Cochin · 2 nights
Sample itinerary, we tailor it to you
About this Kerala itinerary
This is the journey we send most first-time visitors on. It moves from the old spice port of Cochin into plantation country, up into the tea hills at Munnar, across to Periyar, down onto the backwaters at Kumarakom and finally out to a fishing village beach, so you see every side of Kerala without spending your holiday in the car.
Everything below is a sample. Our team in Cochin will stretch it, shorten it, swap the hotels up or down a category and build the days around what you actually want to do.
Trip highlights
- Explore the historic port city of Cochin
- Enjoy an overnight houseboat cruise
- Visit an elephant orphanage
- Stay in a backwater resort
- Relax at a beach resort
Route & map
Where the Classic South Kerala route takes you
Cochin
2 nights
Kothamangalam
2 nights
Munnar
2 nights
Periyar
2 nights
Kumarakom
2 nights
Alleppey houseboat
1 night
Mararikulam
2 nights
Where you'll visit
Cochin, or Kochi as it is now called, is divided into Old Cochin, comprising Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, and Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala. It is the one district where you can find urban comforts on a par with other major Indian cities alongside the history of many centuries gone by.
Day by day
Your itinerary, day by day
You are welcomed by one of our representatives at the airport and driven to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over, and offers fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel, then head out for a relaxing sunset cruise in the evening.
Overnight · Cochin
Where you'll stay
Choose your comfort level
The route stays exactly the same, you are only choosing the level of hotel. Prices vary by category and your expert confirms the exact quote for the level you pick. Any individual stay can also be swapped.
Kothamangalam · 2 nights
Mundackal Estate Bungalow
Munnar · 2 nights
Ambady Estate
Periyar · 2 nights
Elephant Court
Kumarakom · 2 nights
Coconut Lagoon
Alleppey houseboat · 1 night
Hibiscus Villa
Mararikulam · 2 nights
Marari Villas
When to go
The best time to visit Kerala
Jan
31°C
12mm
Feb
32°C
20mm
Mar
33°C
45mm
Apr
33°C
120mm
May
32°C
250mm
Jun
29°C
650mm
Jul
28°C
600mm
Aug
28°C
380mm
Sep
29°C
250mm
Oct
30°C
290mm
Nov
30°C
170mm
Dec
30°C
40mm
30°C
Avg temperature
236mm
Avg rainfall
- Best
- Good
- Monsoon
October to March, the sweet spot
Kerala is at its best from October to March, when the rain has cleared, the backwaters are full and the coast is dry. April and May are hot and humid but quiet, and the south-west monsoon from June to September brings heavy afternoon rain, deep green hills and the lowest prices of the year. Many Ayurveda guests deliberately choose the monsoon, when the treatments are considered most effective.
Good to know
What's included
Included
- Bed and breakfast at all hotels, except where full board is stated on the itinerary
- Chauffeur driven air-conditioned car throughout
- Sunset cruise in Cochin
- Kathakali performance
- Ayurveda massage
- All entrance fees and guide charges
- Assisted airport transfers
- 24 hour support from our Cochin office
Not included
- International flights (quoted separately)
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners unless stated
- Tips and personal expenses
Pricing
Indicative price
*Indicative price
£1,450
per person, twin share
Excluding international flights
Prices exclude international flights. Includes accommodation, private transport, sightseeing and activities as described. This is a private tour, fully customisable. Adjust hotels, add destinations, change the pace. Final price varies with group size, season and hotel choice. Share your preferred dates and we will send a personalised itinerary and an accurate quote.
Your trip gives back
Your trip gives back
One traveller, one tree. Every guest who travels with us funds a native sapling planted in Kerala, and you choose where the rest of your contribution goes. If you would like to, our team will take you to meet the project and you can hand the donation over yourself.
01
Native tree planting
Saplings planted and maintained with village committees in the Western Ghats foothills, monitored for three years.
02
Schools in the backwaters
Books, uniforms and lab equipment for two primary schools in Kuttanad that our Cochin team has supported since 2011.
03
Coastal clean-ups
Funding the fishing co-operatives at Marari who bring plastic back with their catch and sort it on shore.
Image gallery
A glimpse of the journey
Make this trip yours
Our Kerala team will reshape every day of this itinerary around you, then price it properly.
Other journeys in Kerala
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*Indicative price £3,150 pp
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*Indicative price £2,450 pp
Honeymoon · 9 nights
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*Indicative price £1,745 pp