The Definitive Kerala Journey
This is the tour we recommend to anyone who asks 'how do I see the best of Kerala in one week?' Seven days that take you from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea — through four completely different landscapes, each more beautiful than the last.
Munnar opens the tour: 80,000 acres of tea stretching across mountain slopes at 1,600 metres, the endangered Nilgiri Tahr grazing on open grasslands above the clouds, and a tea museum that tells the story of a crop that changed the world.
Thekkady's Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary follows — a boat safari on the lake where elephants wade in, Indian bison graze the clearings, and the whole forest seems to hold its breath. A spice plantation tour and evening Kalaripayattu martial arts performance complete a day of extraordinary sensory richness.
Alleppey's houseboat night is the Kerala experience that travellers remember longest — absolute privacy on the backwaters, a crew that prepares the finest Kerala meal you'll eat, and a sunset over the paddy fields that turns the water to copper and gold. The tour ends in Kovalam: beaches, Trivandrum's temple and museum, optional Ayurveda, and the Arabian Sea at your feet.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to Kerala! Meet your driver at Cochin Airport and drive into the Western Ghats. Stop at Cheeyappara Waterfalls — a series of seven-step cascades where the mountain road crosses the river — and a spice garden. Arrive Munnar by afternoon.
Full day in Munnar. Eravikulam National Park for Nilgiri Tahr on the open grasslands (Anamudi 2,695m behind). KDHP Tea Museum with tasting. Top Station (1,700m) for the finest panoramas in the region. Mattupetty Dam and Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Sunset in Munnar market.
Drive south (3 hrs) via a spice plantation tour. Afternoon: wildlife boat safari on Periyar Lake — elephants, bison, otters, and kingfishers. Evening: Kalaripayattu martial arts performance — the most athletic and visually spectacular of Kerala's performing traditions.
Drive to Alleppey and board your private houseboat by noon. Cruise through the backwater network — emerald canals, lotus ponds, and paddy fields. All meals on board: fish curry, coconut rice, prawn moilee, avial, and appam. Moor for the night in a quiet canal.
A gentle final morning on the backwaters. Disembark after breakfast and drive south along the Kerala coast to Kovalam (about 3.5 hours). Arrive and check in. Evening: Lighthouse Beach walk at sunset.
Half-day Trivandrum city tour (16 km from Kovalam): the magnificent Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple with its Dravidian gopuram, Napier Museum (Indo-Saracenic architecture; Kerala bronzes and Kathakali costumes), and Chitra Art Gallery (Raja Ravi Varma works). Return to Kovalam by noon. Afternoon entirely at leisure — beach, Ayurveda, or simply the Arabian Sea.
A final morning in Kovalam — one last swim in the Arabian Sea. Transfer to Trivandrum International Airport (16 km) for your departure. Direct international connections to Middle Eastern hubs, or connect via Mumbai/Kochi.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ Accommodation in handpicked hotels throughout
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ All applicable taxes
- ✓ Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓ 1 night private houseboat in Alleppey (lunch + dinner on board)
- ✓ Periyar wildlife boat safari
- ✓ Kalaripayattu performance
- ✓ Spice plantation guided tour
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights to / from Kerala
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches & dinners (except where specified)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for guides & drivers
- ✗ Monument & park entry fees (unless stated)
- ✗ Optional Ayurvedic massage in Kovalam
- ✗ Park entry fees (payable at gate)
Your questions, answered
The 7-day itinerary adds Thekkady — giving you a dedicated wildlife day with a Periyar boat safari, spice plantation tour, and Kalaripayattu performance — plus an extra night in Kovalam for a full city tour of Trivandrum. If you have the time, the 7-day version is significantly richer and more satisfying.
October to March is ideal — post-monsoon, lush and green, comfortable temperatures (25–30°C on coast, cooler in hills). December–January is peak season; book well ahead. Avoid June–August (heavy monsoon).
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and tailored to you. We can adjust duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry — no obligation.
We include carefully vetted 4-star and 5-star hotels, plantation retreats, heritage homestays, and boutique resorts. Upgrades to luxury tree-houses, lake-view villas, and exclusive resorts are available on request.
A kettuvallam is a converted rice barge with bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and sun deck. Your crew (captain and cook) prepare all meals fresh on board — fish curry, coconut rice, prawn dishes, appam. Moored in a quiet canal overnight. One of India's most unique experiences.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Takes 3–5 business days. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
60+ days: full refund minus admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50%. Under 15 days: no refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
