Kerala Golden Circuit — 5 Nights / 6 Days
The classic Kerala circuit is done at a comfortable pace, with a Fort Kochi arrival night added so your first day is a heritage walk rather than four hours in a car. Two nights in Munnar, one in Thekkady and a full houseboat night at Alleppey cover colonial trade history, tea estates, a spice plantation, the Periyar Lake cruise and the backwaters.
About this itinerary
This 5 nights and 6 days Kerala tour package runs from Kochi and covers Fort Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, based on a Fort Kochi arrival night, two nights in Munnar, one night in Thekkady and a full houseboat night. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi heritage walk, Day 2 climbs to Munnar past the Cheeyappara and Valara falls, Day 3 is a full Munnar sightseeing day, Day 4 moves to Thekkady for a spice plantation walk, Day 5 takes the Periyar Lake cruise and boards the houseboat at Alleppey, and Day 6 disembarks after breakfast for the Kochi drop.
The extra night compared with the four night version is what turns a tight schedule into a comfortable one, with the Kochi night saving your arrival day. Mattancherry Palace is closed on Fridays, so the Day 1 walk is planned around it when your dates fall that way.
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
Explore Fort Kochi: Five Centuries of Trade in One Walk
Pickup at Kochi airport or railway station and check in, then a Fort Kochi walk covering the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and Mattancherry Palace, which is closed on Fridays. An evening Kathakali show is optional and payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 to 1.5 hrs to Fort KochiStay: Fort Kochi - Day 2MunnarTransfer day
Munnar via the Cheeyappara and Valara Falls
Drive to Munnar with halts at the Cheeyappara and Valara falls, and the afternoon at Pothamedu viewpoint.
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 to 5 hrsStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 3MunnarSightseeing
Munnar Sightseeing: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
A full-day Munnar sightseeing covering Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, Top Station, the Tea Museum and Photo Point.
The highlight of this day is Top Station early, before the mist rolls in and swallows the view.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Full day local sightseeingStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 4ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: Spice Plantations and an Evening of Kalari
Drive to Thekkady with a spice plantation walk at Kumily, and an optional evening Kathakali and Kalaripayattu show.
The highlight of this day is a cardamom pod picked and cracked on the spot, which smells almost citrusy.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 to 4 hrsStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 5AlleppeyHouseboat night
Boarding the Houseboat at Alleppey
An early Periyar Lake cruise, then the drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat, with all meals on board.
The highlight of this day is anchoring for sunset in a canal, with dinner cooked on board.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 to 5 hrsStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 6Departure
Disembarking and the Onward Drive
Disembark after breakfast, then the drive to Kochi for the airport or railway station drop.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
- 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.
- Mattancherry Palace is closed on Fridays, so the Day 1 Fort Kochi walk is planned around it when your dates fall that way.
- The evening Kathakali show at Fort Kochi, and the Kathakali and Kalaripayattu show at Thekkady, are optional and payable directly.
- Seats on the Periyar Lake boats are limited, so our team books your cruise ahead of the travel date rather than leaving it in the morning.
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 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.
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Questions about this package
What does the Kerala Golden Circuit package cover?
A Fort Kochi arrival night and heritage walk, two nights in Munnar with a full sightseeing day, a night in Thekkady with a spice plantation walk, and a full houseboat night at Alleppey with the Periyar Lake cruise, ending back at Kochi. Hotels, the houseboat on full board, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing and the entry tickets named in the day plan are included.
What is included in the package?
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. On the land nights the plan is BB (CP), so breakfast only.
Why does the trip start with a night in Kochi instead of driving straight to Munnar?
Because it saves your arrival day. Most flights land in Kochi through the day, and driving on to Munnar means four hours in a car before you see anything. With the Kochi night in front, Day 1 is a walk through Fort Kochi and a Kathakali show, and the climb to Munnar happens fresh the next morning. This is the single biggest difference between the five night version and the four night one.
Do we need to book the Periyar Lake cruise in advance?
No, our team arranges it for you. The cruise is included in the package and sits early on Day 5, before the drive to Alleppey. Seats on the Periyar boats are limited, so we book ahead of your travel date rather than leaving it in the morning.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Customization option is available. The room category and meal plan stay open, upgrades to deluxe, 4-star or premium and to MAP or AP are re-quoted, and the package works with or without flights.
How do I book, and what happens if I cancel?
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. Dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days written notice, subject to availability. Inside 30 days the package amount is retained in full.
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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