Kerala Slow Travel Retreat — 9 Nights / 10 Days
Kochi, Kumarakom, a houseboat night, Marari, Varkala and Kovalam down the coast and backwater belt, with three nights at Kumarakom and two at Marari so you unpack once and keep the afternoons free. Hotels, a houseboat on full board, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing and entry tickets are included, with short transfers and no hill climbs on the route.
About this itinerary
This 9 nights and 10 days tour package covers Kochi, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Marari, Varkala and Kovalam, based on a Kochi arrival night, three nights at Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, a full board houseboat night through Kuttanad, two nights at Marari beach, and a night each at Varkala and Kovalam. Day 1 is Fort Kochi, Days 2 to 4 are Kumarakom and the bird sanctuary, Day 5 is the houseboat, Days 6 and 7 are Marari, Day 8 is Varkala's North Cliff, Day 9 runs down to Kovalam, and Day 10 is the Trivandrum drop.
The route stays on the coastal and backwater side of the state, so the transfers are short and there are no ghat roads or hill climbs. The pacing is built around rest: you unpack once at Kumarakom and once at Marari, and Days 4 and 7 are deliberately free, with nothing scheduled on them.
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 Fort Kochi and a Heritage Walk
Pickup at Kochi and check in, then a Fort Kochi walk through five centuries of trade, with a light dinner and an early night.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, believed to have arrived in Kochi in the 15th century.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs from Kochi airportStay: Kochi - Day 2KumarakomTransfer day
Transfer to Kumarakom and a Sunset Shikara Ride
The drive to Kumarakom, check in for a free afternoon, and a sunset shikara ride on Vembanad Lake.
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 hrs to KumarakomStay: KumarakomBreakfast included - Day 3KumarakomSightseeing
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at First Light
An early start for the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary walk, with the rest of the day free at Kumarakom.
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 4KumarakomSightseeing
Pathiramanal Island and a Free Lakeside Afternoon
Pathiramanal Island by boat across Vembanad Lake, then a free lakeside afternoon.
The highlight of this day is Pathiramanal Island, reached by boat across Vembanad Lake.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: KumarakomBreakfast included - Day 5AlleppeyHouseboat night
Boarding the Houseboat on Vembanad Lake
Transfer to Alleppey to board the houseboat, with a light Kerala menu on request and all meals on board.
The highlight of this day is lunch cooked on board as you move out into Vembanad Lake.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 1 hr to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 6MarariTransfer day
Disembark and Settle in at Marari Beach
Disembark after breakfast, a short drive to Marari, and time to rest on the beach.
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 7MarariFree day
A Free Beach Day at Marari
A free beach day, with an optional walk through the coir village and fishing hamlet.
The highlight of this day is a whole day with nothing scheduled on it, which is the point of this trip.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: Full day at leisureStay: MarariBreakfast included - Day 8VarkalaTransfer day
Drive to Varkala and the North Cliff Sunset
Drive south to Varkala, a stop at Sivagiri Mutt, and sunset from the North Cliff.
The highlight of this day is sunset from the cliff path, the best free view on the Kerala coast.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 to 3.5 hrs to VarkalaStay: VarkalaBreakfast included - Day 9KovalamTransfer day
Papanasam Beach, Kappil Lake and Kovalam
Papanasam Beach in the morning, the drive to Kovalam, and the Lighthouse Beach sunset.
The highlight of this day is Kappil Lake, where the backwater runs a few metres from the sea with only a strip of sand between them.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs to KovalamStay: KovalamBreakfast included - Day 10Departure
Relaxed Final Morning and Trivandrum Drop
A slow final morning, then the transfer 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 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 | 3 | Arcadia Magnet | |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Marari | 2 | Estella Marari Beach Villa | |
| Varkala | 1 | Black Beach 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 from standard to deluxe, 4-star or premium resort category 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.
- October to March suits this route best: the driest weather for the beach days at Marari and Kovalam, the clearest mornings at Kumarakom, and the bird sanctuary at its best from November to March when the migratory arrivals come in.
- Ayurveda treatments, yoga and spa sit outside the package. If a resort on your route offers them, they are booked and paid directly.
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 5 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Marari — Day 6 or 7 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — Day 9 |
| Yoga sessions | ₹999/- onwards | Kovalam — 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.
Traveller reviews — 4.9 average from 412 trips
Questions about this package
What does the Kerala Slow Travel Retreat cover?
A Fort Kochi arrival night, three nights at Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, a full board houseboat night through Kuttanad, two nights at Marari beach, and a night each at Varkala and Kovalam, ending with a Trivandrum drop. Stays are on bed and breakfast with the houseboat on full board, a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing, and our Kerala team is reachable 24x7.
Does this package include Ayurveda treatments or yoga?
No. This is a stay, transfers and sightseeing package. Ayurveda treatments, yoga and spa sit outside it, so if a resort on your route offers them you would book and pay direct. We would rather list what we actually run than pad the page, and our team can point you to properties known for good treatment centres, if that matters to you.
Is ten days too long for six places?
That depends on how you count. Three of the ten nights are at Kumarakom and two at Marari, so it is really five bases, not six stops. Days 4 and 7 are deliberately light, and the transfers stay short because the whole route runs down the coastal and backwater side of the state, with no ghat roads or hill climbs.
What is included on the houseboat night?
Day 5 is a Kuttanad houseboat on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast. That is the standard on Alleppey and Kumarakom boats, and a light Kerala menu is available on request. Every other night on the trip is bed and breakfast, which is room plus daily breakfast, with lunch and dinner on you.
When is the best time to do this trip?
October to March gives the driest weather for the beach days at Marari and Kovalam and the clearest mornings at Kumarakom. The bird sanctuary is at its best from November to March, when the migratory arrivals come in. Monsoon travel costs less, but the beach days are the ones that suffer, so we usually steer travellers to the dry window.
Is this trip suitable for a solo traveller?
It works well solo, since the structure is short transfers, free afternoons and long halts rather than group sightseeing. Prices are quoted per person on twin sharing, so a single supplement applies and is quoted separately. Tell us at enquiry and we will price it properly rather than simply doubling the twin rate, which is what padding a solo quote usually means.
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. Send us your dates and we will hold the resorts and the houseboat before you 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