Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Kerala — Kochi, Munnar, Periyar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kovalam |
| Price From | $660 per person (twin share, 4-star) |
| Best Season | October — March |
| Data Source | keralapackage.org / Luxury Kerala 2026 verified pricing (₹55,000) |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Kochi — The Spice Port
VIP airport meet-and-greet with garlands. Transfer to a luxury heritage hotel in Fort Kochi — a restored Portuguese-era mansion with courtyards and plunge pools. Afternoon: private guided walk through Fort Kochi’s 600 years of history — the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church (India’s oldest European church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried in 1524), the Dutch Cemetery, and the spice warehouses of Jew Town still fragrant with ginger and pepper. Evening: sunset cruise on a private yacht in Kochi harbor with champagne and canapes. Welcome dinner at the hotel’s courtyard restaurant. Overnight in Fort Kochi.
Day 2: Kochi to Munnar — Tea Country
Morning drive to Munnar in a luxury SUV. En route: visit a waterfall and a spice plantation where you see pepper, cardamom, and vanilla growing in their natural habitat. Check into a tea plantation bungalow — a restored British planter’s residence with period furniture, verandahs overlooking terraced tea gardens, and a private chef. Afternoon: tea-tasting session with the estate’s master blender, learning to identify different grades of Orthodox Nilgiri tea. Gourmet dinner on the verandah. Overnight at the planter’s bungalow.
Day 3: Munnar — Kolukkumalai Sunrise & Relaxation
Pre-dawn departure by luxury 4×4 to Kolukkumalai for sunrise at the world’s highest tea plantation (2,400m). Breakfast served with panoramic views of the Tamil Nadu plains. Return for spa treatments — the estate’s Ayurvedic doctor conducts a personal consultation followed by a 90-minute Pizhichil treatment (warm oil poured continuously while two therapists massage, traditionally reserved for royalty). Afternoon: private cooking class with the bungalow’s chef, learning Kerala’s complex spice blending and coconut-based curries. Overnight at the planter’s bungalow.
Day 4: Munnar to Periyar — Wildlife & Spices
Drive to Thekkady. Check into a luxury jungle resort with private pool villas overlooking the Periyar forest. Afternoon: private boat safari on Periyar Lake (exclusive boat, only your group) — the forest at dusk comes alive as elephants, gaur (Indian bison), and sambar deer approach the water. Evening: private spice plantation walk with the owner, followed by a candle-lit dinner in the spice garden. Overnight in Thekkady.
Day 5: Periyar to Alleppey — Premium Houseboat
Morning: exclusive bamboo rafting experience on Periyar Lake. Then drive to Alleppey for your premium houseboat — larger than standard, with a/c bedrooms, an upper deck lounge, and a dedicated chef. The cruise route takes you through narrow village canals where bigger boats can’t go, providing an intimate view of backwater life. Gourmet dinner aboard: karimeen pollichathu, lobster moilee, and tender coconut souffle. Anchor in a secluded, lily-covered backwater. Overnight on the houseboat.
Day 6: Alleppey to Kumarakom — Lake Vembanad
Breakfast aboard as the mist lifts. Disembark and transfer to Kumarakom Lake Resort — consistently rated among India’s top luxury resorts, with heritage bungalows on the shores of Vembanad Lake. Afternoon: private sunset cruise on the lake in a traditional rice boat (palliyodam), a 100-foot snake boat once used in temple races. Visit the bird sanctuary with a naturalist. Evening: candle-lit dinner at the resort’s over-water restaurant. Overnight at Kumarakom.
Day 7: Kumarakom to Kovalam — Arabian Sea Coast
Morning yoga session with a master practitioner at sunrise. Then fly or drive south to Kovalam, Kerala’s most famous beach destination. Check into a cliff-top resort with infinity pools cascading toward the Arabian Sea. Kovalam’s crescent beaches — Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, and Samudra Beach — curve away in both directions. Afternoon: Ayurvedic rejuvenation package (3 hours) — Abhyanga, Shirodhara (warm oil stream on the forehead), and herbal steam. Farewell dinner at the resort’s seafood restaurant featuring the day’s catch. Overnight at Kovalam.
Day 8: Departure
Sunrise swim in the Arabian Sea. Leisurely breakfast. Transfer to Trivandrum International Airport (30 minutes) for departure.
Included
- 7 nights luxury accommodation (heritage, planter’s bungalow, premium houseboat, lake & beach resorts)
- All meals (full board)
- Private luxury SUV with chauffeur throughout
- Exclusive boat safaris (Periyar, Vembanad Lake)
- 3 Ayurvedic treatments per person
- Private cooking class & tea tasting
- All entries, activities & airport transfers
