Kerala Slow Romance: Hills, Houseboat and Island — 9 Nights / 10 Days
A slow ten days for couples who find the standard circuit exhausting: two nights in a Wayanad treehouse or pool villa, two in Munnar, a private houseboat, a night at Marari, two nights on a Poovar island resort reached only by boat, and a Kovalam finish. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing are included, and honeymoon extras like room decoration, candlelight dinners and couple Ayurveda sessions are arranged.
About this itinerary
This 9 nights and 10 days honeymoon package covers Wayanad, Munnar, Alleppey, Marari, Poovar and Kovalam, based on two nights in Wayanad, two nights in Munnar, a private houseboat night, a Marari night, two nights on a Poovar island and a Kovalam night. Day 1 arrives in Wayanad, Day 2 is the Edakkal Caves and Wayanad sights, Day 3 crosses to Munnar, Day 4 is the Munnar tea hills, Day 5 is a private houseboat on Vembanad Lake, Day 6 is quiet Marari, Day 7 is the boat transfer to the Poovar island resort, Day 8 is the Poovar estuary and sand bar, Day 9 is lively Kovalam, and Day 10 is the Trivandrum drop.
The pacing is the point: two-night halts in Wayanad, Munnar and Poovar mean you unpack three times instead of eight, and only the Poovar cruise needs an alarm. The one honest note is that the Day 3 run from Wayanad to Munnar is close to seven hours, so we offer a Kochi overnight split that breaks it into two easier halves, and most couples take it. Carry a copy of your marriage certificate, since resorts that give honeymoon rooms and decoration often ask to see it at check in.
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 1WayanadArrival day
Arrival in Wayanad and the Lakkidi Viewpoint
A private pickup at Kochi or Kozhikode, the drive up into Wayanad, and check in to a treehouse or pool villa.
The highlight of this day is the Lakkidi viewpoint, where the whole ghat you have just climbed falls away behind you.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2.5 hrs from Kozhikode airportStay: Wayanad - Day 2WayanadSightseeing
Wayanad: Edakkal Caves, Waterfalls and Banasura Dam
A full day around Wayanad covering the Soochipara waterfalls, the Edakkal Caves and the Banasura Sagar Dam, then a candlelight dinner.
The highlight of this day is the rock carvings inside Edakkal, cut into the stone thousands of years before anything else you will see on this trip.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: WayanadBreakfast included - Day 3MunnarTransfer day
Across to Munnar Through the Waterfall Country
The long drive to Munnar, or the Kochi overnight split if you prefer, then check in to your honeymoon suite with the evening free.
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 7 hrs to Munnar, or a Kochi overnight splitStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 4MunnarSightseeing
Munnar: Dams, Viewpoints and a Tea Estate Walk
Mattupetty, Echo Point and a Kundala Lake shikara ride, Top Station, a private tea estate walk and a candlelight dinner.
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 5AlleppeyHouseboat night
A Private Houseboat Night on Vembanad Lake
The drive to Alleppey to board a private houseboat through Kuttanad, with all meals served on board.
The highlight of this day is dinner served on the upper deck as the boat sits anchored for the night.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 4.5 hrs to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 6MarariFree day
Marari Beach, a Quiet Fishing Village
Disembark after breakfast on board, a short drive to Marari, a free beach afternoon and a couple Ayurveda massage.
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 7PoovarTransfer day
A Boat Transfer to the Poovar Island Resort
The drive south to Poovar and a boat transfer to the island resort, reached only by water.
The highlight of this day is arriving at the resort by boat, because there is no road in at all.
Transfer: Private AC vehicle and boatTransfer duration: About 3.5 hrs to Poovar, then boatStay: PoovarBreakfast included - Day 8PoovarFree day
The Poovar Estuary and the Golden Sand Bar
An estuary and golden sand bar cruise, a couple spa and a free afternoon at the resort.
The highlight of this day is the sand bar where the Neyyar river, the backwater and the Arabian Sea sit side by side.
Transfer: BoatTransfer duration: Full day at the island resortStay: PoovarBreakfast included - Day 9KovalamTransfer day
Kovalam and Sunset at the Arabian Sea
A boat transfer off the island, the drive to Kovalam, and a Lighthouse Beach sunset with a candlelight dinner.
The highlight of this day is sunset from below the Vizhinjam lighthouse, with the fishing boats coming in.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 hr to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 10Departure
A Relaxed Final Morning and Trivandrum Drop
A slow final morning, then the drive to Trivandrum 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 hr to TrivandrumBreakfast 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayanad | 2 | Hotel Bonita Banasura | |
| Munnar | 2 | Emerald Inn | Standard, twin sharing |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Marari | 1 | Estella Marari Beach Villa | |
| Poovar | 2 | Antalaya Island Resort | |
| Kovalam | 1 | 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 to a honeymoon suite or pool villa, and to a private houseboat, are re-quoted.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast. 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.
- Honeymoon extras like flower decoration, welcome cake, candlelight dinners and couple Ayurveda sessions are as per each property's policy.
- Resorts offering honeymoon inclusions may ask for a valid marriage certificate, so carry a copy.
- The Wayanad stay is a treehouse or pool villa subject to availability on your dates, and which of the two you get depends on the property confirmed at booking, so tell us your preference early.
- The Poovar island resort is reached only by boat, both in and out, and the transfer is included, so pack a small bag you can carry on and off a boat.
- The Day 3 Wayanad to Munnar drive is close to seven hours. We offer a Kochi overnight split that breaks it into two easier halves, so tell us at booking if you want it.
- Pickup is at Kochi or Kozhikode on Day 1 and the drop is at Trivandrum on Day 10, so you can book inbound and outbound flights into different cities and skip the backtrack.
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 | Wayanad — Day 1 or 2 |
| Ziplining, Wayanad | ₹400-1100/- per person | Wayanad — Day 1 or 2 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Munnar — Day 3 or 4 |
| Couple Ayurveda spa | ₹1,999/- per person | Munnar — Day 3 or 4 |
| Ziplining, Munnar | ₹450-600 per person | Munnar — Day 3 or 4 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 5 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Marari — Day 6 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 9 |
| Couple Ayurveda spa | ₹1,999/- per person | Kovalam — Day 9 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 9 |
| Cake / fruit basket (for honeymooners) | ₹500/350 | |
| Candlelight dinner (for couples) | ₹3,000/- | |
| Room decoration (for honeymooners) | ₹2000/- |
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 Slow Romance honeymoon package cover?
Two nights in a Wayanad treehouse or pool villa, two nights in Munnar, a private houseboat night on Vembanad Lake, a Marari beach night, two nights on a Poovar island resort reached only by boat, and a Kovalam finish, from a Kochi or Kozhikode pickup to a Trivandrum drop. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing and entry tickets are included, with honeymoon extras arranged.
How long is the Wayanad to Munnar drive on Day 3?
Close to seven hours, and we would rather you heard that from us than found out on the day. It is the one long stretch on an otherwise slow itinerary, so we offer a Kochi overnight split that breaks it into two easier halves, and most couples take it. Tell us at booking and we will build the split into your plan.
How do you reach the Poovar island resort?
By boat, because there is no road in. The transfer runs from the mainland jetty and is included both in and out, along with the estuary and golden sand bar cruise on Day 8. Pack a small bag you can carry on and off a boat and keep the heavy luggage simple, since everything crosses the water with you to the island and back.
What honeymoon inclusions come with the package?
Room decoration at each hotel, a welcome cake, candlelight dinners, two couple Ayurveda sessions, the private houseboat and the island resort boat transfers, arranged as per each property's honeymoon policy. Tell us at booking and we will confirm in writing what your chosen property provides. A honeymoon suite or pool villa and a larger houseboat are available as re-quoted upgrades.
Is the Wayanad treehouse or pool villa included, or is it an upgrade?
The Wayanad stay is a treehouse or pool villa as part of the package, subject to availability on your dates. Which of the two you get depends on the property confirmed at booking, so tell us your preference early and we will do our best to hold it. Room category upgrades elsewhere on the route are re-quoted separately, so tell us at the same time.
Is ten days too long to spend in only five places?
That is exactly the point of this one. Two nights each in Wayanad, Munnar and Poovar means unpacking three times instead of eight, and no morning spent loading a car before you have finished your coffee. If you would rather see more of Kerala in the same ten days, our Complete Kerala Honeymoon covers seven stops instead of five, at a faster pace.
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, and we will re-quote any change you ask for in writing before you finally commit.
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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