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Experience My India

Kerala Backwaters Tour — 7 days

Private tour

Tour packageKerala

This seven-day private Kerala tour runs Kochi to Munnar to Alleppey to Varkala — old-city heritage, tea-hill mornings, a backwater houseboat night, and a cliffside beach finish. It follows the same route order Kerala's own tourism data recommends for a first trip, at a pace that allows two to three nights in the hills rather than rushing through.

Reviewed by Gurudutt Kaushal · Updated 1 Sept 2026

Government-approved operatorApproved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Duration7 days / 6 nights
  • RouteKochi → Varkala at leisure
  • IncludedHotels, transfers, sightseeing and meals
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
  • No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

Itinerary

  1. Arrive Kochi

    Day 1

    • Met on arrival; afternoon walk through Fort Kochi to see the Chinese fishing nets.
    • Evening Kathakali performance, if timings allow.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Kochi

  2. Kochi to Munnar

    Day 2

    • Drive up into the Western Ghats, about 4 hours, through spice plantations and waterfalls.
    • Evening at leisure among the tea gardens.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Munnar

  3. Munnar tea country

    Day 3

    • Morning at a working tea estate and museum.
    • Afternoon drive to a viewpoint over the plantations; Eravikulam National Park if the season allows entry.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Munnar

  4. Munnar to Alleppey

    Day 4

    • Drive down to the backwaters, about 4 hours.
    • Board a traditional houseboat for an overnight cruise through the canals and paddy fields.

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner (on houseboat) · Stay: Houseboat, Alleppey backwaters

  5. Backwaters to Varkala

    Day 5

    • Disembark after breakfast; drive to Varkala, about 3 hours.
    • Afternoon at the cliff, overlooking the beach.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Varkala

  6. Varkala at leisure

    Day 6

    • Free day for the beach, an optional Ayurveda treatment, or a walk along the cliff shops.
    • Sunset from the cliff edge.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Varkala

  7. Departure

    Day 7

    • Transfer to Trivandrum airport for your onward flight, about 1 hour.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Departure day

Traditional houseboats cruise through lush palm-lined backwaters in Kerala, IndiaDay 1 · Arrive Kochi
Traditional houseboats cruise through lush palm-lined backwaters in Kerala, India

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

  • Couples, families and slower travellers who want hills, water and coast rather than temple-hopping.
  • Best November to February; December and January are peak season with the highest rates and busiest houseboats, so shoulder months either side are worth asking about.
  • Kerala's classic route runs Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey and Varkala — old-city heritage, tea-hill mornings, backwaters by houseboat, and a cliffside beach to finish.
  • Seven days gives one night in Kochi, two in Munnar, two on a houseboat and by the backwaters in Alleppey, and two in Varkala, without the rush of trying to add every stop on the map.

Full description

Kochi to the hills to the water to the coast

Kerala's classic route runs Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey and Varkala — old-city heritage, tea-hill mornings, backwaters by houseboat, and a cliffside beach to finish. Seven days gives one night in Kochi, two in Munnar, two on a houseboat and by the backwaters in Alleppey, and two in Varkala, without the rush of trying to add every stop on the map.

Where you stay

  • Kochi

    1 night · Day 1

  • Munnar

    2 nights · Days 2–3

  • Houseboat, Alleppey backwaters

    1 night · Day 4

  • Varkala

    2 nights · Days 5–6

  • Departure day

    1 night · Day 7

Includes

  • Private car and driver throughout
  • One night on a traditional Alleppey houseboat, all meals included on board
  • Local guide in Kochi and Munnar
  • Hotel stays as confirmed at enquiry
  • Daily breakfast

Not included

  • Flights to and from Kochi/Trivandrum
  • Entry fees at Eravikulam and other parks
  • Ayurveda treatments (bookable locally)
  • Lunches and dinners other than on the houseboat
  • Travel insurance

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Important information

Kerala Backwaters Tour — 7 days

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

  • Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

Who it suits

  • Couples, families and slower travellers who want hills, water and coast rather than temple-hopping. Best November to February; December and January are peak season with the highest rates and busiest houseboats, so shoulder months either side are worth asking about.

How booking works

  1. Send an enquiry

    Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.

  2. We check availability

    Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.

  3. Price and hotels named

    Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.

  4. Written quote in INR

    One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.

  5. You approve

    Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.

  6. A named specialist runs it

    The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

About GuruduttMeet our founderHow we vet

Trust and protection

  • Ministry of Tourism approved

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Registered business

    GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9

  • 4.3 / 5 on Tripadvisor

    Independent guest reviews

  • No payment to start

    A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.

Why book with Experience My India

  • Government-approved operator

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • 500+ vetted local guides

    35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.

  • Human help, every day

    Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809

  • No payment until you approve

    You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip

Frequently asked questions

Is one night on a houseboat enough?

For most travellers, yes — it gives a full afternoon and morning on the water without feeling like a floating hotel room. Longer backwater stays are possible by adding a night in Kumarakom instead of Varkala.

What is the best time to visit Kerala's backwaters?

November to February is driest and most comfortable. Kerala's monsoon runs roughly June to September, which some travellers actually prefer for the deep green landscape, though houseboat routes can be affected by high water.

Can Wayanad or Thekkady be added to this route?

Yes. Wayanad or Thekkady fit well with two extra weeks of travel time; ask and we will re-quote a nine- or ten-day version.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes. The houseboat, tea gardens and beach are all manageable with children; the main consideration is the winding hill road up to Munnar, which some find carsick-inducing.

Request a quote

Ready for a night on the backwaters? Get a written quote for this Kerala itinerary.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
  • No payment to start planning

Customer reviews

No reviews for this experience yet — we publish guest reviews after each trip.

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