Kerala Family Holiday
Eight days through God's Own Country — Kochi's Chinese fishing nets, the tea-covered hills of Munnar, an elephant boat safari in Thekkady, and a night afloat on the Alleppey backwaters — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Kerala's four faces, built for the whole family
Kerala earns its nickname "God's Own Country" honestly — few places pack coastline, hill country, wildlife and inland waterways into a single, easy route. This eight-day journey moves from the historic port city of Kochi up into the tea-covered hills of Munnar, across to the wildlife-rich forests of Thekkady, and down to the backwaters of Alleppey for a night aboard a traditional houseboat — a natural rhythm of city, hills, jungle and water that keeps kids and grown-ups engaged in equal measure.
You'll wander Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets and colonial streets, hike through rolling tea plantations with views across the Western Ghats, take a boat safari on Periyar Lake to look for wild elephants, and drift along palm-lined canals on a kettuvallam — a converted rice barge turned floating hotel. It's Kerala's classic route, and for good reason: every stop is manageable in a day or two, without long transfers or wasted time.
Airport transfers, centrally located hotels, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing at each stop are arranged for you. Want more time on the water, a beach add-on at the end, or a fully private version? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What the whole family will see
Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets
Giant cantilevered fishing nets, believed to date to the 14th–15th century, still worked by hand along the Fort Kochi shoreline — one of the most photographed sights in South India, and free to watch in action.
Munnar's tea-covered hills
Rolling, geometrically trimmed tea estates covering the Western Ghats, with cool hill-station air, waterfalls and viewpoints that make for an easy, scenic change of pace after the coast.
A boat safari for wild elephants
A gentle two-hour cruise on Periyar Lake inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady, where elephant herds, sambar deer and water birds are regularly seen from the safety of the boat.
A night on the Alleppey backwaters
A kettuvallam — a traditional rice barge converted into a floating hotel — drifting through palm-lined canals and out onto Vembanad Lake, with all meals cooked on board.
Your 8-day itinerary
City, hills, jungle, water — a rhythm that keeps the whole family engaged, 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 city at your own pace — the fishing nets along the shoreline are a relaxed, atmospheric first outing, especially as the light softens toward evening.
A guided walk through Fort Kochi's layered past: the Chinese fishing nets at Vasco da Gama Square, St Francis Church — one of India's oldest European churches — the Jewish quarter with its centuries-old synagogue, and the colonial streets around the old harbour. The afternoon is free for local food and browsing the curio shops.
A scenic drive up into the Western Ghats — around four hours, with the landscape shifting from coastal lowlands to winding mountain roads, waterfalls and the first views of tea country. Arrive in Munnar in time to settle in and enjoy the cooler hill-station air.
A full day among Munnar's tea estates — a visit to a working tea museum to see how the leaf becomes the cup, easy walks between the geometric rows of plantations, and stops at scenic viewpoints across the hills. A relaxed, photogenic day well suited to all ages.
A drive south to Thekkady, routing past roadside spice gardens where cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg grow — a good stop to break the journey and see, touch and smell the spices Kerala is famous for [[CONFIRM — firm stop or optional, per operator route]]. Arrive in time to settle in near the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
A boat safari on Periyar Lake, inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary — a two-hour cruise past forested shoreline where elephant herds are a common sight, alongside sambar deer, wild boar and water birds. The afternoon is free to relax, or add an optional spice-and-herb garden walk or Ayurvedic treatment.
A drive to Alleppey to board your kettuvallam, a traditional houseboat converted from a rice barge, for an overnight cruise through palm-fringed canals and out onto Vembanad Lake, India's longest lake. All meals — fresh Kerala cooking — are prepared on board, and the pace is as slow as you like it.
Wake up on the backwaters for a final breakfast on board before disembarking and transferring to Kochi for your onward flight. Prefer to end on a beach instead? We can extend this itinerary to Kovalam or Varkala.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, boat and safari timings, 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 7 nights (incl. 1 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
Before you go
Best time to visit
October to March brings the most reliable weather across all four stops — pleasant temperatures in Munnar and Thekkady, and clear conditions for the backwaters. The monsoon (roughly June–September) turns Kerala lush and green, though boat services can be disrupted at times.
Currency
The Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Cards are accepted in hotels and larger shops; carry cash for local markets, small vendors and the spice gardens en route.
Wildlife is wild
Elephant and wildlife sightings on the Periyar boat safari are common but never guaranteed — animals move through a genuine forest reserve on their own schedule, not a fenced enclosure.
Life on the houseboat
Kettuvallams are large and stay on the main canals and Vembanad Lake rather than the narrowest waterways. Cabins are ensuite, with meals cooked on board — a relaxed, low-key night rather than an adventure stay.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing for the coast and backwaters, a light layer for cooler evenings in Munnar, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent and sun protection.
Visas & documents
Most nationalities need a visa or e-Visa for India, arranged in advance of travel — requirements and processing times vary by passport. Please check based on your nationality; we're happy to point you in the right direction.
Kerala, from tea hills to backwaters
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Good to have answered
Is the US$999 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 8-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotels and one night on the houseboat, 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 choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Is this itinerary suitable for young children?
Yes — the pace is gentle by design. Sightseeing days involve easy walking, the Periyar boat safari is seated and low-key, and the houseboat night is a relaxed, slow-paced experience most children enjoy. Road transfer days are the longest single stretches (up to around four hours); let us know your children's ages and we can adjust the pace or add rest stops.
Will we definitely see elephants on the boat safari?
Sightings are common — elephant herds regularly come to the lake's edge — but Periyar is a genuine wildlife reserve, not a zoo, so no responsible operator can guarantee it. Deer, wild boar and water birds are seen on almost every cruise even when elephants aren't visible.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Cochin International Airport (Kochi) is the arrival and departure point for this itinerary; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your airport 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 nights in any stop, upgrade the houseboat category, or extend to a beach finish in Kovalam or Varkala. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most nationalities need a visa or e-Visa, arranged before you travel — requirements and processing times vary by passport. Please verify based on your own nationality well ahead of your trip; 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 family holiday
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.