Kerala Culture and Heritage Trail — 7 Nights / 8 Days
A heritage route for people who want Kerala's art forms and architecture: two nights in Fort Kochi for the colonial trade quarters, Thrissur and the Kerala Kalamandalam campus, Palakkad's fort and the Kalpathy agraharam streets, then Munnar and an Alleppey houseboat night. Hotels, a full-board houseboat night, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets including Kalamandalam, and daily breakfast are included.
About this itinerary
This 7 nights and 8 days Kerala tour package covers Fort Kochi, Thrissur, Guruvayur, Palakkad, Munnar and an Alleppey houseboat, based on two nights in Fort Kochi, a night in Thrissur, a night in Palakkad, two nights in Munnar and a houseboat night. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi heritage walk, Day 2 covers Mattancherry Palace and the Jew Town lanes, Day 3 is Thrissur, Kalamandalam and Guruvayur, Day 4 takes in Palakkad Fort and the Kalpathy heritage village, Day 5 climbs to Munnar, Day 6 is a full day of Munnar sightseeing, Day 7 is the Alleppey houseboat, and Day 8 disembarks for the Kochi drop.
This trip is built for the art forms and the architecture rather than another viewpoint. The one rule to plan for is Guruvayur, which restricts entry to Hindus, enforces a strict dress code and prohibits photography inside, so we brief every guest before arrival. The Kalamandalam campus visit depends on the academy's schedule, so we confirm it is running on your date.
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 1Fort KochiArrival day
Fort Kochi Arrival and a Colonial Trade Walk
Pickup at Kochi airport or railway station, then a Fort Kochi walk taking in St Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica, with an optional evening Kathakali show payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, still worked by hand by teams of four.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs from Kochi airportStay: Fort Kochi - Day 2KochiSightseeing
Mattancherry Palace and the Jew Town Lanes
Mattancherry Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town, and the Kerala Folklore Museum, with an optional evening of Kalaripayattu payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the murals inside Mattancherry Palace, painted in vegetable dye and still vivid.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Full day local sightseeingStay: KochiBreakfast included - Day 3ThrissurTransfer day
Thrissur, Kalamandalam and Guruvayur Temple
The drive to Thrissur and check in, the Vadakkunnathan Temple exterior and the Thrissur Pooram ground, the Kerala Kalamandalam campus at Cheruthuruthy, and the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple.
The highlight of this day is watching students at Kerala Kalamandalam rehearse Kathakali and Mohiniyattam on campus.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: 3 hours to ThrissurStay: ThrissurBreakfast included - Day 4PalakkadTransfer day
Palakkad Fort and the Kalpathy Heritage Village
The drive to Palakkad and check in, Palakkad Fort, the Malampuzha Dam and gardens, and the Kalpathy heritage village with its agraharam streets.
The highlight of this day is the agraharam streets of Kalpathy, lined with tiled Tamil Brahmin houses and temple tanks.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: 2 hours to PalakkadStay: PalakkadBreakfast included - Day 5MunnarTransfer day
Palakkad to Munnar, Up the Waterfall Road
The drive to Munnar via the Anaikatti or Chalakudy route, and check in for the night.
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: 5-6 hrs to MunnarStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 6MunnarSightseeing
A Full Day in the Munnar Tea Hills
A full day of Munnar sightseeing covering Mattupetty, Echo Point, Kundala Lake and Top Station, with the Tea Museum.
The highlight of this day is Top Station early, before the mist closes in and takes the view with it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Full day local sightseeingStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 7AlleppeyHouseboat night
A Kuttanad Houseboat Night at Alleppey
The drive to Alleppey, boarding the houseboat with all meals on board, and a cruise through the Kuttanad backwaters.
The highlight of this day is Kuttanad's paddy fields, farmed below sea level behind earth bunds, seen from the water.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: 5 hrs to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 8Departure
Off the Houseboat and the Drive Back to Kochi
Disembark after breakfast, then the drive to Kochi for the drop.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: 2-2.5 hrs to KochiBreakfast 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 |
| Thrissur | 1 | Daan Regency | |
| Palakkad | 1 | Hasco Tower Business Hotel | |
| Munnar | 2 | Emerald Inn | Standard, twin sharing |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
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.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing, land only. The Day 7 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.
- Guruvayur Temple restricts entry to Hindus and enforces a strict dress code, with photography prohibited inside. Men wear a mundu with no shirt in the sanctum area and women a saree or set-mundu. We brief every guest before arrival, and these rules are set by the temple devaswom and can change.
- The Kerala Kalamandalam campus visit depends on the academy's schedule. It is included where the programme is running, and if the campus schedule does not permit it on your date we will tell you in advance.
- Thrissur Pooram is not a scheduled inclusion. Its date moves with the Malayalam calendar and Thrissur hotels sell out months ahead, so tell us early if you want to travel around it. Day 3 takes you to the Pooram ground either way.
- Entry rules and dress codes at temples, and permit rules inside forest areas, are set by the authority concerned and can change at short notice.
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 2 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Kochi — Day 2 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Munnar — Day 5 or 6 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 5 or 6 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — 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 Kerala Culture and Heritage Trail package cover?
Two nights in Fort Kochi for the colonial trade quarters, Thrissur with the Kerala Kalamandalam campus and Guruvayur, Palakkad Fort and the Kalpathy heritage village, two nights in Munnar, and an Alleppey houseboat night, from a Kochi pickup to a Kochi drop. Stays are on bed and breakfast with the houseboat night on full board, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, including entry to Kalamandalam.
Can everyone enter Guruvayur Temple?
No. Guruvayur Temple restricts entry to Hindus and enforces a strict dress code, and photography is prohibited inside. We brief every guest before arrival so nobody is turned away at the gate. Entry rules and dress codes are set by the temple authority and are not within our control.
What is the dress code at Guruvayur?
Men wear a mundu with no shirt in the sanctum area, and women wear a saree or set-mundu. Rules are set by the devaswom and can change, so we confirm the current position before your travel date and tell you exactly what to carry.
What happens at the Kerala Kalamandalam visit?
Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy is the state academy where Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Koodiyattam are taught as full degree programmes, not staged as a tourist show. The campus visit is included where the programme is running, and you watch students rehearse. If the campus schedule does not permit it on your date, we will tell you in advance.
What is included in the package?
Hotel or resort 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, inter-state permit and driver allowance, entry tickets and ride charges for everything named in the day-by-day itinerary, airport or railway station pickup and drop, and 24x7 support from our team in Kerala.
Does this trip cover Thrissur Pooram?
Not as a scheduled inclusion. The Pooram date moves with the Malayalam calendar and Thrissur hotels sell out months ahead, so if you want to travel around it, tell us early and we will check the date for your year and book accordingly. Day 3 takes you to the Pooram ground either way.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Customization option is available. Room category and meal plan stay open, nights can be shifted between Fort Kochi and Munnar, and performances can be added. 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