Kerala backwaters houseboat cruise, Alleppey South India

South India Highlight

14-Day Kerala & South India Tour

Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Kovalam · Pondicherry

Starting from

$1,900 / person

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14 Days / 13 Nights
Private or Group
Difficulty: Easy
Starts in Kochi

Tour Overview

South India is a completely different world from the north — lush, green, slower-paced, and deeply spiritual. This 14-day journey takes you from the colonial waterways of Fort Kochi, up into the misty tea estates of Munnar, through the wildlife of Periyar, onto the legendary Kerala backwaters for a private houseboat night, down to the beaches of Kovalam, and finally to the French colonial charm of Pondicherry. A Kathakali performance, an Ayurveda wellness day, and a spice plantation tour round out one of the most diverse itineraries in India.

Destinations at a Glance

Chinese fishing nets at sunset, Fort Kochi — colonial heritage of Kerala
Kochi
Munnar tea plantation hills Kerala — misty emerald landscape
Munnar
Kerala backwaters houseboat cruise at sunset, Alleppey
Alleppey Backwaters

For International Visitors

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Visa

Most nationalities can get an India e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in in 2–4 business days for $25–80.

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Flights

Fly into Kochi (COK) to start this tour. Direct or 1-stop flights from major US, UK, and European airports.

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Currency & Payment

We accept all major international cards — Visa, Mastercard, Amex — with prices in USD. No hidden currency surcharges.

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Best Time

September to March is ideal for Kerala. Post-monsoon October–November is particularly lush and beautiful.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1
Day 1: Arrive in Kochi (Cochin)
Dinner · Heritage Boutique Hotel, Fort Kochi
Airport pickup and check-in to your heritage hotel in Fort Kochi. Evening walk through the colonial quarter — Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset.
Dinner
Heritage Boutique Hotel, Fort Kochi
2
Day 2: Fort Kochi & Backwaters Introduction
Breakfast · Heritage Boutique Hotel, Fort Kochi
Morning guided tour of Fort Kochi — Mattancherry, St Francis Church (where Vasco da Gama was originally buried), and the spice trading hub. Afternoon speedboat cruise through Kochi's backwater canals.
Breakfast
Heritage Boutique Hotel, Fort Kochi
3
Day 3: Kochi to Munnar (Tea Country)
Breakfast, Lunch · 4★ Estate Bungalow, Munnar
Scenic drive up to Munnar through rubber plantations and waterfalls. Afternoon visit to a working tea factory — learn how Darjeeling and Assam teas differ from Kerala varieties. Evening walk in the tea gardens at golden hour.
Breakfast, Lunch
4★ Estate Bungalow, Munnar
4
Day 4: Munnar — Eravikulam & Spice Gardens
Breakfast, Dinner · 4★ Estate Bungalow, Munnar
Morning visit Eravikulam National Park — home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat. Afternoon tour of a cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon spice plantation with a local farmer-guide. Evening campfire dinner.
Breakfast, Dinner
4★ Estate Bungalow, Munnar
5
Day 5: Munnar to Thekkady (Periyar)
Breakfast · Jungle Lodge, Thekkady
Drive through the Cardamom Hills to Thekkady. Afternoon boat cruise on Periyar Lake inside the wildlife reserve — spot elephants, bison, and Malabar hornbills on the shore. Evening Kathakali cultural performance.
Breakfast
Jungle Lodge, Thekkady
6
Day 6: Periyar Wildlife & Bamboo Rafting
Breakfast, cooking class lunch · Jungle Lodge, Thekkady
Morning bamboo rafting through the buffer zone of Periyar Tiger Reserve with tribal guides. Afternoon cooking class — learn to make Kerala fish curry, appam, and payasam with a local family.
Breakfast, cooking class lunch
Jungle Lodge, Thekkady
7
Day 7: Thekkady to Alleppey (Houseboat)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Private Houseboat (Kerala backwaters)
Drive to the backwater town of Alleppey (Alappuzha). Board your private houseboat — your floating hotel for the night. Cruise through rice paddy canals, watching village life unfold on the banks. Sunset on the open lake. Fresh seafood dinner on board.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Private Houseboat (Kerala backwaters)
8
Day 8: Backwater Cruise & Kumarakom
Breakfast, Lunch · 5★ Backwater Resort, Kumarakom
Morning cruise deeper into the backwater network. Watch toddy-tappers climb coconut palms, birds wading in the shallows. Disembark by noon and drive to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary for a canoe tour among migratory birds.
Breakfast, Lunch
5★ Backwater Resort, Kumarakom
9
Day 9: Ayurveda Wellness Day
Breakfast, Lunch · 5★ Backwater Resort, Kumarakom
Full day at an authentic Ayurveda centre — doctor consultation, Abhyanga massage, Shirodhara treatment, and yoga session. Afternoon free for reading, swimming, or napping in a hammock. Kerala is also a retreat.
Breakfast, Lunch
5★ Backwater Resort, Kumarakom
10
Day 10: Kovalam Beach & Thiruvananthapuram
Breakfast · Cliffside Resort, Kovalam
Drive south to the capital, Thiruvananthapuram. Visit Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple (one of India's richest), Napier Museum, and Kerala handicraft emporia. Continue to Kovalam Beach — check into a cliffside resort.
Breakfast
Cliffside Resort, Kovalam
11
Day 11: Kovalam Beach Day
Breakfast · Cliffside Resort, Kovalam
Free day at Kovalam — swim, surf lessons, sunrise yoga on the beach, or simply read. Optional boat trip to a nearby fishing village for a live seafood lunch direct from the boat.
Breakfast
Cliffside Resort, Kovalam
12
Day 12: Kovalam to Pondicherry (fly/drive)
Breakfast, Dinner · French Quarter Boutique Hotel, Pondicherry
Morning flight or drive to Pondicherry — the French colonial town on India's southeast coast. Afternoon cycling tour of the French Quarter — colourful bougainvillaea-draped streets, promenade cafes, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Breakfast, Dinner
French Quarter Boutique Hotel, Pondicherry
13
Day 13: Pondicherry — Auroville & Mahabalipuram
Breakfast · French Quarter Boutique Hotel, Pondicherry
Morning visit to Auroville — the international utopian township. Afternoon drive to Mahabalipuram (UNESCO) — 7th-century rock-cut temples and stone sculptures on the Bay of Bengal shore. Sunset at Shore Temple.
Breakfast
French Quarter Boutique Hotel, Pondicherry
14
Day 14: Chennai & Departure
Breakfast · Departure
Morning drive to Chennai airport (2.5 hours). Transfer and international departure. End of a wonderful South India journey.
Breakfast
Departure

What's Included

  • 13 nights in handpicked hotels & houseboat
  • All transfers in private AC vehicle
  • English-speaking guide throughout
  • Private houseboat night (Alleppey)
  • Ayurveda wellness day
  • Kathakali performance
  • Cooking class with local family
  • Periyar Lake cruise
  • Spice plantation guided tour
  • All entry fees
  • Daily breakfast, select meals as listed
  • 24/7 YlooTrips support

Not Included

  • International flights
  • India visa fee
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal shopping & tips
  • Optional Pondicherry–Chennai flight
  • Lunches & dinners not listed
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Custom packages • EMI available

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