Kerala Classic: Munnar Tea Hills, Periyar and Alleppey Houseboat
Duration
6 Days 5 Nights
Pickup
Cochin International Airport (Kochi) or Ernakulam railhead
Drop
Cochin International Airport (Kochi) or Ernakulam railhead
Type
Short-haul
Overview & Highlights
This is Kerala's classic route in five nights, arranged as a private holiday with a car and driver. You start in the cool tea hills of Munnar, move on to the spice and forest country of Thekkady and spend a night afloat on the Alleppey backwaters. The trip ends in Fort Kochi, where you can walk among the Chinese fishing nets, old churches and spice lanes before you fly or take the train home. It suits couples, families and first-time visitors who want the main sights without rushing.
- Munnar's tea plantations, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point
- Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr
- Spice plantation visit and Periyar Lake boat ride at Thekkady
- Overnight stay on an Alleppey houseboat, with meals on board
- Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and Jew Town
- Private AC vehicle with driver for the whole route
Itinerary
1Day 1: Arrival in Kochi | Drive to Munnar
- Arrive at Cochin International Airport or Ernakulam railhead, where your driver meets you.
- Drive to Munnar, about four hours, with short stops at roadside waterfalls such as Cheeyappara and Valara.
- Check in to your hotel and enjoy the cool evening air.
- Overnight stay in Munnar.
2Day 2: Munnar Tea Gardens | Eravikulam | Mattupetty
- After breakfast, visit Eravikulam National Park to see its grassy hills and, with luck, the Nilgiri tahr, if the park is open.
- Walk through the tea plantations and visit a tea museum.
- Continue to Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point for lake and hill views.
- Spend the evening at leisure.
- Overnight stay in Munnar.
3Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady | Spice Plantation
- After breakfast, drive to Thekkady through cardamom and tea country, about four hours.
- Visit a spice plantation to see cardamom, pepper and cinnamon growing.
- In the evening, attend an optional Kalaripayattu or Kathakali show, paid locally.
- Overnight stay in Thekkady.
4Day 4: Periyar Lake Boat Ride | Drive to Alleppey Houseboat
- Take an early boat ride on Periyar Lake in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, subject to the reserve's schedule.
- Drive to Alleppey, about four hours, and board your houseboat.
- Cruise the canals and lake in the afternoon, passing village life and paddy fields.
- Enjoy dinner on board as the boat moors for the night.
- Overnight stay on the houseboat.
5Day 5: Backwater Morning | Fort Kochi
- Have breakfast on board and disembark by around 9 am.
- Drive to Kochi, about two hours, and check in to your hotel.
- Visit Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and the spice lanes of Jew Town.
- Enjoy a sunset walk along the waterfront.
- Overnight stay in Kochi.
6Day 6: Departure from Kochi
- Enjoy breakfast and check out of the hotel.
- Transfer to Cochin International Airport or Ernakulam railhead for your journey home.
Weather, road conditions and safety may require changes to the itinerary.
Inclusions
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Munnar on twin sharing
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Thekkady on twin sharing
- 1 night on an Alleppey houseboat, with meals on board as per itinerary
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Kochi on twin sharing
- Daily breakfast at the hotels
- AC vehicle with driver for transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary
- Periyar Lake boat ride and entry tickets listed in the itinerary
- Spice plantation visit in Thekkady
- Fort Kochi sightseeing as per itinerary
- Assistance from our travel experts
Exclusions
- Flights or trains to and from Kerala
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, laundry, tips and porterage
- Camera fees, optional activities and cultural shows not listed in the itinerary
- Ayurvedic treatments and spa sessions unless listed
- GST as applicable
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Other Info
Must carry
- Valid photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, passport or driving licence
- Flight or train tickets to and from Kerala
- Light cotton clothing for the coast
- A light jacket or sweater for Munnar and Thekkady
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Umbrella or raincoat
- Power bank and your regular medicines
Notes
- Carry a valid photo ID, such as an Aadhaar card, passport or driving licence, for hotel check-in.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 pm and check-out around 12 noon.
- The order of the itinerary may change due to weather, road or operational conditions, without reducing the sights covered.
- Rates and availability are confirmed at the time of booking.
- Cancellation and refund are as per our Terms & Conditions.
- Munnar and Thekkady can be cool in the early morning and evening, especially from December to February.
- Many temples in Kerala have strict dress codes, and some admit only Hindus.
- Houseboats usually cruise during the day and are moored for the night; air-conditioning typically runs only at night, and boarding is around midday.
- From June to September heavy rain can cause landslides and slow hill roads, rough seas and closure of some treks and viewpoints; the itinerary may be adjusted for safety.
See our Terms & Conditions for payment and cancellation rules.