Kerala Family Explorer — 8 Nights / 9 Days
A Kochi loop through Fort Kochi, Athirappilly's falls, the Munnar hills, the Thekkady spice country, a full houseboat night and a quiet Marari beach, with no single drive on the route running longer than about four hours. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets and daily breakfast are included, with the houseboat night on full board.
About this itinerary
This 8 nights and 9 days family tour package covers Kochi, Athirappilly, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Marari, based on a Kochi arrival night, an Athirappilly night, two nights in Munnar, two nights in Thekkady, a houseboat night and a Marari beach night. Day 1 is Fort Kochi, Day 2 is Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, Day 3 climbs to Munnar through the waterfall country, Day 4 is Munnar's dams, viewpoints and tea estates, Day 5 is the Thekkady spice walk and a Kalari evening, Day 6 is the Periyar cruise and a relaxed Kumily day, Day 7 is the Kuttanad houseboat, Day 8 is a free Marari beach afternoon, and Day 9 is the Kochi drop.
Two nights each at Munnar and Thekkady mean you unpack once and day-trip out, and the loop starts and ends at Kochi so flight bookings stay simple. No single drive on the route runs longer than about four hours, which is what makes it work for families with small children and elderly parents, and Day 8 at Marari is a free beach afternoon with nothing scheduled.
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 in Fort Kochi and a Relaxing Evening
Pickup at Kochi and check in, then Fort Kochi for the Chinese fishing nets and Marine Drive, with an optional Kathakali show in the evening.
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: Kochi - Day 2AthirappillyTransfer day
Athirappilly and Vazhachal, Kerala's Largest Falls
The drive to Athirappilly, the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, and the Thumboormuzhi butterfly garden.
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 hrs to AthirappillyStay: AthirappillyBreakfast included - Day 3MunnarTransfer day
Climbing to Munnar Through the Waterfall Country
The drive up to Munnar past the Cheeyappara and Valara falls, an afternoon at Blossom Park and the Munnar market.
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 3.5 to 4 hrs to MunnarStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 4MunnarSightseeing
Munnar Sightseeing: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
Boating at Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, then the Tea Museum and Photo Point.
The highlight of this day is the Tata Tea Museum's live demonstration of how a green leaf becomes the powder in your cup.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 5ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: Walk Through Spice Plantation
The drive to Thekkady, a spice plantation walk, and an evening of Kathakali and Kalaripayattu.
The highlight of this day is crushing a fresh cardamom pod in your hand at the plantation, which is nothing like the shop version.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 to 4 hrs to ThekkadyStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 6ThekkadySightseeing
Periyar Lake Cruise and a Relaxed Kumily Day
A Periyar Lake boat cruise, bamboo rafting or the guided nature walk, and time at the Kumily market.
The highlight of this day is the first boat of the morning, when animals are still coming down to the water.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 7AlleppeyHouseboat night
Cruising Kuttanad by Houseboat
The drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat, then a cruise through Kuttanad with all meals on board.
The highlight of this day is Kuttanad's paddy fields, farmed below sea level behind earth bunds, seen from the water.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 4 hrs to AlleppeyStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 8MarariFree day
A Free Beach Afternoon at Marari
Disembark after breakfast, a short drive to Marari, and a free afternoon on the beach.
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 9Departure
Relaxed Final Morning and Kochi Drop
A slow final morning, then the drive to Kochi for the 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 1.5 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 |
| Athirappilly | 1 | Aathira Agri-Homes | |
| Munnar | 2 | Emerald Inn | Standard, twin sharing |
| Thekkady | 2 | Green view Homestay | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Marari | 1 | Estella Marari Beach Villa |
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. Family rooms, connecting rooms or two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast. 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.
- Child rates apply and children are usually free below a set age when sharing existing bedding. The cut-off is set by each property, so tell us your children's ages at enquiry and we will confirm it in writing.
- The Periyar Lake cruise on Day 6 is included. Bamboo rafting and other adventure activities at Periyar are payable directly and sit outside the package, so tell us at booking if you want one added.
- The falls run hardest right after the monsoon, in September and October, when viewing platforms and river access can be restricted, so we check the day's rules before setting out.
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 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Munnar — Day 3 or 4 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 3 or 4 |
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 5 or 6 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 5 or 6 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 7 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Marari — Day 8 |
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 Family Explorer package cover?
A Kochi loop covering Fort Kochi, Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, two nights in Munnar, two in Thekkady with the spice walk and Periyar cruise, a full-board Kuttanad houseboat night and a free Marari beach afternoon. Stays are on bed and breakfast, a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, and our Kerala team is on call 24x7.
Is this itinerary comfortable for young children and elderly parents?
Yes, that is what it is designed for. No drive on the route runs longer than about four hours, and Munnar and Thekkady both get two nights, so you unpack once and day-trip out instead of packing up every morning. Day 8 keeps the afternoon free at the beach.
What are the room options for a family of four?
Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available as an upgrade and are re-quoted. Extra beds, child with bed and without bed are priced separately. Child rates usually go free below a set age when sharing existing bedding, though this varies by property.
Is bamboo rafting included on Day 6?
No. Bamboo rafting and the other adventure activities are payable direct and sit outside the package, as do wildlife safaris. The Periyar Lake boat cruise on Day 6 is included. If your group prefers, take the guided nature walk instead, which is the gentler of the two.
What is included on the houseboat night?
Day 7 is a houseboat through Kuttanad on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast. That is the standard on Alleppey and Kumarakom boats. Every other night on the trip is bed and breakfast, room plus breakfast.
When is the best time to do this trip with children?
September to March suits this route, with clear mornings for the Periyar cruise and dry days at Athirappilly and Munnar. The falls run hardest right after the monsoon, in September and October, though wet-season viewing platforms and river access can be restricted, so we check the day's rules before we set out.
How do we book, and can the itinerary be changed?
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. Confirmed dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice, subject to availability.
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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