Kerala Tour Packages

About Kerala

Kerala is a short, easy holiday on the south west coast, and almost every trip follows the same shape, hills, backwaters and beach. Cochin is the usual entry point, then Munnar for the tea gardens, Thekkady for Periyar, Alleppey or Kumarakom for a houseboat night, and Kovalam or Varkala for the sea.

Munnar sits among tea estates with Mattupetty dam, Eravikulam National Park and the tea museum. Thekkady has the Periyar Tiger Reserve with a boat safari on the lake, spice gardens and Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performances in the evening. Alleppey is the backwater town where the houseboats leave from, and Fort Kochi has Chinese fishing nets, the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry, the Paradesi synagogue and St Francis Church.

Distances are short but roads are slow, so five to seven nights is right for the full loop. We book the houseboat, the Periyar boat and park tickets, hotels and a car with a driver, and add an Ayurvedic massage or a village backwater canoe ride where it fits.

Best places to see

• Alleppey backwaters houseboatA converted rice barge with rooms and a cook, moving through the Kuttanad canals and Vembanad lake. Boarding is around noon and the boat anchors by evening, so the best hours are late afternoon.
• Munnar tea estatesRolling estates with the tea museum, Mattupetty dam, Echo Point and Top Station. Early morning has the clearest views before mist sets in.
• Eravikulam National ParkHome of the Nilgiri tahr above Munnar, with a shuttle bus to the walking trail. Book in advance and note that it closes for the calving season around February and March.
• Periyar Tiger Reserve, ThekkadyA lake reserve where the boat safari is the main sighting opportunity, along with guided nature walks and bamboo rafting. Take the first boat of the morning.
• Fort Kochi and MattancherryChinese fishing nets on the shore, the Dutch Palace, the Paradesi synagogue and Jew Town's antique lanes. Walk it in the morning and stay for an evening Kathakali show.
• Kovalam and VarkalaKovalam's lighthouse beach and the red cliffs at Varkala, both with easy swimming in season. Sunset is the hour worth planning for.
• Athirappilly FallsA wide falls on the Chalakudy river within a drive of Cochin, at its fullest just after the monsoon. Morning visits avoid the crowd.
• Kumarakom and VembanadA quieter backwater base with a bird sanctuary, better for a resort stay than a cruise. Dawn is best for the birds.
• Spice gardens and AyurvedaCardamom, pepper and clove plantations around Thekkady with guided walks, and a proper Ayurvedic massage at a licensed centre in the evening.

Suggested itinerary

• Day 1 Arrive Cochin, Fort Kochi walk with the Chinese fishing nets and Mattancherry, evening Kathakali performance.
• Day 2 Drive to Munnar with stops at Cheeyappara falls and a spice garden, evening free at the estate.
• Day 3 Munnar sightseeing, tea museum, Mattupetty dam, Echo Point and Eravikulam National Park.
• Day 4 Drive to Thekkady, afternoon spice plantation walk and a Kalaripayattu show.
• Day 5 Morning boat safari at Periyar, drive to Alleppey and board the houseboat for an overnight cruise.
• Day 6 Disembark after breakfast, drive to Kovalam, rest of the day on the beach.
• Day 7 Morning at Kovalam or a trip to Varkala cliff, transfer to Trivandrum airport for departure.

What is included

Best season

October to March is the best season, dry and pleasant, with December and January the busiest. April and May are hot and humid on the coast but fine in Munnar. The south west monsoon from June to September is heavy, and it is the traditional season for Ayurvedic treatment, though boat safaris and beach days suffer. Onam falls in August or September and the snake boat races are in August.

Good to know

• Houseboats cruise only between about noon and half past five and stay anchored at night, which is a rule, not a shortcut, so plan the day around it.
• Eravikulam closes for roughly two months in the calving season and Periyar boat tickets are limited, so both need advance booking.
• Carry light cottons, an umbrella or light raincoat at almost any time of year, mosquito repellent for the backwaters, and a warm layer for Munnar nights.
• Choose a government approved Ayurvedic centre for treatment, and do not book long therapy courses without a consultation.
• Kerala roads are slow, so a hundred kilometres can take three hours. Keep sightseeing to one region per day.
• Try the Kerala sadya on a banana leaf, appam with stew, karimeen fish and toddy shop food, and buy tea, cardamom and pepper from an estate shop.

Planning and cost

Flights or trains, hotels, transfers and sightseeing are arranged together by our team. Every plan is made for your dates and your group, so the cost is quoted after we know what you want. Price on request.