Kerala Grand Tour: Kochi to Kanyakumari — 7 Nights / 8 Days
The classic Kerala week, Fort Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and an Alleppey houseboat, with two nights at Kovalam so the day trip to Kanyakumari never feels rushed. Hotels, a full-board houseboat night, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets, daily breakfast and the Tamil Nadu inter-state permit are included.
About this itinerary
This 7 nights and 8 days Kerala tour package covers Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam and Kanyakumari, based on a Fort Kochi arrival night, two nights in Munnar, a Thekkady night, an Alleppey houseboat night and two nights at Kovalam. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi heritage walk, Day 2 climbs to Munnar through the waterfall country, Day 3 is a full day of Munnar sightseeing, Day 4 is the Thekkady spice walk, Day 5 is the Periyar cruise and the Alleppey houseboat, Day 6 drives to Kovalam, Day 7 is the day trip to Kanyakumari, and Day 8 is a Trivandrum heritage morning before the drop.
The Kanyakumari day is what separates this week from every other Kerala circuit, and the two Kovalam nights are what stop it turning into a long day in a car. Kanyakumari is in Tamil Nadu, so an inter-state permit applies, and it is built into the vehicle cost rather than added later. The ferry queues to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial get long on weekends and holidays, so we start early rather than lose the morning in line.
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
Fort Kochi Arrival and a Walk Through Old Cochin
Pickup at Kochi and check in, then a Fort Kochi and Mattancherry heritage walk, with an optional evening Kathakali show payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, believed to have reached Kochi in the 15th century.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 to 1.5 hrs from Kochi airportStay: Kochi - Day 2MunnarTransfer day
Kochi to Munnar, Up the Waterfall Road
The drive to Munnar with waterfall halts, and an afternoon at the 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 hrs to MunnarStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 3MunnarSightseeing
A Full Day in the Munnar Tea Country
A full day of Munnar sightseeing covering Mattupetty, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, Top Station, and the Tea Museum and Photo Point.
The highlight of this day is Top Station early, before the mist covers the view.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 4ThekkadyTransfer day
Munnar to Thekkady and a Spice Plantation Walk
The drive to Thekkady and a spice plantation walk, with an optional evening of Kathakali and Kalaripayattu payable directly.
The highlight of this day is a therapeutic walk through the spice plantation.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 to 4 hrs to ThekkadyStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 5AlleppeyHouseboat night
Periyar Cruise, Then a Kuttanad Houseboat Night
An early Periyar Lake boat cruise, the drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat, and 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 to 5 hrs to AlleppeyStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 6KovalamTransfer day
Off the Houseboat and South to Kovalam Beach
Disembark after breakfast, then the drive to Kovalam and sunset at Lighthouse Beach.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 5 hours to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 7KovalamSightseeing
Kovalam Day Trip to Kanyakumari's Three Seas
An early start for Kanyakumari, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue, the three-seas confluence, then the return to Kovalam.
The highlight of this day is standing at the southern tip of mainland India, with the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean in front of you.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Full day excursion to KanyakumariStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 8Departure
A Trivandrum Heritage Morning Before the Drop
A Trivandrum city round, then the drop at the airport or railway station.
The highlight of this day is Kuthiramalika Palace, with 122 carved wooden horses running along the eaves.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleBreakfast 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 |
| Kovalam | 2 | Hotel Beach Flora Inn |
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 from standard to deluxe, 4-star or premium, and from BB 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 5 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.
- Kanyakumari is in Tamil Nadu, so an inter-state permit applies. It is already built into the vehicle cost and is not added to your bill later.
- The ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial gets long queues on weekends and holidays, so we start the Kanyakumari day early to get on an earlier boat and keep the afternoon free.
- The trip starts at Kochi and ends with a Trivandrum drop on Day 8, so an open-jaw booking saves a long drive back north on the last day.
- 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 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 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 6 or 7 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 6 or 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 Grand Tour Kochi to Kanyakumari package cover?
A Fort Kochi heritage walk, two nights in Munnar for the tea hills, a Thekkady spice walk, an Alleppey houseboat night on full board, and two nights at Kovalam with a full day trip to Kanyakumari, from a Kochi pickup to a Trivandrum drop. Stays are on bed and breakfast with the houseboat night on full board, a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, and the Tamil Nadu inter-state permit is included.
Is Kanyakumari included in this Kerala tour package, and is there an extra permit charge?
Yes, Day 7 is a full day trip to Kanyakumari from Kovalam, covering the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the Thiruvalluvar Statue and the three-seas confluence. Kanyakumari sits in Tamil Nadu, so an inter-state permit applies. We build that permit into the vehicle cost rather than adding it to your bill on the road.
Why do you start so early on Kanyakumari day?
The ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is the bottleneck. Queues get long on weekends and holidays, and a late start can cost you the whole morning standing in line. Leaving Kovalam early gets you on an earlier boat and leaves the afternoon free.
What meals are included?
Every hotel night is on bed and breakfast, room plus daily breakfast. The Day 5 houseboat night is full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, all cooked on board, which is standard practice on Alleppey and Kumarakom houseboats. Other lunches and dinners are on you, unless you upgrade the meal plan to MAP or AP.
Is eight days enough for Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Kanyakumari?
Eight days is the shortest length that fits Kanyakumari without cutting something else. Munnar keeps two nights, Thekkady and the houseboat stay whole, and Kovalam gets two nights so the Tamil Nadu day trip is a day trip and not a marathon. Squeeze the same route into a week and the Kanyakumari leg turns into a 14-hour day.
Should we fly into Kochi and out of Trivandrum?
Yes. The trip starts at Kochi and ends with a Trivandrum drop on Day 8, so an open-jaw booking saves you a long drive back north on the last day. Booking a return into Kochi means giving up the final morning to the road.
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