Uncover the delights of tropical Kerala in India's deep south on this 8-day group tour. From Kochi visit the picturesque hill station of Munnar with its verdant tea plantations as well as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend a night aboard a houseboat, gliding along the tranquil, palm fringed backwaters.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Munnar Tea Plantations
Kochi - Munnar. Today we travel to the picturesque former hill station of Munnar, surrounded by sprawling tea plantations. We take a guided stroll through a local tea plantation and visit a local market, before the rest of the day is free to relax as you please. You may wish to visit nearby Blossom Park and enjoy cycling or boating in your stunning surroundings. This evening we enjoy an included dinner and meet others joining our group who have been travelling on our longer South India Explorer itinerary.
Overnight: Munnar | Breakfast, Dinner
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Munnar – Periyar. A drive south to Periyar, South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary and home to bison, antelopes, sambar, wild boar, birds and even the odd tiger! Kumily, close to the sanctuary and where we'll stay, is a pretty little town dotted with small spice and handicraft shops. There is plenty to do in and around Periyar, so we leave the choice to you for the remainder of the day.
On day 4 we will enjoy an included boat ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants, spending the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on own. You can opt for an optional visit to explore the spice plantation or enjoy a kalaripayattu dance performance Periyar.
Overnight: Kumily | Breakfast x 2
Kerala backwaters
Periyar - Alleppey - Keralan backwaters. Today we leave Periyar and take a scenic drive to Alleppey. Here we board our private rice boat for a voyage through the famous Kerala backwaters. Our rice-boat takes us sedately along the enchanting palm-fringed backwaters, covering a distance of some 20 kms, during which time the boat glides past local villages and fascinating scenes of everyday rural life. Watch a beautiful sunset over the backwaters and enjoy tasty meals (starting with lunch) prepared by the on-board chef using fresh local produce.
Overnight: Deluxe rice boat | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kumarakom
Keralan Backwaters - Kumarakom. On the morning of day 6 we disembark our rice boat and take a short drive to Kumarakom - a village spread over a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad. The day is free to relax or explore Kumarakom at your leisure. Perhaps take a boat ride on the lake or visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to many rare bird species and is an important stopover for migratory birds in the winter (Nov-May).
Overnight: Kumarakom | Breakfast
Kochi
Kumarakom – Kochi. Formerly a princely state, Kochi is also fondly referred to as “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”. The rest of the day is at leisure exploring Kochi on its own.
This evening you can opt for an optional tour to watch an entertaining and traditional Kathakali dance show. Kathakali performers are known for their elaborate costumes and makeup and they always put on a fantastic show.
Overnight: Kochi | Breakfast
Kochi
Saturday. Our South India adventure comes to an end today with an included departure transfer to Kochi airport.
Breakfast
PREFER A PRIVATE TOUR OR TO EXTEND YOUR STAY?
• This tour can be arranged exclusively for you and your family or friends on a private basis, by paying the private tour supplement. Details are noted at the bottom of the prices & dates tab.
• Extend your stay in this vibrant country, view our selection of add-ons and short stays.
• For more information about visas, top travel tips, best time to travel and much much more, browse our dedicated travel guide.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates marked with a 'G' are operating. All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to solo travellers or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.
Extra Prices
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
The Killians Boutique Hotel, Kochi
The Killians Boutique Hotel is a symbol of boutique elegance and comfort set along the shores of the Arabian Sea. Inspired by Portuguese, Dutch and Indian architectural styles both old and new, the hotel offers three types of themed rooms, each offering something different but all offering modern conveniences including internet access, mini bars and flat screen TV. A delicious spread of dishes is provided in the hotel's restaurant with yoga sessions offered alongside holistic treatments at the Ayurvedic Spa.
Eastend Munnar, Munnar
The Eastend Munnar is a quaint resort set in landscaped gardens in the heart of Munnar town. The modern rooms are well-sized with a neutral palette of warm woods, creams and touches of gold. Guests can climb to the Tree Hut for panoramic views of the surrounding hills or underground to 'The Cave', which contains various rock-cut reliefs. The multi-cuisine restaurant provides a menu covering Chinese, continental and Indian dishes.
The Elephant Court, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Located on 4 acres of land, the Elephant Court is a grand hotel decked out in cooling teak wood. Guest rooms are beautifully appointed with earthy hues of brown and pale green set off by crisp cotton sheets. Dining options include local specialities and international cuisine, all served in the restaurant with beautiful views of the swimming pool and surrounding area. A trip to the beautiful rooftop curio shop to pick up some souvenirs is a must. The accommodation is well located close to the Thekaddy forests.
Deluxe Houseboat, Alleppey
There are few things as serene and tranquil as floating along the Keralan backwaters in the comfort of a luxurious houseboat. Deluxe houseboats are elegantly furnished, with up to four bedrooms, equipped with modern en suites, an open lounge, dining area and a deck to relax and admire the beautiful views of the lush green palms and rice paddies. Air conditioning operates in the bedrooms between 9pm to 6am only. The cruises are full board, with tasty meals freshly prepared by the onboard chef.
Eastend Lakesong, Kumarakom
Nestled among the serene backwaters of Kumarakom, Eastend Lakesong comprises of 8 acres of facility packed leisure land. Guests sleep in villas and cottages, which are all well furnished with colourful interiors and comfortable beds. The onsite restaurants offer an excellent selection of local and international cuisine. Why not treat yourself to a relaxing massage at the Ayurveda on site Spa? It is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of exploring in the fierce Indian heat.
Reviews
Travellers have rated this tour as 5 out of 5 based on 3 recent reviews
Very good , in all aspects, suitable for experienced travellers. Good that we could get on well together as a group of 4. Very enjoyable - especiallly the relaxing houseboat trip after long car journeys. ”
Alex is a professional guide, with good language skills, knowledge of the area, and always on time. His suggestions on other activities were welcomed, well received and appreciated.
All listed activities were done. Alex is a valuable member of the On The Go team”
I really enjoyed the tour! It exceeded all my expectations. The hotels were clean, modern and very nice. The houseboat was also much more comfortable than I had expected. The tour was just the right mix of activities and relaxation. The things were visited were interesting, and our guide was very knowledgeable. The On The Go staff really went the extra mile, arranging a separate car to take me to the airport because i had a late flight, and then having someone meet me at the airport to help me with mu luggage and to navigate the check in. My arrival flight was eight hours late, but they still had a driver waiting for me when i arrived. I would definitely use the company again!”
Sarah, we are back home and had a wonderful time.
I'd like to give you some feedback, if that's okay with you.
Arrival at cochin airport was seamless, with your representative eagerly looking for us with his sign. he put us right into a cab and we got to the hotel easily.
Travancore Court Hotel is in a good part of town, has a nice lobby, gift shop, and restaurant. The staff was lovely, however, upgrading to another hotel is Cochin would be my suggestion. The bus that took us around (and the drivers) were top-notch.The Kathakali performance was fun, especially since we got to watch them put on their makeup.
Munnar was great and the Eastend Hotel was perfectly fine. Probably one of the best to be found in Munnar. Nice garden, rooms comfortable and cheerful, good restaurant. Tea plantations were interesting,and our guide Alex took us to see a spice garden, and the local market, all of which were interesting.
Next day, on the way to Karakom, he pointed out lots of things of interest all the way. The houseboat overnight was great fun. The boat was comfortable and the food was good. The bathroom was a bit yucky, but it is, after all, a houseboat. We were comfortable and the scenery was fabulous. We slept well.
Lakesong was fabulous. Very beautiful. we arranged yoga classes and a cooking class with the chef and sous chef while we were there. also took advantage of the ayurvedic spa services. Rooms, landscape, food, etc. was all wonderful.
The best part of the whole trip, and the thing that really made it a great success was our guide, Alex. It would not have been the same without him. He was very knowledgeable, kept things moving along, was very protective of us, and made sure EVERYTHING was taken care of for us. I can't compliment him enough.
I thank you enormously for all your help with putting this trip together.”
At a Glance
Very good , in all aspects, suitable for experienced travellers. Good that we could get on well together as a group of 4. Very enjoyable - especiallly the relaxing houseboat trip after long car journeys. ”
