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Raasta
A traditional kettuvallam houseboat on the palm-lined backwaters of Alappuzha

Journey No. 03South-west India

KeralaSpice Hills to Backwaters

Trade mountain mist for coconut-lined waterways.

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Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Route
Kochi → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey
Starting from
₹36,500per person
Best time
September to March

01The short version

Seven days.From misted tea hillsdown to coconut-lined water,at the speed of a houseboat.

Kerala rewards people who slow down. This journey begins in the old port of Kochi, climbs into cool tea and spice hills, and ends on the backwaters — a world of narrow canals, paddy fields below the waterline and village life seen from the deck of a houseboat.

Highlights

  • Fort Kochi
  • Tea plantations
  • Munnar
  • Spice gardens
  • Thekkady
  • Kerala cuisine
  • Houseboat
  • Alleppey backwaters

02The route

4 stops. One unbroken line.

Starts in Kochi, ends in Kochi. The road gets quieter with every stop.

  1. 01 · Day 1

    Kochi

    Where the spice routes met

  2. 02 · Days 2–3

    Munnar

    Tea country

  3. 03 · Days 4–5

    Thekkady

    Spice gardens

  4. 04 · Days 6–7

    Alleppey

    The backwaters

03The itinerary

The story of your journey, one day at a time.

Every day can bend: slower mornings, extra nights, a detour you hear about on the road. This is the shape of it.

  1. Chinese fishing nets silhouetted at sunset on the Kochi waterfront

    Kochi

    Day 1 of 7, Arrive: Fort Kochi on foot

    Begin where Kerala has always met the world. Walk Fort Kochi's lanes — Portuguese churches, Dutch bungalows, Jew Town's spice warehouses and street art on old walls — and finish at the Chinese fishing nets as the sun goes down.

    • Heritage walk with a local historian
    • Sunset at the fishing nets

    Overnight: Fort Kochi

  2. Mist settling over the forested hills around Munnar

    Kochi → Munnar

    Day 2 of 7, Climb: Into the high ranges

    The road climbs out of the coconut palms past waterfalls and cardamom forest. By afternoon the air has cooled and the hills of Munnar appear, every slope combed into neat green rows of tea.

    • Scenic ghat road
    • Waterfall stops

    Overnight: Munnar

  3. Rolling tea plantations under a warm orange sunrise in Munnar

    Tea country

    Day 3 of 7, Wander: Some views are worth missing breakfast for

    Rise early for a viewpoint above the clouds, then walk through the plantations with a local guide. Visit a tea factory, taste fresh leaf, and learn why the best cup is often the simplest one.

    • Sunrise viewpoint
    • Plantation walk
    • Tea tasting

    Overnight: Munnar

  4. A Kathakali performer in green face paint and an ornate headdress

    Munnar → Thekkady

    Day 4 of 7, Descend: Into spice country

    Wind down through estates of cardamom and pepper to Thekkady, on the edge of Periyar. The evening is for a Kathakali performance — painted faces, thundering drums and astonishing control.

    • Cardamom estate stop
    • Kathakali performance

    Overnight: Thekkady

  5. A close-up of fresh green peppercorns on the vine in Kerala

    Thekkady

    Day 5 of 7, Taste: A spice garden morning

    Walk a family spice garden where pepper vines climb the trees and cinnamon is peeled from the bark. Take a boat or a guided forest walk in Periyar, then cook a Kerala meal with your hosts.

    • Spice garden walk
    • Periyar boat or nature walk
    • Home cooking session

    Overnight: Thekkady

  6. A traditional kettuvallam houseboat on the palm-lined backwaters of Alappuzha

    Alleppey

    Day 6 of 7, Float: A day on the backwaters

    Board a traditional kettuvallam and drift through Alleppey's backwaters — past paddy fields below the waterline, village churches and kingfishers on the wires. Lunch is cooked on board. Tonight, you sleep on the water.

    • Private houseboat with crew
    • All meals on board

    Overnight: Houseboat

  7. A boatman poling a canoe along the Kerala backwaters

    The backwaters

    Day 7 of 7, Linger: Mist on the water

    Wake to mist lifting off the water and the sounds of a village beginning its day. A last canoe ride through the narrow canals, then the drive back to Kochi for your onward journey.

    • Sunrise canoe ride
    • Transfer to Kochi

04What you'll remember

Long after the photos are sorted, these stay.

  • Fresh tea leaves covered in morning dew in Munnar
    Tea in the mountainsFresh leaf, cool air and a cup made by the people who grew it.
  • Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets over the water in Kochi
    Nets against the sunsetKochi's cantilevered fishing nets, rising and falling at dusk.
  • A houseboat silhouetted against a red sunset over the backwaters at Kumarakom
    A night on the backwatersDinner on deck while the sky burns red over the water.
  • An aerial view of a boat on a narrow canal through dense coconut groves in Alleppey
    The canals from aboveA thread of water through an ocean of palms.

05The gallery

Kerala, in 12 frames.

Tap any photograph to see it full screen.

06The fine print, beautifully

What's in the bag. What isn't.

Included

  • Handpicked boutique, heritage and homestay accommodation throughout
  • Daily breakfast, plus the special dinners noted in the itinerary
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced local driver
  • Local guides for the walks and experiences listed
  • Entry fees to the monuments and sites listed in the itinerary
  • Airport or railway station transfers on arrival and departure
  • A dedicated trip designer before you go and 24/7 support on the road
  • One night on a private houseboat with all meals
  • Kathakali performance tickets
  • Home-cooking session in Thekkady

Not included

  • Flights or trains to the start and from the end of the journey
  • Lunches and dinners unless mentioned
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Camera fees, tips and personal expenses
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
  • Applicable taxes — confirmed in your personalised quote

Starting from

₹36,500 per person

Demo price, based on two travelling together. Excludes flights. Final inclusions and price are confirmed in your personalised quote.

07Trip personality

Is this your kind of trip?

  • Pace

    1 out of 5 (Unhurried to On the move)

  • Adventure

    2 out of 5 (Gentle to Thrilling)

  • Culture

    3 out of 5 (Light to Immersive)

  • Nature

    5 out of 5 (Towns & cities to Wild)

  • Comfort

    4 out of 5 (Rustic to Polished)

Good to know

  • Best timeSeptember to March; June to August for green monsoon landscapes

  • Group size2–12 travellers, or completely private

  • Starts / endsKochi

7 Days / 6 Nights · Kerala

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