Kerala Backwaters & Houseboat Escape
Cochin, Munnar's tea hills, Thekkady wildlife and a luxury houseboat in Alleppey.
Overview
A perfectly paced South Indian escape. Begin in colonial Fort Kochi, wind up to Munnar's emerald tea estates, spot elephants in Periyar and end with a private overnight on a premium houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters. Curated by Travel Mantra with handpicked boutique stays and an English-speaking chauffeur throughout.
Highlights
- Premium 1-bedroom houseboat with chef on-board
- Private tea-trail walk with a planter in Munnar
- Periyar boat safari with naturalist
- Kathakali & Kalaripayattu evening performance
- All transfers in a private SUV
Day-wise itinerary
- 1
Day 1: Arrive Cochin — Fort Kochi heritage
Pickup from Cochin airport. Heritage walk through Fort Kochi—Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Jew Town. Sunset Kathakali show. Overnight at Brunton Boatyard.
- 2
Day 2: Cochin → Munnar (4 hrs)
Drive up to Munnar via Cheeyappara waterfalls. Check in at a tea-estate bungalow. Evening at leisure with hill views.
- 3
Day 3: Munnar tea & spice trails
Private tea-plantation walk with a planter, visit Tata Tea Museum, Mattupetty dam and Echo Point.
- 4
Day 4: Munnar → Thekkady (3 hrs)
Drive to Thekkady. Periyar Lake boat safari, spice garden walk and a traditional Kalaripayattu martial-arts performance in the evening.
- 5
Day 5: Thekkady → Alleppey houseboat
Drive to Alleppey (4 hrs). Board your premium houseboat. Sail through emerald canals with onboard chef serving fresh Kerala lunch and dinner. Overnight on the backwaters.
- 6
Day 6: Disembark & departure
Sunrise on the backwaters, breakfast on board, disembark at 09:00. Drive to Cochin airport (1.5 hrs) for your onward flight.
Inclusions
- 5 nights' accommodation in 4★ boutique stays
- Daily breakfast & 4 specialty dinners
- Private AC SUV with chauffeur
- All sightseeing & monument entries
- Houseboat with all meals on-board
- GST and tolls
Exclusions
- Airfare to/from Cochin
- Personal expenses, tips & laundry
- Travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
