Kerala Family Grand Tour — 6 Nights / 7 Days
A Fort Kochi arrival night, two nights in Munnar, one at Thekkady, a full Kuttanad houseboat night and a free beach day at Marari, paced for mixed-age families. Boating at Mattupetty, the Tea Museum demonstration, the Periyar Lake cruise and all houseboat meals cooked on board, with hotels, a private AC vehicle and sightseeing included.
About this itinerary
This 6 nights and 7 days family package covers Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Marari Beach, based on a Fort Kochi arrival night, two nights in Munnar, one at Thekkady and a full houseboat night through Kuttanad. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi walk, Day 2 climbs to Munnar past the waterfalls, Day 3 is Munnar sightseeing with boating at Mattupetty and the Tea Museum, Day 4 crosses to Thekkady for the spice plantations, Day 5 takes the Periyar Lake cruise and boards the houseboat, Day 6 disembarks for a free afternoon on Marari beach, and Day 7 is a relaxed final morning before the drive back to Kochi.
The pace suits mixed-age groups: drives are broken up, and the trip ends on the sand at Marari rather than with another long inland drive. Marari is only about 25 minutes from Alleppey, so the last transfer is easy on grandparents, while Periyar cruise seats are limited and in some cases ID-linked, so we book ahead.
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
Explore Fort Kochi: Five Centuries of Trade in One Walk
Pickup at Kochi airport or railway station and check in, then the Fort Kochi fishing nets and Marine Drive, with an optional evening Kathakali show payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets, with nothing quite like them in India outside Kochi and a handful at Kollam.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Airport pickup, then Fort Kochi sightseeingStay: Kochi - Day 2MunnarTransfer day
Munnar via the Cheeyappara and Valara Falls
The drive to Munnar with waterfall halts on the way, and an afternoon at Blossom Park.
The highlight of this day is the Cheeyappara and Valara falls stretch, where the road passes directly beneath the water with no walk-in required.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrsStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 3MunnarSightseeing
Munnar Sightseeing: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
Boating at Mattupetty Dam payable directly, then Echo Point and Kundala Lake, and the Tea Museum with Photo Point.
The highlight of this day is the Tata Tea Museum's vintage machinery, including the rotorvane tea roller.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 4ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: Spice Plantations and an Evening of Kalari
The drive to Thekkady and a guided spice plantation walk, with an optional evening Kathakali and Kalaripayattu show payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the aromatic walk through fresh, organic spices such as vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 to 4 hrsStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 5AlleppeyHouseboat night
Cruising Kuttanad by Houseboat
The Periyar Lake boat cruise, then the drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat, with all meals cooked 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 hrsStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 6Marari BeachFree day
Marari Beach: A Working Fishing Village
Disembark after breakfast, then a short drive to Mararikulam, a quiet fishing-village beach, with the afternoon free on the sand.
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 25 mins to MarariStay: Marari BeachBreakfast included - Day 7Departure
Departure
A relaxed final morning at the beach, then the drive to Kochi for the drop.
The highlight of this day is an unhurried last morning by the sea, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 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 |
| 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 |
Notes
- This package is available with or without flights. To add flights or trains, call us for current fares.
- Customization option is available.
- Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade. Child rates apply, and children below a set age are usually free when sharing existing bedding, which varies by property.
- 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.
- Periyar Lake cruise seats are limited and in some cases ID-linked, including for children, so we book ahead. The cruise sits on Day 5, before the drive to Alleppey.
- Houseboat decks are open with low railings, so children need watching, particularly at meal times. We arrange life jackets for younger children; tell us their ages when you book.
- For peak dates, 20 December to 5 January, Onam, Christmas, New Year and long weekends, book two to three months ahead, when family travel peaks and the good family rooms go first.
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 2 or 3 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 2 or 3 |
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 4 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 4 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 5 |
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 Grand Tour cover?
A Fort Kochi arrival night and heritage walk, two nights in Munnar for the waterfalls, boating and the Tea Museum, a night at Thekkady for the spice plantations and the Periyar Lake cruise, a full Kuttanad houseboat night, then a free beach day at Marari before the short drive back to Kochi. Hotels are on bed and breakfast, the houseboat night is on full board, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, with no drive longer than about four hours.
How do child rates work, and can we get family or connecting rooms?
Children below a set age are usually free when sharing existing bedding, and the age varies by property, so we confirm it per hotel when we quote. Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade and are re-quoted. Extra beds and single supplements are quoted separately too.
Is this itinerary comfortable for young children and elderly parents?
That is what the shape of it is for. Munnar gets two nights so there is no back-to-back driving, the houseboat night needs no walking, and the trip ends with a beach day at Marari about 25 minutes from Alleppey rather than a long transfer. The last morning is a short run to Kochi.
What is included?
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. Anything not named in the day plan is not included.
Are meals included on the houseboat night?
Yes. The houseboat night is served on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, all cooked on board. That is standard practice on Alleppey and Kumarakom houseboats, and the crew will cook milder food for children if you ask when you board. Every other night is on bed and breakfast.
Is a houseboat safe with kids on board?
Kerala houseboats run slowly through shallow canals and anchor for the night, and licensed boats carry life jackets. The realistic risk is a child leaning over an unfenced deck edge, so keep them within reach on the open decks. Tell us the ages at booking and we will ask for a boat with a more enclosed layout.
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.
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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