Kochi to Goa Malabar Coast
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Start in Kochi and end in Goa on a nine day journey along India’s Konkan coast – a blend of heritage, backwaters and beaches. In Kochi you’ll explore Fort Kochi’s church, synagogue and palace, glide on Alleppey’s backwaters, and catch Kathakali and Kalaripayattu shows. Trace the Malabar story via Guruvayur’s temple, Kozhikode’s spice legacy and Beypore’s dhow yards. Call at Thalassery, Kannur and Bekal for forts and views, then admire Mangalore’s St Aloysius Chapel. Continue to Udupi and laid back Gokarna, via Karwar, before Goa delivers UNESCO listed churches, Fontainhas’ colourful lanes, temples and time to unwind on the sand.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
9 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
KochiEnds
GoaMinimum 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
R 41 650,00
R 9 999,00
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
Kochi
Cochin
Kochi (Cochin)
Alleppey
Alappuzha
Guruvayoor
Kozhikode
Guruvayur
Thalassery
Kannur
Bekal
Mangalore
Udupi
Gokarna
Karwar
Goa
Goa Velha
Ponda
Panjim
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Kochi
On arrival at Kochi (Cochin) airport, we’ll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Later, we explore Kochi’s historic monuments on a guided city tour, including St Francis Church – the first European church built in India – the Paradesi Synagogue – the oldest in the Commonwealth – and Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese and gifted to the Kochi Maharaja. In the evening, you can opt for a harbour cruise on the backwaters, or attend a Kathakali performance – Kerala’s classical dance‑drama – or a Kalaripayattu show, the state’s traditional martial art, at a local theatre. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Kochi
After breakfast we drive 60 km – about 1 hour – from Kochi to Alleppey, a classic backwater town often called the Venice of the East for its network of canals, backwaters and lagoons where boats are the main way to get around. Alleppey also leads in coconut fibre production, making floor mats, coir ropes and handicrafts. We board a comfortable houseboat with double or twin cabins, attached bathrooms, running water and a lounge, then cruise for around 4 hours through scenic waterways, passing areas where farming is carried out below sea level. Lunch is served on board. Later we switch to a shikara boat for a 1 hour ride along narrow canals before returning to Kochi in the evening. You have the rest of the day free to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Kochi - Guruvayoor - Beypore
Kochi – Guruvayur – Kozhikode (190 km – around 4 hours) After breakfast, we drive to Kozhikode, stopping en route in Guruvayur, a major pilgrimage town centred on the centuries old, red roofed Guruvayur Temple, where Hindu devotees make offerings of fruit, spices or coins, often equivalent to their own weight. Nearby landmarks include Mammiyur Mahadeva Temple, with shrines to Vishnu and Shiva, and St Thomas Church, believed to have been established in AD 52. We continue to Kozhikode (Calicut) – once the seat of the Zamorins and an important Malabar spice port – and check in at the hotel. Kozhikode lies close to Kappad Beach, where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498, and the central beach, overlooked by an old lighthouse, is a popular place to watch the sunset. Inland, tree lined Mananchira Square surrounds the Mananchira Tank with its musical fountain. You can also visit traditional training houses to witness Kalaripayattu, or head a few kilometres to Beypore to see wooden Arabian dhows being built. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 - Kozhikode - Thalassery - Kannur - Bekal - Mangalore - Kanhangad
After breakfast we drive Kozhikode – Thalassery – Kannur – Bekal – Mangalore, covering about 250 km – roughly 5 hours – with visits en route. In Thalassery we explore the sea-facing Thalassery Fort, a reminder of the town’s strategic role in British India. Continuing to Kannur, we visit the 16th‑century St. Angelo Fort and the Arakkal Museum, which highlights Kerala’s only Muslim royal family. We then reach Bekal Fort, where the ramparts appear to rise from the sea – almost three quarters of the exterior meets the water. Though never an administrative centre and without a palace, the fort features a water tank, magazine and steps to an observation tower built by Tipu Sultan, offering wide views over Kanhangad, Pallikkara, Bekal, Kottikkulam and Uduma.We continue to Mangalore and check in at the hotel. Later we visit St. Aloysius Chapel at St. Aloysius College, its interior completely hand‑painted by Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899. For preservation, the doors and windows remain closed and photography is not permitted. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 - Mangalore - Udupi - Mahabaleshwar
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive from Mangalore to Gokarna – a journey of about 235 km taking roughly five hours – with a stop in Udupi. Here we visit the 13th century Sri Krishna Temple, which houses a revered statue of Lord Krishna, and the nearby Anantheshwara Temple dedicated to Shiva. We also visit the Corporation Bank Heritage Museum, which displays coins dating from 400 BC along with stamps and exhibits on India’s banking industry. We then continue to Gokarna, a holy temple town on the west coast, and check in at the hotel. The Mahabaleshwar Temple is a major pilgrimage centre and a visit to Gokarna is considered holy for Hindus. Gokarna Beach is known for its hippy vibe. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 - Gokarna - Karwar
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive from Gokarna to Goa via Karwar – approximately 235 km, around 5 hours. En route we stop in Karwar, a port city in Karnataka, to visit the INS Chapal (K94) Warship Museum – housed in a former missile boat with exhibits on the 1971 Indo–Pakistani War – and the hilltop Sadashivgad Fort, which includes a Durga temple and views over the Kali River and the Arabian Sea. We then continue along the Konkan coast to Goa and check in at the hotel. Goa’s Indo‑Portuguese heritage – the region remained under Portuguese rule until 1961 – sits alongside coconut‑fringed beaches and lively dining and nightlife in the north, while the south is typically quieter and more rural. Goan cuisine is distinctive, with specialities such as vindaloo and cafreal, fish curry rice, cashew feni and the dessert bebinca. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 - Goa
GoaAfter breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a full-day tour of Old Goa and Panjim. We visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus – a World Heritage site famed for the preserved mortal remains of St Francis Xavier – and Se Cathedral, dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria, noted for its giant bells and striking architecture. We continue to the Church of St Francis of Assisi, built between 1517 and 1521 with an architectural blend of Hindu and Christian elements, and the atmospheric St Augustine ruins, where a 46 metres high tower from 1602 still stands beside the former convent site. In Panjim, we stop at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, one of Goa’s most recognisable landmarks and among the earliest churches built in the state. We then take a guided walk through Fontainhas, the colourful Latin Quarter near Ourem Creek, where Portuguese-era houses line narrow lanes and the Hindu Brahmins of Mala live alongside Goan Christians; many buildings are now heritage hotels and cafés, while others remain family homes. You can also enjoy views of the quarter from a terrace café at a heritage hotel, which preserves period rosewood furniture and century-old whisky bottles. The rest of the time is free – you can relax on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Goa
Goa Breakfast at the hotel, then we explore South Goa’s temples around Ponda – Sri Bhagawati Temple, believed to be over 500 years old and dedicated to Goddess Ashtabhuja, with a grand entrance flanked by elephant statues; Shri Shantadurga Temple, dedicated to the peaceful form of Goddess Durga and set amid scenic landscapes; and Shri Mangesh Temple, a revered shrine to Lord Shiva that reflects traditional Hindu temple architecture. After the visits, we take a coastal drive – stopping at a few of Goa’s famous beaches. The rest of the day is free – you can unwind on the sand or relax back at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 - Goa
After breakfast at the hotel, we arrange your transfer to Goa airport in line with your flight schedule for your onward flight.
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Tour Reviews
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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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