Kerala Slow Trail: Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kovalam — 6 Nights / 7 Days
A Fort Kochi night, two nights at Kumarakom, a full houseboat night through Kuttanad and two nights at Kovalam, only four stops in seven days so far less time in the car. Days at Kumarakom and Kovalam are left open, with a sunset shikara ride, the bird sanctuary at first light and Pathiramanal Island by boat along the way.
About this itinerary
This 6 nights and 7 days tour package covers Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kovalam, based on a Fort Kochi night, two nights at Kumarakom, a full houseboat night through Kuttanad and two nights at Kovalam. Day 1 is a Fort Kochi walk, Day 2 moves to Kumarakom for a sunset shikara ride, Day 3 is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at first light and Pathiramanal Island, Day 4 boards the houseboat at Alleppey, Day 5 disembarks and drives south to Kovalam, Day 6 is a free beach day, and Day 7 is the Trivandrum drop.
Only four stops in seven days is the point, fewer than most Kerala packages of this length, which means whole days with nothing scheduled against them. The one thing to be clear about is that there is no hill station on this route, so for tea estates and cold mornings take one of our Munnar itineraries instead.
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, the Fort Kochi walk and an evening free.
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: Airport pickup, then Fort Kochi sightseeingStay: Kochi - Day 2KumarakomTransfer day
Kumarakom and Vembanad Lake
The drive to Kumarakom and check in, an afternoon free at the resort/hotel and a sunset shikara ride.
The highlight of this day is the sunset shikara ride, when the lake goes completely still.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 hrsStay: KumarakomBreakfast included - Day 3KumarakomSightseeing
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at First Light
An early morning at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Pathiramanal Island by boat and the rest of the day free.
The highlight of this day is darters, herons and kingfishers at dawn, with migratory arrivals from November to March.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: KumarakomBreakfast included - Day 4AlleppeyHouseboat night
Boarding the Houseboat at Alleppey
Transfer to Alleppey and board the houseboat, a cruise through Kuttanad and all meals on board, with a light Kerala menu on request.
The highlight of this day is lunch cooked on board as you move out into Vembanad Lake.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs to AlleppeyStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 5KovalamTransfer day
Disembarking and the Onward Drive
Disembark after breakfast, drive south to Kovalam and an evening at rest.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 to 4 hrs to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 6KovalamFree day
A Slow Day at Kovalam - Free Day
Free beach time at Hawa Beach and nothing else scheduled.
The highlight of this day is an unhurried day with nothing booked around it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 7Departure
Departure
The Trivandrum drop after a relaxed final morning.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 45 mins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi | 1 | Emerald Inn | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Kumarakom | 2 | Arcadia Magnet | |
| 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.
- 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.
- Ayurveda sessions at certified centres can be added to the free days at Kumarakom or Kovalam on request, and are quoted separately.
- There is no hill station on this route. For tea estates and spice plantations, ask about our Munnar and Thekkady itineraries instead.
- Migratory arrivals at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary are from November to March; the Day 3 walk is set for first light, when the birds are most active in any month.
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 |
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 4 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 5 or 6 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 5 or 6 |
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 Slow Trail tour package cover?
A Fort Kochi night, two nights at Kumarakom, a full houseboat night through the Kuttanad canals and two nights at Kovalam, with the Trivandrum drop on Day 7. Only four stops in seven days, so far less time in the car. Land nights are on bed and breakfast, the houseboat night is on full board, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, with 24x7 on-ground assistance from our team in Kerala.
Is there a hill station on this itinerary?
No. This route stays on the backwaters and the coast, so there is no Munnar or Thekkady leg. That is deliberate, and it is why you spend so little time in the car. If tea estates and spice plantations are what you came for, ask us about our Munnar and Thekkady itineraries instead.
What is included in the package?
Hotel or resort 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 on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, all cooked on board, and a light Kerala menu is available on request. On the land nights the plan is BB (CP), so breakfast only.
When is the best time to do this trip for birdwatching?
November to March, if the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a priority. That is when the migratory arrivals are in. The sanctuary walk on Day 3 is set for first light, which is when darters, herons and kingfishers are most active regardless of month.
Can we add Ayurveda treatments?
Yes. Days 3 and 6 are deliberately open, and Ayurveda sessions at certified centres can be slotted into them at Kumarakom or Kovalam. These are quoted separately once you tell us what you want.
Can this itinerary be customised, and how do we book?
Customization option is available, and the package works with or without flights. 50% of the package amount confirms the booking, with the balance 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