Hills, Houseboat and Varkala Cliffs — 6 Nights / 7 Days
Two nights in Munnar, one at Thekkady, a private houseboat night on Vembanad Lake and two nights on the Varkala cliff, a honeymoon route that ends somewhere quieter than Kovalam. The North Cliff sunsets are the best free view on the Kerala coast, and two nights there cover Papanasam Beach, Kappil Lake and Sivagiri Mutt without rushing.
About this itinerary
This 6 nights and 7 days honeymoon package covers Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Varkala, based on two nights in Munnar, one at Thekkady, a private houseboat night on Vembanad Lake and two nights on the Varkala cliff. Day 1 climbs to Munnar through the waterfall country, Day 2 is Munnar sightseeing with dams, viewpoints and tea estates, Day 3 crosses to Thekkady for the spice plantations, Day 4 takes the Periyar Lake cruise and boards a private premium houseboat, Day 5 drives to Varkala for sunset on the North Cliff, Day 6 covers Papanasam Beach, Kappil Lake and Sivagiri Mutt, and Day 7 is the Trivandrum drop.
Ending at Varkala instead of Kovalam is the point: the cliff-top setting is more striking, the crowd is slower, and Day 6 leaves nothing scheduled until the evening. The one thing to plan around is the weather, because most cliff businesses close through the heavy monsoon, so November to March is the window.
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 1MunnarArrival day
Drive to Munnar via Cheeyappara and Valara falls
Private pickup and the drive up to Munnar through the waterfall country, then check in to a honeymoon room with decoration and a welcome cake, offered as per the property's honeymoon policy.
The highlight of this day is the Cheeyappara and Valara falls stretch, where the road runs right past the water.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrsStay: Munnar - Day 2MunnarSightseeing
Munnar Sightseeing: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, a shikara ride on Kundala Lake and Top Station, a private tea estate walk, and a candlelight dinner in the evening on request.
The highlight of this day is the Tata Tea Museum and witnessing live demonstration of tea processing.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 3ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: Spice Plantations and an Evening of Kalari
The drive to Thekkady and a spice plantation walk, with an optional couple's Ayurveda massage and an optional evening cultural show, both payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the freshness of the spice plantation, where the cardamom smells green and almost lemony.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 to 4 hrsStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 4AlleppeyHouseboat night
A Private Houseboat on Vembanad Lake
An early Periyar Lake cruise, then the drive to Alleppey to board a private premium houseboat, with all meals served on board.
The highlight of this day is dinner served on the upper deck as the boat sits anchored for the night.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrs to AlleppeyStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 5VarkalaTransfer day
Varkala and the North Cliff
Disembark after breakfast and drive to Varkala, watch a sunset from the North Cliff and take photos.
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 3.5 hrs to VarkalaStay: VarkalaBreakfast included - Day 6VarkalaSightseeing
Papanasam Beach, Sivagiri and Kappil Lake
A morning at Papanasam Beach, then Kappil Lake where the backwater meets the sea, Sivagiri Mutt (open 5 am to 12 pm and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm) and an evening couple spa.
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 7Departure
Departure
The Trivandrum drop after a relaxed final morning.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar | 2 | Emerald Inn | Standard, twin sharing |
| Thekkady | 1 | Green view Homestay | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Varkala | 2 | Black Beach Resort |
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. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Honeymoon inclusions such as room decoration, a welcome cake, a candlelight dinner, one optional couple Ayurveda massage and a private premium houseboat depend on the property's honeymoon policy.
- Resorts offering honeymoon inclusions may ask for a valid marriage certificate, so carry a copy.
- Most cliff cafes and shacks at Varkala close through the heavy monsoon, so November to March is the working window.
- Papanasam Beach is a pilgrimage site with ritual bathing and last rites on the sand, particularly in the mornings. Dress modestly and do not photograph the ceremonies.
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 | Munnar — Day 1 or 2 |
| Couple Ayurveda spa | ₹1,999/- per person | Munnar — Day 1 or 2 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 1 or 2 |
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 3 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 3 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 4 |
| Cake / fruit basket (for honeymooners) | ₹500/350 | |
| Candlelight dinner (for couples) | ₹3,000/- | |
| Room decoration (for honeymooners) | ₹2000/- |
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 Hills, Houseboat and Varkala Cliffs package cover?
Two nights in Munnar, one night at Thekkady, a private premium houseboat night on Vembanad Lake and two nights on the Varkala cliff, ending with a Trivandrum drop. Hotel stays are on bed and breakfast, the houseboat night is on full board, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing named in the day-by-day itinerary, with 24x7 on-ground assistance from our team in Kerala.
Varkala or Kovalam for a honeymoon?
Varkala, if you want quiet. The cliff-top setting is the more striking of the two, the crowd is slower and stays longer, and the sunsets from the North Cliff path are the best free view on the Kerala coast. Kovalam is busier and has more hotels. Couples who want nightlife and choice usually prefer it.
When is the best time to do this trip?
November to March. Most of the cliff cafes and shacks at Varkala close through the heavy monsoon, so the town in July is a different place from the town in January. If your dates fall in the monsoon, tell us and we will say plainly what will and will not be open.
Is the houseboat private, and are meals included?
Yes on both. Day 4 is a private premium houseboat on Vembanad Lake, not a shared one, and the night is served on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, all cooked on board. Every other night is BB (CP), so breakfast is included.
Is Papanasam Beach a normal swimming beach?
Not quite. Papanasam is a pilgrimage beach, and you will see ritual bathing and last rites on the sand, particularly in the mornings. It is entirely fine to be there, but dress modestly and do not photograph the ceremonies. For swimming, stay where the locals are and ask our driver about conditions on the day.
What honeymoon inclusions come with the package?
Room decoration, a welcome cake, a candlelight dinner, one optional couple Ayurveda massage at Thekkady, and a private premium houseboat, based on the selected accommodation. A honeymoon suite or pool villa upgrade can be added and is re-quoted. Some resorts ask for a valid marriage certificate at check in.
Can this itinerary be customised, and how do we book?
Customization option is available, with or without flights. 50% of the package amount confirms the booking and the balance is due before departure or on arrival, by bank wire transfer. Dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice, subject to availability.
Similar itineraries
Same region, different pace or budget.
Nature & WildlifeOffbeat Kerala: Athirappilly, Vagamon, Gavi and Thekkady
Athirappilly → Vagamon → Gavi → Thekkady
GroupNorth Kerala Discovery: Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Bekal
Wayanad → Kozhikode → Kannur → Bekal
GroupKerala Slow Trail: Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kovalam
Kochi → Kumarakom → Alleppey → Kovalam
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