Six days, four very different sides of Kerala, and two of them on the water. This tour is designed for first-time visitors who want the classic Kerala experience at an easy pace.
We start in Cochin with an afternoon in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. On day 2 you drive about 5 hours into the spice hills of Thekkady, where an in-house chef shows you how Kerala cooks use the spices grown around you, and the evening ends with a Kalaripayattu martial arts show. Day 3 is for Periyar: a boat ride on the lake to spot elephants, deer and birds at the water’s edge, with an optional jungle walk, jeep safari or bamboo rafting.
Then the trip comes down to the water. Kumarakom is quiet lakeside time and bird watching on Vembanad Lake; Alleppey, just 1.5 hours away, is the busier backwater hub for canals and village life. On day 6 we drive you back to Cochin (about 2 hours) for your flight.
Here’s the list of major destinations covered in our Kerala 5 nights 6 days itinerary:
Your first afternoon is in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry: the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue, with time for the spice and handicraft shops.
Two nights in the spice hills. A cooking demo with the hotel chef and a Kalaripayattu show on day 2, then a full day at Periyar Lake, with optional jungle walks, jeep safari or bamboo rafting.
One night at a lakeside resort on Vembanad Lake, with bird watching at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and an optional Ayurveda massage at the resort.
A day cruise through canals and paddy fields, then a night on the houseboat with all meals on board. The boat cruises from noon to 5 pm, then moors for the night.
Compared with our other Kerala tours, this one swaps the Munnar tea hills for a second backwater stop (Kumarakom and Alleppey), so it suits travellers who want more relaxation and fewer long drives. If tea gardens matter to you, Incredible Kerala Tour or Classic Kerala with Jatayu include Munnar. For only 2 days, see the Overnight Houseboat Experience.
October to March is the best time for this route. The weather is pleasant for sightseeing in Cochin and Thekkady, and the backwaters of Kumarakom and Alleppey are at their most relaxing for the houseboat stay. April and May are hot and humid. From June to September the monsoon turns Kerala lush and green, but heavy rain can affect boat rides and drives.
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Arrive at Cochin and meet our representative who will meet and greet you at the airport. Get ready to explore the beautiful city of Cochin. Head to visit the famous Chinese fishing nets, St.Francis Church, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, Mattancherry, Fort Kochi Area. Return back by evening for an overnight stay at the booked hotel.
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Periyar. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Freshen up and later get ready for an interactive cooking demo with the in-house chef who will showcase the art of using spices in the food. Spend your time learning about the spices and make the most of the trip. By evening enjoy Kalaripayattu- Martial Art Show and overnight stay at the hotel.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and begin your day with a boat ride (at your own cost) in Lake Periyar. The best thing to do in Lake Periyar is a boat ride that takes you through the lush greenery of the region. You will get a unique opportunity to view colourful birds, elephants, deer and boars quenching their thirst at the river banks. After the boat ride, you can choose to go on a jeep safari (own cost) or go for an elephant safari. Periyar is one of Kerala’s most famous tourist destinations for wildlife lovers. Housing various exotic animals and bird species, Periyar is a perfect place to spend some time among nature and animals. You can enjoy other activities such as elephant rides, jungle walk, bamboo rafting and much more that will keep you enthralled all day long. Later come back to the hotel for overnight stay.
Munch in your breakfast at the hotel and later proceed to Kumarakom which is your next stop on this Kerala tour. On arrival check into the resort and later visit the famous bird sanctuary for bird watching tour where you will get to see wetland birds. Enjoy the sunset with soothing music and indulge in Ayurveda massage at the resort on a direct payment basis. Overnight Stay at the resort.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and leave for a day cruise to Alleppey. Admire the beautiful view of the backwaters of Kerala that is sure to refresh your mind and body. It is an excellent opportunity to get a closer look at the beauty of the land and learn about the village people. Watch the green paddy fields, canoes,thatched-roof houses and coconut groves while on your day cruise. Enjoy lunch, evening snacks at the day cruise and make the best of the trip. Overnight will be at Alleppey Houseboat.
Note: The Cruising time is from 12 Noon to 05.00 pm and after that, the houseboat will be parked at one place as per Govt Rules.
Have your breakfast and later meet our representative who will transfer you to Cochin airport. From there board flight for your onward destination and take home a lifetime of memories.
Tell our travel experts your preferred dates, hotel category and interests. We’ll tailor the journey and send you a personalised quote.
Great trip and blown away by the scenery. My sister and I had the most wonderful week of touring in Kerala (Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Aleppey) as arranged by Nity and Mukesh - the arrangements were perfect. Our driver Noufel was competent, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and attentive. We had a wonderful time visiting this beautiful part of India. Thank you to all. April, 2024.
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Took a one week trip through Kerala. TraEminent did an excellent job coordinating our itinerary . Prachi was very responsive setting up our itinerary and was a pleasure to work with . Our driver, Linesh, was the best. He was helpful throughout our entire journey, told us details about each location and was mindful as to how he drove. as we had young children traveling with us. Munnar and the tea plantations were the highlight of our trip and we still miss our houseboat in Allepey . Simply a wonderful and memorable trip. January, 2026.
We traveled for 20 days in India (Mumbai – Tamil Nadu – Kerala – return to Mumbai) with a private car and driver. Overall, the trip was well organized, the hotels were good and in line with our preferences, and we consider the total cost fair. The vehicle provided was a new, clean SUV, and our driver, Mr. Bijou, was outstanding: polite, discreet, punctual, always smiling, and a true professional. The local guides were also excellent, with strong knowledge of the country’s history and culture, good English skills, and great storytelling ability (in Munnar: Mr. Sujith; in Tanjavur: Mr. Thamilarassan; in Mumbai: Mr. Semeel; in Pondicherry: Mr. Sivaganesh; in Mahabalipuram: Mr. Arun; and in Madurai: Mr. Kesavan). However, we did encounter some serious issues. During a domestic flight with Indigo, a cancellation occurred due to a strike by the flight crew. The agency’s ground staff member assigned to us, Mr. Mukesh, did not answer our calls and only sent generic messages such as “don’t worry, you are in good hands, give me some time,” without providing any real assistance. Eventually, we contacted Ms. Shivani and Mr. Sunny, who acted promptly and did their best to help us by booking a new flight for the following day, unfortunately at our own expense. Additionally, in Allepey, where we had booked a one-night stay on a houseboat with one bedroom, we were informed on arrival that one of us would have to sleep on a mattress on the floor instead of having three proper beds as promised. We requested either a change of houseboat or a transfer to a hotel in Cochin. Although the agency acknowledged that this was their mistake, they asked us to cover the additional cost. As a result, almost the entire afternoon was wasted exchanging messages with the agency, without a satisfactory resolution. In conclusion, I would describe the agency as good and generally reliable, with solid organization and quality partners. However, our overall experience was negatively affected by inadequate support from specific ground staff and the handling of certain issues, which could and should have been managed more professionally. December, 2025.
TraEminent India Tours - highly recommended! Our incredible journey through India comes to an end on Nov 26 from Bengaluru. We landed in Delhi on Oct 28, travelled to Haridwar/ Rishikesh, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Shirdi, Cochin, Munnar, Tirupati, Chennai, Puttarpathi and Bengaluru - 30 days by domestic planes and cars. We’re truly grateful for the seamless arrangements and thoughtful touches that made this trip unforgettable. Credit goes to TraEminent Travel Tours. A heartfelt thank you to Shivani Sharma and her team for crafting such a memorable experience and to the amazing drivers who ensured our travels were not only safe but also comfortable and enjoyable. Their professionalism, knowledge, and warm hospitality added an extra layer of charm to our adventure. From the bustling bazaars to serene temples, every moment was enriched by the expert planning and the impeccable service provided by TraEminent. Here’s to many more journeys ahead! Ramesh, the driver in Bangalore was excellent. So was Daniel, Rajpal, Balaji and Praveen. They were really great. Thank you to Shivani and her husband. Thank you to Mukesh. November 2024
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TraEminent India crafted an unforgettable Kerala experience! T green landscpe, backwaters, beaches, and ayurveda - they nailed it 10. Highly recommended for a slice of paradise. December, 2025.
Kerala Tour Feedback – 11th to 19th September We had a wonderful Kerala tour from 11th to 19th September. Overall, we were happy with the tour package, and the hotels arranged for us were good and comfortable. We would like to thank the tour operator for organising the trip and providing a good package. We enjoyed the places we visited and the overall arrangements. we appreciate the arrangements and would like to thank the tour operator for making our Kerala trip enjoyable. September, 2026
My husband and I just returned from a ten day tour in Kerala with TraEminent. The tour was more than I could have imagined and I want to thank them for the incredible service they provided. I inquired about a tour with several highly rated companies that I found on TripAdvisor and chose TraEminent because Sunny was the most responsive and communicative from the very beginning. I'm glad I did! That responsiveness and commitment to quality extended throughout our trip; they chose excellent hotels and activities for us and replied to questions and/or concerns quickly. We were most appreciative of our driver Mr. Sudhi who very skillfully navigated chaotic city streets as well as twisting mountain roads in a way that kept us feeling safe and confident throughout. When we needed help with an extra day in Delhi, Sunny supplied great hotel and drivers for us as well. Overall, the plan with TraEminent made our trip easy and delightful. I am recommending them for my friends and relatives who now want to go to Kerala. November, 2025.
Traeminent Tours organised my 8 day trip around Kerala. We planned everything together so we could fine tune the itinerary. The accommodation was well chosen. The sites were interesting and I learned a lot about life in Kerala. My driver Fisol was excellent and made sure my holiday ran smoothly as the man on location. He went above and beyond his duties. I also asked for guides who spoke English in some locations for specific tours which helped me as an Australian. As a woman travelling alone, I felt safe and well cared for by everyone along the way. I vpukd contact the company for information whilst on tour and they replied quickly. Local knowledge was extra useful so my experience was rewarding and memorable. I would recommend this tour to others who need assistance to plan a visit to Kerala. The price is fair, the food along the way was delicious and the spice tours were great, just to name a few things. I even had time for a massage. The trip of a lifetime! March, 2026.
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