Welcome to Shikoku
The birthplace of revered ascetic and founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect Kōbō Daishi (774–835), Shikoku (四国) is synonymous with natural beauty and the pursuit of spiritual perfection. It's home to the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku, Japan's most famous pilgrimage.
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Shikoku activities
6-Day Kerala Private Tour: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Day 1: Kochi Upon arrival at the Cochin International Airport, Ernakulam Junction railway station in Kochi, or your hotel in Kochi you will be welcomed by our company representative. You will be taken your hotel first for check-in. Kochi is one of few places in India that has managed to preserve the remnants of its colonial past with utmost care. The Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace are just some of the things you'll see. In the evening, you will get an opportunity to witness the icon of Kerala’s culture – a Kathakali dance performance. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 2: Kochi - Munnar Morning after breakfast the day starts with all its colourful landscape, breath-takingtea gardens sights and mesmerizing view, Munnar is certainly a great destination to visit in God’s own country. The journey to Munnar is beautiful as the road stretches along the waterfalls. Upon arrival, you will check in to the hotel with your own personal time in the evening. Day 3: Munnar After breakfast at your hotel, you will start exploring Munnar by visiting the Eravikulam National Park, which is a famous habitat of the rare mountain goats called the NilgiriTahr. You will also visit Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point where you can see the lustrous green carpet of the tea garden. At the end of the day, you will return to the hotel for overnight. Day 4: Munnar - Thekaddy After breakfast, check out from the hotel and we will drive to Thekaddy. The most exciting part of this tour is a visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The special animals in this region include wild elephants, nilgirilangur monkeys, sambar deer, wild bison, and colourful birds. One of the main attractions is an optional boat ride at your own expense. Overnight stay at hotel or resort. Day 5: Thekaddy - Alleppey After breakfast, check out from the Hotel and check in to your Resort. Evening will be at leisure. Night stay in Hotel/Resort. Day 6: Alleppey - Kochi Morning after breakfast at hotel check out and then we will take you back to Cochin and drop you at International Airport or Ernakulam Junction railway station in Kochi, or to your hotel in Kochi as per your choice.
8 Days Kerala Private Tour Covering Kochi- Munnar- Periyar- Alleppey and Kovalam
Day 01 : Arrival in Kochi and Transfer to Hotel On arrival at the Cochin International Airport you will be received and welcomed and escorted till the car for the drive till hotel. Kochi was the most famous port for spice trading and still has few monuments dating to the Portuguese period. Check in and relax at your hotel. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 02 : Half-day Tour of Kochi and Drive to Munnar After breakfast proceed to visit the Mattancherry Palace, Chinese fishing net and spice market. In the afternoon you will be transported to Munnar and upon arrival check in to the hotel. Explore this wonderful city for the rest of the your day. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 03 : Munnar Full-Day Tour After breakfast proceed to a full-day tour of Munnar and visit some of the most popular attractions including Echo Point, Mattupety Dam, Eravikulam National Park. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 04 :Munnar to PeriyarAfter breakfast transfer from Munnar to Periyar hotel. On arrival, check in to the hotel. The most exciting part of this tour is a visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The special animals in this region include wild elephants, nilgirilangur monkeys, sambar deer, wild bison, and colorful birds. One of the main attractions is an optional boat ride at your own expense. Overnight stay at hotel or resort. Day 05 :Periyar to Alleppey After breakfast, check out from the Hotel and check in to the Hotel/Resort. The day will be at leisure admiring the beauty of the Kerala from your room or Balcony. Night stay in hotel. Day 06: Alleppey-Kovalam. After breakfast, check out from the Hotel and there will be drive till Kovalam. Kovalam has many world renowned beaches. Relax at one of the beaches in Kovalam. Night stay in Kovalam Day 07 : Beaches in Kovalam. Morning after breakfast enjoy sun bath at the lovely beaches in Kovalam. Overnight stay in hotel. Day 08 :Kovalam to Trivandrum Airport Morning after breakfast check out from the Hotel and there will be drive to Trivandrum International Airport for your onward journey to home.
Tour To God's Own Country Kerala
Day 1: Cochin The tour starts at Cochin where you will be greeted upon arrival at the Kochi International Airport or the railway station then escorted to your hotel. After getting settled, you will be taken to do some sightseeing in Cochin. Visit the St. Francis Church, the oldest Church in India, and 500 year old Portugese Houses. See Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry Palace, and a 16th century Synagogue. Shop in the local market in the evening. Overnight: Cochin Day 2: Cochin to Munnar Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before embarking on a 130km drive to Munnar. Visit the incredible Cheyyappara Waterfalls then nearby tea gardens, spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers. This area has a very low population and is essentially run by Tata tea. Check into your hotel after a long day of exploring. Overnight: Munnar Day 3: Munnar Begin sightseeing in Munnar after waking up and having breakfast. Visit Mattupetty, Eco-Point, Tea Museum, Pothamedu, and more while you are out and about. Take an optional boat ride as well before returning to your hotel in the evening. Overnight: Munnar Day 4: Munnar to ThekkadyBegin your day with a 110km morning drive to Thekkady and travel through cardamom hills. Here, you will check into your resort before visiting the local spice plantation to see cardamom, pepper, coffee, and tea estate. On the way back to your hotel room, stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices. Overnight: Thekkady Day 5: Thekkady to Kumarakom After breakfast, proceed to Kumarakom, Kumarakom is a scenic village located at the picturesque bank of the Vembanad Lake. On arrival directly visit to the exotic Kumarakom bird sanctuary and see varied species of colourful as well migratory birds in the park. The bird sanctuary is also termed as Ornithologist’s Paradise. Later check in at hotel, freshen up and have some rest. Night stay in Kumarakom. Day 6: Kumarakom-Cochin- Departure Enjoy breakfast in the morning before being transferred to the Cochin Airport or railway station.
Trekking Tour of the World Heritage Miyajima
Meet your guide at Miyajimaguchi Station (approx. 30 mins train ride from Hiroshima Station) in the morning and the tour will take the ferry cross to the island of Miyajima by ferry and visit Itsukushima Shrine. Itsukushima Shrine is widely known for being one of three most famous attractions in Japan (alongside "Matsushima" in Miyagi and "Amanohashidate" in Kyoto), and is also recognized as a World Heritage Site. Stay at Itsukushima Shrine for about 30 minutes and enjoy the spectacular view of the Otorii floating in the sea from the shrine. Next, you will visit Itsukushima Shrine as the main shrine of the Shingon sect Omuro faction that is known for its festival. The “Kukai” opened in 806, and there is a deep connection with the Imperial family, and also maintains a stature worthy of a visit from the Dalai Lama in 2006. There are many scenic spots such as "Oshima caves," where the Buddha statues of Shikoku eight hundred locations are lined up in the dark cave, the golden sparkle and Kana 1000 Amida Buddha are arranged in order, with beautiful precincts harmonized with the surrounding nature to great effect. We will stay at Daishoin about 30 minutes.Next, we will enter the hike of Miyajima's highest mountain - Mt. Misen (altitude 535 m), the highlight of this tour. Along the way, you will walk through the cathedral courses from the back of the cathedral to the summit along three hiking trails leading up and around the mountain. While climbing, you’ll take a break to catch your breath and then keep up the climb of about 2000 stone steps and aim for the summit. As the guide will guide you according to your pace, you can enjoy the scenery without worry. At the top of the mountain, there is an observation platform, and Itsukushima Shrine can be enjoyed with a wonderful view overlooking the Seto Inland Sea up to the islands of Ehime Prefecture on the other side. After a break at the summit, you’ll move on to the ropeway stop and start heading down the mountain. Having most likely worked up a hunger, your guide will escort you to a restaurant that suits your preference for lunch at your own expense. After some food and rest, take the ferry and return from the harbor to Miyajimaguchi on the other side. You'll be taken back to the Miyajimaguchi Station where the tour concludes.
Make your own kitchen knife with a master blacksmith in Shimanto
You can experience blacksmith cutlery production as inherited from ancient times in Japan at "Tatara Iron & Steel Forging Workshop Kurogane," surrounded by the Shimanto River area of Kochi Prefecture, with mountains and river wilderness in abundance.In the experience, original cutlery, including kitchen knives, cutting knives and possibly scissors too are all made by you from steel using fire and special technique. You can also engrave wedding memorials and memories of the trip.The workshop is in Kuchiyanai Village, in the middle of the Shimanto River middle basin, and you can relax leisurely in the river after losing yourself in the making of cutlery. If you are lucky, you may also be able to encounter deer, wild boar, monkeys and other wild animals. Please enjoy the unique experience of Japan from the heart of great nature.【How to go】① By car· About 3 hours by car from Kochi City and Kochi Ryoma Airport (about 150 km).· About 30 minutes by car from Shimanto City center (approximately 25 km).② By Train and Bus< Rounte 1 >· Take a Limited Express Train 'Shimanto' from Kochi station or Takamatsu station and get off at Nakamura station. Take a bus from Nakamura Station (bound for Ekawasaki station). Get off at 'Kuchiyanai' stop, then walk about 15 minutes on foot.< Rounte 2 >· Take JR Yodo Line (bound for Uwajima) from Kubokawa station and get off at Ekawasaki Station. Take a bus (bound for Nakamura station) and get off at 'Kuchiyanai' stop, from where it is about 15 minutes on foot.< Local Bus Timetable >From Nakamura station: 6:41 am / 12:45 pm /16:18 pmFrom Ekawasaki station: 7:00 am / 13:05 pm / 16:45 pm
AIDAbella Exclusive Cochin Shore Excursions,Tours to Backwaters
Tours,for AIDAbella guests.Tour # 1 Nov. 16. 2018. Mar. 22. 2019AIDAbella Exclusive Cochin Backwater and Chinese Nets. Duration 7 to 8 hoursDeparts at 09.00.After formal reception your group will proceed to Alleppey. Morning drive will give you opportunity to see the life of Cochin.At Alleppey group will be checked into a waiting houseboat exclusively for you. The houseboat is traditional designed and deluxe category.The houseboat guests meander through the canals and backwaters fringed with coconut groves, paddy fields, and virgin villages.While cruising lunch will be served in the houseboat.The lunch is Kerala traditional style.cooked by Chef of the houseboat includes fish, meat and vegetable. Coffee / tea with banana snacks will be served.At the end of cruising the group will be disembarked from house boat and drive back to Cochin.On arrival Cochin the tour will do an orientation drive to Fort Kochi. There will be photo stops near the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, (wherein is first tomb of Vasco de Gama.)End of the tour.Tour # 2 Nov. 16. 2018 Mar. 22. 2019AIDAbella Glimpses of CochinDuration 5 to 6 hours.Departs at 09.30After formal reception the group will proceed to Fort Kochi, and Jew town. At Fort Kochi the tour will visit Chinese Fishing Net. The guests will watch operating the nets.Proceeds to St. Francis Church to see tomb of Vasco de Gama.Then a soft walk of Fort Kochi to see the ancient city and Santa Cruz Basilica. Later the tour will Jew Town to see Dutch Palace Then go to the market for spices, antiques, and handicrafts.Explore the area with Jewish houses, streets and synagogue.Drives to Ernakulum the New City where the life of Cochin watched.optionally you can stop for shopping in the area.End of the tour..Itinerary# 3. Nov.16. 2018. Mar.22. 2019.AIDAbella Cochin Tour and Fishing HarborDuration 6 to 7 hoursDeparts at 09.00The group goes to Fort Kochi, and Jew town. At Fort Kochi visit Chinese Fishing Net. See operating the nets.Walk to St. Francis Church for tomb of Vasco de Gama.Walk around ancient city.Drive to Jew Town to see synagogue and Dutch Palace. Go to the market for spices, antiques, and handicrafts.Drive to a beach village to visit the Fishing harbor.End Tour...