India7 days
Kerala: Backwaters, Tea Country & Wildlife — 7 Days
From Kochi's spice markets through Munnar's tea estates and Periyar's wildlife sanctuary to Kumarakom's houseboat journey
This seven-day itinerary moves through Kerala's three distinct regions: the port city of Kochi, the hill stations and tea plantations of Munnar, and the lake and backwater systems of Thekkady, Kumarakom, and Alleppey. The route traces a geographical and ecological progression — from the Arabian Sea coast and spice trade history inland to the Western Ghats and their wildlife reserves, then down to the lowland backwater network. Transportation includes road travel (148 km from Kochi to Munnar; 110 km to Thekkady; 78 km to Kumarakom), a wildlife cruise on Periyar Lake, and a two-night houseboat stay on the backwaters. Days include visits to tea estates, spice plantations, a wildlife sanctuary, bird reserves, and the colonial-era infrastructure of the hill station.
Highlights
- Kathakali dance performance and sunset cruise in Kochi
- Elephant Training Centre at Kodanad with optional elephant safari
- Valara and Cheeyappara waterfalls en route to Munnar
- Eravikulam National Park trek to see Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goats)
- Mattupetty Lake boating and horse riding in Munnar
- Shola forest trekking and bird watching
- Wildlife cruise on Periyar Lake for elephants, langurs, sambar deer, and bison
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary with resident and migratory species
- Two-night houseboat (kettuvallam) cruise through Kumarakom and Alleppey backwaters
Day by day
1Arrival in Kochi: Spice Markets and KathakaliKochi airport · old spice market and merchant-quarter streets on M.G. Road · backwaters · Kathakali dance performance
Arrival at Kochi airport and transfer to hotel. After settling in, the afternoon opens to independent exploration of the old spice market and merchant-quarter streets on M.G. Road. In the evening, a sunset cruise on the backwaters precedes a Kathakali dance performance—a classical form of Kerala theatre combining stylized movement, elaborate costume, and music.
2Munnar: Tea Plantations and WaterfallsKodanad Elephant Training Centre · Spice Plantations · Valara and Cheeyappara · Kochi to Munnar · hotel in Munnar
A four-hour drive northward (148 km) carries travellers from coastal Kochi into the Western Ghats foothills. En route, stops include the Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, where an optional elephant safari can be arranged. The road passes Spice Plantations—cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon among them—and two waterfalls: Valara and Cheeyappara, both visible from the highway as it climbs. Munnar is surrounded by tea estates and is one of the most famous destinations of Kerala. Check-in at the hotel; the remainder of the day is unscheduled.
3Munnar: Eravikulam National Park and Shola ForestsEravikulam National Park · Shola forests · Mattupetty Dam and its adjoining lake · Echo Point · View Point · surrounding tea gardens
A morning visit to Eravikulam National Park aims to observe the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare endemic mountain goat. Mattupetty Dam and its adjoining lake provide options for boating and horse riding. The afternoon encompasses trekking and bird watching in the Shola forests—montane evergreen woodlands interspersed with grassland. The day concludes with visits to Echo Point, View Point, and the surrounding tea gardens that define the Munnar landscape.
4Thekkady: Periyar Lake Wildlife CruiseThekkady · Periyar Lake · Mattupetty Lake
A drive leads to Thekkady, which is a hill station, spice-plantation region, and gateway to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. After hotel check-in and brief rest, a wildlife cruise on Periyar Lake follows. Mattupetty Lake functions as a location for boating and horse riding. The cruise typically encounters sambar deer, wild bison, wild boar, Nilgiri langur, and a variety of water and forest birds. Overnight at hotel.
5Kumarakom: Bird Sanctuary and Backwater IntroductionKumarakom · Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary · resort in Kumarakom
After breakfast, a one-hour drive south (78 km) reaches Kumarakom, a settlement on the Vembanad Lake—the largest backwater lagoon in Kerala. The landscape here is defined by waterways: the lake itself, numerous canals, streams, and distributaries form a network where boats function as the primary transport. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an old estate bordering the lake, hosts resident waterfowl (cuckoo, wild duck, egrets, darters, herons, teal) and receives migratory Siberian storks seasonally. Hotel check-in; overnight at the resort.
6Backwater Houseboat Journey: Kumarakom to AlleppeyKumarakom and Alleppey backwater system · palm-fringed banks, lagoons, and small settlements · houseboat (kettuvallam)
A houseboat (kettuvallam in Malayalam)—a traditional flat-bottomed wooden vessel with a thatched or tiled roof and internal cabin—picks up passengers at the resort. The vessel navigates the narrow canals and broader stretches of the Kumarakom and Alleppey backwater system. The route passes palm-fringed banks, lagoons, and small settlements. The houseboat itself serves as accommodation and dining space for the night, with views of the water landscape continuous from dawn through dusk.
7Return to Kochi and Departurethe houseboat · Kochi airport
Disembarkation from the houseboat in the morning. Transfer (95 km, approximately two hours by car) to Kochi airport for onward travel. Tour concludes.