• Excel India Tours - The team from Excel India Tours will greet travelers at the ship. Look for the staff member holding a sign with the lead traveler’s name. They will guide you to the waiting Van/Car/Coach.

Then, the various tours commence.

Tour # 1: Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour.

The group travels to Fort Kochi (30 minutes).

Upon arrival at Fort Kochi, the group will transfer to waiting Tuk Tuks (two people per Tuk Tuk).

Enjoy a Tuk Tuk ride to the Church of St. Francis. Visit the church and pay respects to Vasco da Gama, who was initially buried here before being moved to Portugal. (30 minutes)

Take a short walk (5 minutes) to the Chinese Fishing Nets. Observe their operation, interact with the fishermen, and try your hand at operating the nets. (20 minutes)

Return to the waiting Tuk Tuks and ride to Jewish Town.

Stroll through Jewish Town along the historic streets of the Jewish community, featuring captivating Jewish houses once inhabited by European Jews before they relocated to Israel after its establishment. (30 minutes)

At the end of Jewish Town, visit the Paradeshi Synagogue, used by European Jews on the Sabbath. (Three resident Jews and visiting Jews from other countries form a minyan.)

Explore the area for gift shopping in the local stores. (30 minutes)

Walk to the Dutch Palace (10 minutes),

the former seat of the Kochi Royalty, now a museum showcasing beautiful murals on the walls.

Dutch Palace visit (30 minutes)

Return to the ship in the waiting Van/Car/Coach.

Tour # 2: Cochin and Fishing Villages Tour

The tour proceeds to Chellanam fishing village by road (1-hour drive), passing fish and rice fields.

Upon reaching the Chellanam fishing harbor, observe the bustling morning activity of fishermen and vendors engaged in buying and selling fresh fish brought ashore after overnight fishing. (1 hour)

The tour continues from the fishing harbor to Fort Kochi. (30 minutes)

Stop at the beach to see the Chinese Fishing Nets in operation. (15 minutes)

Walk to the Church of St. Francis (5 minutes).

Visit this first European church in India, where Vasco da Gama was initially buried before being moved to Portugal. (15 minutes)

Proceed to the Santa Cruz Basilica. (10-minute drive)

Santa Cruz is one of Kochi’s heritage edifices. Capture stunning photos of the church’s interior and exterior. (15 minutes)

From Santa Cruz Basilica, the tour travels to Jewish Town. (20 minutes)

Stroll through Jewish Town along the historic streets of the Jewish community, featuring captivating Jewish houses once inhabited by European Jews before they relocated to Israel after its establishment. (30 minutes)

At the end of Jewish Town, visit the Paradeshi Synagogue, used by European Jews on the Sabbath. (Three resident Jews and visiting Jews from other countries form a minyan.)

Explore the area for gift shopping in the local stores. (30 minutes)

Walk to the Dutch Palace (10 minutes),

the former seat of the Kochi Royalty, now a museum showcasing beautiful murals on the walls.

Dutch Palace visit (30 minutes)

Return to the ship in the waiting Van/Car/Coach.

End of the tour and return to the ship. (30-minute drive).

Tour # 3: Kerala Backwaters Cruise in Houseboat Excursion

This tour is designed to introduce travelers to Kerala and its enchanting backwaters.

In the morning, the tour begins with an overland drive from Kochi harbor to Alleppey/Kumarakom Backwaters. (1 hour 45 minutes)

The tour reaches the houseboat jetty.

Board a pre-arranged houseboat and embark on a backwater cruise (3 hours).

The houseboats, once spice boats of Kerala, have been transformed into tourist houseboats with bedrooms, a kitchen, and a spacious lobby. The houseboat’s enthusiastic chef will prepare traditional food to suit your taste.

Cruising along the backwaters, palm-fringed rice paddies, and tiny villages offers a unique experience.

After the cruise, the tour returns to Kochi (1 hour 45 minutes drive).

An orientation drive to Fort Kochi, Chinese Fishing Nets, and Jewish Town for photo stops. (30 minutes)

Return to the pier. (30 minutes)

• Fort Kochi - Kerala Backwaters Cruise in Houseboat Excursion. After the backwater cruise, the tour returns to Kochi. On the way back, enjoy an orientation tour of Fort Kochi, the heritage area of Kochi.
• Chinese Fishing Nets - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. After paying respects to Vasco da Gama at St. Francis Church, the tour walks to the beach to see the Chinese Fishing Nets.
• Church of Saint Francis - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. From the port, the tour goes to Fort Kochi, the heritage area, and visits St. Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried.
• Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. From the Chinese Fishing Nets, the tour proceeds to Santa Cruz Basilica, one of India’s heritage edifices.
• Paradesi Synagogue - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. The oldest synagogue in the British Commonwealth is visited next in Jewish Town, Kochi.
• Jew Town - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. From Santa Cruz Basilica, the tour goes to Jewish Town, the oldest Jewish settlement in India.
• Mattancherry Palace - Vasco da Gama’s Tomb and Glimpses of Cochin Tour. Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is now a museum that was once the palace of the Cochin Royalty.
• Kerala Backwaters - Kerala Backwaters Cruise in Houseboat Excursion. After reaching Kumarakom, the tour boards a houseboat for a 3-hour cruise in the backwaters.
• Kumarakom - Kerala Backwaters Cruise in Houseboat Excursion. This tour takes you to Kumarakom for a cruise in the Kerala backwaters.

• Lunch
• Local guide
• Port pickup and drop-off
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan / car

• Food and drinks.

Welcome, Cruise Passengers to Kochi!

Experience genuine connections with locals, avoiding mass tourism.

Avoid the queues! Reserve an affordable group tour today!

Upon arrival at the Cochin Port Cruise Terminal, you will be greeted with a sign displaying your name.

Our tours are tailored to align with your ship’s arrival and departure times, ensuring a stress-free shore excursion. We guarantee your timely return after the tour.

Enjoy comfortable transportation and an engaging, enriching travel experience.

We offer the following tours in and around Kochi:

1. Fort Kochi, Jewish Town, European, and Jewish Heritage.

2. Cochin and Kumarakom Tour.

• At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking,1. Docking time, 2. Disembarkation time and 3. Re-boarding time

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.