Kerala Hills, Backwaters and Beaches Group Trip
Duration
7 Days 6 Nights
Pickup
Cochin International Airport (Kochi) or Ernakulam railhead
Drop
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) International Airport
Type
Short-haul
Overview & Highlights
This fixed-departure group trip follows Kerala from the old port of Kochi, through the tea hills of Munnar and the forests of Thekkady, down to a night on a houseboat in Alleppey and a final stay by the sea at Kovalam. It covers the state's best-loved sights in seven days, with a trip captain to look after the group. Drives are broken up with stops at waterfalls, spice plantations and viewpoints, and every day has some free time. Vegetarian and Indian meal options are available on request. The group departs from Kochi and ends at Thiruvananthapuram, so you avoid a long drive back and can fly home from the airport nearest to Kovalam.
- Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and spice lanes
- Munnar's tea plantations, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point
- Periyar Lake boat ride and spice plantation visit at Thekkady
- Overnight stay on an Alleppey houseboat, with meals on board
- Beach and lighthouse views at Kovalam
- Trip captain with the group and Indian meal options on request
Itinerary
1Day 1: Arrival in Kochi | Fort Kochi Evening
- Arrive at Cochin International Airport or Ernakulam railhead and meet your trip captain.
- Transfer to your hotel and check in.
- In the evening, visit Fort Kochi to see the Chinese fishing nets at sunset.
- Overnight stay in Kochi.
2Day 2: Kochi to Munnar | Waterfalls and Tea Hills
- After breakfast, drive to Munnar, about four hours, with stops at roadside waterfalls such as Cheeyappara and Valara.
- Check in to your hotel.
- Spend the evening at leisure in the cool hill air.
- Overnight stay in Munnar.
3Day 3: Munnar Sightseeing | Eravikulam | Mattupetty
- After breakfast, visit Eravikulam National Park for its grassy hills and the Nilgiri tahr, if the park is open.
- Walk through a tea plantation and visit a tea museum.
- Continue to Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point for lake and hill views.
- Overnight stay in Munnar.
4Day 4: Munnar to Thekkady | Spice Plantation
- After breakfast, drive to Thekkady, about four hours, through cardamom and tea country.
- Visit a spice plantation to see how pepper, cardamom and cinnamon grow.
- In the evening, attend an optional Kalaripayattu or Kathakali show, paid locally.
- Overnight stay in Thekkady.
5Day 5: Periyar Lake Boat Ride | Alleppey Houseboat
- Take a morning 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 Vembanad Lake in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner on board.
- Overnight stay on the houseboat. The group may be spread across more than one houseboat.
6Day 6: Alleppey to Kovalam | Beach Evening
- Have breakfast on board and disembark by around 9 am.
- Drive to Kovalam, about four and a half hours, and check in to your hotel.
- Spend the rest of the day at Lighthouse Beach, with free time for a swim in the safe area or a walk.
- Overnight stay in Kovalam.
7Day 7: Departure from Thiruvananthapuram
- Enjoy breakfast and a last stroll by the sea.
- Check out of the hotel.
- Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport, about 30 to 40 minutes, for your journey home.
Weather, road conditions and safety may require changes to the itinerary.
Inclusions
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Kochi on twin sharing
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Munnar on twin sharing
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Thekkady on twin sharing
- 1 night on an Alleppey houseboat on twin sharing, with meals on board
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Kovalam on twin sharing
- Daily breakfast at the hotels
- AC vehicle for transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary
- Periyar Lake boat ride and spice plantation visit
- Fort Kochi sightseeing and Munnar sightseeing as per itinerary
- Services of a trip captain throughout the tour
- Vegetarian and Indian meal options on request, subject to availability
- 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
- Optional activities and entry fees not listed
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.
- This is a group departure and runs on minimum numbers; we will inform you in advance if a departure needs to change.
- A trip captain accompanies the group throughout, and the group may be split across more than one houseboat.
- Houseboats usually cruise during the day and are moored for the night; air-conditioning typically runs only at night, and boarding is around midday.
- Munnar and Thekkady can be cool in the early morning and evening, especially from December to February; the sea at Kovalam can be rough, so swim only in the designated safe areas.
- Some museums and monuments close on one day each week; the order of visits is arranged around this.
See our Terms & Conditions for payment and cancellation rules.