Highlight - This is a typical Kerala itineary that a first time Indian traveller to the area opts for covering best of hills, plantations, backwaters and beaches. 

Expert Speak - While this is the base itinerary, there are several variants possible and opted for as under: Cochin may be skipped all together depending on arrival and departure time and mode. Guest may opt for a houseboat at one of the nights of Kumarakom / Alleppey. Guests who are looking for getaway / relaxing resorts and not looking at activities may skip Thekkady all-together. Alternatively those who like a bit of activities may add another night at Thekkady and do only houseboat in Alleppey / Kumarakom. Those who wish to cover backwaters more elaborately may do another night of houseboat. Guests with a bit of pilgrimage orientation may either do a day visit to Guruvayoor or replace Cochin stay with a Guruvayoor stay.  For sheer cost considerations during season (Oct-March), guest may opt for Varkala instead of Kovalam. Those interested in a bit of a relaxed beach and wishing to avoid travelling South of Kerala, may instead opt for Marari Beach instead of Kovalam.

Recommended Itinerary (This is an indicative itinerary, Sequence of the activities may vary and depend on prevailing weather condition and guest preferences)

• Day 1: Arrive at Kochi and Visit local monuments / Guruvayoor in the evening.

• Day 2: Arrive at Kochi and proceed to Munnar (120 kms from Airport). Relax for the rest of the Day. 

• Day 3 : After Breakfast Proceed for Full-day local sightseeing

• Day 4 : After Breakfast proceed to Thekkady (110 kms) and do an evening Periyar lake boat ride or visit a spice plantation.

• Day 5: After Breakfast  proceed to Kumarakom/Alleppey (110/140 kms) settle in a backwater/ Lake Resort and relax for rest of the day.

• Day 6: After Breakfast check in to a Houseboat (12 noon checkin). Cruise day long and overnight in the Cruise.

• Day 7: After Breakfast Checkout from Cruise (9:30 AM) and proceed to Kovalam (175 kms from Alleppey). Enroute you may do a trivandrum city sighseeint.

• Day 8: Half day sightseeing to Kanyakumari. Evening visit to beaches of Kovalam.

• Day 9 : After breakfast take a train or flight back.

Accommodation Option - Munnar / Thekkady/Periyar - Alleppey/Kumarakom - Houseboat - Fort Cochin/ Kovalam

Distances

Seasonality - Oct - March is the best time to visit the Backwaters and Beach circuits. June-Sept is the monsoon season when though its humid its still very green and pleasing. Plantation highlands can be visited all through the year even though it rains a bit more in monsoon than the rest of the year.

Access : Cochin is best and most popular arrival point into Kerala. Cochin International Airport gets flights from all over India and select International destinations. Ernakulam Railway Station is linked to Southern and Coastal rail route and connected to all major cities of South India and some major cities in India. 

Please email to kerala2@nivalink.co.in with dates of travel for further details and a quote (Estimated hotel cost and transportation) for the above itinerary or any other itinerary (Extended or truncated) or call us