Kerala Wildlife, Waterfalls and Beaches — 9 Nights / 10 Days
Wayanad, Athirappilly, Munnar, Thekkady, a houseboat night and a Marari beach day, run north to south from Kozhikode to Kochi so nothing is retraced. Two-night bases at both hill stations and the one long transfer put early on Day 3 keep a ten-day family trip from wearing anyone down, with hotels, houseboat, private cabs, sightseeing and entry tickets included.
About this itinerary
This 9 nights and 10 days family tour package covers Wayanad, Athirappilly, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Marari, based on two nights at Wayanad, a riverside night at Athirappilly, two nights each at Munnar and Thekkady, a full board houseboat night and a Marari beach night. It runs north to south, flying into Kozhikode and out of Kochi, so nothing on the route is retraced.
Day 3, the run south from Wayanad to Athirappilly, is around six hours, and we put that one long transfer early while everyone is still fresh. Everything after it is short drives with two-night hill bases, which is what keeps a ten-day trip from wearing children and grandparents down.
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 at Kozhikode and the Climb to Wayanad
Pickup at Kozhikode and the climb to Wayanad up the Thamarassery ghat, with a stop at the Lakkidi viewpoint before checking in.
The highlight of this day is the valley opening up at Lakkidi after the ninth hairpin bend.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2 to 2.5 hrs from Kozhikode airportStay: Wayanad - Day 2WayanadSightseeing
Wayanad Sightseeing: Edakkal Caves and Waterfalls
Edakkal Caves, the Soochipara waterfalls, Pookode Lake and the Banasura Sagar Dam across a full Wayanad sightseeing day.
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 3AthirappillyTransfer day
The Long Drive South to Athirappilly Falls
The long drive south to Athirappilly, with the evening at the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls.
The highlight of this day is reaching Athirappilly in time for evening light on the falls.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 6 hrs to AthirappillyStay: AthirappillyBreakfast included - Day 4MunnarTransfer day
Charpa Falls and On to Munnar
Charpa waterfall in the morning, then towards Munnar and check-in.
The highlight of this day is reaching the falls early, before the day traffic arrives from Kochi.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 to 4 hrs to MunnarStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 5MunnarSightseeing
Munnar Sightseeing: Dams, Viewpoints and Tea Estates
Mattupetty and Echo Point, Kundala Lake and Top Station, then the Tea Museum and Photo Point.
The highlight of this day is Top Station early, before the mist closes in and takes the view with it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: MunnarBreakfast included - Day 6ThekkadyTransfer day
Drive to Thekkady and a Spice Plantation Walk
The drive to Thekkady, a spice plantation walk, and an evening cultural show.
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 to 4 hrs to ThekkadyStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 7ThekkadySightseeing
Periyar Lake Cruise and Kumily Market
A morning Periyar Lake boat cruise, then bamboo rafting (payable direct) or the guided nature walk, 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
Boarding the Houseboat on Kuttanad
The drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat, with all meals cooked 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 hrs to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 9MarariFree day
Disembark and Relax at Marari Beach
Disembark after breakfast, 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
Relaxed Final Morning and Kochi Drop
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 KochiBreakfast 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 | |
| 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.
- Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade. 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 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.
- 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.
- Day 3, the run south from Wayanad to Athirappilly, is around six hours, the one long transfer on the trip. It falls early, while everyone is fresh, and the two days after it are the shortest on the route.
- The waterfalls run hardest right after the monsoon, in September and October, though viewing platforms and river access can be restricted when the water is high, so we check the day's rules before we set out.
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 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.
Traveller reviews — 4.9 average from 412 trips
Questions about this package
What does the Kerala Wildlife, Waterfalls and Beaches tour cover?
Two nights at Wayanad, a riverside night at Athirappilly, two nights each in Munnar and Thekkady, a full board houseboat night on Kuttanad and a Marari beach night, run north to south from Kozhikode to Kochi. It covers Wayanad's caves and waterfalls, Munnar's tea country, the Thekkady spice walk and Periyar cruise, the houseboat and Marari, with a private AC vehicle and 24x7 Kerala support.
How long is the drive from Wayanad to Athirappilly on Day 3?
Around six hours, and it is the one long transfer on the trip. We say so upfront rather than letting families find out on the morning. It falls on Day 3, while everyone is still fresh, and the two days after it are the shortest on the route, so the long drive is behind you before the trip settles into its two-night hill halts.
Which airports does this itinerary use?
Kozhikode for arrival and Kochi for departure. That open-jaw routing is what lets the trip run north to south without doubling back on itself. If you would rather fly in and out of the same airport, tell us at enquiry and we will re-work the sequence so it still fits your flights, though the drive pattern will change a little.
Are the wildlife safaris and bamboo rafting included?
No. The Periyar Lake boat cruise on Day 7 is included, along with every other ride named in the day-by-day itinerary. Bamboo rafting, wildlife safaris and adventure activities are payable direct and sit outside the package. The guided nature walk is the gentler alternative on Day 7, and we can arrange the paid activities on request if you want them added.
What are the room options for a family of four?
Family rooms, connecting rooms and two-bedroom cottages are available as an upgrade and are re-quoted. Extra beds, 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 tell us the ages at enquiry and we will confirm the rate in writing.
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 next-morning breakfast. That is the standard on Alleppey and Kumarakom boats, all cooked fresh on board. Every other night on the trip is bed and breakfast, which is room plus daily breakfast, so other lunches and dinners are on you unless you upgrade the plan.
When is the best time to do this trip?
October to March gives the driest weather for the Wayanad sightseeing day, the Periyar cruise and the beach afternoon at Marari. The waterfalls run hardest right after the monsoon, in September and October, though platforms and river access can be restricted when the water is high, so we check the day's rules before we set out rather than promising a view.
Similar itineraries
Same region, different pace or budget.
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GroupKerala Slow Travel Retreat
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HoneymoonKerala Slow Romance: Hills, Houseboat and Island
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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