Backwater and Beach Indulgence: Kumarakom to Kovalam — 7 Nights / 8 Days
A no-hills route down the coast and backwaters: Fort Kochi, Kumarakom for the bird sanctuary, an Alleppey houseboat night through Kuttanad, Marari for a free beach afternoon, two nights on the Varkala cliff, and Kovalam to close. Hotels, a full-board houseboat night, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, and daily breakfast are included.
About this itinerary
This 7 nights and 8 days Kerala tour package covers Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Marari, Varkala and Kovalam, based on a Fort Kochi night, a night at Kumarakom, an Alleppey houseboat night, a night at Marari, two nights at Varkala and a night at Kovalam. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi walk, Day 2 is a Vembanad shikara ride at Kumarakom, Day 3 is the bird sanctuary and the houseboat, Day 4 is Marari beach, Day 5 is the Varkala cliff, Day 6 covers Papanasam, Sivagiri and Kappil Lake, Day 7 is Kovalam, and Day 8 is the Trivandrum drop.
There is no hill station and no ghat road anywhere on this route, which is exactly why we built it, so it suits anyone who gets carsick on hairpin bends. November to February gives the calmest sea and the clearest backwater light, and that window also overlaps the Kumarakom migratory season, so the Day 3 first-light birding is at its best then.
Everything below is included unless it is listed under Add-ons.
Day-by-day itinerary
Every day below can be moved, shortened or swapped. Replanning is free — you only pay the difference in what you change.
- Day 1KochiArrival day
Fort Kochi Arrival and an Evening on Marine Drive
Pickup at Kochi airport or railway station, a Fort Kochi walk, and Marine Drive in the evening.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, hauled by rope for a catch that fits in one hand.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs from Kochi airportStay: Kochi - Day 2KumarakomTransfer day
Kumarakom and a Sunset Shikara on Vembanad Lake
The drive to Kumarakom and check in, then a sunset shikara ride on Vembanad Lake.
The highlight of this day is the sunset shikara ride, when the lake goes completely still.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 hrs to KumarakomStay: KumarakomBreakfast included - Day 3AlleppeyHouseboat night
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and a Kuttanad Houseboat Night
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at first light, the transfer to Alleppey, and boarding the houseboat with all meals on board.
The highlight of this day is watching darters, herons and kingfishers at dawn, with migratory arrivals from November to March.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 1 hr to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 4MarariTransfer day
Off the Houseboat to Marari's Fishing-Village Beach
Disembark after breakfast, a short drive to Marari and check in, a free beach afternoon, and a seafood dinner.
The highlight of this day is fresh catch landed and cooked the same evening, at a beach with no resort strip behind it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 hr to MarariStay: MarariBreakfast included - Day 5VarkalaTransfer day
South to Varkala and Sunset on the North Cliff
The drive south to Varkala and check in, then sunset from the North Cliff.
The highlight of this day is sunset from the cliff path, the best free view on the Kerala coast.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 to 3.5 hrs to VarkalaStay: VarkalaBreakfast included - Day 6VarkalaSightseeing
Varkala: Papanasam Beach, Sivagiri and Kappil Lake
Morning yoga, Papanasam Beach, the Sivagiri Mutt (open 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM), Kappil Lake, and an optional Ayurveda session, payable directly.
The highlight of this day is Kappil Lake, where the backwater runs a few metres from the sea with only a strip of sand between them.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: VarkalaBreakfast included - Day 7KovalamTransfer day
Kovalam, Lighthouse Beach and a Trivandrum Round
The drive to Kovalam and check in, Lighthouse Beach, and a Trivandrum city round.
The highlight of this day is sunset from below the Vizhinjam lighthouse, with the fishing boats coming in.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 hrs to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 8Departure
Relaxed Final Morning and Trivandrum Drop
A relaxed final morning, then the Trivandrum drop.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 hr to TrivandrumBreakfast included
Hotels on this package
Rooms are held on twin sharing with daily breakfast. Switch the category to see the properties it puts you in — the tab you pick here also sets the price shown at the top of the page and on the enquiry form.
The base category — comfortable, well-run properties in walkable locations, picked for reliable power, water and staff more than for the view.
| Stop | Nights | Standard category | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi | 1 | Emerald Inn | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Kumarakom | 1 | Arcadia Magnet | |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Marari | 1 | Estella Marari Beach Villa | |
| Varkala | 2 | Black Beach Resort | |
| Kovalam | 1 | Hotel Beach Flora Inn |
Notes
- This package is available with or without flights. To add flights or trains, call us for current fares.
- Customization option is available.
- Extra bed, child with or without bed, and single supplement are quoted separately. Upgrades to deluxe, 4-star or premium and to MAP or AP are re-quoted, and the houseboat can be upgraded.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing, land only. The Day 3 houseboat night is on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and the next morning's breakfast. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Any Ayurveda treatment or spa add-ons is quoted separately, so tell us in advance if you want a multi-day programme across the two Varkala nights.
- November to February gives the calmest sea and the clearest backwater light, and it overlaps the Kumarakom migratory season, which runs November to March, so the Day 3 first-light birding is at its best then.
- There is no hill station and no ghat road anywhere on this route, so transfers are short and the pace is slow by design. If you want it slower still, we can drop a stop and add the night to the coast.
- Entry rules and dress codes at temples, and the Sivagiri Mutt timings of 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, are set by the authority concerned and can change.
Popular add-ons
Priced per person unless noted, and added to your quote only if you want them. Everything below can also be booked on the ground once you are there.
| Add-on | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kochi — Day 1 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Kochi — Day 1 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 3 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Marari — Day 4 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 7 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 7 |
What’s included
Included
- Hotel or resort stay on twin sharing, BB (CP) plan: room plus daily breakfast
- Private AC vehicle for all transfers as per the itinerary
- Airport or railway station pickup and drop
- Experienced local driver cum guide who knows the routes
- All fuel, toll, parking, inter-state permit and driver allowance
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Houseboat night on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, which is standard practice on Kerala houseboats
- 24x7 on-ground assistance from the trip2keralam team in Kerala.
Not included
- Air and rail fare
- Lunch and dinner except where houseboat full board is stated
- Any site, ride or activity not named in the day-by-day itinerary, including wildlife safaris, bamboo rafting and adventure activities
- Ayurveda treatments and spa unless listed, camera fees, tips and personal expenses
- Extra bed, child with or without bed, and single supplement, all quoted separately
- Travel insurance
- Early check-in and late check-out beyond standard hotel timings
- GST as applicable on tour packages
- Anything not mentioned under inclusions
Good to know before you book
- 50% of the package amount confirms the booking. The balance is due before departure or on arrival.
- Prices are per person on twin sharing, land only, and do not include air or rail fare. Adding flights or trains will move the price up.
- Rates move during peak dates: 20 December to 5 January, Onam, Christmas, New Year, festive holidays and long weekends.
- Quoted rates hold for the hotel category confirmed at booking. Room and meal plan upgrades are re-quoted.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 PM and check-out by 11 AM or 12 noon. Early check-in and late check-out depend on availability and are not guaranteed.
- Guests must carry a valid government photo ID at every hotel. Foreign nationals must carry a passport and visa.
- Houseboats stop cruising by evening and anchor for the night, as required by Kerala government rules, with air-conditioning running for fixed night hours. This is standard across all operators.
- The itinerary may be re-sequenced on the ground for weather, traffic, forest department closures or temple and festival restrictions. Inclusions stay the same.
- Entry rules and dress codes at temples, and permit rules inside forest areas, are set by the authority concerned and are not within our control.
- Costs arising from events beyond our control, including hartals, floods, landslides, roadblocks and other natural calamities, and from any delay or change they force, are borne by the guest and are not refundable.
- The vehicle is provided as per the itinerary. It is not at disposal for unplanned running.
Cancellation and Payments
- Payment by bank wire transfer to our account. Confirmation follows receipt.
- Confirmed dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice to the company, subject to availability.
- Eligible refunds are processed to the original bank account within a reasonable period after cancellation. Bank or wire transfer charges are deducted from the refunded amount.
- Inside 30 days, the reservation cannot be changed, postponed or cancelled, and the package amount is retained in full.
- No-shows are not eligible for any refund.
- No credit is given for unused nights or an early departure.
- Peak-date bookings (20 December to 5 January) may carry stricter hotel cancellation terms, which we confirm at the time of booking.
Traveller reviews — 4.9 average from 412 trips
Questions about this package
What does the Backwater and Beach Indulgence Kumarakom to Kovalam package cover?
A Fort Kochi night, a night at Kumarakom for the bird sanctuary and a Vembanad shikara ride, an Alleppey houseboat night on full board, a night at Marari, two nights on the Varkala cliff, and a Kovalam night, from a Kochi pickup to a Trivandrum drop. There is no hill station or ghat road on the route. Stays are on bed and breakfast with the houseboat night on full board, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing.
Is there any hill driving on this trip?
None. There is no hill station on the route and no ghat section anywhere in it, which is exactly why we built it. If ghat roads make you or someone in your group carsick, this is the Kerala itinerary to pick. Transfers are short and the pace is slow by design.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast at every hotel, and full board on the houseboat night: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast. Lunch and dinner on land days are not included. If you want them, we can move you from bed and breakfast to MAP or AP and re-quote.
When is the best time for this backwater and beach itinerary?
November to February gives the calmest sea and the clearest backwater light. That window also overlaps the migratory season at Kumarakom, which runs from November to March, so Day 3 at first light is at its best in those months.
What does the optional Ayurveda session at Varkala include?
One optional session on Day 6 is payable directly. Anything beyond that, whether a longer treatment course or spa add-ons, is not included and is quoted separately. Tell us in advance if you want a proper multi-day programme and we will build it into the two Varkala nights.
Which beach is best, Marari, Varkala or Kovalam?
They are deliberately different. Marari is a working fishing village with no resort strip behind it, Varkala is a cliff coastline with the North Cliff path above the sea, and Kovalam is the established beach town with Lighthouse Beach and services. Having all three in one trip is the point of the routing.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Customization option is available. Room category and meal plan stay open, nights can be shifted between Varkala and Kovalam, and the houseboat can be upgraded. Send us your dates and we will re-quote.
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Want this trip on your dates?
- The same day-by-day plan, priced for your dates and hotel category
- Your houseboat blocked the moment your trip is confirmed
- Free replanning — swap Thekkady for Kumarakom, add nights, upgrade the boat