Tour Overview
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Kerala, India — Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha (Alleppey) |
| Price | $432 per person (twin share, 2026 Mega Sale -25%) |
| Original Price | $577 (Save $144) |
| Difficulty | Easy — light physical activities, suitable for all ages |
| Group Size | Small group, max 8 travelers |
| Tour Type | Group Tour, Partially Guided, Safari |
| Operator | Memorable India Journeys (TourRadar rating 4.8 / 35 reviews) |
| Best Season | October — March |
| Data Source | TourRadar — Tour ID 217958, verified 2026 pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Cochin — Gateway to Kerala
Arrive at Cochin International Airport (COK). Your representative meets you for transfer to a comfortable 3-star hotel in Fort Kochi. The afternoon is free to settle in and explore the historic neighborhood on your own. In the evening, you may optionally attend a Kathakali dance performance at a local cultural center — a mesmerizing traditional art form with elaborate costumes, intricate makeup, and expressive storytelling through mudras (hand gestures) and eye movements. Overnight at Hotel Cochin Palace.
Day 2: Cochin to Munnar — Into the Tea Gardens
After breakfast, depart for Munnar, the celebrated hill station of Kerala (approximately 4 hours drive). En route, enjoy views of the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls cascading down seven rocky steps amidst dense forests. Visit Mattupetty Dam, a scenic reservoir surrounded by rolling hills and tea plantations, perfect for photography and optional boating. Tour the Tata Tea Museum at Nallathanni Estate — learn about Munnar’s 100-year tea-making history, from leaf plucking to orthodox processing, and taste freshly brewed Nilgiri teas overlooking the gardens. Check into Hotel Falling Waters in Munnar. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady — Spice Plantations & Periyar
Morning: take a guided spice plantation tour, walking through aromatic groves of cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla — Kerala produces 70% of India’s pepper and the air is perfumed with spice. Then drive to Thekkady (approximately 3-4 hours), the gateway to Periyar National Park. Afternoon at leisure to explore the local spice market in Kumily, India’s largest cardamom trading center. Optional: boat safari on Periyar Lake within the wildlife sanctuary to spot elephants, wild boar, sambar deer, and exotic birds along the forested shores. Check into Hotel Tiger Roare. Overnight in Thekkady.
Day 4: Thekkady to Alappuzha — Houseboat Cruise on the Backwaters
Early morning: optional sunrise jungle walk in Periyar National Park with trained tribal guides. Then drive to Alappuzha (Alleppey), the “Venice of the East” (approximately 4 hours). Board your traditional kettuvallam (houseboat) at noon — these boats are crafted from anjili wood and coir without a single nail, originally used to transport rice and spices along Kerala’s 900km of interconnected waterways. Cruise through narrow palm-fringed canals past villages where life unfolds at water’s edge: fishermen casting circular nets, women washing clothes on stone steps, children waving from wooden bridges. The onboard chef prepares fresh Kerala cuisine — karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish wrapped in banana leaf), appam (rice pancakes) with vegetable stew. Anchor in a secluded backwater at dusk. Overnight on the houseboat (AC operates 8 PM to 6 AM). All meals included today.
Day 5: Alappuzha to Cochin — Fort Kochi Exploration
Wake to mist rising from the water and a traditional Kerala breakfast aboard. Disembark and drive back to Cochin. Afternoon: half-day Fort Kochi sightseeing tour including the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheena Vala) — massive cantilevered nets introduced by traders from Kublai Khan’s court in the 14th century and still operated by hand today. Visit Fort Immanuel, St. Francis CSI Church (India’s oldest European church where Vasco da Gama was first buried in 1524), and Dhobi Khana — the open-air laundry where Kochi’s dhobis have been washing clothes for generations. Explore Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) with its remarkable Ramayana murals and the Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town. Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride through Kochi’s spice-scented streets. Evening: cooking demonstration followed by dinner with a local Keralan family — learn the secrets of coconut-based curries and complex spice blending. Overnight at Hotel Cochin Palace.
Day 6: Departure from Cochin
After breakfast, transfer to Cochin International Airport for your departure flight, taking with you memories of Kerala’s misty mountains, spice-scented air, tranquil backwaters, and warm hospitality.
What’s Included
- 5 nights accommodation (3-star hotels + deluxe houseboat)
- Daily breakfast (Days 2-5) + all meals on houseboat (Day 4)
- Private AC vehicle with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Tata Tea Museum visit at Nallathanni Estate
- Spice plantation guided tour in Thekkady
- Overnight traditional houseboat cruise on Vembanad Lake
- Half-day Fort Kochi heritage walking tour with tuk-tuk ride
- Cooking demonstration and dinner with local Keralan family
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Experienced English-speaking guide
- All tolls, parking fees, driver allowances
What’s Not Included
- International/domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Kathakali dance show (optional, direct payment ~$8-15)
- Periyar Lake boat safari (optional, direct payment ~$5-10)
- Sunrise jungle walk in Periyar (optional)
- Personal expenses, tips, laundry
- Monument and camera fees
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
