Kerala Backwaters & Hill Country
Seven days through South India's most soothing state — the spice-trade streets of Kochi, the tea hills of Munnar, elephants on Periyar Lake, and a houseboat drifting through the Alleppey backwaters — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Tea hills, wildlife and water — Kerala at its own unhurried pace
Kerala calls itself "God's Own Country," and it doesn't take long on the ground to see why. This seven-day route moves from the historic port of Kochi, through the cloud-cooled tea hills of Munnar, into the wildlife-rich forests of Thekkady, and out onto the still, palm-lined canals of Alleppey — four completely different landscapes, all within a few hours' drive of each other.
You'll walk Fort Kochi's spice-trade streets beneath the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that have worked the same way since the 14th century, wander tea estates above 1,600 metres in Munnar, take a lake cruise through Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary where wild elephants come down to drink, and spend a night aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat drifting through the backwaters — Kerala's signature experience, and reason enough on its own to visit.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing are arranged for you throughout. Prefer more time on the water, a spice-plantation stay, or a fully private trip? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What you'll actually see
Fort Kochi's spice-trade streets
A walkable old town shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, with the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets — cheena vala — that have worked the same way since Chinese traders introduced them in the 14th century.
Munnar's tea hills
Kerala's best-known hill station, at around 1,600 metres and once the summer retreat of the British colonial government — rolling tea estates, cool mountain air, and a working tea museum on a plantation dating to the 1880s.
Periyar Lake & Thekkady's wildlife
A boat cruise on Periyar Lake, in the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats — one of the only reserves in India where you can watch wild elephants, sambar deer and birdlife from the safety of the water.
A night on the Alleppey backwaters
Alappuzha — the "Venice of the East" — where a traditional kettuvallam houseboat, built from wood and coir rope without a single nail, carries you through palm-lined canals and paddy fields for Kerala's signature slow-travel experience.
Your 7-day itinerary
Coast, hills, forest and water, in one connected loop — 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 old town at your own pace — the seafront promenade near Vasco da Gama Square, with its giant Chinese fishing nets, is the natural first stop as the light softens toward evening.
A guided walk through Fort Kochi and Mattancherry: the fishing nets at work, St Francis Church, the Dutch Palace, and the Paradesi Synagogue in the old Jewish quarter, followed by the narrow spice-warehouse lanes of Jew Town. In the evening, a Kathakali dance performance is a memorable introduction to Kerala's classical arts.
A scenic drive up into the Western Ghats (around four hours), climbing through spice gardens and waterfalls as the air cools and the tea estates begin. In the afternoon, an easy walk through a working plantation and a visit to the tea museum to see how the leaf becomes the cup.
A full day around Munnar's viewpoints — Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Top Station, with its sweeping views into neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Wildlife sightings, particularly elephants, are common around the Mattupetty hills amid the tea. Evening free to enjoy the cool mountain air.
A drive through the Cardamom Hills to Thekkady (around three hours), arriving in time for a boat cruise on Periyar Lake — the best way to spot wild elephants, sambar deer and birdlife from the water. In the afternoon, an optional walk through a spice plantation to see cardamom, pepper and vanilla growing.
A drive down to Alleppey (around four hours), where you board a traditional kettuvallam houseboat for an overnight cruise through the backwaters — palm-fringed canals, paddy fields and village life drifting past, with meals cooked fresh on board and the water at its best around sunset and sunrise.
Wake aboard the houseboat for a final breakfast on the water before disembarking and transferring to Cochin International Airport for your onward journey — around a two-hour drive from Alleppey. Prefer to extend toward the beaches of Kovalam or Varkala? We can build that in.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to houseboat availability, weather and local conditions. Wildlife is wild — sightings can never be guaranteed.
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
The houseboat night is included at a standard cabin category. Deluxe or premium houseboats, and private (rather than shared) cabins, are available as an upgrade — ask when you enquire.
Before you go
Best time to visit
October to April is the classic window — pleasant temperatures across the coast, hills and backwaters, ahead of the summer heat and the monsoon (roughly June to September). We'll advise on timing for your dates when you enquire.
Currency
The Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Cards are widely accepted in hotels and cities; carry some cash for markets, small vendors and rural areas around Munnar and Thekkady.
Wildlife is wild
Elephants at Periyar are free-roaming — sightings are common but never guaranteed, and boats run on a scheduled basis with the best chances on the first morning cruise. Please follow ranger guidance at all times.
Alcohol on houseboats
Alcohol isn't served on board Kerala houseboats and is generally not permitted to be brought aboard, in line with local regulation. This is confirmed with the operator at the time of booking.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing for the coast and backwaters, a light jacket for cool Munnar evenings, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent and sun protection. Modest cover-ups are handy for temples and the synagogue.
Visas & documents
Most nationalities need a visa for India, commonly arranged in advance as an e-Visa — please check the requirements and processing time for your own passport well before travel. We're happy to point you in the right direction.
Kerala, from tea hill to backwater
Good to have answered
Is the US$899 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 standard-category houseboat. It covers your hotels, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel and houseboat category, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
What's the houseboat experience actually like?
You board a traditional kettuvallam — a long wooden boat built from jackwood planks and coir rope, without a single nail — for an overnight cruise through Alleppey's palm-fringed canals and paddy fields. Meals are cooked fresh on board in traditional Kerala style, and most travellers say it's the highlight of the whole trip. Standard, deluxe and premium categories are available, with the main difference being cabin size, air conditioning and finish.
Will we definitely see elephants at Periyar?
Sightings are common, especially on the first boat of the morning when the forest is quietest, but Periyar's elephants are wild and free-roaming, so no responsible operator can guarantee them. Even without elephants, the lake cruise through the Cardamom Hills is a beautiful experience in its own right.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Kochi's Cochin International Airport is the arrival and departure point for this itinerary; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your transfers to match your flights.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add a second night on the backwaters, upgrade to a plantation stay in Munnar, or extend toward the beaches of Kovalam or Varkala. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape the route around it.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most nationalities need a visa for India, commonly arranged in advance as an e-Visa. Requirements and processing times vary by passport, so please check well ahead of travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
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 journey
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.