Kerala Ayurveda & Wellness Retreat
Seven unhurried days in South India — the colonial lanes of Kochi, a night aboard a traditional houseboat on the backwaters, and Ayurveda-inspired treatments rooted in a five-thousand-year-old tradition — with your transfers, stays and wellness experiences arranged from arrival to departure.
Slow travel, done properly — Kerala's coast and its backwaters
Kerala calls itself "God's Own Country," and this seven-day retreat is built around the two experiences that earn it the name: Kochi, a port city layered with Portuguese, Dutch and British history, and the backwaters — an interconnected world of lagoons, canals and lake villages found nowhere else in India. It's a trip designed to slow down rather than tick off sights.
You'll wander the old lanes of Fort Kochi beneath the giant cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, spend a night aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat drifting across Vembanad Lake, and settle into Ayurveda-inspired spa treatments — a tradition with roots stretching back some five thousand years, and one Kerala is recognised worldwide for practising in its most authentic form.
Airport transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast and the sightseeing and wellness experiences below are arranged for you. Want more spa time, a longer houseboat stay, or to run it fully private? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What you'll actually experience
The Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi
Giant cantilevered nets, believed introduced to the Malabar coast around the 14th–15th century, still worked by hand along Fort Kochi's shore — one of India's most photographed and most enduring working traditions.
A night on the backwaters
A traditional kettuvallam houseboat — once a rice barge, now a floating cottage — carries you across Vembanad Lake and its canals, past paddy fields, coconut groves and quiet waterside villages, for an overnight unlike anywhere else in Kerala.
Ayurveda-inspired wellness
Kerala is widely regarded as the heartland of Ayurveda, practised here for some five thousand years. This trip includes spa time built around traditional treatments — a wellness experience, not a medical one, tailored to relaxation and rejuvenation.
Fort Kochi's layered heritage
Portuguese churches, the Dutch-renovated Mattancherry Palace with its Kerala murals, and the lanes of historic Jew Town — four centuries of trade and colonial history within an easy walk.
Your 7-day itinerary
City and heritage on one side, backwaters and wellness on the other — with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Cochin International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Fort Kochi. Settle in, then ease into the pace of the coast at your own speed — an evening walk along the shoreline near the Chinese fishing nets is the natural introduction.
A guided walk through Fort Kochi and Mattancherry: the Chinese fishing nets in daylight, the Dutch-renovated Mattancherry Palace and its Kerala murals, and the lanes of historic Jew Town, once the centre of the region's spice trade. The afternoon is free to browse the antique shops and cafés, with an optional Kathakali dance performance in the evening.
A day built around rest: an Ayurveda-inspired spa session at your hotel or a partner wellness centre, using traditional techniques and warm herbal oils in a relaxation-focused treatment. The rest of the day is unstructured — a swim, a nap, or simply doing nothing at all.
A scenic road transfer to the backwaters region (around two to three hours), followed by check-in aboard your private kettuvallam houseboat. Cruise gently across Vembanad Lake and its narrower canals, passing paddy fields, coconut groves and waterside village life, with meals prepared fresh on board.
Wake to the water and, where the season allows, an optional early paddle or canoe ride through the narrower canals. Disembark late morning and transfer to a lakeside resort in Kumarakom for the afternoon, with time to visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary or simply relax by the lake.
A second Ayurveda-inspired treatment in the morning — a good time for a longer session given the extra rest already banked. In the afternoon, transfer back to Kochi for your final night, with the evening free for a last stroll or dinner in Fort Kochi.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time for last-minute shopping in Fort Kochi's antique and spice shops. You're then transferred to the airport for your onward journey — or, if you'd like to extend, we can add nights in the backwaters or link this trip to the tea hills of Munnar or a wildlife stay at Thekkady.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing, wellness sessions and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to houseboat availability, weather and local conditions. Ayurveda-inspired treatments are offered for relaxation and wellness — they are not medical treatment and make no claim to diagnose, treat or cure any condition.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 6 nights, including one night on a houseboat
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Spa and Ayurveda-inspired treatment sessions are built into this itinerary. Whether these are included in the package price above or quoted separately per treatment is confirmed with your operator before booking.
Before you go
Best time to visit
Kerala is warm and tropical year-round. October to March is the most popular window, with pleasant weather for sightseeing and houseboat cruising; the June–September monsoon brings lush greenery and is traditionally considered a favourable season for Ayurvedic treatments.
Currency
The Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Cards are widely accepted in Kochi's hotels and shops; carry some cash for the backwaters, small vendors and tips.
About the wellness element
Treatments on this itinerary are Ayurveda-inspired spa experiences for relaxation and rejuvenation, drawing on a genuine and long-practised local tradition. They are wellness experiences, not medical treatment, and don't diagnose or treat any condition — let us know of any health considerations in advance so a therapist can advise on suitability.
Life on the houseboat
Kettuvallam houseboats are private and comfortable, but simple by design — expect a bedroom, en-suite bathroom and an open deck rather than resort-style amenities. Meals are cooked fresh on board using local ingredients.
What to pack
Light, breathable cotton clothing, comfortable sandals, a light layer for evenings, insect repellent, and modest cover-ups for temples and religious sites. Swimwear is useful for hotel pools; the houseboat is best enjoyed at a slow, unpacked pace.
Visas & documents
Most foreign nationals need an e-Visa or visa arranged in advance to enter India — this is different from several other destinations we offer, so please apply early. Requirements vary by nationality; we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Kerala, from Fort Kochi to the backwaters
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Good to have answered
Is the US$1,099 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 7-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation, including one night on a private houseboat. It covers your hotels, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. Spa and Ayurveda-inspired treatment sessions may be included or quoted separately depending on the resort — we confirm this along with your exact quote when you enquire.
Is this a medical Ayurveda programme?
No. This itinerary includes Ayurveda-inspired spa and wellness treatments for relaxation and rejuvenation, drawing on Kerala's genuine and long-practised tradition. It is not a clinical or medical programme, doesn't diagnose or treat any condition, and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're specifically seeking a longer, clinically supervised Panchakarma programme, tell us and we can look into specialist options.
What is a houseboat stay actually like?
Comfortable but simple — a private bedroom with en-suite bathroom, an open-air sitting deck, and a small crew including a chef who prepares Kerala dishes on board. The pace is slow by design: cruising the lake and canals, watching village life go by, and mooring for the night on the water.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most foreign nationals do — typically an e-Visa arranged online in advance. This is different from some other destinations we offer, so we recommend applying as soon as your dates are set. Requirements depend on your passport; we're glad to point you to the right official source.
Can this itinerary be customised or extended?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Add extra houseboat nights, extend the spa programme, run it fully private, or link it to the tea hills of Munnar or a wildlife stay at Thekkady. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape the trip around it.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Kerala retreat
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.