The essential Kerala holiday, starting and ending in Kochi: rolling tea gardens in Munnar, spice plantations and a boat ride on Periyar Lake in Thekkady, a night on a traditional houseboat in the backwaters, and the Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi.
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Route: Kochi – Munnar – Thekkady – Kumarakom / Alleppey (houseboat) – Kochi
- Best time to visit: September to March; June to August for monsoon greenery and Ayurveda
- Starts: Kochi (Cochin) airport or Ernakulam railway station
- Ends: Kochi (Cochin) airport or Ernakulam railway station
Tour Highlights
- Tea gardens, Eravikulam National Park and Top Station, Munnar
- Spice plantation tour and Kathakali show, Thekkady
- Boat ride on Periyar Lake
- Overnight houseboat cruise on the Alleppey backwaters
- Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi
- Mattancherry Palace and Jew Town
Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVE KOCHI – MUNNAR (110 KMS / 4 HRS DRIVE)
- Arrive at Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway station and meet your driver
- Drive up to Munnar, stopping at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls
- Check in to the hotel; evening at leisure among the tea gardens
- Overnight stay in Munnar
Day 2: MUNNAR SIGHTSEEING
- Breakfast and visit Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr (usually closed February–March for the calving season)
- Tea Museum and tea factory
- Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake
- Top Station viewpoint on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border
- Overnight stay in Munnar
Day 3: MUNNAR – THEKKADY (90 KMS / 3 HRS DRIVE)
- Breakfast and check out
- Drive through cardamom hills to Thekkady
- Guided spice plantation tour — pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla
- Evening Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance
- Overnight stay in Thekkady
Day 4: THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM (130 KMS / 4 HRS DRIVE)
- Early morning boat ride on Periyar Lake to spot elephants, bison and birds
- Optional bamboo rafting or nature walk with the forest department
- Drive to Kumarakom on the shores of Vembanad Lake
- Evening sunset shikara ride
- Overnight stay in Kumarakom
Day 5: HOUSEBOAT CRUISE – ALLEPPEY BACKWATERS
- Board your private houseboat around noon
- Cruise through canals, paddy fields and villages with traditional Kerala meals cooked on board
- Watch village life — toddy tappers, coir making and canoes
- Overnight stay on the houseboat
Day 6: ALLEPPEY – FORT KOCHI – DEPARTURE
- Breakfast on board and disembark
- Drive to Fort Kochi (60 kms): Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica
- Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace and Jew Town (Paradesi Synagogue closed on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Drop at Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway station for your onward journey
- Tour ends with sweet memories
Plan This Trip With Us
This itinerary is fully customisable — add a day, change hotel category, or turn it into a family, group or honeymoon trip. We can also help with flights or trains to the starting point. Prices depend on your travel dates, hotel choice and group size. Call or WhatsApp us on +91 98847 98483 or email info@adwaittours.com for a free quote.
