Charters in India
Scenic Rides in India
Rail / Hotel Holidays in China covering: Beijing, Xian, Guilin & Shanghai
Rail / Hotel Holidays in Thailand
 
    NEWLY INTRODUCED PRODUCTS AND SUMMER SPECIALS.
The Golden Chariot. The Golden Chariot
Wildlife Sampler, Lions and Tigers Summer Specials using Golden Chariot, Oberoi Resort and Casino Group Hotels
Wildlife Sampler, Lions and Tigers Newly Introduced Products and Summer Specials using Oberoi and Casino Group Hotels
Tailor-Made Travel   Rajasthan and North India    Kerala and South India

KERALA SAMPLER. Why not avail of the special summer offers (May - Sep 08) at the superior grade hotels using the Casino Group of hotels: From £ 442 (Prices are Valid for conclusion by 29 Sep 2008).



Some of the sights within are listed below:-
Kerala Backwaters: Travelling by boat along the Kerala backwaters is an experience not to be missed. The backwaters is an amazing network of lakes, canals, lagoons and rivers and coconut trees on the banks. You can view chinese fishing nets and small village settlements along the narrow strips of land along the route.
Cochin: A inter-connection of islands. Diverse places to view such as The Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, Fort Cochin. An excellent place to view Kathakali dancing (a unique motion of body and the facial features).
Periyar wildlife Park: Built around an artificial lake and very close to the spice hills this wildlife park has a spectacular setting. It is an excellent retreat to view wildlife and enjoy the setting. Various animals can be found such as bison, monkey, sambar, antelopes. The most exciting viewing is that of elephants walking along the banks of the waters.
Kumarakom: Pictureque setting on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. Ideal setting for doing a Kerala Backwaters trip. In this trip you stay at Coconut Lagoon in traditional Keralite homes called 'Tharawads'.
Mararikulam: Excellent exclusive beach resort with stay in cottages within a forested area. Nearest large towns are Cochin and Allepey.

Detailed itinerary is given below:


Day Skeleton Itinerary
01 START KERALA SAMPLER PROGRAMME: Starts and concludes in Cochin. ARRIVE COCHIN. DRIVE TO CASINO HOTEL: You are greeted on arrival at the Cochin International Airport and driven to Casino Hotel on Willingdon Island for 2 night's stay. Harbour Cruise at Sun-set.
02 COCHIN. Cochin is a city which is best visited on foot. A walking tour of Fort Cochin would be ideal but if you are not upto it hop on to an "Auto Rickshaw" (cost not included). Some of the sights include the old Spice Market at Mattancherry, the antique shop on Jews Street, the Synagogue, Dutch Palace and, of course, the Church of St. Francis where the mortal remains of Vasco Da Gama was buried before it was shifted to Portugal.
03 COCHIN - PERIYAR. After breakfast, drive to Periyar which lies in the shade of the Cardamom hills and is a beautiful area of tranquil winding roads, tea gardens, rubber estates, and spice plantations. CHECK-IN AT hotel for 2 night's stay. Car & driver available for drives to Periyar wildlife park. (Note: Boat rides & park entry fees are not included).
04 PERIYAR. Car and driver available for full day sightseeing of Periyar & nearby spice Hills area. (Note: Boat rides & park entry fees are not included).
05 PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM. After breakfast drive to Kumarakom on the banks of lake Vembanad and hop on to a boat to COCONUT LAGOON, an eco-friendly resort created out of old Keralan homes called, "Tharawad". Two night's stay at Coconut Lagoon. Sun-set Cruise on a Rice Boat as arranged by Coconut Lagoon hotel.
06 KUMARAKOM. After breakfast, day at leisure to explore the backwaters area..
07 KUMARAKOM -ALLEPEY - MARARIKULAM. After breakfast transfer across to Allepey. Cruise around the Keralan Backwaters for 3 - 4 hours in a private motorboat. Then pick up from the boat jetty and drive onto MARARI BEACH RESORT for 4 night's stay of pure relaxation. Days of leisure on the Beach.
11 MARARIKULAM - COCHIN. After breakfast departure transfer to COCHIN AIRPORT for onward flight or to COCHIN RAILWAY STATION for onward train journey. Trip concludes here.

KEY TO AID UNDERSTANDING OF TABULAR ITINERARY ABOVE.
Alphabets in red represent car + driver itineraries for individuals for that section.
Alphabets in green means train travel for that section (generally in AC 2 Tier or AC 3 Tier unless stated otherwise).
Alphabets in blue indicate flights between sections.



Cost per person in £'s on a twin share basis.



  Standard Superior
Ground Arrangements From 01 Oct 07 - 30 Apr 08 £ 629 £ 806
Ground Arrangements from 01 May 08 - 29 Sep 08 £ 439 £ 442


Rates given above are based on standard rooms in Cochin and Periyar, Heritage Bungalow or Mansion rooms at Coconut Lagoon and Garden Villa rooms at Marari Beach Resort on a twin share basis. If you require costing based on single rooms or triple rooms or superior rooms at the properties, please email us and we shall get back to you with a costing.

Standard Hotels (standard only in Cochin and Periyar): Abad Plaza/ Raintree Lodge, Cochin; Treetop/ Michael's Inn, Periyar; Whispering Palms, Kumarakom; Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam.
Superior Hotels: Casino, Cochin; Spice Village, Periyar; Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom; Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam.

Cost Includes:   transfers & sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary in red using a non Ac car with driver; stay at hotels mentioned on a twin share BB basis inclusive of local taxes; motorboat ride at Allepey along the backwaters.
Cost Excludes:   meals; guides; entrance & camera fees to monuments; boat rides at Lake Periyar; entrance & camera fees at Periyar.
Note: There is likely to be a peak season supplement for travel dates which fall between 20 Dec 2007 - 20 Jan 2008 & 01 - 29 Feb 2008.

Why not modify the itinerary to spend 1 night on a Keralan Houseboat ? Why not avail of the special summer offers (May - Sep 08) at the superior grade hotels using the Casino Group of hotels: From £ 499 (Prices are Valid for conclusion by 29 Sep 2008).


Cost per person in £'s on a twin share basis.


  Standard Superior
Ground Arrangements From 01 Oct 07- 30 Apr 08 £ 660 £ 894
Ground Arrangements from 01 May 08 - 29 Sep 08 £ 470 £ 499

Rates given above are based on standard rooms on a twin share basis. If you require costing based on single rooms or triple rooms or superior rooms at the properties, please email us and we shall get back to you with a costing.
Standard Hotels (standard only in Cochin and Periyar): Abad Plaza/ Raintree Lodge, Cochin; Treetop/ Michael's Inn, Periyar;Whispering Palms, Kumarakom; Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam; Non AC single apartment houseboat.
Superior Hotels: Casino, Cochin; Spice Village, Periyar; Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom; Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam; Non AC single apartment houseboat.
Cost Includes:   transfers & sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary in red using a non Ac car with driver; stay at hotels mentioned on a twin share BB basis inclusive of local taxes; overnight stay in houseboat on a full board basis inclusive of boat cruises in and around Allepey along the backwaters.
Cost Excludes:   meals; guides; entrance & camera fees to monuments; boat rides at Lake Periyar; entrance & camera fees at Periyar.

If you require the use of an AC houseboat please contact us for the supplementary cost.

Note: There is likely to be a peak season supplement for travel dates which fall between 20 Dec 2007 - 20 Jan 2008 & 01 - 29 Feb 2008.
Not included: International air travel.
However, S.D.Enterprises would be happy to recommend agents to procure international scheduled air tickets as "ticket providers". (London - Cochin - London).

You can tailor-make a trip that suits your individual requirements.
For rates pertaining to the season specific to your trip, please email us.



Rajasthan and North India
Golden Triangle plus Pushkar, Udaipur & Jaisalmer
Tailor-Made Travel in India & Nepal
Kerala, The Golden Chariot & Goa
Nepal, India's Golden Triangle, Bombay & Goa
Kerala: A tropical Paradise
Keralan and South Indian Holidays
Kerala Backwaters plus Madurai, Periyar & Kanniyakumari
Yangtse River and the Three Gorges in China
Flights
Charters to Goa & Kerala
Scheduled
 
Home      Kerala        Charter Flights to Goa and Kerala         Help and Useful tips for travellers to India/Nepal      Rail / Hotel Itineraries in India     
Tailor-Made Travel in India & Nepal              Personalised Road Itineraries in Kerala & South India     Personalised Road Itineraries in Rajasthan & North India     
Newly Introduced Products & Summer Specials using Oberoi & Casino Group Hotels. Newly Introduced Products & Summer Specials using Oberoi & Casino Group Hotels. Delhi, India's Golden Triangle, Udaipur plus Toy train ride to Shimla using Oberoi Maidens, Amar Vilas, Jai Vilas, Udai Vilas and Wildflower Hall. Delhi, India's Golden Triangle, Udaipur, Bombay plus Cochin, Mararikulam & overnight stay  on houseboat using  Oberoi Maidens, Amar Vilas, Jai Vilas, Udai Vilas,  Brunton Boatyard and Marari Beach Resort. Kerala Sampler: Using Casino Group of Hotels: Casino, Coconut Lagoon, Spice Village and Marari Beach Resort plus stay on houseboat (11 nts). Rail/ Heritage Hotel Holidays: India's Golden Triangle Plus Ranthambore. Rail/ Heritage Holidays:  Rajasthan Sampler: Golden Triangle plus Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bharatpur & Ranthambore. Wildlife Sampler: Emphasis on 3 wildlife Parks for spotting tigers: Bandavgarh & Kanha in Madhya Pradesh and Ranthambore in Rajasthan. In addtion, cover India's Golden Triangle and Varanasi. Liosn & Tigers plus India's Golden Triangle plus Udaipur (21 nts). Covers 2 excellent wildlife parks in Madhya Pradesh for spotting tigers and the excellent Sasan Gir in Gujarat for spotting the asiatic Lion.