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Experience My India

Kerala family holiday

Private tour

Tour packageKerala

Kerala's backwaters, beaches and gentle pace make it one of India's most family-friendly circuits, suiting almost any age from toddlers to grandparents with minimal driving between stops. A houseboat cruise, beach time at Kovalam or Varkala, and an easy wildlife stop at Periyar cover most families' interests without the long car days a Rajasthan or Golden Triangle circuit involves.

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 13 Sept 2026

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

  • RouteKerala
  • Best seasonOctober to March
  • IncludedHotels, transfers and sightseeing
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle throughout
  • 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. Cochin arrival

    Step 1

    • A gentle introduction to Kerala, including the Chinese fishing nets and old town.

  2. Backwaters houseboat

    Step 2

    • One or two nights aboard a traditional kettuvallam, cruising the canals at an easy pace.

  3. Beach time

    Step 3

    • Days at Kovalam or Varkala, with time for the beach and pool rather than a packed schedule.

  4. Optional Periyar stop

    Step 4

    • A gentle boat safari for wildlife, if your route and time allow it.
Fishing boats docked along the lush, tropical backwaters of Kerala, IndiaStep 1 · Cochin arrival
Fishing boats docked along the lush, tropical backwaters of Kerala, India

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

Highlights

  • Families of any age combination, including toddlers and grandparents together.
  • Distances between stops are shorter than a Rajasthan circuit, and the overall pace is naturally more relaxed.
  • A Kerala family holiday centres on the backwaters — typically a houseboat cruise around Alleppey or Kumarakom — combined with beach time at Kovalam or Varkala, and often a gentle wildlife stop at Periyar.
  • Houseboats vary in cabin standard — tell us your family's needs and we will match the boat accordingly.

Full description

A Kerala family holiday centres on the backwaters — typically a houseboat cruise around Alleppey or Kumarakom — combined with beach time at Kovalam or Varkala, and often a gentle wildlife stop at Periyar. Distances between stops are shorter than a Rajasthan circuit, and the overall pace is naturally more relaxed.

It is the circuit we most often recommend for families with a wide age range travelling together, since almost every part of it — a houseboat deck, a beach, a boat safari — works for toddlers and grandparents alike.

Includes

  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Houseboat cruise arrangement
  • Family-paced itinerary

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Park or monument entry tickets
  • Personal expenses

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

Know before you go

  • Houseboats vary in cabin standard — tell us your family's needs and we will match the boat accordingly.
  • Kerala's food is generally milder and more accommodating for children than some other regions, though ask your guide about specific dishes.
  • Life jackets and boat safety briefings are standard on the backwaters — your guide ensures this happens before boarding.

Duration and season

Typically seven to ten days covering the backwaters and coast at a relaxed pace. Kerala is pleasant October to March; June to September is monsoon season, lush but wet.

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

  • Families of any age combination, including toddlers and grandparents together. It is a strong choice for a first trip to India with young children specifically, since it avoids the long car days and heavy walking that heritage-fort circuits involve.

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 a houseboat safe for young children?

Yes, with normal precautions — life jackets and a safety briefing are standard, and the backwaters themselves are calm, slow-moving water.

Is Kerala a good choice for a first India trip with kids?

Yes, often the best choice — the gentle pace and short distances make it easier on young children than a heritage-fort circuit.

How many nights on the houseboat?

One or two nights is typical; more time is spent on land at beaches or the backwaters' edge for most family itineraries.

Who is this best suited to?

Families of any age combination, including toddlers and grandparents together. It is a strong choice for a first trip to India with young children specifically, since it avoids the long car days and heavy walking that heritage-fort circuits involve.

Request a quote

Tell us your family's ages and we will build a Kerala itinerary around the backwaters and beaches.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle throughout
  • 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.

Read our reviews

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