Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Backwater Break — 3 Nights / 4 Days
Two unhurried nights at Kumarakom put the bird sanctuary at first light, Aruvikkuzhi waterfall and Pathiramanal Island within easy reach before you move on. Day 3 transfers to Alleppey for a full board houseboat night through the Kuttanad paddy belt, the quieter way to see the backwaters away from the Alleppey crowds.
About this itinerary
This 3 nights and 4 days package covers Kumarakom and Alleppey from Kochi, based on two nights at Kumarakom and one on a houseboat. Day 1 drives to Kumarakom for a sunset shikara ride, Day 2 is the bird sanctuary at first light with Aruvikkuzhi waterfall and Pathiramanal Island by boat, Day 3 transfers to Alleppey to board the houseboat for a cruise through the Kuttanad paddy belt, and Day 4 disembarks after breakfast for the drive to Kochi.
The pacing keeps two nights at Kumarakom before the houseboat, so the sanctuary, the island and an unhurried second morning are not rushed. Pathiramanal is reached only by boat and access depends on the water level, so we check conditions on the day.
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, check in and an evening 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 hrsStay: Kumarakom - Day 2KumarakomSightseeing
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at First Light
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary at first light, then Aruvikkuzhi waterfall and Pathiramanal Island by boat, with an optional afternoon Ayurveda spa payable directly.
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 3AlleppeyHouseboat night
Boarding the Houseboat at Alleppey
Transfer to Alleppey and board the houseboat for a cruise through the Kuttanad paddy belt, with all meals cooked on board.
The highlight of this day is lunch cooked on board as you move out into Vembanad Lake.
Transfer: HouseboatTransfer duration: About 1 to 1.5 hrsStay: AlleppeyBreakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Dinner included - Day 4Departure
Disembarking and the Onward Drive
Disembark after breakfast, then the drive to Kochi for the drop.
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumarakom | 2 | Arcadia Magnet | |
| Alleppey | 1 | Alappuzha Boat house | AC bedroom, 21:00–06:00 |
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. 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 on Day 3 and disembark after breakfast on Day 4. 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.
- Pathiramanal Island is reached only by boat and access depends on the water level. We check conditions on the day and tell you before you set out. If the crossing is not on, the morning stays with the sanctuary and Aruvikkuzhi waterfall.
- The afternoon Ayurveda spa session on Day 2 is optional and payable directly or can be included as an Add on. We confirm what your quote covers before you pay.
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 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 Bird Sanctuary and Backwater Break cover?
Two unhurried nights at Kumarakom for the bird sanctuary at first light, Aruvikkuzhi waterfall and Pathiramanal Island, then a full board houseboat night through the Kuttanad paddy belt before the drive back to Kochi.
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.
When is the best time to visit Kumarakom for birds?
November to March. That window brings the migratory arrivals and the calmest water, and it is the one we recommend without hesitation. Outside it you still get the residents, the darters, herons and kingfishers, but the sanctuary is quieter in every sense.
Can we always visit Pathiramanal Island?
Not always. Pathiramanal is a small island in Vembanad Lake reached only by boat, and access depends on the water level. We check conditions on the day and tell you before you set out rather than after. If the crossing is not on, the morning stays with the sanctuary and Aruvikkuzhi waterfall.
How is Kumarakom different from Alleppey?
Kumarakom is quieter and better for birds. It sits on the eastern bank of Vembanad Lake as a cluster of small islands reclaimed in the late 1800s, and the pace is slower. Alleppey is the houseboat capital and busier on the water. This plan gives you two nights of the first and one night of the second.
Is the Ayurveda massage included?
The afternoon Ayurveda session sits inside the Day 2 plan. Ayurveda treatments and spa are otherwise outside the quoted price, so we confirm in writing exactly what your quote covers before you pay anything.
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