A TRIPSTER SIGNATURE JOURNEY
Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days
Munnar’s tea country, Thekkady and an overnight backwater stay in one classic route.
A LITTLE CLOSER
The journey, at a glance.
Munnar’s tea country, Thekkady and an overnight backwater stay in one classic route.
Kerala brings a remarkable variety of landscapes into one journey. Move from Kochi’s coastal heritage to Munnar’s tea country, pause near Thekkady’s green hills and finish beside the backwaters or the beach. A slower route lets each place feel distinct.
This 5-night journey is planned for family stories, with the route and pace described below. Accommodation choices, exact activity arrangements and final availability are confirmed in your personalised quotation. Prices shown are indicative per person on twin sharing.
The moments to look forward to
- Into tea country
- The hills around Munnar
- Through the hills to Thekkady
- A night on the backwaters
One day at a time.
DAY 01A coastal welcome in Kochi
Arrive in Kochi and transfer to your hotel. Keep the first evening gentle, with suggestions for a waterfront walk and local food. A waterfront stroll or relaxed dinner is enough for the first evening. The larger heritage circuit can wait until you have settled into the coastal city. Your confirmed arrival instructions will name the pickup point and hotel; timing depends on your actual flight or train and local traffic.
DAY 02Into tea country
Travel from Kochi to Munnar, allowing time for the climb into the hills and selected roadside views. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the change in air and scenery. The road rises gradually into tea-growing country. A realistic drive with occasional views is more enjoyable than scheduling a full sightseeing day on arrival. Your final route will state the overnight base, transport arrangement, and any agreed stop, with a realistic allowance for the journey.
DAY 03The hills around Munnar
Discover tea-country landscapes and the local visits listed in your quotation. Stops are chosen around current access, weather and your preferred walking pace. Munnar’s appeal lies in the shape of the hills as much as any single attraction. Walking and viewpoint stops can be adjusted to weather and comfort. The final visiting order, transport, admission fees, and time at each stop will be clear in your written quotation for your chosen dates.
DAY 04Through the hills to Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady and enjoy an agreed spice-garden introduction where available. Keep the afternoon calm after the journey. This is a change from open tea slopes to spice and forest country. Keep the introduction short so the afternoon after arrival remains comfortable. Your final route will state the overnight base, transport arrangement, and any agreed stop, with a realistic allowance for the journey.
DAY 05A night on the backwaters
Transfer to your boarding point and settle into your selected houseboat. Cruise during the vessel’s permitted operating hours, then enjoy a moored evening with meals as confirmed. A houseboat day follows permitted cruising hours, with a quieter evening at mooring. Confirm vessel category, cabin, boarding point, and meals before booking. The final visiting order, transport, admission fees, and time at each stop will be clear in your written quotation for your chosen dates.
DAY 06Until next time, Kerala
After breakfast, transfer to Kochi airport or your confirmed onward departure point. Pickup is planned around the distance from your final stay. Transfers from the backwaters or hills can take longer than from central Kochi. The final hotel and departure time shape your pickup. We will confirm the pickup time, departure point, and any final meal arrangements once your onward travel details are known.
We’ve thought of this
5 nights of accommodation on twin sharing
Breakfast on hotel mornings
Arrival and departure transfers at the points listed in the itinerary
Road transfers between the overnight bases listed
Guided visits and local experiences as specified in the confirmed quotation
Houseboat or cruise accommodation only on itineraries that include an overnight sailing
A few things to plan for
Flights, railway tickets and travel insurance
Meals not listed in the confirmed quotation
Optional experiences, paid upgrades and personal expenses
Monument admissions, permits and local sightseeing vehicles unless explicitly itemised as included
Applicable taxes and levies unless specified in your written quotation
Your home along the way
Comfortable, well-located hotels or characterful local stays in Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha houseboat. Specific properties, room types, meal plans and any cruise, camp or houseboat category are confirmed before booking.
Good to know.
Can I tailor Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days is a 5-night starting itinerary in Kerala. The route features Into tea country, The hills around Munnar, Through the hills to Thekkady. We can change the pace, hotel standard and optional experiences after checking road times and availability. Your revised quotation will identify the overnight bases, included visits, transfers and any change in price before you book.
Where will I stay on Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
This 5-night route uses Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha houseboat as its overnight bases. The website describes the style of stay, while your personalised quotation confirms the actual properties, room category, meal plan and any special accommodation before payment.
Which experiences are planned on Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
The route features Into tea country, The hills around Munnar, Through the hills to Thekkady. The day-by-day itinerary explains the intended sequence. Some visits use timed tickets, local guides, special vehicles or permits. We will state which are confirmed and included in your written quotation; optional experiences remain separate unless listed.
Are flights and travel documents included in Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
Flights, rail tickets and travel insurance are excluded unless your written quotation explicitly includes them. For this Kerala journey, check the arrival and departure points we specify, then verify the identification and entry requirements relevant to your own travel documents with official authorities.
Can I choose dates for Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
Yes. Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days is a starting plan for a 5-night holiday, with dates tailored to your group. Your selected dates are an enquiry, not a live reservation. We check availability for the Kochi and Munnar and Thekkady and Alappuzha houseboat stays, transport and any timed activities before giving you a final quote.
What if plans change during Kerala: Hills & Houseboat Days?+
Houseboat cruising hours, vessel category and meal arrangements are stated in your quotation. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and outdoor activities follow local conditions. Weather, road or operator changes may affect the order of visits. Your booking terms will explain any amendment or cancellation charges before payment, and the local contact details in your travel documents are there if a confirmed service changes during the trip.