Offbeat Kerala: Athirappilly, Vagamon, Gavi and Thekkady — 6 Nights / 7 Days
A riverside night at Athirappilly, two nights in Vagamon, one night in Gavi and two at Thekkady. Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Charpa falls, the Vagamon meadows, a guided Gavi trek, the Periyar Lake cruise and a spice plantation walk, with hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing and entry tickets included.
About this itinerary
This 6 nights and 7 days Kerala tour package covers Athirappilly, Vagamon, Gavi and Thekkady, based on a riverside night at Athirappilly, two nights in Vagamon, one night in and two nights at Thekkady. Day 1 takes in the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, Day 2 sees Charpa falls before the drive to Vagamon, Day 3 covers the Vagamon meadows, Kurisumala and the Marmala waterfalls, Day 4 drives into the Gavi guided trek, Day 5 is the transfer to Thekkady, Day 6 takes the Periyar Lake cruise and a spice plantation walk, and Day 7 is the drive out to Kochi or Madurai.
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 1AthirappillyArrival day
Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls
Pickup at Kochi and the drive to Athirappilly for the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, with a riverside overnight.
The highlight of this day is Athirappilly at full volume, an 80 foot curtain of water on the Chalakudy river.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2 hrs from Kochi, then sightseeingStay: Athirappilly - Day 2VagamonTransfer day
Charpa Falls and Onward Through the Forest
Charpa falls in the morning, then the drive to Vagamon and an evening in the pine forest and meadows.
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 hrsStay: VagamonBreakfast included - Day 3VagamonSightseeing
Vagamon Meadows, Kurisumala and Marmala Falls
The Vagamon meadows, Kurisumala, the Marmala waterfalls and Vagamon Lake.
The highlight of this day is the open grassland above the pine plantations, with almost nobody else on it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: VagamonBreakfast included - Day 4GaviTransfer day
Exploring Gavi
The drive to Gavi through Peermade and the Ranni forest belt, a guided eco-tourism trek and lake activities.
The highlight of this day is that Gavi caps its visitor numbers daily, so the forest here stays genuinely quiet.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrs via PeermadeStay: GaviBreakfast included - Day 5ThekkadyTransfer day
Gavi Drive and Transfer to Thekkady
The Gavi morning drive, then the transfer to Thekkady and an optional evening cultural show.
The highlight of this day is the early drive out of Gavi, when elephant and Nilgiri langur sightings are most likely.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2.5 to 3 hrsStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 6ThekkadySightseeing
Periyar Lake Cruise and Spice Plantation Walk
The Periyar Lake boat cruise and a spice plantation walk, with a bamboo rafting option payable directly.
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 7Departure
Departure
The drive to Kochi or Madurai 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 4.5 to 5 hrs to Kochi or MaduraiBreakfast 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athirappilly | 1 | Aathira Agri-Homes | |
| Vagamon | 2 | Cherry Homes Vagamon | |
| Gavi | 1 | Bb Hotels Apartments | |
| Thekkady | 2 | Green view Homestay | 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.
- 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.
- Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- overnight, and the morning wildlife drive on Day 5.
- The drop on Day 7 can be at Kochi or Madurai, so you can fly out of Kochi or carry on into Tamil Nadu. Tell us which at the time of booking.
- Bamboo rafting at Thekkady is payable directly.
- This route is for repeat visitors and serious nature travellers. For a first Kerala trip, the classic Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey circuit gives more variety with less driving through forest belts.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 5 or 6 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — 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.
Traveller reviews — 4.9 average from 412 trips
Questions about this package
What does the Offbeat Kerala 6N/7D tour package cover?
A riverside night at Athirappilly for the Athirappilly and Vazhachal falls, two nights in Vagamon for the meadows, Kurisumala and the Marmala waterfalls, a night in, and two nights at Thekkady for the Periyar Lake cruise and a spice plantation walk, before the drive out to Kochi or Madurai. Stays are on bed and breakfast, and a private AC vehicle covers all transfers and sightseeing.
How far in advance should we book because of Gavi?
As early as you can. Gavi is run by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation with a capped number of visitors per day, compulsory advance booking is required. We book Gavi first and build the rest of your trip around that confirmation, because it cannot be improvised or slotted in at the last minute.
What is included at Gavi?
The Gavi includes guided trek and lake activities on Day 4 and drive on Day 5. The programme is set by the forest department, so it runs to their schedule and not ours.
Is this a good first trip to Kerala?
No, and we would rather say so. This route is for repeat visitors and serious nature travellers. If it is your first Kerala trip, the classic Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey circuit gives you more variety with less driving through forest belts.
What is included in the Offbeat Kerala package?
Hotel or resort stay on twin sharing with daily breakfast, a private AC vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, all fuel, toll, parking, inter-state permit 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. Bamboo rafting at Thekkady is payable directly.
Where does the trip start and end?
Pickup is at Kochi on Day 1. The drop on Day 7 can be at Kochi or Madurai, so you can fly out of Kochi or carry on into Tamil Nadu. Tell us which at the time of booking.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Customization option is available, though the Gavi night is the fixed point everything else moves around. 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.
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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