Kerala: Hills, Backwaters and Beaches
Tea estates in Munnar, wildlife at Periyar and a night on a houseboat.
- Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
- Route: Kochi – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey
- Best time: September to March
- Difficulty: Easy
- Price: Personalised Journeys, priced to your choice of hotels
Overview
A slow trip through Kerala’s green south. You’ll start in the old port of Kochi, climb to the tea hills of Munnar, cross spice country to Periyar and finish with a night afloat in the Alleppey backwaters.
- Tea estates and viewpoints around Munnar
- Spice plantation walk in Thekkady
- Boat ride on Periyar Lake
- Overnight on a private houseboat
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kochi
Pickup and hotel check-in. In the evening, walk through Fort Kochi and see the Chinese fishing nets at sunset.
Day 2: Kochi to Munnar
Drive about 4 hours into the hills, with stops at waterfalls and tea estates on the way. Evening at leisure.
Day 3: Munnar sightseeing
Visit the tea museum, Mattupetty Dam and Eravikulam National Park (seasonal closures apply), plus the best viewpoints.
Day 4: Munnar to Thekkady
Drive about 4 hours to Thekkady. Take a guided walk through a spice plantation in the afternoon.
Day 5: Thekkady to Alleppey
Take a morning boat ride on Periyar Lake, then drive about 4 hours to Alleppey. Board your houseboat in the afternoon and stay on board overnight.
Day 6: Alleppey to Kochi
Cruise the backwaters after breakfast and step off by mid-morning. Drive about 2 hours to Kochi. Evening free.
Day 7: Departure
Transfer to the Kochi airport or station.
What’s included
Included
- 5 nights in hotels and 1 night on a private houseboat
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Flights and train tickets within India
- Entry fees at sightseeing places
- Private air-conditioned car with driver
- Airport or station pickup and drop
- Periyar Lake boat ride
- Tolls, parking and driver allowance
Not included
- Tips and personal expenses
Hotels
- Kochi: 1 night, Hotel
- Munnar: 2 nights, Hotel
- Thekkady: 1 night, Hotel
- Alleppey: 1 night, Private houseboat
- Kochi: 1 night, Hotel
We suggest hotels to suit your requirements, in the hotel style you choose (Premium, Luxury or Heritage & palaces). Stays are twin sharing.
Dates and price
Any date from September to March. The houseboat night depends on availability, so book early for December and January.
This is a Personalised Journey, so its price depends on the hotels you choose, your dates and your group size. Ask us for a quote.
Questions
Is the houseboat private?
Yes. It has its own crew, including a cook. Meals are prepared on board.
Is this trip suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes. Driving days are 2 to 4 hours and there is no strenuous walking.
India tours
- Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur: India’s classic first trip: Mughal monuments, old bazaars and Rajasthani palaces. (6 days, Personalised Journey)
- Kerala: Hills, Backwaters and Beaches: Tea estates in Munnar, wildlife at Periyar and a night on a houseboat. (7 days, Personalised Journey)
- Royal Rajasthan: Forts, Dunes and Lakes: Pink Jaipur, blue Jodhpur, a night in the desert and the lakes of Udaipur. (8 days, Personalised Journey)
- Ladakh: High Passes and Blue Lakes: Monasteries, Nubra’s sand dunes and a night beside Pangong Lake. (8 days, Personalised Journey)
- Goa: Beaches, Old Churches and Spice Farms: Beach days in the north, heritage in Old Goa and quiet sands in the south. (5 days, Personalised Journey)
- Himachal: Pine Valleys and Snow Peaks: Colonial Shimla, the Beas valley and snowy Solang, all by road. (7 days, Personalised Journey)
- Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Rishikesh and Mussoorie: Evening prayers on the Ganga, riverside Rishikesh and a cool hill station. (5 days, Personalised Journey)
- Kashmir: Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam: A houseboat on Dal Lake, the meadows of Gulmarg and the valleys of Pahalgam. (6 days, Personalised Journey)
- Andaman: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island: Clear water, coral beaches and island-hopping by ferry. (6 days, Personalised Journey)
- Meghalaya: Shillong, Cherrapunji and Dawki: Waterfalls, living root bridges and a boat ride on a crystal-clear river. (5 days, Personalised Journey)
- Buddhist Circuit: Varanasi, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar: Follow the Buddha’s path from the first sermon at Sarnath to Kushinagar. (7 days, Personalised Journey)
- Sikkim: Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling: Monasteries, flower valleys and mountain views in the eastern Himalayas. (7 days, Personalised Journey)
Holidays abroad
- Nepal: Kathmandu and Pokhara: Temples and stupas in Kathmandu, then lakes and Himalayan views in Pokhara. (6 days, from ₹32,000 per person)
- Bhutan: Thimphu, Punakha and Paro: Mountain monasteries, hilltop dzongs and the hike to Tiger’s Nest. (6 days, from ₹46,000 per person)
- Maldives: Island Escape: Four nights by the water with snorkelling, sandbank picnics and sunsets. (5 days, from ₹58,000 per person)
- Thailand: Bangkok and Phuket: Bangkok’s temples and markets, then the beaches and islands of Phuket. (7 days, from ₹44,000 per person)
- Dubai: City, Desert and Abu Dhabi: Skyscrapers, a desert safari and a day at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. (5 days, from ₹49,000 per person)
- Bali: Beaches, Temples and Rice Terraces: Ubud’s rice fields and temples, then sunsets on the southern coast. (6 days, from ₹39,000 per person)
- Singapore: City, Sentosa and Gardens: Skyline views, Gardens by the Bay and a day on Sentosa Island. (4 days, from ₹47,000 per person)
- Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An: Old Quarter streets, an overnight cruise and lantern-lit Hoi An. (7 days, from ₹54,000 per person)
- Japan: Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima: Tokyo, Mt Fuji and Hakone, Kyoto and Nara, Osaka and a day in Hiroshima, with pure vegetarian meals throughout. (10 days, from ₹3,40,000 per person)
- Japan for Beginners: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka: A first trip to Japan in 7 days: Tokyo, a day at Mount Fuji, old Kanazawa, Kyoto’s torii gates and a day in Osaka. (7 days, from ₹2,50,000 per person)
- Sri Lanka: Sigiriya, Kandy and the South Coast: An ancient rock fortress, tea country by train and the old fort town of Galle. (8 days, from ₹52,000 per person)
Destinations
Travel guides
- Visit India: a guide for your first trip
- Festival calendar
- Where to go in January
- Where to go in February
- Where to go in March
- Where to go in April
- Where to go in May
- Where to go in June
- Where to go in July
- Where to go in August
- Where to go in September
- Where to go in October
- Where to go in November
- Where to go in December
Zen Vibe Holidays
Contact us
B.no 1097, Main Road, Bijwasan, New Delhi 110061
Phone and WhatsApp: +91 98188 55992
Email: sales@zenvibeholidays.com