Kerala 3 Days Tour Package

Route: Arrival at Kochi – Fort Kochi – Mattancherry – Jew Town – Kochi City Centre

Upon arrival at Kochi (Cochin International Airport or Railway Station), your dedicated driver will meet you and begin your private Kerala journey. Kochi, famously known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is one of India's most cosmopolitan port cities — shaped by centuries of trade with Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British visitors, all of whom left their mark on the city's architecture, cuisine, and character. Drive towards Fort Kochi, the historic peninsula where this layered history is most vivid. Begin with the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets on the seafront — enormous cantilevered structures of teak and bamboo that have been used since the 14th century and are still operated by local fishermen today. Continue to St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, where Vasco da Gama was originally buried before his remains were returned to Portugal. Santa Cruz Basilica, a short walk away, is one of Kerala's eight minor basilicas and one of the finest examples of colonial ecclesiastical architecture in South India.

Drive to Mattancherry for the Dutch Palace — known locally as Mattancherry Palace — a 16th-century structure originally built by the Portuguese and later renovated by the Dutch. Its interior houses some of the finest Kerala mural paintings in existence, depicting scenes from the Ramayana across the royal bedchambers. Walk into Jew Town, the narrow lane lined with antique shops, curio dealers, bronze and brassware, hand-printed fabrics, and spice merchants — and visit the Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568 and one of the oldest active synagogues in the Commonwealth. In the evening, head towards Kochi city centre and, if interested, attend a traditional Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance — an hour that consistently ranks among Kerala visitors' most memorable experiences. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay in Fort Kochi.

Experience of the Day

• Fort Kochi's colonial seafront — Chinese Fishing Nets, Portuguese churches, Dutch merchant houses in a single walk

• Mattancherry Palace and its extraordinary Kerala mural cycle — Ramayana scenes in a royal setting

• Jew Town's antique lane — one of India's most atmospheric shopping streets

• The Paradesi Synagogue — 16th-century history still in active use

• Optional Kathakali or Kalaripayattu — Kerala's classical art forms performed live

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

Recommended Restaurants & Cafés:

• Kashi Art Café (Fort Kochi) — European and fusion café in a heritage gallery space; excellent breakfast and coffee

• Ginger House Restaurant (Mattancherry) — heritage property with waterfront dining; try the Kerala prawn curry

• Fort House Restaurant — waterfront dining with harbour views; ideal for lunch after Fort Kochi walk

• David Hall Café (Fort Kochi) — light meals in a restored Dutch colonial building

• Dhe Puttu (City Centre) — authentic Kerala puttu and curry combinations; highly popular with locals

Must-Try Food:

• Kerala Fish Curry with Rice — the definitive local meal

• Appam with Coconut Stew — soft rice hoppers in a delicate coconut broth

• Karimeen Pollichathu — Pearl Spot fish grilled in banana leaf with spices

• Malabar Parotta with Beef Curry — flaky layered flatbread with slow-cooked curry

• Fresh coconut water — widely available along the Fort Kochi seafront

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Where to Shop: Jew Town antique lane (Mattancherry), Princess Street boutiques (Fort Kochi), Broadway Market (City Centre)

• What to Buy: Antique curios and brassware, hand-printed block fabrics, Kasavu cotton sarees, spices (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon), rosewood carvings, Kathakali masks and bronze lamps

Activities to Do

• Sunrise or golden-hour photography at the Chinese Fishing Nets

• Self-guided walk through Fort Kochi's colonial heritage lanes

• Mattancherry Palace mural tour with private guide (optional, recommended)

• Paradesi Synagogue visit and Jew Town exploration

• Evening Kathakali or Kalaripayattu cultural performance (book in advance)

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Evening harbour cruise from Marine Drive — sunset over the Kochi waterway

• Cycling tour of Fort Kochi — most of the sights are within 2 km of each other

• Bolgatty Palace Island visit — former Dutch palace now a heritage hotel

• Vypeen Island backwater village visit — short ferry ride from Fort Kochi

Route: Kochi – Alleppey (85 Kms / approx. 2 Hrs)

After breakfast at your hotel, check out and begin the comfortable two-hour drive from Kochi towards Alleppey along the coastal NH-66. The flat, green Kerala lowlands — rubber estates, paddy fields, canal crossings, coconut groves — unroll alongside the road before the first signs of the backwater network begin to appear as you approach Alleppey. On arrival at the houseboat jetty, proceed for check-in to your private premium houseboat. Your boat is exclusively reserved for you — no other guests, no shared spaces. The crew — a captain, a dedicated chef, and a service attendant — are there entirely for your party. Cast off from the jetty by midday and begin the afternoon cruise through the Alleppey backwater network: narrow palm-lined canals where the hull barely clears the banks on both sides, opening without warning into wide lagoons where fishing nets stretch to the horizon. The boat passes rice-farming villages where children play at the water's edge, women wash clothes on stone ghats, and the occasional toddy-tapper climbs a palm with casual skill. Traditional Kerala meals are prepared onboard by your chef — steamed rice, avial, thoran, fish curry, coconut-milk dishes that change with the day's catch and the onboard pantry. As evening falls over the paddy fields and the canal surface turns glassy, anchor for the night in a quiet stretch of water. The overnight on the houseboat — with the distant sounds of frogs, water birds, and the gently rocking hull — is the experience most guests describe as the highlight of their Kerala trip. Overnight on the houseboat.

Experience of the Day

• The iconic Kerala backwater experience — entirely private, with no shared boat or shared itinerary

• Your own crew: captain, onboard chef, and service attendant dedicated to your party

• Slow canal cruising through villages and lagoons — a pace of travel available nowhere else in India

• Traditional Kerala meals prepared fresh onboard from local ingredients

• Sunset over the paddy fields from the upper deck; overnight anchored on calm water

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

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

All meals prepared onboard by your private houseboat chef:

• Lunch: Kerala rice with sambar, avial (mixed vegetables in coconut-yoghurt gravy), thoran (dry coconut vegetable), fish curry and papadum

• Evening snacks: banana fritters or pakoda with tea served on the upper deck at sunset

• Dinner: Fresh fish preparation (karimeen / pearl spot when available), coconut milk curry, appam, and seasonal vegetables

• Breakfast (next morning): Puttu with kadala curry, or appam with stew, served on the dining deck before disembarkation

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Alleppey jetty area market — coir bags, handwoven mats, and coconut craft before boarding

• Canal-side village stalls (where the boat docks) — fresh spices, coconut products

• Coir cooperative showrooms near Alleppey town — fixed-price handmade products

Activities to Do

• Private houseboat cruise through Alleppey's primary backwater circuit

• Upper deck relaxation and canal photography throughout the afternoon

• Sunset viewing from the observation deck — paddy field horizon with evening light

• Village walk at the overnight anchoring point (where accessible)

• Onboard birdwatching — request binoculars from the crew in advance

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Canoe ride through narrower village canals — arranged by the houseboat crew (extra cost)

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

• Kumarakom extension: upgrade to a 2-night houseboat with Day 3 anchoring near Kumarakom for bird sanctuary access

Route: Alleppey – Alappuzha Beach – Lighthouse – Arthunkal – Kochi Airport / Railway Station

After breakfast onboard, disembark from the houseboat and rejoin your private vehicle for a relaxed final morning in and around Alleppey before departure. Begin with a visit to Alappuzha Beach, 5 km from the town centre — a quiet, wide beach with a sea breeze that contrasts pleasantly with the stillness of the backwaters. The remains of a long pier extending into the Arabian Sea are a distinctive landmark here, and the early morning light makes this one of the better photography spots on the Kerala coast. Continue to the Alappuzha Lighthouse, located a kilometre away — one of Kerala's oldest working lighthouses, offering a panoramic view of the coastline, the town, and the backwater system from its upper gallery. Drive 22 km south to Arthunkal to visit St. Andrew's Basilica, a centuries-old Portuguese-era church of considerable architectural and spiritual significance, set in a serene compound near the Arabian Sea. After the visit, begin the 60 km drive back to Kochi, where your driver will drop you at Cochin International Airport or Ernakulam Railway Station in comfortable time for departure. This concludes your private Kerala short break.

Experience of the Day

• Alappuzha Beach — the open, breezy coastal face of the backwater town

• The historic pier — a distinctive Kerala landmark for morning photography

• Alappuzha Lighthouse — panoramic views over beach, town, and backwater horizon

• St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal — Portuguese colonial heritage and quiet pilgrimage atmosphere

• A comfortable, well-paced conclusion with private transfer to departure point

Food — Where to Eat & What to Try

• Indian Coffee House (Alleppey) — classic Kerala breakfast of rice porridge, appam, or egg roast

• Thaff Restaurant (Alleppey) — seafood and Malabar-style dishes; good for a pre-departure lunch if timing allows

• Cassia Restaurant (Alleppey) — multi-cuisine, family-friendly, consistent quality

• Cafe Catamaran (Beach Road) — light bites and fresh lime soda near the beach

• Must-try: Karimeen Pollichathu, Kerala fish curry with rice, fresh tender coconut water along the beach road

Shopping — Where & What to Buy

• Alleppey Town Market (near jetty) — last opportunity for coir products, spices, and local craft

• Beach Road stalls — shell décor, handmade souvenirs, coconut-shell items

• Arthunkal area — small shops near the Basilica selling rosary beads, religious items, and local craft

Activities to Do

• Beach walk and pier photography at Alappuzha Beach

• Lighthouse gallery climb for coastal panoramic views

• Self-paced visit to St. Andrew's Basilica compound and church interior

• Short local market browse in Alleppey town before the Kochi drive

Optional Nearby Excursions

• Marari Beach (10 km from Alleppey) — quieter, less-visited beach for a peaceful final morning stop

• Champakulam Church — one of the oldest churches in Kerala, on the backwater route between Alleppey and Kochi

• Fort Kochi stopover on the way to the airport — 30-minute walk through the nets and waterfront if departure time allows