Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kochi Backwater Trail — 3 Nights / 4 Days
Three nights give a family three different backwater experiences without a rushed pace: a lakeside night at Kumarakom, a full board houseboat night through the Kuttanad canals, and a Kochi night for Fort Kochi and Marine Drive. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is best walked at first light on Day 2, with migratory arrivals from November to March.
About this itinerary
This 3 nights and 4 days package covers Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kochi from Kochi. Day 1 drives to Kumarakom for a sunset shikara ride on Vembanad Lake, Day 2 walks the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at first light before boarding a houseboat at Alleppey by midday, Day 3 disembarks after breakfast for Alleppey Beach and the Punnapra coir village then drives to Kochi, and Day 4 is a Fort Kochi and Mattancherry heritage walk before the drop.
The pacing spreads three water experiences across three nights so nothing is rushed, and boards the houseboat by midday so you get the full afternoon cruise and dinner on board. Houseboat decks are open with low railings, so we brief families before boarding and arrange life jackets.
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 1KumarakomArrival day
Kumarakom and Vembanad Lake
Kochi pickup and the drive to Kumarakom, then a sunset shikara ride on Vembanad Lake and an overnight lakeside.
The highlight of this day is the sunset shikara ride, when the lake goes completely still.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrsStay: Kumarakom - Day 2AlleppeyHouseboat night
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in the morning
An early Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary walk, then the drive to Alleppey to board the houseboat around midday for a canal cruise through Kuttanad, with all meals cooked on board.
The highlight of this day is darters, herons and kingfishers at dawn, with migratory arrivals from November to March.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1 to 1.5 hrs to Alleppey, then cruiseStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 3KochiTransfer day
Disembarking and the Onward Drive
Disembark after breakfast, then Alleppey Beach and the coir village at Punnapra, before the drive to Kochi and an evening at Lulu Mall or Marine Drive.
The highlight of this day is breakfast on the water before you step back onto land.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 to 2 hrs to KochiStay: KochiBreakfast included - Day 4Departure
Fort Kochi: Five Centuries of Trade in One Walk
A Fort Kochi and Mattancherry heritage walk, then the drop at Kochi airport or railway station.
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: 1 hr 20 minsBreakfast 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumarakom | 1 | Arcadia Magnet | |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
| Kochi | 1 | Emerald Inn | Deluxe, twin sharing |
Notes
- This package is available with or without flights. To add flights or trains, call us for current fares.
- Customization option is available.
- Child rates apply. Extra bed, child with or without bed and single supplement are quoted separately, and children below a set age usually stay free sharing existing bedding, which we confirm per property.
- 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. A full meal plan or an all-inclusive plan can be arranged on request. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- You board the houseboat around midday on Day 2 and disembark after breakfast on Day 3. Alleppey and Kumarakom houseboats cruise through the day and anchor by around 5.30 pm under state rules, so the boat is moored for the night rather than cruising after dark.
- Houseboat decks are open with low railings. We brief you before boarding and arrange life jackets, and ask that small children are not left on deck unsupervised.
- The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is best walked at first light, and November to March adds migratory arrivals to the resident darters, herons and kingfishers.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alleppey shikara cruise | ₹800-1000 per person | Alleppey — Day 2 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kochi — Day 3 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Kochi — Day 3 |
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 Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kochi Backwater Trail cover?
Three different backwater experiences in three nights: a lakeside night at Kumarakom with a sunset shikara ride, a full board houseboat night through the Kuttanad canals, and a Kochi night for Fort Kochi and Marine Drive. Day 2 also has the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at first light.
What is included in the price?
Hotel 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. Air and rail fare, lunch and dinner on the land days, and anything not named in the day-by-day itinerary are not included.
Is a Kerala houseboat safe for a family with toddlers?
Houseboat decks are open and the railings are low, which catches parents out. We brief you before boarding and arrange life jackets, and we ask that small children are not left on deck unsupervised. Beyond that the boat moves slowly through canals, so it is an easy day for children.
What meals do we get on the houseboat?
Full board, which on Alleppey and Kumarakom houseboats means a welcome drink on boarding, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and breakfast the next morning. Everything is cooked on board. On the land days the quote covers breakfast only.
When is the best time for the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary?
November to March, when migratory arrivals join the resident darters, herons and kingfishers. Walk it at first light on Day 2 rather than later in the morning. The sanctuary is worth doing outside that window too, but you will be watching residents rather than migrants.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Customization option is available. The room category and meal plan stay open, upgrades to deluxe, 4-star or premium and to MAP or AP are re-quoted, and the package works with or without flights.
How do I book, and can I cancel?
50% of the package amount confirms the booking, and the balance is due before departure or on arrival. Payment is by bank wire transfer to our account. Dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice, subject to availability. Inside 30 days the package amount is retained in full.
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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