Wayanad and Kozhikode Family Explorer — 4 Nights / 5 Days
Three nights in one Wayanad resort covering Pookode Lake, Soochipara, Karlad Lake, Edakkal Caves and Banasura Sagar, then a final night at Kozhikode for the Beypore shipyard and the SM Street food lanes. One base for the Wayanad days means you unpack once and day-trip out, which is easier with children than changing hotels every night.
About this itinerary
This 4 nights and 5 days family package covers Wayanad and Kozhikode, based on three nights in one Wayanad resort and one night at Kozhikode. Day 1 climbs the Thamarassery ghat to Wayanad with a stop at the Lakkidi viewpoint, Day 2 covers Pookode Lake, Soochipara and Karlad Lake, Day 3 takes in Edakkal Caves, the Wayanad Heritage Museum at Ambalavayal and Banasura Sagar, Day 4 drops down to Kozhikode for the Beypore shipyard and SM Street, and Day 5 is the Kozhikode drop.
Three nights in one property keeps the Wayanad sights to day trips instead of nightly repacking, which is what makes it work with children. The one thing to plan around is Edakkal Caves: it is a genuine climb up the hillside, it is closed on Mondays, and in heavy rain the caves and waterfall trails can be shut by the authorities 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 1WayanadArrival day
Towards Wayanad on the Thamarassery Ghat
Pickup at Kozhikode airport or railway station, then climb up the Thamarassery ghat with a stop at the Lakkidi viewpoint. Check in at Wayanad, with the evening free.
The highlight of this day is the valley opening up at Lakkidi after the ninth hairpin bend.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 hoursStay: Wayanad - Day 2WayanadSightseeing
Wayanad Lakes and Waterfalls
Pedal boating at Pookode Lake, then Soochipara waterfalls, and Karlad Lake for the zipline and kayaking for older children, payable directly. Ziplining is for ages above 10 and kayaking above 15.
The highlight of this day is Pookode Lake in the morning before the pedal boats fill up.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: WayanadBreakfast included - Day 3WayanadSightseeing
Wayanad: Edakkal Caves, Waterfalls and Banasura
Edakkal Caves, closed on Mondays, then the Wayanad Heritage Museum at Ambalavayal, and a Banasura Sagar Dam speedboat ride, payable directly.
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 4KozhikodeTransfer day
Kozhikode, Beypore Shipyard and the Food Streets
Drive down to Kozhikode, then the Beypore shipyard where the traditional uru dhows are still built, and an evening at Kozhikode Beach and the SM Street food lanes.
The highlight of this day is the Beypore yards, where uru dhows are still built by hand using centuries old techniques.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 hoursStay: KozhikodeBreakfast included - Day 5Departure
Departure
Kozhikode drop to the airport or railway station.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleBreakfast 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 | 3 | Hotel Bonita Banasura | |
| Kozhikode | 1 | Hotel De Calicut Gate |
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 or two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade. Child rates apply, and the exact age cut-off is confirmed in writing with your quote.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB/CP) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing. Meal plan upgrades from BB (CP) to MAP (breakfast plus dinner) or AP (all meals) are re-quoted. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Edakkal Caves is closed on Mondays. In heavy rain the caves and waterfall trails can be closed by the authorities on the day, in which case we re-sequence the plan and the inclusions stay the same.
- The Karlad Lake zipline and kayaking are payable directly, with ziplining for ages above 10 and kayaking above 15.
- The Banasura Sagar Dam speedboat ride is payable 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 | Wayanad — Day 1, 2 or 3 |
| Ziplining, Wayanad | ₹400-1100/- per person | Wayanad — Day 1, 2 or 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 Wayanad and Kozhikode Family Explorer package cover?
Three nights in one Wayanad resort covering Pookode Lake, Soochipara, Karlad Lake, Edakkal Caves and Banasura Sagar, then a final night at Kozhikode for the Beypore shipyard and the SM Street food lanes. Day 5 is the Kozhikode drop after a relaxed morning.
What is included in this package?
Hotel or resort stay on twin sharing with daily breakfast, 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, the Karlad Lake zipline and kayaking, and anything not named in the day plan are not included.
Is this trip suitable for young children?
Yes, and that is what it is built for. Three nights in one Wayanad property means you unpack once and day-trip out instead of changing hotels every night. Pookode Lake has pedal boats, Karlad Lake has a zipline and kayaking for older children, and Edakkal Caves is a genuine climb that most school-age children manage. Family rooms, connecting rooms or two-bedroom cottages are available on upgrade.
How hard is the climb to Edakkal Caves?
It is a real climb up the hillside rather than a walk, and most school-age children manage it. Carry water and go early. In heavy rain the caves and waterfall trails can be closed by the authorities on the day, in which case we re-sequence the plan and the inclusions stay the same.
Why three nights in Wayanad and only one in Kozhikode?
Because Wayanad's sights are spread out and Kozhikode is a single evening's worth of Beypore and SM Street. Splitting the nights any other way means more driving and less time at the lakes, caves and waterfalls, which is the part children actually remember.
Do child rates apply, and how are they worked out?
Child rates apply and depend on whether the child needs a bed. The exact age cut-off differs by property, so we confirm it in writing along with your quote rather than leave it open.
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. Cancellations made within 30 days of your travel date are non-refundable.
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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