Cochin Munnar Thekkady Alleppey Houseboat Tour Package

Route: Kochi – Munnar (130 Kms / approx. 7 Hrs)

Upon arrival at Kochi (Cochin International Airport / Railway Station), your dedicated driver will be waiting to begin your scenic drive towards Munnar, one of Kerala's most beautiful hill stations nestled deep in the Western Ghats. The 130 km journey takes approximately seven hours and is a destination in itself — passing through lush green lowlands that gradually give way to winding mountain roads, dense spice forests, cascading waterfalls, and the unmistakable geometry of terraced tea gardens. Stop at the famous Cheeyappara Waterfalls and Valara Waterfalls for photography and a short break in the cool highland air, and pause at tea garden viewpoints along the way. Upon arrival in Munnar, check in to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure — soaking in the cool mountain air, walking the quiet resort grounds, or simply watching the mist roll across the valley from your window. Overnight in Munnar.

Experience of the Day

• One of Kerala's most celebrated scenic mountain drives — tea, mist, and waterfalls

• First introduction to the Western Ghats landscape and biodiversity

• Relaxed arrival pace — no sightseeing pressure on Day 1

• Cool Munnar climate arriving after the coastal warmth of Kochi

• Photography opportunities throughout the drive — waterfalls, tea gardens, valley views

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

En-route Refreshment Stop: roadside chai stalls near Adimali or Munnar town entry — cardamom tea is the signature.

Café / Restaurant Suggestions (Munnar):

• Rapsy Restaurant — Kerala meals, appam, stew, fresh seafood

• Saravana Bhavan — South Indian vegetarian, reliable and clean

• SN Restaurant — Kerala and North Indian, popular with families

• Tea Tales Café — light bites, fresh cardamom tea, local chocolates

Must-Try Food:

• Appam with Vegetable Stew — Kerala's definitive comfort meal

• Idiyappam with Coconut Milk — light and aromatic

• Fresh cardamom tea — especially good at hill-station stalls

• Homemade chocolates — a Munnar specialty unique to the tea region

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Where to Shop: Munnar Town Market, Tea Museum outlet, local spice and chocolate shops along the main road

• What to Buy: Fresh tea leaves (black, green, white, flavoured), cardamom, pepper, cloves, handmade chocolates, essential oils and herbal skincare products

Activities to Do

• Short waterfall walk at Cheeyappara or Valara en route

• Sunset viewing from resort grounds or a nearby viewpoint

• Evening stroll through Munnar town

• Optional: Ayurvedic foot massage or spa at the resort after the long drive

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Blossom International Park — short walk from Munnar town

• Pothamedu View Point — panoramic valley views, 4 km from town

• Tea estate evening walk with resort naturalist (where available)

Route: Munnar – Eravikulam National Park – Mattupetty – Echo Point – Kundala Lake – Munnar Town

After breakfast, spend a full day exploring the best of Munnar at a comfortable, unhurried pace. Begin with a visit to Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai), famous for its wide-open rolling grasslands and as the protected habitat of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr — a Himalayan wild goat found almost nowhere else in the world at this altitude. The park's landscape is unusual for Kerala, closer to a Scottish moor than a tropical forest, and the views from the Rajamalai ridge on a clear morning are exceptional. Continue to Mattupetty Dam and Lake, a picturesque reservoir surrounded by tea gardens and eucalyptus, where a short boat ride can be taken at leisure. Drive further to Echo Point, where the natural acoustic phenomenon in the misty valley — calling out and hearing your voice return from the forested hillside — is a simple but memorable experience for families. Finally, visit Kundala Lake, a serene mountain reservoir known for its alpine-style pedal boating and surrounding shola forest. Return to Munnar town in the evening for a walk through the local market. Overnight in Munnar.

Experience of the Day

• Eravikulam National Park — rare high-altitude ecosystem; Nilgiri Tahr in their natural grassland habitat

• Mattupetty Dam — scenic lake with hills, tea gardens, and optional boating

• Echo Point — the kind of simple natural wonder that families remember

• Kundala Lake — quiet, alpine-feeling pedal boating in a shola forest setting

• Munnar local market — spices, tea, and hill-town colour in the evening

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

• Saravana Bhavan — South Indian breakfast and meals, clean and reliable

• Rapsy Restaurant — Kerala meals, appam with mutton or vegetable stew

• SN Restaurant — family-friendly, North and South Indian options

• Tea Garden Cafes along the route — fresh cardamom tea and light snacks

• Must-try: Kerala sadya (on request at select restaurants), puttu with kadala curry, Malabar parotta with egg roast

Shopping — Where & What to Shop

• KDHP Tea Sales Outlet (Munnar town) — premium estate-fresh tea leaves, directly from the plantation

• Munnar Town Market — spices, chocolates, herbal products at competitive prices

• Local Spice Shops — freshly dried cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves

• Handicraft stores — rosewood carvings, bamboo products, coconut craft

Activities to Do

• Guided walk at Eravikulam National Park — Nilgiri Tahr spotting

• Boating at Mattupetty Lake (optional, payable on site)

• Pedal boating at Kundala Lake

• Echo Point call-and-response experience

• Evening market walk and tea tasting in Munnar town

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Tea Museum (KDHP) — history and process of Munnar's tea industry; 2 km from town

• Pothamedu View Point — panoramic three-valley view ideal for sunset

• Attukad Waterfalls — seasonal waterfall on the Munnar–Pallivasal road

• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary — drier eastern forest, day trip with prior planning

Route: Munnar – Thekkady (Periyar), approx. 90 Kms / 4 Hrs

After breakfast, depart from Munnar and drive towards Thekkady — a 90 km journey that takes you through increasingly dense spice country: cardamom estates clinging to hillsides, black pepper vines climbing shade trees, and the occasional waft of eucalyptus or wild cinnamon in the air. The road is winding and forested, and the transition from tea hill to spice forest is one of the most atmospheric drives in Kerala. Upon arrival, proceed directly to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's most significant protected areas and a core Project Tiger reserve. Enjoy a private jeep safari inside the forest (subject to permits and zone availability) — tracking elephants, spotted deer, wild boar, Malabar giant squirrels, and the resident bird population through the teak and bamboo forest. Follow the safari with a serene boat ride on Periyar Lake, where elephants are frequently seen wading along the forested shoreline in the afternoon light. Later, join a guided spice plantation walk in the Kumily area to understand the history and geography of Kerala's spice trade. In the evening, an optional Kalaripayattu martial arts performance — Kerala's ancient combat art, considered one of the world's oldest fighting systems — adds a compelling cultural end to the day. Overnight in Thekkady.

Experience of the Day

• One of Kerala's most scenic inter-destination drives — spice estates and forested Ghats

• Private jeep safari through Periyar Tiger Reserve — elephant habitat and rich birdlife

• Serene boat ride on Periyar Lake — wildlife on the shoreline in afternoon light

• Guided spice plantation walk — understanding cardamom, pepper, cinnamon in their natural form

• Kalaripayattu evening performance — Kerala's ancient martial art, extraordinary to watch

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

• Grand Thekkady Cafe — multi-cuisine with pleasant forest surroundings

• Spice Garden Restaurant — authentic Kerala meals on banana leaf

• Coffee Routes — light bites, fresh spice-infused coffee

• Pepper House Cafe (Kumily) — known for local Thekkady spice cuisine

• Must-try: Kerala vegetarian sadya, Appam with vegetable stew, Malabar parotta with chicken curry, freshly brewed cardamom coffee

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Kumily Spice Market — arguably the best place in Kerala to buy whole spices

• Government-approved spice and handicraft shops in Kumily town

• What to buy: Fresh cardamom (green and dried), black pepper, cinnamon bark and powder, cloves, nutmeg, essential oils (eucalyptus, lemongrass, cardamom), herbal teas and organic spice blends

Activities to Do

• Private jeep safari inside Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Boat safari on Periyar Lake (Kerala Forest Department)

• Guided spice plantation walk in Kumily area

• Kalaripayattu / martial arts performance (evening, optional)

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Bamboo rafting on Periyar River (seasonal, permit-based — full-day excursion)

• Periyar Eco-tourism nature walk programs — border hiking and tribal trail walks

• Chellarkovil Viewpoint — dramatic valley views on the Tamil Nadu border

• Tribal heritage and community interaction programs (via forest department)

Route: Thekkady – Alleppey, approx. 140 Kms / 5 Hrs

After breakfast, depart from Thekkady and begin the descent from the Western Ghats towards Alleppey, Kerala's legendary backwater destination. The 140 km drive takes approximately five hours, and the landscape transition is dramatic — the dense forest and spice estates of Periyar give way to rubber plantations, then paddy fields, then the distinctive flat coconut-palm horizon of the coastal lowlands. On arrival at Alleppey, proceed to the houseboat jetty and check in to your premium private houseboat — your home for the night. Settle in, take in the views from the upper deck, and allow the boat to cast off into the backwater network. The houseboat glides through narrow palm-lined canals, past villages where life moves by water — children in canoes, women washing at the ghats, fishermen setting nets in the afternoon light. Traditional Kerala meals are prepared onboard by your chef: steamed rice, avial, thoran, fish curry from the morning catch, and fresh coconut-based dishes served on the boat's dining deck. As evening falls, the paddy fields flush gold and the canal surface turns still. Overnight on the houseboat.

Experience of the Day

• The dramatic landscape shift from spice forest to Kerala backwater — one of the great drives

• Private premium houseboat — your own floating residence on the backwaters

• Slow canal cruise through a world untouched by road traffic

• Sunset over paddy fields and lagoons from the upper observation deck

• Onboard traditional Kerala meals prepared fresh by your dedicated chef

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

All meals onboard the private houseboat, prepared by the onboard chef:

• Steamed rice with sambar, avial (mixed vegetables in coconut-yoghurt gravy), thoran (dry vegetable with coconut)

• Fresh fish curry — karimeen (pearl spot) is the local specialty when in season

• Coconut-milk stew with appam for breakfast

• Pachadi, pickle, papad, and fresh fruit as accompaniments

• Fresh coconut water served on deck throughout the day

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Alleppey town market (near the jetty) — accessible on arrival before boarding

• Coir products: handwoven mats, bags, wall hangings, placemats

• Coconut shell handicrafts — bowls, spoons, decorative items

• Spices from canal-side village stalls (where the boat docks)

• Traditional Kerala souvenirs — Kathakali masks, brass lamps, handloom sarees

Activities to Do

• Private houseboat cruise through Alleppey backwater network

• Upper deck relaxation and sunset photography

• Village walk at canal-side stops (where the boat docks for the night)

• Birdwatching from the deck — egrets, kingfishers, purple herons, cormorants

• Onboard conversation with the crew about local backwater life and fishing traditions

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Pathiramanal Island — migratory bird island accessible by small boat (seasonal)

• Canoe ride through the narrower village canals (extra cost; arranged via resort)

• Visit to a local coir-weaving unit along the canal (arranged by the boat crew)

Route: Alleppey – Alappuzha Beach – Lighthouse – Arthunkal – Kumarakom (Optional)

After breakfast onboard, disembark from the houseboat and begin a relaxed final full day exploring the coastal character of Alleppey. Start with a visit to Alappuzha Beach, one of Kerala's most pleasant town beaches, known for its golden sands, consistent sea breeze, and the remains of a historic pier that once extended into the Arabian Sea. Continue to the nearby Alappuzha Lighthouse, a working lighthouse offering panoramic views over the town and sea from its upper platform. Drive south to Arthunkal, 22 km from Alleppey, to visit St. Andrew's Basilica — a centuries-old Portuguese-built church of considerable architectural and spiritual importance, and one of the most visited Christian pilgrimage sites in Kerala. In the afternoon, guests may opt for an excursion to Kumarakom, 70 km from Alleppey on the banks of Vembanad Lake, where the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to egrets, herons, darters, and seasonal migratory visitors in a densely forested lakeside setting. Return to Alleppey by evening for dinner and overnight.

Experience of the Day

• A relaxed coastal day — beach, lighthouse, heritage church, optional bird sanctuary

• Alappuzha Beach — the accessible, characterful seaside of a backwater town

• St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal — Portuguese colonial heritage and active pilgrimage culture

• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary — Vembanad Lake birdlife in a quiet, unhurried setting

• A gentler pace before the final departure day

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

• Cafe Catamaran (Alleppey Beach area) — fish and chips, light meals, sea-facing

• Halais Restaurant — Alleppey institution for Kerala fish curry

• Indian Coffee House (Alleppey) — budget-friendly Kerala meals and coffee

• Cassia Restaurant (near backwaters) — seafood and local cuisine

• Must-try: Kerala Fish Curry with Rice, Karimeen (Pearl Spot) Fry, Appam with Stew, Puttu with Kadala Curry, prawn roast with parotta

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Alleppey Beach Road shops — coir products, coconut craft, souvenirs

• Local markets near the boat jetty — fresh catch, spices, village produce

• Kumarakom area — handwoven coir products and local craft

• What to buy: Coir products (mats, bags, floor runners), coconut shell items, Kerala brass oil lamps, Kasavu (gold-border) cotton sarees and towels, spices

Activities to Do

• Morning beach walk and photography at Alappuzha Beach

• Lighthouse climb for panoramic coastal views

• Visit to St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal

• Birdwatching and nature walk at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (optional)

• Evening backwater-side walk or canal promenade in Alleppey town

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary — 70 Kms round trip (approx. 5 hrs including travel and walk)

• Sunset Shikara ride on Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom

• Visit to a traditional coir-weaving cooperative

• Short canoe ride through the narrow village canals of the Alleppey network

Route: Alleppey – Kochi (Cochin International Airport / Railway Station), 85 Kms / approx. 2.5–3 Hrs

After breakfast and checkout, begin a comfortable and scenic drive from Alleppey towards Kochi, passing through the coastal lowlands of Kerala — coconut groves, rubber estates, canal crossings, and small market towns that connect the backwater region to the city. The 85 km drive takes approximately two and a half to three hours, leaving comfortable time for a departure or onward connection at Cochin International Airport or Ernakulam / Cochin Railway Station. This marks the conclusion of your Kerala journey — five nights across the hills of Munnar, the wildlife forests of Thekkady, and the serene backwaters of Alleppey.

Experience of the Day

• Final glimpses of Kerala's backwater landscape — canals, palms, and village life

• Scenic coastal drive through the Kerala lowlands to Kochi

• Timely and comfortable departure with full private vehicle assistance throughout

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Fort Kochi stopover (if departure timing allows) — Chinese Fishing Nets and Jew Town

• Cherai Beach detour — Kerala's best beach near Kochi, 30 km from the airport

• Edapally or Lulu Mall (Kochi) — last-minute shopping before departure