Tour Overview
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Route | Kochi to Trivandrum |
| Destination | Kerala, India — Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Varkala, Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum |
| Price | $390 per person (twin share) |
| Difficulty | Easy — low intensity, suitable for all ages |
| Group Size | Small group, max 12 travelers |
| Tour Type | Group Tour, Cultural, Beach & Backwaters |
| Accommodation | Comfort hotels, beach resort, deluxe houseboat |
| Best Season | October — March (beach season) |
| Data Source | Yatra.com — Kerala Backwater Bliss (Seller: Travel Corp), INR 33,200 verified 2026 pricing. Approximately $390 USD equivalent. |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Kochi — Gateway to Kerala
Arrive at Cochin International Airport. Transfer to your hotel in Fort Kochi. The afternoon is free to explore this historic port city at your own pace. Kochi has been a hub of the spice trade for over 2,000 years and its streets tell a multilayered story: Dutch-era warehouses, Portuguese churches, British colonial buildings, Jewish synagogues, and Arab trading posts. Evening: visit the Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi Beach and watch the sunset while fishermen operate these 14th-century cantilevered nets by hand. Walk through the atmospheric streets lined with spice shops, art galleries, and cafes housed in heritage buildings. Overnight in Kochi.
Day 2: Kochi to Munnar — Hill Station Escape
Morning: brief Kochi sightseeing — visit the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, and the spice markets before departing. Then drive to Munnar (approximately 4 hours), ascending into the cool, misty hills of the Western Ghats. The landscape transforms from coastal palms to rubber plantations to lush tea gardens. En route, stop at Cheeyappara Waterfalls cascading over seven rocky steps. On arrival in Munnar, check into your hotel surrounded by tea plantations. Afternoon: visit Eravikulam National Park to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and enjoy panoramic views of the rolling grasslands. Visit the Tata Tea Museum to learn about Munnar’s tea heritage and taste freshly brewed Nilgiri tea. Evening free to explore Munnar town. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady — Spice Country & Wildlife
Morning scenic drive from Munnar to Thekkady (approximately 3-4 hours), through forests of cardamom, pepper, and rubber. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s finest tiger reserves. Afternoon: boat safari on Periyar Lake — the best way to observe wildlife. Elephants are frequently spotted at the water’s edge, along with gaur, sambar deer, wild boar, and a dazzling array of birds including hornbills and kingfishers. Evening: spice plantation tour walking through aromatic groves of cardamom, pepper vines climbing up shade trees, cinnamon bushes, and vanilla orchids. Experience a traditional Kalaripayattu martial arts performance — Kerala’s ancient fighting system, considered the forerunner of all Asian martial arts. Overnight in Thekkady.
Day 4: Thekkady to Alleppey — Houseboat Cruise
Morning: additional time in Thekkady for an optional nature walk or elephant interaction. Then drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha), arriving by noon to board your traditional kettuvallam houseboat. Cruise through the enchanting backwaters of Kerala — a 900km labyrinth of rivers, canals, and lakes fringed with coconut palms. The scenery is timeless: paddy fields below sea level protected by ancient dykes, village women washing clothes at canal-side stone steps, fishermen casting their nets from dugout canoes, children waving enthusiastically from bridges. The chef onboard prepares authentic Kerala cuisine using fresh local ingredients. Anchor in a secluded backwater for the night. Overnight on the houseboat with the gentle sound of water lapping against the hull. Lunch and dinner included.
Day 5: Alleppey to Varkala — The Cliff Coast
Wake to a misty backwater morning. Enjoy breakfast on the houseboat as you cruise back toward Alleppey. Disembark and drive south along Kerala’s coast to Varkala — one of India’s most stunning beach destinations. Varkala is unique: a series of dramatic red laterite cliffs plunging to the Arabian Sea, with golden beaches below and a lively cliff-top promenade above. Check into your cliff-side hotel. Afternoon: explore Varkala Beach (Papanasam Beach) — believed to wash away sins according to Hindu legend. Walk along the cliff-top pathway lined with cafes, yoga centers, Ayurvedic clinics, and shops. The views are spectacular — from the cliffs, you can watch the Arabian Sea stretch endlessly to the horizon. Swim in the calm waters, take a surf lesson, or simply relax on the sand. Evening: watch the sunset from the cliffs with a fresh coconut in hand. Overnight in Varkala.
Day 6: Varkala — Cliff Beaches & Wellness
Full day to enjoy Varkala at your leisure. Morning yoga session with a view of the Arabian Sea. Explore the cliff-top walkway with its vibrant bohemian atmosphere — cafes serving fresh seafood and tropical fruit, shops selling handicrafts and beachwear, and Ayurvedic centers offering traditional treatments. Visit the 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple, a Vaishnavite shrine perched on the cliff edge. For the adventurous: try surfing at Varkala’s beginner-friendly waves or take a boat ride through the backwater canals behind the cliffs. The Papanasam Beach is known for its natural mineral springs that bubble up through the cliffs — local belief holds that these waters have healing properties. Afternoon: treat yourself to an authentic Ayurvedic massage (abhyanga) using warm herbal oils. Sunset over the Arabian Sea from the cliff-top is a daily spectacle not to be missed. Overnight in Varkala.
Day 7: Varkala to Kovalam — Golden Sands
Morning drive along Kerala’s coastal highway to Kovalam (approximately 2 hours). Kovalam is Kerala’s most famous beach destination — three crescent beaches (Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, Samudra Beach) separated by rocky headlands. Check into your beach resort. Afternoon: visit the Vizhinjam Lighthouse for panoramic views of the coastline. Explore the beaches — Lighthouse Beach with its iconic red-and-white lighthouse, Hawah (Eve’s) Beach popular with backpackers, and Samudra Beach for quiet walks. Swim in the safe, shallow waters of the Arabian Sea, patrolled by lifeguards. The beachfront is lined with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and Ayurvedic centers. Evening: fresh seafood dinner at a beachfront restaurant watching the sunset. Overnight in Kovalam.
Day 8: Kovalam to Kanyakumari — India’s Southern Tip
Morning at leisure in Kovalam — one last swim or a beach walk. Then drive to Kanyakumari (approximately 2-3 hours), the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean converge in a spectacular meeting of three great bodies of water. Visit the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built in 1970 on a rocky islet 500 meters offshore where the great philosopher Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. Take the ferry across to explore the memorial and the adjacent Thiruvalluvar Statue, a 133-foot stone monument honoring the ancient Tamil poet. Visit the Bhagavathy Amman Temple, one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari. The main event: witness the sunset at the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of three seas — a spectacular play of colors across the water where the distinct wave patterns of each sea can be seen meeting. Overnight in Kanyakumari.
Day 9: Kanyakumari Sunrise & Trivandrum Departure
Early morning: witness the magnificent sunrise at Kanyakumari — the sun rises between the Vivekananda Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue, an iconic Indian travel experience. After breakfast, drive to Trivandrum (approximately 2 hours). If time permits, visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Napier Museum before transferring to Trivandrum International Airport for your departure flight. Depart with memories of misty mountains, spice-scented air, tranquil backwaters, dramatic cliffs, golden beaches, and the meeting of three seas at the tip of India.
What’s Included
- 8 nights accommodation (comfort hotels, beach resorts, cliff-side hotel, deluxe houseboat)
- Daily breakfast + lunch and dinner on houseboat
- Private AC vehicle with driver throughout
- Kochi brief sightseeing tour
- Eravikulam National Park and Tea Museum in Munnar
- Periyar Lake boat safari in Thekkady
- Spice plantation tour and Kalaripayattu show
- Overnight houseboat cruise on Alleppey backwaters
- Varkala cliff beach experience (2 nights)
- Kovalam beach and lighthouse visit
- Kanyakumari: Vivekananda Memorial, sunset at Triveni Sangam
- Airport transfers (COK pickup, TRV drop)
What’s Not Included
- International/domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Ayurvedic treatments and massages (optional add-on)
- Surfing lessons and water sports (optional)
- Personal expenses, tips, laundry, drinks
- Monument and camera fees
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
