Kerala: Hills, Spice and Backwaters

Tea gardens of Munnar, the spice forests of Thekkady and a private houseboat in Alleppey

From ₹18,499 per person

Highlights

Best time to go: September to March; monsoon (June to August) is green and quiet with lower prices
Stay: 3-star hotels and a private AC houseboat

1
Day 1
Kochi to Munnar
Pick-up at Kochi and a 4-hour drive into the hills, stopping at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls. Evening at leisure among the tea estates.
2
Day 2
Munnar sightseeing
Eravikulam National Park (home of the Nilgiri tahr), the Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake.
3
Day 3
Munnar to Thekkady
Drive 3 hours to Thekkady. Guided spice plantation walk in the afternoon, and a Kathakali or Kalaripayattu show in the evening (tickets extra).
4
Day 4
Thekkady to Alleppey houseboat
Board your private houseboat at noon. Cruise the backwaters past paddy fields and village life, with lunch, tea and dinner cooked on board. Overnight on the houseboat.
5
Day 5
Alleppey to Kochi
Breakfast on board and check out at 9 am. Drive to Kochi for Fort Kochi, the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and Mattancherry Palace.
6
Day 6
Depart from Kochi
Breakfast, then drop at Kochi airport or Ernakulam station.

The houseboat AC usually runs from 9 pm to 6 am.
Eravikulam National Park closes for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, usually February to March.