Kerala Backwaters & Hills
Tea estates, a spice plantation, an overnight houseboat and two nights by the sea — Kerala's four distinct landscapes in one unhurried loop.
Munnar (2N), Thekkady (1N), Alleppey (1N), Kovalam (2N)
Overview
- Overnight houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters with all meals
- Munnar tea estates and the Eravikulam National Park
- Periyar lake boat safari at Thekkady
- Spice plantation walk with a working planter
- Two nights at Kovalam to finish by the sea
- Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performance at Thekkady
Tea estates, a spice plantation, an overnight houseboat and two nights by the sea — Kerala's four distinct landscapes in one unhurried loop.
Kerala Backwaters & Hills runs for 6 nights and 7 days across Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam. Like every Elitech itinerary it carries no fixed departure date — tell us roughly when you want to travel and we confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
The route below is a starting point. Extend a city, change the hotel category, add a private guide or remove a sightseeing block, and we will re-cost the trip and send you a revised plan, usually within a working day.
No fixed departure dates. This itinerary is operated in the window that suits you. Tell us roughly when you can travel and we will confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
Cities covered
Best time to travel: Driest and most comfortable in the cooler months; the monsoon is dramatic, green and the traditional Ayurveda season.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days are shown in sequence, not as calendar dates — your trip runs on the days you choose.
- Day1
Arrive at Kochi, drive to Munnar
Met at Kochi airport and driven to Munnar, around four hours, stopping at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls. Check in and rest. Overnight in Munnar.
- Day2
Munnar sightseeing
Eravikulam National Park for the Nilgiri tahr, the Tea Museum, Mattupetty dam and Echo Point, finishing at Top Station for the valley view. Overnight in Munnar.
- Day3
Munnar to Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady through cardamom hills, around four hours. Afternoon boat safari on Periyar lake, followed by a spice plantation walk and an evening Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performance. Overnight in Thekkady.
- Day4
Thekkady to Alleppey houseboat
Drive down to Alleppey and board your private houseboat at noon. Cruise through the Vembanad canals past paddy fields and village life, with lunch, evening tea and dinner cooked on board. The boat moors for the night. All meals included. Overnight on the houseboat.
- Day5
Alleppey to Kovalam
Disembark after breakfast and drive south to Kovalam, around three and a half hours. Afternoon free on Lighthouse Beach. Overnight in Kovalam.
- Day6
Kovalam at leisure
A free day. Options include an Ayurvedic massage, the Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram or the Poovar backwaters by boat. Overnight in Kovalam.
- Day7
Departure
Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport for your onward flight.
What is included
We list exclusions as prominently as inclusions — nothing appears for the first time at the payment stage.
Inclusions
- Accommodation for 6 nights in the hotel category shown, on twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All transfers, sightseeing and intercity travel by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All entrance fees for the sightseeing listed in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and inter-state permits
- Assistance on arrival and a dedicated consultant reachable through the trip
- All applicable taxes on the services listed above
- Private houseboat for one night with all meals on board
- Periyar lake boat safari tickets
- Eravikulam National Park entry
- Kathakali and Kalaripayattu show tickets
- Spice plantation guided walk
Exclusions
- Airfare to and from the start and end points of the tour
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
- Lunch and dinner unless listed against a specific day
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone calls, minibar, room service and tips
- Optional excursions and activities marked as 'on request'
- Camera and video charges levied at monuments
- Any increase in government taxes or fuel surcharge after booking confirmation
- Costs arising from circumstances beyond our control — weather, roadblocks, flight rescheduling or medical evacuation
- Entry fees and camera charges at monuments not listed in the itinerary
Hotels
Properties shown as “or similar” may be substituted with an equivalent in category and location. We confirm the final property before departure.
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar | 2 | Misty Mountain Resort or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
| Thekkady | 1 | Greenwoods Resort or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
| Alleppey | 1 | Deluxe private houseboat | Houseboat |
| Kovalam | 2 | Hotel Sea Face or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
Pricing
Rates are per person and vary by occupancy, not by departure date. Your final quotation reflects hotel availability for the days you choose.
| Occupancy | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per person on twin sharing | ₹32,900 | — |
| Per person on triple sharing | ₹30,926 | — |
| Single occupancy | ₹45,402 | Private room throughout |
| Child with bed (5–11 years) | ₹26,978 | — |
| Child without bed (2–5 years) | ₹20,398 | — |
Terms, payment and cancellation
Terms & conditions
This itinerary is quoted on twin-sharing basis and is subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Hotels shown as 'or similar' may be substituted with a property of comparable category and location, and you will be informed before departure. Prices may change before confirmation due to currency movement, revised government taxes or supplier rate changes.
Sightseeing may be resequenced to suit local conditions, weather or monument closure days. Where an included attraction cannot operate for reasons beyond our control, we substitute a comparable alternative or refund the applicable component.
Payment policy
A booking amount of 25% of the package cost confirms your services, with the balance due before departure on the date stated in your booking confirmation. Where an airline or hotel requires earlier full payment, we tell you at the time of quoting.
We accept UPI, credit and debit cards, net banking and NEFT/RTGS transfer to our registered current account. We never request payment into a personal account — always verify account details by calling us before transferring.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made in writing. Standard charges apply from the date we receive your request: the booking amount is retained more than 45 days before departure, 35% between 31 and 45 days, 60% between 16 and 30 days, 80% between 8 and 15 days, and 100% within 7 days or for a no-show.
Air tickets, cruise bookings and non-refundable hotel rates follow their own supplier terms, which are stated in your quotation before payment. A visa refusal does not waive cancellation charges.