India · Beach & Island

Kerala Backwater and Beach

10 Days Round trip from Pickup service provided in Kochi. Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore historic Kochi, including Fort Cochin and Mattancherry
  • 02 Visit the tea plantations, viewpoints, and Eravikulam National Park in Munnar
  • 03 Discover Ramakkalmedu and enjoy a spice plantation tour in Thekkady
  • 04 Take a boat ride in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
  • 05 Cruise the Alleppey backwaters with an overnight houseboat stay
  • 06 Relax on the beaches of Kovalam
  • 07 Tour Trivandrum, including Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Napier Museum

Discover the many sides of Kerala on this 10-day private journey through Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam, and Trivandrum. From heritage landmarks and temple visits to tea-covered hills, wildlife-rich forests, and peaceful backwaters, this itinerary brings together culture, nature, and time to unwind by the sea.

Explore Kochi’s historic quarters, travel into the cool landscapes of Munnar, and experience spice plantations and a boat ride in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. In Alleppey, spend a night aboard a traditional houseboat as you cruise through the backwaters, then continue to Kovalam for beach time and a city tour of Trivandrum’s temples, museums, and coastal sights.

While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Trivandrum, Kochi, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thekkady, Kovalam, Periyar National Park
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrive CochinOn arrival at Cochin airport assistance and transfer to hotel. (Hotels check in time 1200hrs afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability, confirm early check in can be pre-booked at additional cost)

In the evening, enjoy the Kathakali Dance, one of India's most famous Classical dances with lavish costumes, exotic makeup & Masks intensifying the beauty of the dancer’s intricate moments.Overnight at hotel.

2
Day 02

Kochi – Munnar (140kms/ 3hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel, city tour of the Cochin. Visit Fort Cochin famous for Chinese fishing nets, scenic beaches and architectural style of ancient buildings. At St. Frances Church see the town of Vasco da Gama. The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 in the old part of Mattancherry Town, one of the oldest lively synagogues. Mattancherry "Dutch" Palace which has an incomparable collection of huge Kerala Temple murals, exhibits & portraits. You may also visit the famous Hill Palace Museum, the largest archaeological and heritage museum in Kerala. Bolgatty Palace the oldest living Dutch palaces outside Holland, now converted into a heritage hotel. Willingdon Island a man-made island created in 1933 with wonderful walkways and jetty’s.Afternoon drive to Munnar, check in at hotel. During the British rule in India, Munnar was the summer resort of the Government officials. The natural beauty, calmness and mild cold climate throughout the year make it the favorite tourist places. The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar range expose its beauty.Overnight at hotel.

3
Day 03

MunnarAfter breakfast, visit to Pothamedu which offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks. Mattupetty dam and its reservoir, this concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Eravikulam National Park, The Nilgiri Tahr can be observed at close quarters here. This park established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiri Ibex) is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best mountain ranges found anywhere in the world. Mattupedi Dairy Farm, famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm, this is a highly specialized dairy farm which comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Echo Point, go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back!Overnight at hotel.

4
Day 04

Munnar - Periyar (Thekkady) (110kms/ 2hrs approx.)Breakfast at hotel drive to Thekkady enroute stop at Ramakkalmedu. The place gets its name from the impressions of the feet found on the rock surface here, which is believed to be of Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as told in the Indian epic Ramayana. Ramakkalmedu is noted for its hills and also for the panoramic and picturesque views of villages in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, which is towards the eastern side of the Western Ghats. A noticeably tall, pillar-like rocky structure, about 300 m high and facing east is another attraction here. It is one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can also find here a wind farm generating electricity, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala. Other attractions in-and-around Ramakkalmedu include places like Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin-statue in Kerala; called Kuravan and Kurathi.Continue drive to Thekkady check in at hotel. Afterwards take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. You could stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices. Rest time free and easy to relax.Overnight at hotel.

5
Day 05

Periyar (Thekkady)Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Nestled between the Cheruthoni and Periyar rivers Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with the most diverse flora and fauna. The sanctuary has a gorgeous lake that is perfect for romantic boat rides. The tropical evergreen and deciduous forests teeming with elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger and wild boar along with various species of snake including cobras, vipers, kraits and many non-poisonous snakes is a wildlife lover’s dream. A variety of birds such as grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, woodpeckers and bulbuls also have found a home in this sanctuary.Afterwards take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. You could stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices.Overnight at hotel.

6
Day 06

Thekaddy – Alleppey (135kms/ 3hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel drive to Alleppey. Board a houseboat from boat jetty here and sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. The Chinese fishing nets the reminiscent of our past trade links are also found on the way. Flocks of duck swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures reflecting the charm of this tourist land, you also enjoy fishing from the houseboats, evening enjoy sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a Chef, and Driver. Lunch, Dinner and overnight in houseboat.Houseboat stay.

7
Day 07

Alleppey – Kovalam (200kms/ 4hrs approx)After breakfast disembark houseboat and drive to Kovalam check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy for personal activities relax on the beach.Overnight at hotel.

8
Day 08

KovalamBreakfast at hotel, city tour of Trivandrum. Visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple the guardian deity of the city. The Maharaja of Travancore till date pays homage at the Padmanabhan Swamy Temple that enshrines the image of Lord Vishnu reclining under the hood of "Anantha" the great serpent. Also visit Attukal Temple a Hindu religious shrine. The city has a rich tradition of nurturing art and culture since ancient times, witness same by visiting Napier Museum, Kuthira Malika & Sri Chitra Art Gallery. Drive thru famous beaches which include Shankumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam lighthouse & Light House Beach Road.Overnight at hotel.

9
Day 09

KovalamBreakfast at hotel day free and easy for personal activities & relax on the beach.(Transport not included this day)Overnight at hotel.

10
Day 10

Kovalam - DepartureBreakfast at hotel as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Kochi. 7 cities · 10 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Assistance on arrival at the airport.
  • 9 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
  • Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
  • English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per the program
  • Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Bottled drinking water in the car.
  • Government taxes.

What's Not Included

  • Any flight ticket.
  • Camera charges at monuments if any.
  • Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.
  • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
  • Gratuities and optional activities.

Know before you go

  • WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANTS MUST SIT ON LAPS
  • INFANT SEATS AVAILABLE
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Hotels used or similar

    Cochin x 1 nights
    3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
    4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
    5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien

    Munnar x 2 nights
    3* - Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle
    4* - Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar
    5* - Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea County

    Pariyar (Thekkady) x 2 night
    3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop
    4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County
    5* - Spice village/ Cardamom County

    Alleppey x 1 night
    3* - ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats
    4* - ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats
    5* - Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons/ Spice Route Premium

    Or

    Kovalam x 3 nights
    3* - Harmonia Beach Resort/ Sagara Beach Resort
    4* - Estuary Island Resort/Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
    5* - Vivanta by Taj - Green Cove/ The Leela Kovalam Beach
  • As per flight schedule arrival transfer from airport to hotels. We can also provide pick up from any hotels or port in Cochin.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Kochi.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Kochi.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 days finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Kochi..

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