About this trip
Nine days through Kerala, moving from hill country to backwaters to coast, with enough beach time at the end to actually unwind. It's a partially guided tour with a personal driver and AC vehicle throughout, so the travel between stops is easy.
You'll spend a night on a deluxe houseboat cruising the Alleppey backwaters, walk through tea plantations in Munnar, and take a boat safari at Periyar. Evenings bring a Kathakali dance performance and a martial arts show in Kochi, giving you some cultural texture alongside the scenery.
The trip also runs down to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, before finishing with a few relaxed days on Kovalam beach.
What you'll do
- Overnight on a deluxe houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters
- Walk through tea plantations in Munnar
- Boat safari at Periyar
- Watch a Kathakali performance and a martial arts show in Kochi
- Visit spice plantations
- Stand at Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, before unwinding on Kovalam beach
- Private driver and AC vehicle for road travel between stops
- Mix of guided sightseeing and free time, with the final days set aside for beach relaxation
Worth it if you enjoy flexible, personalised India travel with excellent drivers and don't mind long car days. Think twice if you're time-poor or prefer minimal driving between stops.
- Drivers (John Sunil, Mithun Sharma, Gulshan) are genuinely skilled, patient, and tailor experiences to your interests on the fly.
- Distances between Kerala destinations involve substantial car time; road works and traffic can stretch journeys significantly longer than expected.
- Flying from Trivandrum airport near Kovalam saves five hours versus driving back to Kochi; worth arranging separately if possible.
- Houseboat stays in Alleppey are genuinely stunning; hotel upgrades, sunset views, and responsive customer service throughout.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Kochi (Cochin) · 20 Jul – 21 Jul
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