Kerala Caves & Backwaters
New
Set off from Mumbai and wind up in Cochin on this 11–day India adventure. In Mumbai, cruise to Elephanta Caves and take in Marine Drive, Dhobi Ghat and colonial landmarks. Fly to Aurangabad for the UNESCO wonders of Ellora and Ajanta – plus Daulatabad Fort and the sacred Grishneshwar temple. Touch down in Kerala for Fort Kochi’s Chinese fishing nets and a vibrant Kathakali performance, then head to Munnar’s misty tea gardens and Eravikulam National Park. Continue to Thekkady for spice plantations and a tranquil Periyar lake cruise, before unwinding in Kumarakom. Finish with an Alleppey houseboat drift through serene backwaters – unforgettable.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
11 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
MumbaiEnds
KochiMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
€2,245.00
€1,244.00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See
Mumbai
Konkan Division
Aurangabad
Ellora
Daulatabad
Ajanta
Kochi (Cochin)
Cochin
Munnar
Thekkady
Kumarakom
Alleppey
Alappuzha
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai, where we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Standard check in is from 12:00 – early check in is subject to room availability. The rest of the day is free for you to relax after your flight, or you could head out for an initial look at the city’s vibrant scene, from shopping areas and theatres to music, restaurants, nightclubs and discotheques. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Mumbai
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the Gateway of India and cruise by motorboat to the Elephanta Caves – closed on Mondays. A flight of around 100 steps leads up the hill to this complex of ancient rock cut temples. In the afternoon we cruise back to the Gateway of India and begin a city tour, driving along Marine Drive and past the Maharashtra State Assembly – view from the outside – and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – view from the outside. We visit Dhobi Ghat, the Prince of Wales Museum – closed on Mondays – Mani Bhawan, from where Gandhi launched key independence movements, and Mount Mary Church – the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount – originally built in 1640 and rebuilt in 1761. In the evening we visit the ISKCON Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna. If time permits, we also drive through Bandra and Juhu for exterior views of several Bollywood celebrity homes, including those of Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 - Mumbai - Ellora - Daulatabad
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Aurangabad. On arrival, we’re met and driven to the hotel. Later, we visit the Ellora Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site (closed Tuesdays) – home to 34 rock cut monasteries and temples dating from AD 600 to 1000, representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions, with remarkable stonework linked to Lord Shiva. We then visit the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, regarded as the twelfth Jyotirlinga in Shaivism. On the return, we stop at Daulatabad Fort to view its formidable defences, including double and even triple walls. Overnight in Aurangabad.
Day 4 - Aurangabad - Ajanta
After breakfast, we drive from Aurangabad to the Ajanta Caves – 105 kilometres, approximately two hours each way – for a visit (closed on Mondays). Carved between about 200 BC and AD 650, these 30 Buddhist caves preserve notable sculptures and murals depicting the life of the Buddha and his previous lives. Five are chaityas – places of worship – and twenty five are viharas – monasteries. Older than Ellora, Ajanta was mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang and rediscovered by British officers in 1819.We then return to Aurangabad to visit Bibi ka Maqbara, built by Azam Shah in 1678 as a tribute to his mother and often called the mini Taj of the Deccan for its similar design, set within landscaped gardens with ponds, fountains and water channels. We also see Panchakki, the historic water mill powered by an underground channel sourced about 6 kilometres away in the mountains, with an artificial waterfall driving the mill to grind grain for pilgrims. Overnight in Aurangabad.
Day 5 - Aurangabad - Mumbai
After breakfast we transfer to Aurangabad airport for the flight to Cochin via Mumbai. On arrival in Cochin we meet you and transfer to your hotel. In the evening we enjoy a Kathakali dance performance – one of India’s classical art forms, known for its elaborate costumes, expressive makeup and masks that intensify the drama. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 - Kochi
After breakfast we explore Cochin, taking in Fort Cochin’s Chinese fishing nets, its shoreline and historic architecture. We visit St Francis Church, the 1568 Jewish Synagogue in Mattancherry, and Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace noted for its Kerala temple murals, exhibits and portraits. If time allows, you can also visit Hill Palace Museum – Kerala’s largest archaeological and heritage museum – as well as Bolgatty Palace, now a heritage hotel, and Willingdon Island with its pleasant walkways and jetties.In the afternoon we drive to Munnar – around 140 km and approximately 4 hours – and check in at the hotel. Once a British-era summer retreat, Munnar is known for its cool climate, tea estates, hills, lakes and forested slopes. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 - Munnar
After breakfast, we head to Pothamedu for wide views over tea, coffee and cardamom plantations – the rolling hills here are ideal for trekking and long mountain walks if you wish. We continue to Mattupetty Dam and its reservoir – a concrete gravity dam built between the hill ranges and used mainly for hydroelectric water storage. We then visit Eravikulam National Park, established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr; the species can be observed at close quarters here. Later, we stop at the Mattupetty Dairy Farm – part of the Indo–Swiss Livestock Project – before visiting Echo Point, where you can call out and hear your voice return. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Munnar
Munnar – Thekkady (110 km – around 3 hours). After breakfast, we drive to Thekkady, stopping en route at Ramakkalmedu. The site takes its name from footprints on the rock believed to be those of Rama from the Ramayana. It is known for hilltop views across villages in Tamil Nadu to the east of the Western Ghats, a striking pillar-like rock about 300 m high and strong winds – there is also a wind farm here. Nearby features include Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and Kerala’s highest twin statue, Kuravan and Kurathi.On arrival in Thekkady, we check in to the hotel, then take a spice plantation tour to see cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee and tea. You may wish to browse the local market for fragrant spices. The rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 - Thekkady
After breakfast in Thekkady, we visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary by boat, gliding across its lake to view the surrounding evergreen and deciduous forests. The reserve is home to elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tigers and wild boar, along with snakes including cobras, vipers and kraits, and birdlife such as grey junglefowl, Malabar grey hornbills, woodpeckers and bulbuls. In the afternoon we drive to Kumarakom – about 140 km and roughly 4 hours – and check in to a backwater resort for the night.
Day 10 - Kumarakom
After breakfast, we transfer from Kumarakom to the Alleppey boat jetty and board a traditional houseboat for a leisurely cruise through Kerala’s backwaters. As we sail past palm‑lined canals, paddy fields and neat village hamlets, we may also see Chinese fishing nets along the way. Look out for ducks and small waterbirds skimming the banks. You can try fishing from the houseboat if you wish. Later, we unwind on the sun deck and watch the sunset over the waterways.Your houseboat has electricity, a combined sitting and dining area, a separate bedroom with attached English toilet, a sun deck and a fully equipped kitchen staffed by a chef, with a driver on board. Lunch and dinner are served on board – we spend the night on the houseboat.
Day 11 - Alleppey - Kochi - Kochi
Alleppey – Cochin (60 km – approx. 1 hour 30 minutes) After breakfast we disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport for your onward flight.
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Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
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Prices & Dates
The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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