PACKAGE#4: Kerala Backwaters & Hills Escape

*Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey                                     

* 8 Days / 7 Nights                   

£1,600 Per Person(Rates based on twin sharing accommodation)   

Private Car - Throughout the tour 

Best For: Couples • Honeymooners • Nature Lovers • Families • First-Time South India Travellers

THE EXPERIENCE

A Slower, More Beautiful Side of India

There is a particular kind of travel that does not rush you. Kerala is that kind of travel. It is the India of still water at dawn, of mountains wrapped in mist before breakfast, of a houseboat that moves so slowly you begin to wonder whether it is the world drifting past you, or you past the world.

This eight-day escape was designed for those who want to feel India rather than simply see it. No crowds, no rush, no compromises. Just the colonial grace of Kochi, the cool elevation of Munnar’s tea-garden hills, the wild spice-scented forests of Thekkady, and the incomparable stillness of the Alleppey backwaters — all experienced privately, at your own pace, with your own dedicated driver and guide looking after every detail from arrival to departure.

Kerala is consistently one of the most beloved destinations among international visitors — not for its monuments or its spectacle, but for the way it makes you feel. Clean. Calm. Completely, beautifully away from it all.

About Road Travel on This Tour

All transfers are by private, air-conditioned vehicle with your dedicated driver throughout. The full Kerala circuit covers approximately 430 km across four comfortable daytime drives. Every leg is timed so that driving is done in daylight, leaving maximum time for sightseeing and the slower pleasures of each destination.

The mountain sections between Kochi and Munnar, and Munnar to Thekkady, wind through the Western Ghats - a landscape of extraordinary beauty. These roads are scenic precisely because they are winding. Night driving on hill roads is avoided as standard. If any traveller is prone to motion sickness, please let us know and we will plan the mountain legs accordingly.

YOUR JOURNEY

Day by Day - The Full Story

Every day of this tour has been planned with a clear intention: to give you the very best of each place without a single wasted hour.

DAY 1

Welcome to Kerala - Arrival in Kochi

Kerala begins the moment you step off the plane. The air is warm and carries something on it - salt from the Arabian Sea, perhaps, or the first whisper of the tropics. Your private representative will be waiting at Kochi Airport or Railway Station, ready to transfer you smoothly and comfortably to your hotel.

The evening is yours. Kochi does not demand to be rushed. A quiet walk along Fort Kochi’s coastal streets at dusk, the old fishing nets silhouetted against the fading light, the scent of spices drifting from a nearby kitchen is the perfect, unhurried introduction to this extraordinary part of the world. Let Kerala come to you.

Arrival · Private airport or station transfer · Evening at leisure

DAY 2

Heritage & Ocean - Kochi Sightseeing

Kochi is one of those rare cities that wears its entire history on its face. Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish, Chinese, each civilisation has left a mark, and together they have created something utterly unlike anywhere else in India.

The iconic Chinese Fishing Nets stand at the water’s edge as they have for five centuries - vast cantilevered frames lowering and lifting in a slow, hypnotic rhythm. St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, holds a quiet that feels earned over generations. The Mattancherry Palace surprises with its extraordinary Kerala murals. The fragrant, storied lanes of Jew Town offer antiques, spice blends, and an atmosphere you could wander for hours without tiring.

Kochi rewards the unhurried traveller. Your guide will know where to stop, when to linger, and where to find the best meal on a quiet side street.

Fort Kochi · Chinese Fishing Nets · St. Francis Church · Mattancherry Palace · Jew Town

DAY 3 - DRIVE DAY

Into the Clouds - Kochi to Munnar

Transfer: Approx. 127 km · 4–5 hrs scenic mountain drive · Recommended departure: 8:00 am

Some journeys are destinations in themselves. The drive from Kochi to Munnar is one of them.

You leave the coast behind and begin to climb. The road rises through rubber and pepper plantations, past the Cheeyappara Waterfalls cascading in white threads down the hillside, through small towns fragrant with spice, and up into the cool, cloud-touched elevation of the Western Ghats. Somewhere around 1,000 metres, the tea estates begin — and they do not stop. Munnar sits at 1,600 metres above sea level. The air is fifteen degrees cooler, the light is different, and the world below feels very far away.

Plan to leave by 8:00 am for a comfortable early afternoon arrival. Check into your hotel, step onto the balcony, breathe the mountain air, and feel the shift. Tonight, Munnar introduces itself slowly and quietly. That is the only way it knows how.

~127 km · NH85 Western Ghats route · Cheeyappara Waterfalls en route · Hill station arrival

DAY 4 — FULL SIGHTSEEING DAY

Munnar - Tea Gardens, Mist & Mountain Views

There are mornings in Munnar when the mist sits so low in the valleys that the tea bushes appear to float on clouds. This is one of those mornings. And today, it is entirely yours.

The Tea Museum tells the story of how these hills became the tea capital of South India. Mattupetty Dam holds a lake of extraordinary stillness, its water reflecting the hills around it like a mirror. Echo Point delights all ages. And Top Station, at nearly 1,700 metres, offers views across the Western Ghats that stretch further than seems possible — blue-green folds of mountain all the way to Tamil Nadu.

The evening in Munnar belongs to you. The town quiets early. Dinner at your hotel, the cool night air, the sound of the hills. One of the most romantic nights of the entire tour.

Tea Museum · Mattupetty Dam · Echo Point · Top Station · Scenic viewpoints

DAY 5 - DRIVE DAY

Spice & Wild - Munnar to Thekkady

Transfer: Approx. 91–100 km · 3–4 hrs scenic mountain drive

Leaving Munnar, the road descends into a different kind of green. Thekkady is lower, warmer, and wilder, a landscape of spice plantations, cardamom estates, and forest reserve that carries its own particular magic.

After check-in, walk through a working spice estate and discover how cardamom grows in the shade of forest trees, how pepper vines climb to extraordinary heights, how the scent of a single clove can stop you mid-step. Browse the local spice markets where the aromas are so concentrated they feel almost visible.

In the evening, consider the Kathakali cultural performance - Kerala’s ancient classical dance-drama, performed in elaborate costume and makeup that takes hours to apply. Once seen, it is not easily forgotten.

~91–100 km · Spice plantation walk · Cardamom & pepper estates · Optional Kathakali performance

DAY 6 - DRIVE DAY & TRIP HIGHLIGHT ★

The Houseboat - Thekkady to Alleppey

Transfer: Approx. 138–142 km · 4–5 hrs drive · Early checkout required: 8:00–8:30 am

This is the day your Kerala journey becomes something you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

The drive from Thekkady to Alleppey is the longest single transfer of the tour. An early checkout of 8:00–8:30 am is strongly recommended to ensure arrival at Alleppey in time for houseboat check-in , typically noon to 1:00 pm and the all-important full afternoon backwater cruise. Missing this window means missing hours of the most extraordinary scenery this tour has to offer.

And then you board.

The houseboat, a kettuvallam, moves through the backwaters at a pace that feels chosen by the water rather than the engine. Palm trees line the banks. Children wave from the shore. Egrets stand motionless in the shallows. Lunch is served on board as the boat drifts through a landscape that has no equivalent anywhere on earth.

As the afternoon softens into evening, the boat moors quietly. The engine stops. The world goes almost completely silent. Dinner is served under the open sky. Millions of stars appear above the backwaters. And you sleep, rocked by the gentlest movement of water, to the sound of frogs, night birds, and absolute, blissful peace.

This night stays with you forever. Every guest who has experienced it says so.

~138–142 km · Houseboat stay included · Full backwater cruise · Lunch / dinner on board as mentioned in your plan · Overnight on water

DAY 7- DRIVE DAY

Leisure - Alleppey Back to Kochi

Transfer: Approx. 53 - 54 km · 1 - 1.5 hrs · Flat NH66 highway

Houseboat checkout is typically 9:00 am. You step back onto land slowly, still carrying something of the water’s quietness with you.

The drive back to Kochi is the easiest of the tour - flat, fast, and familiar. You arrive well before noon. Fort Kochi’s boutique shops hold beautiful things: handwoven fabrics, spice blends, jewellery, antique maps of old India. The cafes in the old town serve exceptional filter coffee and seafood fresh from the morning’s catch.

Or perhaps you do nothing at all. Sit by the water. Watch the fishing nets. Let the last full day of Kerala be as unhurried as the tour promised it would be.

~53–54 km · NH66 coastal highway · Leisure day · Local shopping · Fort Kochi

DAY 8

Farewell - Kochi Airport Departure

At your chosen flight time, your driver, who has been with you from Day 1, provides a smooth, punctual airport transfer. There are no last-minute surprises. You have been looked after throughout, and this final journey is no different.

Your Kerala escape ends here. But something about it does not quite end. The sound of water on the houseboat. The mist on the Munnar hills first thing in the morning. The scent of cardamom in a Thekkady plantation. The colour of the fishing nets against a golden sky.

These stay with you. That is what Kerala does. That is what a journey planned with real care does.

Private airport transfer · Punctual, stress-free departure

PACKAGE DETAILS

What’s Covered and What’s Not

We believe in complete transparency. Below is exactly what your package includes and exactly what it does not, so there are no surprises, only delights.

Included in Your Package

✓ Hotel accommodation - 3-star / 4-star options as available

✓ Daily breakfast at your hotel throughout

✓ Private AC vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing

✓ Dedicated English-speaking representative throughout

✓ 1 Night Alleppey houseboat stay (meals as per houseboat plan)

✓ All tolls, parking, and driver allowances

✓ All sightseeing as per itinerary

★ Upgrade Available on Request

Luxury resorts and premium houseboats available at each destination. Full pricing shared transparently before any confirmation.

Not Included

✗ International flights and airfare

✗ Lunch and dinner (except houseboat meals where specified)

✗ Personal expenses and shopping

✗ Travel insurance - strongly recommended

✗ Visa charges

✗ Optional activities not specified in the itinerary

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies, trip interruption, and lost baggage. Please arrange this before departure.

ROAD TRANSFER SUMMARY

Total circuit: ~430 km · 4 driving days · All daytime · All private AC vehicle

WHEN TO GO

Best Time to Visit Kerala

Kerala rewards year-round visitors, but the months of October through March offer the most comfortable conditions for every element of this tour - the mountain drives, hill-station sightseeing, and above all the backwater experience. The skies are clear, the roads are at their best, and the houseboat cruise is pure, undiluted magic.

The peak months of November to February are particularly ideal for international visitors from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Poland, Singapore, Japan and beyond, these months align well with holiday periods across the northern hemisphere and Kerala’s weather is at its most consistently beautiful.

April and May are warm, dry, and less crowded, a good choice for those who prefer quieter destinations. June to September brings the monsoon. Kerala is hauntingly beautiful in the rains, with a green more vivid than any other season but some hill roads may be affected and certain activities adjusted. We will always advise you in advance if conditions require any changes.

WHY TRAVEL WITH US

Built for International Travellers. Trusted for 18 Years.

UK India Tourism was built on a single belief: that international travellers deserve an India experience as seamless, considered, and genuinely joyful as the country itself. Eighteen years and 2,600 travellers later, 98% of our guests say they would recommend us to the people they love most. We are proud of that. We intend to keep earning it.

Internationally trusted, India-expert

We hold expertise from both the United Kingdom and India, giving travellers from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Poland, Singapore, Japan, and beyond the kind of local knowledge and cultural fluency that only comes from decades on the ground. You get an India expert. You communicate with a team that understands exactly where you are coming from.

Private travel, always

You will never share a vehicle with strangers or be hurried through a site because a group schedule demands it. Every transfer, every tour, every moment of this journey belongs entirely to you. This is your holiday, not a group itinerary with your name on it.

On-ground support at every stop

Your driver is with you from arrival to departure. At each destination, our local knowledge covers not only the sights but the best restaurants on quiet streets, the viewpoints the guidebooks do not mention, and the moments of unexpected beauty that make a trip unforgettable. You are never alone in an unfamiliar place.

Tailored completely to you

This itinerary is a starting point, not a constraint. Add Kovalam or Varkala beach. Upgrade to a luxury houseboat with a personal chef. Extend Munnar by a day. Include a sunrise boat ride on the backwaters. Just ask, we will make it happen and price it honestly before you commit to anything.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Frequently Asked Questions

We believe a well-informed traveller is a happy traveller. Here are the questions our guests ask most often, answered fully and honestly.

Is this tour right for honeymoon couples?

It is one of most popular honeymoon itineraries, and for good reason. The combination of Munnar , misty, romantic, impossibly beautiful and the Alleppey houseboat overnight, where you drift through silent backwaters as the stars come out above you, is unlike almost any other honeymoon experience in the world. It is intimate, private, and deeply memorable. We can arrange luxury resort upgrades, candlelit houseboat dinners, and other personal touches on request. Just tell us what you have in mind.

Can we upgrade to luxury resorts and a premium houseboat?

Absolutely, and many of our guests choose to. Kerala has some extraordinary luxury properties,  heritage plantation bungalows in Munnar, boutique forest retreats in Thekkady, and premium houseboats in Alleppey with private chefs and open upper decks. We will share the full updated pricing for any upgrade before you make any decision, with complete transparency.

Can we add Kovalam or Varkala beach?

Yes, both are natural and wonderful additions. Kovalam is a long crescent of sand with calm waters and beach-town charm. Varkala is dramatic, a clifftop village above a sweeping beach, with an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Kerala. Either can be added with extra days and the pricing adjustment shared clearly in advance.

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

Very much so. Kerala is one of India’s most accessible and comfortable destinations for family travel, the roads are good, the food is varied, and the experiences are genuinely magical for children of almost any age. The houseboat in particular tends to become a highlight that children talk about for years. All transport is private, timing is flexible, and your driver is experienced with family groups.

Do you provide visa support for international travellers?

Yes. We offer visa assistance for all international travellers. India’s e-Visa system is straightforward for most nationalities but requirements can vary by country. Our team will guide you clearly through everything. 

What is your cancellation and refund policy?

30 or more days before travel: A partial refund applies, excluding the booking deposit and any non-recoverable supplier charges.

15 to 30 days before travel: A partial refund applies, with cancellation fees as specified in your invoice.

Less than 15 days before travel: Non-refundable.

A non-refundable deposit of 30-40% is required at booking. Approved refunds are processed within 30-60 working days. Visa fees, government taxes, and airline charges are non-refundable in all cases.             Full policy: ukindiatourism.co.uk/refund-and-cancellation-policy

READY WHEN YOU ARE

Begin Your Kerala Journey

UK: +44 7345 191205

India: +91 9958 480873

Email: sales@ukindiatourism.co.uk