Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Kerala, India — Cochin, Munnar, Periyar (Thekkady), Kumarakom, Alleppey |
| Price | $420 per person (twin share, 2026 Mega Sale -50%) |
| Original Price | $840 (Save $420) |
| Difficulty | Easy — low intensity, suitable for all ages |
| Group Size | Small group, max 6 travelers |
| Tour Type | Group Tour, Partially Guided, Nature & Wildlife |
| Operator | Varanasi Excursion Pvt Ltd (TourRadar rating 4.9 / 33 reviews) |
| Accommodation | 4-star hotels + resort + deluxe houseboat |
| Best Season | October — March |
| Data Source | TourRadar — Tour Code VE 41, verified 2026 pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Cochin — The Spice Port
Arrive at Kochi Airport where you are greeted and transferred to your 4-star hotel. After settling in, explore Cochin’s historic Fort Kochi area. Visit St. Francis Church — India’s oldest European church built in 1503 where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was first buried. Watch the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets being lowered into the water by teams of fishermen — an ancient technique still practiced today. Visit the Jewish Synagogue (Paradesi Synagogue) built in 1568, with its hand-painted Chinese floor tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Explore the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) featuring remarkable Kerala-style murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Overnight at Hotel Travancore Court in Cochin.
Day 2: Cochin to Munnar — Tea Country
After breakfast, drive to Munnar (approximately 4 hours) through the winding mountain roads of the Western Ghats. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the world’s 8 “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity. On arrival, visit Eravikulam National Park — 97 sq km of rolling shola-grassland ecosystem, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat found nowhere else on Earth). These graceful animals with curved horns roam within meters of visitors. Continue to Mattupetty Dam, a scenic reservoir offering panoramic views and optional boating. The surrounding hills are carpeted with manicured tea bushes that create a mesmerizing green tapestry. Check into Grand Plaza Munnar. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 3: Munnar to Periyar — Wildlife Sanctuary
Morning at leisure to explore Munnar’s quaint market or take a walk through the tea gardens. Then drive to Periyar (Thekkady), approximately 3-4 hours through spice country. The road winds past cardamom plantations and pepper vines trellised on shade trees. On arrival, visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary — one of India’s premier wildlife reserves spread over 925 sq km, centered on the beautiful Periyar Lake. The sanctuary is a Tiger Reserve with 40+ tigers, though the 900+ elephants are the star attraction. Evening: explore the town of Kumily, the spice capital of Kerala. Check into The Grand Thekkady. Overnight in Thekkady.
Day 4: Periyar — Lake Safari & Spice Plantations
Full day dedicated to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Take a scenic boat ride on Periyar Lake — the water-based safari offers the best chances of spotting elephants, wild boar, sambar deer, gaur (Indian bison), and over 260 species of birds along the forested shores. Afternoon: guided walk through spice plantations — learn to identify pepper vines, cardamom pods, cinnamon bark, clove buds, nutmeg fruits, and vanilla orchids. Kerala’s name means “land of coconuts” and the state has been at the center of the global spice trade for over 3,000 years. Overnight in Thekkady.
Day 5: Periyar to Kumarakom — Lake Vembanad & Bird Sanctuary
After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom (approximately 4 hours), a cluster of islands on the eastern shore of Vembanad Lake — Kerala’s largest lake at 96km long. Check into Paradise Resorts Kumarakom, a waterfront property surrounded by coconut groves. Visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, a 14-acre mangrove forest and wetlands that hosts both resident and migratory birds. November to March, the sanctuary welcomes winter migrants from as far as Siberia: pintail ducks, garganey teals, and magnificent Siberian storks. Resident species include cormorants, egrets, herons, and the bizarre Indian darter that swims with only its serpentine neck above water. Evening: enjoy the sunset over Vembanad Lake from the resort. Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 6: Kumarakom to Alleppey — Houseboat Backwater Cruise
Morning at leisure for a lakeside walk or optional Ayurvedic treatment. Then transfer to Alleppey to board your traditional kettuvallam houseboat. Cruise through the backwaters — a 900km network of canals, rivers, and lakes that form Kerala’s liquid heart. The scenery is timeless: swaying coconut palms, emerald paddy fields, village women washing clothes on stone steps, children swimming in the canals, fishermen in dugout canoes casting their nets. Fresh lunch and dinner are prepared onboard by your personal chef — authentic Kerala seafood delicacies. Anchor at dusk in a secluded backwater. Overnight on the houseboat with the gentle lap of water beneath you.
Day 7: Alleppey to Cochin — Departure
Wake to a misty Kerala morning. Breakfast on the houseboat. One final cruise through the morning backwaters as village life stirs — temple bells ring across the water, school children walk along canal paths. Disembark and transfer to Kochi Airport for your departure flight, carrying the essence of God’s Own Country with you.
What’s Included
- 6 nights accommodation (4-star hotels, resort, deluxe houseboat)
- Daily breakfast + lunch and dinner on houseboat
- Private AC vehicle with driver throughout
- Eravikulam National Park entry and guided visit
- Mattupetty Dam visit and sightseeing
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary entry (2 days)
- Periyar Lake scenic boat ride
- Spice plantation guided walk
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary entry
- Traditional houseboat overnight cruise with full board
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- English-speaking professional guide
- All tolls, parking fees, driver allowances
What’s Not Included
- International/domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, tips, laundry, drinks
- Optional activities not in itinerary
- Monument and camera fees
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
