Fort Kochi Heritage and Athirappilly Falls — 2 Nights / 3 Days
Two nights split the trip cleanly: a full day for Fort Kochi's colonial quarter and a full day at Athirappilly, instead of a rushed round trip from Kochi. The walk runs from the hand-worked Chinese fishing nets to St Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried, before Athirappilly drops 80 feet across the Chalakudy river.
About this itinerary
This 2 nights and 3 days package covers Fort Kochi and Athirappilly, with the first night at Fort Kochi and the second at a riverside resort near Athirappilly. Day 1 walks Fort Kochi, from the Chinese fishing nets to St Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace and the Jew Town lanes, with a Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance in the evening. Day 2 drives inland to Athirappilly and Vazhachal on the Chalakudy river, and Day 3 keeps the last morning slow before the drive back to Kochi for the drop.
The pacing works because Fort Kochi is a full day of walking on its own, and staying over near the falls gives you Athirappilly in the evening and again in the morning instead of a rushed round trip. The one thing to plan around is the water: Athirappilly runs fullest right after the monsoon, which is also when the forest department is most likely to close the descent to the base, so the fullest falls and the closest view do not always come together.
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
Arrival and Fort Kochi Heritage Walk
Pickup in Kochi and a walk through Fort Kochi taking in the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica, then Mattancherry Palace and the Jew Town lanes. The evening is a Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance (optional)
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, still worked by hand by teams of four.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: Kochi - Day 2AthirappillySightseeing
Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls
Drive to Athirappilly via Chalakudy, then the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls and the Charpa stretch, with the night at a riverside resort near the falls.
The highlight of this day is Athirappilly at full volume, an 80 foot curtain of water on the Chalakudy river.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2 hrsStay: AthirappillyBreakfast included - Day 3Departure
Departure
A last morning at the falls or the Thumboormuzhi butterfly garden, then the drive back to Kochi for the airport or railway station 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 2 hrsBreakfast 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 |
| Athirappilly | 1 | Aathira Agri-Homes |
Notes
- This package is available with or without flights. To add flights or trains, call us for current fares.
- Customisation 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. 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.
- The second night is at a riverside resort near Athirappilly, and category upgrades there are quoted separately.
- Athirappilly runs fullest right after the monsoon, which is also when the forest department is most likely to close the descent to the base of the falls. The call is made on the day, based on water level. When the descent is closed, the viewpoints along the top and Vazhachal a short drive on are the alternative.
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 |
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
How much does the Fort Kochi and Athirappilly package cost?
The standard package starts from ₹3,921 per person on twin sharing, land only, on BB (CP), as of August 2026 and subject to approval. Rates move during peak dates: 20 December to 5 January, Onam, Christmas, New Year and long weekends.
When does Athirappilly run at full volume?
Right after the monsoon, when the Chalakudy river is carrying the most water. That is also when the forest department closes the descent to the base, so the fullest falls and the closest view do not always come together. Plan for one or the other rather than both.
Can you walk down to the base of the falls?
There is a path down, but the forest department shuts it when water levels are dangerous, and that call is made on the day. When it is closed, the viewpoints along the top and Vazhachal a short drive on are the alternative, and both are worth the stop in their own right.
How far is Athirappilly from Kochi?
About two hours inland via Chalakudy. Because Day 2 drives out and stays overnight in a riverside resort, you get the falls in the evening and again in the morning instead of the usual rushed day trip from Kochi.
Is the Kathakali or Kalaripayattu show included?
The evening performance is part of the Day 1 plan and sits under entry tickets for the attractions listed in the itinerary. Both are performed at small theatres in Fort Kochi, and we pick the slot that fits your arrival time. Worth knowing: Kathakali theatres usually open early so you can watch the make-up being applied, which is half the show.
How do I book and pay?
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, and confirmation follows receipt.
Can I change or cancel my dates?
Yes, with 30 days' written notice to the company, subject to availability. 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 a refund, and there is no credit for unused nights or an early departure.
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