Kerala

Essential Kerala (6 Days / 5 Nights)

6D / 5N

A 6-day essential Kerala circuit — the tea hills of Munnar, Periyar wildlife at Thekkady, an overnight Alleppey houseboat, and colonial Cochin. 6 Days / 5 Nights — Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Cochin.

A Kathakali performer donning traditional attire and face makeup backstage, capturing the essence of Indian classical dance.

Duration: 6 days / 5 nights

Overview

Experience the essential Kerala on this six-day journey through hills, wildlife and backwaters. From the tea gardens of Munnar and the Periyar sanctuary at Thekkady to an overnight houseboat cruise on the Alleppey backwaters and the colonial streets of Fort Cochin, this itinerary distils the state’s highlights into five memorable nights.

Designed for travellers who want a rich Kerala experience without a long itinerary, the route balances scenery, wildlife and culture at an easy pace.

Trip Highlights

Tea gardens, Eravikulam National Park and Mattupetty Dam in Munnar
Wildlife boat cruise on Periyar Lake at Thekkady
Overnight houseboat cruise through the Alleppey backwaters
Colonial Fort Cochin, Chinese fishing nets and the Paradesi Synagogue
Scenic Western Ghats drive past Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls

Tea estates on the hillsides around Munnar

Day 01

Itinerary

Day 01

Arrival Cochin –Munnar

(Approx. 130 km|| 4 hrs.) Welcome to God’s own Country. On arrival, our representative will greet you at Cochin Airport and transfer to Munnar. Munnar is the entryway to the Hills in South India. This small town in the Western Ghats of Kerala is renowned for its picture book towns, the mist-clad rolling hills, sprawling tea gardens, wildlife sanctuaries and above all the climate, which make it the most desired traveler destination in India today. Enroute you can also watch the lovely waterfalls of Cheeyappara & Valara and Spice Plantation. Later reach and check-in to the hotel

Stay: Munnar

Day 02

Munnar

After breakfast proceed for Munnar sightseeing covering Eravikulam national park, Mattupetty dam Kundala Dam where you can enjoy boating through the reservoir flanked with tea garden on one side and boundless Grassland on the other. The Echo Point, renowned for its echo phenomenon is a popular stopping point for the tourists. Then visit Tea Museum, etc.

Stay: Munnar

Day 03

Munnar – Thekkady

(Approx. 100 km|| 3 hrs.) After breakfast check out your hotel and drive towards Thekkady. Thekkady offers diverse attractions wildlife sanctuary, hill station and a spice plantation. Therefore, it’s was very popular among nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Reach and check in at the hotel. Freshen up and unwind with comforts of your room. Later drive to Periyar National Park that’s the most attractive feature of Thekkady. Enjoy a wildlife cruise over the Periyar Lake to see wild life animals. You may also enjoy other delightful and thrilling activities like spice plantation tour, bamboo rafting, jungle trekking and elephant rides. Don’t forget to make a visit to local spice market for buying handicrafts and some garden-fresh spices.

Stay: Thekkady

Day 04

Thekkady–Alleppey

Tranquil Kerala backwaters with houseboats and palm trees at sunrise.

(Approx. 150 km|| 4 hrs.) After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and check in to Houseboat for an overnight cruise. Cruise through the palm fringed canals; watch the Paddy fields, village folk, relax on board hearing lullaby of the wind & waves. This mysterious strip of emerald green land is stuffed with endless miles of placid backwaters that appends to its charm. Cruise till 6 in the evening by then the houseboat halts in the lake for overnight stay.

Stay: Houseboat

Day 05

Alleppey – Cochin

(Approx. 60 km|| 2 hrs) After the breakfast, check-out from the houseboat and transfer to Cochin. Then do Cochin sightseeing covering, Fort Cochin, Dutch Palace, Jewish Street, Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing, Tripunithura Hill palace, Folklore Museum, Marine drive etc.

Stay: Cochin

Day 06

Cochin Departure

After breakfast checkout from hotel and transfer to Trivandrum airport

How this price works

Now From ₹13,800 — per person on twin sharing basis.
Valid for travel between 1 Oct 2026 and 31 Mar 2027.

What’s Included

Accommodation for 05 Nights
Daily breakfast and dinner at hotel
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Houseboat (Deluxe Houseboat AC Timings from 21:00 to 6 am || Premium Houseboat Full time AC)
All transfers & surface travel by AC Standard Vehicle
All parking, Toll Taxes & State taxes.

What’s Excluded

Any Flight/train ticket
Any entry charges to monuments, park etc that not mentioned in the inclusions.
Guide charges, Tips etc.
Any personal expense

Tour cost per person on twin sharing basis

Valid from 1st October 2026 to 31st March 2027

No of pax	3* Budget	3* Deluxe	4*	4* Premium	5*	5* Premium
02	INR 20,000	INR 21,000	INR 23,500	INR 30,400	INR 32,800	INR 35,000
04	INR 15,100	INR 16,900	INR 19,500	INR 25,200	INR 27,600	INR 31,000
06	INR 14,700	INR 16,500	INR 19,000	INR 24,500	INR 26,900	INR 30,100
08	INR 14,500	INR 16,400	INR 18,900	INR 24,200	INR 26,500	INR 29,900
10	INR 13,800	INR 15,700	INR 18,100	INR 23,500	INR 25,800	INR 29,000
Child with Bed	INR 6,000	INR 7,000	INR 7,500	INR 9,500	INR 10,000	INR 13,900
Child without Bed	INR 5,000	INR 6,000	INR 6,300	INR 6,700	INR 7,900	INR 12,300

Tour cost per person on twin sharing basis

Valid from 5th November 2026 to 20th November 2026

No of pax	3* Budget	3* Deluxe	4*	4* Premium	5*	5* Premium
02	INR 21,500	INR 23,800	INR 25,200	INR 31,900	INR 34,800	INR 49,500
04	INR 17,800	INR 20,200	INR 21,600	INR 27,700	INR 30,600	INR 45,200
06	INR 17,100	INR 19,600	INR 20,900	INR 26,500	INR 29,500	INR 46,900
08	INR 17,000	INR 19,500	INR 20,800	INR 26,400	INR 29,400	INR 43,800
10	INR 16,300	INR 18,700	INR 19,700	INR 25,600	INR 28,500	INR 43,100
Child with Bed	INR 5,800	INR 7,500	INR 7,800	INR 10,000	INR 10,600	INR 11,300
Child without Bed	INR 5,300	INR 6,500	INR 6,000	INR 8,000	INR 9,200	INR 10,800

Tour cost per person on twin sharing basis

Valid from 20th December 2026 to 05th January 2027

No of pax	3* Budget	3* Deluxe	4*	4* Premium	5*
02	INR 27,300	INR 30,000	INR 32,600	INR 39,500	INR 42,500
04	INR 21,300	INR 23,700	INR 26,500	INR 33,000	INR 36,500
06	INR 20,700	INR 23,300	INR 26,200	INR 32,600	INR 36,000
08	INR 21,300	INR 23,500	INR 26,500	INR 33,000	INR 36,400
10	INR 20,400	INR 22,800	INR 25,700	INR 32,200	INR 35,500
CHILD WITH BED	INR 6,900	INR 8,300	INR 8,500	INR 10,300	INR 11,000
CHILD WITHOUT BED	INR 5,600	INR 7,200	INR 6,900	INR 8,300	INR 9,400

Hotels Used

Destination	3* Budget	3* Deluxe	4*	4* Premium	5*	5* Premium
Munnar	At Woods Resort	Arbour Resort/ Aurum/ Heaven inn/ Hill view Resort / C7 Resort	Maximunnar T & U Leisure Hotel/ East End / Clouds Valley / Elysium Garden	Leaf Munnar/ Fog/ Golden Munnar Palace	Amber Dales Luxury Resort & Spa/ Sprise Resort	Grand Cliff Resort Chandys windy woods / Fragrance Nature / Vibe Resort / Blanket Resort / The Tall Trees Lemonte Forte / Valle Resort
Thekkady	The Patio/	Jungle Park	Coffee Routes/ Pepper Vine / Holiday vista / Treetop Resort	Serene Horizon	The Elephant Court	Spice Village/ Cadamom County By Xandari / Greenwoods Resort
Alleppey	Deluxe Houseboat	Deluxe Houseboat	Deluxe Houseboat	Premium Houseboat	Premium Houseboat	Premium Houseboat
Cochin	Broad Bean Hotel	Seaking Suites	Luxo Kochi/ Abad Attrium/ PGS Vedanada / Travancore court	Olive Downtown/ Casino Hotel	Holiday Inn / Ramada Resort	Crowne Plaza/ Taj Vivanta

Please Note

Rate for Child less than 05 years is complimentary

FAQ

How is Essential Kerala different from the Best of Kerala tour?

Essential Kerala is a shorter six-day circuit covering Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Cochin. The Best of Kerala tour adds Kovalam and Trivandrum for a fuller eight-day experience.

Is the houseboat private or shared?

The overnight Alleppey houseboat is private to your group, with breakfast, lunch and dinner on board. Deluxe boats run AC from 21:00 to 06:00; premium and luxury boats offer full-time AC.

What is the best time to visit?

October to March is the most comfortable season. The monsoon (June to September) is lush and green and especially atmospheric for a houseboat cruise.

Is airfare included?

No. Airfare and train tickets are excluded. The package covers all ground arrangements from Cochin back to Cochin.

How do I get a quote?

This is a price-on-request package. Share your dates, group size and hotel category and our consultants will respond with a personalised quote within 24 hours.