Backwaters to Beaches: Alleppey and Kovalam — 4 Nights / 5 Days
One hotel night and one full houseboat night at Alleppey, then two nights at Kovalam with a Trivandrum heritage morning covering Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum.
About this itinerary
This 4 nights and 5 days package covers Alleppey and Kovalam from Kochi, based on one hotel night and one houseboat night at Alleppey, then two nights at Kovalam. Day 1 arrives in Alleppey for the beach and the old pier, Day 2 boards the houseboat on Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad canals, Day 3 drives south to Kovalam by the coastal road, Day 4 is a Trivandrum heritage morning, and Day 5 is a beach morning before the Trivandrum drop.
The pacing keeps the whole route at sea level, with no ghat roads and no hairpin climbing, which suits anyone prone to motion sickness. Kovalam's sea is calmest between November and February, and Padmanabhaswamy Temple restricts entry to Hindus and enforces a strict dress code, so we brief you before you arrive rather than let you be turned away at the gate.
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 1AlleppeyArrival day
Arriving in Alleppey
Pickup from Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway station and then drive to Alleppey, then check in, with the evening at Alleppey Beach and the old pier.
The highlight of this day is the 1862 pier at Alleppey Beach, left over from when this was a working port.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 hrsStay: Alleppey - Day 2AlleppeyHouseboat night
Boarding the Houseboat at Alleppey
Board the houseboat at Punnamada jetty for a cruise on Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad canals, with all meals served on board.
The highlight of this day is anchoring for sunset in a canal, with dinner cooked on board.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 5 hrs cruising, then anchoredStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 3KovalamTransfer day
Disembarking and the Onward Drive
Disembark after breakfast, then drive south to Kovalam by the coastal road, with sunset at Lighthouse Beach.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 to 4 hrs to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 4KovalamSightseeing
Trivandrum Heritage Morning
A Trivandrum city round covering Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum, with an optional afternoon Ayurveda massage at a certified Kovalam centre, payable directly.
The highlight of this day is Kuthiramalika Palace, with 122 carved wooden horses running along the eaves.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 5Departure
Departure
A morning at the beach, then the drop at Trivandrum.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleBreakfast 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alleppey | 2 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Kovalam | 2 | 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.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast. The houseboat night is on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and the next morning's breakfast. A full meal plan or an all-inclusive plan can be arranged on request. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple restricts entry to Hindus and enforces a strict dress code, both set by the temple authority. We brief you before you arrive. If the temple is not open to you, the same morning still covers Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum, which have no such restriction.
- Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum are both closed on Mondays, so the Trivandrum heritage morning is planned around that.
- You board the houseboat on Day 2 and disembark after breakfast on Day 3. Alleppey houseboats cruise through the afternoon and anchor by around 5.30 pm under state rules, so the boat is moored for the night rather than cruising after dark.
- Kovalam's sea is calmest between November and February. Outside that window the surf is stronger, which matters if you plan to swim rather than sit on the sand.
- The afternoon Ayurveda massage at Kovalam on Day 4 is optional and payable directly.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 1 or 2 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 3 or 4 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 3 or 4 |
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.
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Questions about this package
What does the Backwaters to Beaches package cover?
One hotel night and one full houseboat night at Alleppey on Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad canals, then two nights at Kovalam with a Trivandrum heritage morning covering Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum. There are no hill stations and no ghat roads, and Day 5 is a beach morning before the Trivandrum drop.
What is included in the package?
Hotel stay on twin sharing with daily breakfast, the houseboat night on full board, a private AC vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, all fuel, toll, parking, permits and driver allowance, airport or railway station pickup and drop, entry tickets and ride charges for everything named in the day-by-day itinerary, and 24x7 on-ground assistance from our team in Kerala. Air and rail fare, lunch and dinner off the houseboat, and anything not named in the day plan are not included.
Can anyone enter Padmanabhaswamy Temple?
No. Entry is restricted to Hindus and there is a strict dress code, both set by the temple authority and outside our control. We brief you on this before you arrive rather than let you be turned away at the gate. If the temple is not open to you, the same morning still covers Kuthiramalika Palace and the Napier Museum, which have no such restriction.
What does the houseboat night include?
It is full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, all cooked on board. You board at Punnamada on Day 2, cruise Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad canals, anchor in a canal for the night, and disembark after breakfast on Day 3.
When is the sea calmest at Kovalam?
Between November and February. Outside that window the surf gets stronger, which matters if you plan on swimming rather than just sitting on the sand. Kovalam has three walkable beaches, so there is somewhere to go even on a rough day.
Why is there no hill station on this itinerary?
Because the whole point of this route is that it stays at sea level. There are no ghat roads and no hairpin climbing anywhere in it, which suits anyone prone to motion sickness or simply not interested in another viewpoint. If you want hills, we have Munnar and Thekkady routes for the same duration.
How do I book, and can I cancel?
50% of the package amount confirms the booking, and the balance is due before departure or on arrival. Payment is by bank wire transfer to our account. Dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice, subject to availability. Inside 30 days the package amount is retained in full.
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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