Kerala's ideal family holiday — elephant encounters at Periyar, kayaking on backwater canals, cooking classes, and beach time at Marari.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive into Cochin and transfer to your hotel to rest a little after the flight. This evening you can take in a performance of Kathakali dancing, this traditional form of dance sees the players put on extravagant costumes and formidable make up before telling ancient stories and southern Indian heritage tales through dance.
You will start today by heading to the market with a local lady who will teach you about the various produce and introduce you to ingredients before you head to her home to enjoy a culinary adventure in cooking up some true Keralan cuisine. Once created you will be able to sit down with your host and enjoy your lunch. Afterwards head out into the city, known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', the city has been home to many cultures arriving by sea to trade and to explore over the centuries, it is now a vibrant blend of Arab, Chinese, European and Indian influences. As you visit the churches, synagogues and palaces you will see the blend of architecture amidst the busy streets.
Cycling along the backwaters of Kerala is the quintessential Keralan experience. Ride along the Kochi coast with views of unevenly spread backwaters accompanying you all the way. Cycling through small fishing villages and past lush coconut trees, you will reach a serene part of the backwaters where you will canoe and immerse yourself in the beautiful backwater scenery as you float through a small stretch of the backwaters. Enjoy a short break in a village before the tour comes to an end and you transfer by car to the jetty, here you will board your private houseboat for an exploration of the remarkable Keralan backwaters, the ideal way to observe life amongst the channels and waterways of the west coast.
Today you leave the backwaters of Kerala behind and head into the lush hills of the Western Ghats and the hill-town resort of Munnar. Strategically located at the confluence of three rivers, the town sits high amongst the cool highlands, surrounded by tea plantations and the mist shrouded hills of the Western Ghats. Relax and enjoy the pool this afternoon or later on head out on a guided plantation walk to learn about the different spices growing as well as spotting some of the animals and birds that make the area their home.
Today explore Munnar and its surroundings, starting with a visit to the Tea Museum and some of the tea plantations which the town is famous for. Here you will learn about the different varieties of the most consumed beverage in the world and the different stages of processing it, finishing with a tea tasting session. Then proceed to the nearby Eravikulam National Park which, with an area of 97 sq. km, is home to the largest population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic species of ungulates in the south-western Ghats and is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Other species you may be lucky to spot include the Nilgiri marten, small clawed otter, ruddy mongoose, dusky striped squirrel, several endemic species of birds and rare butterflies. Later in the day return to your hotel and in the evening enjoy a short cycle ride around the hill plantations.
Drive from Munnar to Periyar National Park. Check in to Spice Village, a remarkable eco-lodge set within a working spice garden. This afternoon take a boat safari on the Periyar Lake searching for elephants, gaur, sambar and birdlife.
A remarkable day in Periyar National Park — bamboo rafting on the river guided by tribal community members, morning forest walks, and an afternoon village visit meeting local Thekkady artisans.
Drive from the highlands to Kerala's most dramatic beach destination — Varkala, where golden sand sits below dramatic red laterite cliffs. Check in to your clifftop resort.
Two free days at Varkala — swimming, relaxing, exploring the cliff path, fresh seafood and optional activities including yoga, surfing and boat trips.
Enjoy a final morning at this beautiful beach before transfer to the airport.
Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram Airport for your departure flight.
About This Journey
Kerala is the ideal family destination in India — its landscapes are diverse, the activities genuinely engaging for children, and the pace of travel more relaxed than the intensity of North India’s heritage circuit. This 16-day family adventure starts in Kochi with cooking classes and city exploration, moves through the tea hills and wildlife of the Western Ghats, spends two nights on a traditional houseboat, and closes with beach days on the Kerala coast.
Highlights
Kochi cooking class with a local family — learning to cook Kerala’s famous cuisine. Tea plantation walk in Munnar with views across the Western Ghats. Elephant encounters and wildlife safaris at Periyar National Park. Two nights on a traditional Kerala houseboat — the quintessential backwater experience. Beach time on the Kerala coast for a relaxed family close.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
Malabar House
Kochi's first boutique heritage hotel, Malabar House occupies a 1755 colonial residence beside the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi. Its rooms blend period architecture with contemporary South Indian art, its restaurant is one of Kerala's most celebrated, and the location is unmatched for exploring the old town on foot.
Windermere Hotel
A planter's retreat in the hills of Munnar, Windermere Estate sits amid cardamom and coffee plantations at 1,600 metres. Its cottages overlook the valleys of the Western Ghats and its garden paths lead directly into the surrounding plantations.
Spice Village CGH Earth
An eco-resort at Thekkady built within a working spice garden, Spice Village's thatched cottages are modelled on tribal dwellings of the Periyar forest. The resort grows its own spices and vegetables, its naturalists lead garden walks and the adjacent Periyar sanctuary brings wildlife to the property boundary.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
October to March offers the most comfortable weather — warm days, low humidity and minimal rainfall. April and May are hot; June to September is the southwest monsoon, which brings lush green landscapes but heavy rain on the Kerala coast.
Traditional Kerala houseboats (kettuvallams) are converted rice barges with private bedrooms, en suite bathrooms, a dining area and sun deck. A dedicated crew of two or three — including a cook preparing fresh Keralan meals — accompanies each boat as you cruise the palm-fringed backwater canals.
Kerala cuisine is generally milder than North Indian food, with coconut, curry leaves and seafood at its heart. Hotels and houseboats readily adjust spice levels, and vegetarian options are outstanding throughout the region.
Yes — beach extensions, additional wildlife parks, Ayurvedic retreats and different hotels can all be woven in. Contact us to shape the perfect South India journey.
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