Kerala Grand Family Holiday — 9 Nights / 10 Days
A joint-family loop out of Kochi and back, so flights stay simple: two Kochi nights, the Athirappilly falls, two nights each at Munnar and Thekkady, a full board houseboat night and a free beach afternoon at Marari, with no single drive over four hours. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets and daily breakfast are included.
About this itinerary
This 9 nights and 10 days Kerala family tour package covers Kochi, Athirappilly, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Marari, based on two Kochi nights, an Athirappilly night, two nights each at Munnar and Thekkady, a full board houseboat night and a night at Marari. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi walk, Day 2 is Mattancherry with a Wonderla or mall option for the children, Day 3 is the Athirappilly falls, Day 4 climbs to Munnar, Day 5 is the Munnar tea hills, Day 6 is the Thekkady spice plantations, Day 7 is the Periyar Lake cruise, Day 8 is the Kuttanad houseboat, Day 9 is a free beach afternoon at Marari, and Day 10 is the drive back to Kochi for the drop.
The pacing is the point with grandparents and small children in the group: the longest single drive is under four hours, four two-night halts mean you unpack once and day-trip out, and the second Kochi night gives Fort Kochi, the Folklore Museum and a Wonderla or mall day if the children have had enough heritage. Book by September for the December and January window, because the good family properties, the ones with connecting rooms and space for a joint family, go first.
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 Kochi and a Fort Kochi Evening Walk
A private pickup and check in, then Fort Kochi's fishing nets, Marine Drive and an optional evening Kathakali show.
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 2KochiSightseeing
Mattancherry, the Folklore Museum and a Day for the Children
Mattancherry Palace and Jew Town, the Kerala Folklore Museum, and a Wonderla or Lulu Mall option for the children in place of more heritage.
The highlight of this day is the murals inside Mattancherry Palace, painted in vegetable dye and still vivid.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: KochiBreakfast included - Day 3AthirappillySightseeing
Athirappilly and Vazhachal Waterfalls
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 4MunnarTransfer day
Up to Munnar Through the Waterfall Country
The drive to Munnar, 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 hrs to MunnarStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 5MunnarSightseeing
Munnar: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
A full day around Munnar covering Mattupetty Dam boating, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, the Tata 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 6ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: A Spice Plantation Walk and an Evening of Kalari
The drive to Thekkady, a spice plantation walk and an optional 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 hrs to ThekkadyStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 7ThekkadySightseeing
A Periyar Lake Cruise and the Kumily Market
An early Periyar Lake boat cruise, then bamboo rafting or a nature walk, payable direct, and 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 8AlleppeyHouseboat night
A Full Board Houseboat Night on the Kuttanad Backwaters
The drive to Alleppey to board a private houseboat, with all meals served on board as it cruises Kuttanad.
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 Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 9MarariFree day
Off the Houseboat to a Free Afternoon at Marari Beach
Breakfast on board and disembarkation, a short drive to Marari and a free beach afternoon.
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 10Departure
A Relaxed Final Morning and the Drive Back to Kochi
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 Kochi, then dropBreakfast 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 | 2 | 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. Upgrades to deluxe, 4-star or premium category, to family rooms, connecting rooms or two-bedroom cottages, and to MAP or AP, are re-quoted.
- Child rates apply and children are usually free below a set age when sharing existing bedding, which varies by property. Tell us your children's ages at enquiry and we will confirm it in writing.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing, land only. The Day 8 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.
- The Day 2 Wonderla or mall visit is an option in place of more heritage sightseeing, so tell us at booking which way you want the day to go and we will confirm what falls inside the quote and what is payable direct.
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 or 2 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Kochi — Day 1 or 2 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Munnar — Day 4 or 5 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 4 or 5 |
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 6 or 7 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 6 or 7 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 8 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Marari — Day 9 |
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 Grand Family Holiday package cover?
Two Kochi nights, the Athirappilly falls, two nights each at Munnar and Thekkady, a full board Kuttanad houseboat night and a free beach afternoon at Marari, in one loop out of Kochi and back so flights stay simple. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets and daily breakfast are included, and the longest single drive on the whole route stays under four hours.
Is this ten day itinerary comfortable for young children and grandparents?
That is exactly what it is built for. The longest single drive stays under four hours, Munnar and Thekkady each get two nights so you unpack once and day-trip out, and Kochi gets two nights at the start to settle in after the flight. Day 9 keeps the afternoon free at Marari beach, so nobody is rushed near the end of the trip.
What are the room options for a family of four or more?
Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available as an upgrade and are re-quoted. Extra bed, child with bed and child without bed are priced separately. Children usually go free below a set age when sharing existing bedding, though the cut-off varies by property, so send us their ages at enquiry and we will confirm the position for your group in writing.
Is the Wonderla or mall day on Day 2 included?
It is offered as an option on the second Kochi day, in place of more heritage sightseeing. Entry tickets are included for what is named in the day-by-day itinerary, so tell us at booking which way you want Day 2 to go and we will confirm what falls inside the quote and what is payable direct, before you commit to anything.
What is included on the houseboat night?
Day 8 is a Kuttanad houseboat on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and the next morning's breakfast. That is the standard on Alleppey and Kumarakom boats, and it is usually the day the children remember most. Every other night on this trip is on bed and breakfast, room plus daily breakfast, twin sharing, land only.
When should we book for the December and January school holidays?
Book by September. The good family properties, the ones with connecting rooms and space for a joint family, go first, and what is left in November tends to be a compromise. Rates also move across 20 December to 5 January, and peak-date bookings can carry stricter hotel cancellation terms, which we confirm to you in writing at the time of booking.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Customization option is available, with or without flights. Room category, family room configuration and meal plan stay open, nights can be shifted between stops, and the loop can be shortened or extended. 50% of the package amount confirms the booking and the balance is due before departure or on arrival. Send us your dates and group size and we will re-quote.
Similar itineraries
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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