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Editor's Choice · Destinations: Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey, Goa

Kerala & Goa Indulgence

India's softest journey — Kerala's tea-draped hills, Ayurveda retreats, a private houseboat on the backwaters, and the sun-drenched heritage coastline of Goa. Ten days that leave you genuinely restored.

10 Days / 9 Nights
Private Houseboat Night
Ayurveda Spa
Domestic Flights
4★ & 5★ Hotels
From $2,990 pp
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Route
Kochi → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Goa
Highlights
Houseboat · Ayurveda · Kathakali · Beaches
Best Time
September to February
Hotel Category
4★ / 5★ Boutique Properties
Starting Price
$2,990 per person
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day
1
Kochi (Cochin), Kerala
Arrival in Kochi — Fort Kochi Heritage Walk
Arrive at Cochin International Airport. Private transfer to your boutique hotel in Fort Kochi — the historic Portuguese and Dutch quarter, where 500-year-old colonial buildings line narrow lanes. Check in, then an afternoon walk through Mattancherry and Fort Kochi with your guide: the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) with its extraordinary Kerala murals, the 16th-century Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town, and the famous Chinese fishing nets that lower and lift on the waterfront at sunset — unchanged for 600 years. Evening: a Kathakali dance performance in Fort Kochi — the elaborate three-hour makeup process followed by a 45-minute performance of divine stories told through eye movements, hand gestures, and footwork.
Airport TransferFort Kochi Heritage WalkChinese Fishing NetsKathakali Performance
Day
2
Kochi → Munnar
Spice Plantation → Drive Through the Western Ghats → Tea Country
After breakfast, drive from Kochi to Munnar (approximately 4 hours through the Western Ghats — one of India's most beautiful drives as the road climbs through jungle, rubber plantations, and cascading waterfalls). En route, stop at a spice plantation in Periyar for a guided walk identifying cardamom, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon growing in their natural forest habitat — one of the most aromatic hours in Indian travel. Arrive in Munnar — 5,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by tea plantations carpeting the hills in every direction. Check in to your hillside property. Evening stroll through the small Munnar town market.
Western Ghats DriveSpice Plantation WalkMunnar ArrivalTea Plantation Views
Day
3
Munnar
Tea Plantation Tour → Eravikulam National Park → Mattupetty Dam
Wake at 5.30am for the drive to Mattupetty Dam — the view across the lake and the surrounding plantation hills in the early morning mist is extraordinary. Return for breakfast, then a guided tour of a working tea plantation and processing factory: watch leaves being plucked by hand, withered, rolled, fermented, dried, and sorted in a process that transforms fresh green leaves into the black tea that goes into every cup in the United States. Visit the Eravikulam National Park — home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr (a mountain goat found only in these hills). Afternoon at leisure for Ayurveda massage at the hotel spa (included in package) or a walk through the tea gardens. The light in the tea country between 4 and 6pm is exceptional.
Mattupetty Dam SunriseTea Factory TourEravikulam WildlifeAyurveda Spa Session
Day
4
Munnar → Thekkady (Periyar)
Periyar National Park — Boat Safari & Jungle Walk
After breakfast, drive to Thekkady (approximately 2.5 hours through the Cardamom Hills). Check in to your lakeside property in Periyar. Afternoon boat safari on Periyar Lake — the park surrounds this large reservoir, and the boat cruise takes you along the shoreline where elephant herds come to the water's edge in the late afternoon. Sambar deer, giant squirrel, and Brahminy kites are commonly sighted. If you're lucky — and the season and conditions are right — wild elephant sightings from the boat are extraordinary. Evening: a nature walk with a forest guide through the buffer zone of the park. Optional: visit a traditional Thekkady Kalari (martial arts) demonstration in the evening.
Periyar Lake Boat SafariWild ElephantsGuided Jungle WalkOptional Kalaripayattu
Day
5
Thekkady → Kumarakom / Alleppey
Drive to the Backwaters → Board Your Private Houseboat
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha) — approximately 3 hours through the scenic Kerala countryside. Check in to your private houseboat by noon. This is a premium kettuvallam — a converted traditional rice barge with an air-conditioned bedroom, open-air sitting deck with cushioned seating, kitchen, and private bathroom — staffed by a captain and cook who are with you for the duration. Cast off into the backwater canals as your cook prepares lunch: Kerala fish curry, prawn masala, appam, coconut chutney, and a payasam dessert using the fish bought an hour ago. Spend the afternoon drifting through the network of canals, watching the Kerala countryside — palm groves, paddy fields, village life — from the water. As the sun sets, anchor in a quiet canal. Dinner by candlelight on the deck. Sleep to the sound of water.
Private Houseboat Check-inKerala BackwatersChef-Cooked Kerala MealsOvernight on the Water
Day
6
Alleppey → Kochi (Flight) → Goa
Breakfast on the Water → Fly to Goa → Panjim & Fontainhas
Wake on the houseboat, watch the sunrise over the backwaters, and enjoy a final breakfast on the deck as the morning mist lifts. Disembark and transfer to Kochi Airport for a short domestic flight to Goa (approximately 1 hour — ticket included in package). Arrive in Goa by early afternoon. Transfer to your South Goa resort. After freshening up, afternoon guided walk through Panjim (Panaji) — Goa's charming state capital: the Latin Quarter of Fontainhas with its brightly painted Portuguese colonial houses, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the riverfront promenade. Dinner at a Goan seafood restaurant in the old quarter — fish recheado, prawn balchão, and bebinca dessert.
Sunrise on BackwatersDomestic Flight to GoaFontainhas Heritage WalkAuthentic Goan Dinner
Day
7
Goa — Old Goa & North Beaches
UNESCO Churches → North Goa Beaches → Sunset Cruise
Morning guided tour of Old Goa — the extraordinary concentration of Baroque churches and convents declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Basilica of Bom Jesus (begun 1594), containing the remains of St. Francis Xavier in a silver casket. The Se Cathedral — the largest church in Asia, built to celebrate Portugal's 1510 conquest of Goa. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi with its remarkable relic room. After lunch, drive up the coast to North Goa: the beaches of Anjuna and Vagator, set against dramatic red laterite cliffs. Stop at Aguada Fort — a 17th-century Portuguese sea fortress overlooking the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea. Sunset boat cruise on the Mandovi River. Dinner at leisure in Panjim or a North Goa beach shack of your choice.
Old Goa UNESCO ChurchesBasilica of Bom JesusNorth Goa BeachesAguada FortSunset River Cruise
Day
8
Goa — South Beaches
Spice Farm → Palolem Beach → Free Afternoon
Morning visit to a working spice plantation in Ponda — guided walk through 100 acres of cardamom, vanilla, pepper, nutmeg, and tropical fruit trees, with a traditional Goan lunch included. The coconut and spice aromas on this walk are extraordinary. After lunch, head to Palolem Beach in South Goa — a sheltered crescent bay framed by headlands, with the calm Arabian Sea at its most turquoise in the afternoon light. This is designated free time: swim, read, nap in a hammock, or arrange water sports (kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding available for hire at the beach). Sunset dinner at a beachside shack — the xacuti here is the real deal.
Spice Farm LunchPalolem BeachFree AfternoonBeach Shack Dinner
Day
9
Goa
Agonda Beach → Colva → Optional Water Sports → Farewell Dinner
A day for the beaches you haven't seen yet. Agonda Beach — quieter than Palolem, a long and almost empty stretch preferred by long-staying travellers. Colva Beach — the longest beach in Goa, backed by fishing villages and coconut palms. Optional water sports at either location: scuba diving (a PADI centre near Palolem runs 2-hour introductory dives), parasailing, or jet skiing. Late afternoon: return to the hotel for the included Ayurvedic massage session at the resort spa — Kerala-trained therapists using traditional oils. Farewell dinner at the resort or at one of Goa's finest restaurants — Gunpowder in Assagao (contemporary Indian), or a private dinner on the beach arranged by TripRoutes India for groups and special occasions.
Agonda & Colva BeachesOptional Scuba DivingAyurveda Spa SessionFarewell Dinner
Day
10
Goa — Departure
Final Morning → Transfer to Goa International Airport
Breakfast at leisure. Depending on your international flight, a final morning walk on the beach or by the pool. Your TripRoutes India vehicle transfers you to Dabolim Airport (GOI) or the new Manohar International Airport (north Goa) in time for your international departure. Our representative is in contact until you are checked in. Tour concludes.
Hotel CheckoutAirport TransferTour Concludes
🏨 Accommodation
Kochi — 1 Night
CGH Earth Brunton Boatyard
★★★★★
Iconic 5-star on the Fort Kochi waterfront. Built in the style of a 19th-century maritime warehouse. Views of the harbour, Chinese fishing nets, and the Arabian Sea. Walking distance to all Fort Kochi attractions.
Included
Munnar — 2 Nights
Windermere Estate
★★★★
A 60-acre private estate and heritage property in the tea hills above Munnar. Cottages set among cardamom and pepper plants. Exceptional homestyle Kerala cooking. One of the finest views in South India from the dining room.
Included
Thekkady — 1 Night
Spice Village CGH Earth
★★★★★
An award-winning eco-resort modelled on a tribal village, set within a spice estate adjoining Periyar National Park. Private cottages, excellent Ayurvedic treatments, and expert naturalist guides for jungle walks.
Included
Alleppey — 1 Night
Premium Private Houseboat (Kettuvallam)
★★★★
Air-conditioned master bedroom, open-air sun deck, sit-out area, private bathroom, and kitchen. Staffed by a dedicated captain and chef. Meals prepared fresh from local market ingredients and served on board. All meals included on houseboat day.
Included
Goa — 4 Nights
Alila Diwa Goa
★★★★★
A luxury resort in South Goa set among paddy fields and coconut palms, 5 minutes from Majorda Beach. Large infinity pool, spa with Kerala-trained therapists, and Spice Studio restaurant serving authentic Goan cuisine. Peaceful South Goa location away from tourist crowds.
Included
Upgrade Options: The Leela Goa (beachfront luxury on Mobor Beach, South Goa) or Taj Exotica Goa (private beach resort). CGH Earth properties in Kerala are among the finest eco-luxury experiences in Asia. Contact us for upgraded pricing.
🚗 Transportation
✈️
International Arrival
Kochi Airport to Fort Kochi hotel. Private AC vehicle.
🚙
Intercity Road
Private AC Toyota Innova. Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey.
✈️
Kochi → Goa Flight
Domestic flight included. IndiGo or Air India. ~1 hour.
Houseboat
24-hour private premium houseboat with crew and meals.
🚤
Periyar Boat
Wildlife boat safari on Periyar Lake (2 hours).
✈️
Goa Departure
Resort to Goa International Airport. Private AC vehicle.
What's Included & Excluded
Included in Your Package
  • 9 nights accommodation in handpicked boutique 4★ and 5★ properties
  • Breakfast daily at all hotels
  • All meals on the houseboat day (lunch, dinner, breakfast)
  • Spice farm lunch in Goa (Day 8)
  • Private English-speaking guide throughout Kerala
  • All road transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
  • Domestic flight: Kochi to Goa (economy class)
  • Kochi airport arrival and Goa airport departure transfers
  • Premium private houseboat (24 hours) with crew
  • Periyar Lake wildlife boat safari (2 hours)
  • Kathakali performance tickets and front-row seats, Kochi
  • Ayurveda spa session (1 hour) at Munnar and Goa hotels
  • Tea plantation and processing factory guided tour, Munnar
  • Spice plantation guided walk, Thekkady
  • Sunset cruise on Mandovi River, Goa
  • Old Goa UNESCO churches guided tour
  • e-Visa assistance and pre-departure briefing
  • 24/7 WhatsApp support throughout the trip
  • All government taxes on hotels and transport
Not Included
  • International flights to Kochi and from Goa
  • Indian e-Visa fee (~$25–$80 per person)
  • Lunches and dinners (except where specified above)
  • Personal expenses (tips, shopping, phone calls)
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional water sports in Goa (scuba, parasailing, jet ski)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Any services not mentioned in inclusions
💰 Pricing — 2025/2026
TravelersPer Person (Standard)Per Person (Luxury Upgrade)Season
Couple (2 pax)$2,990$4,290Oct–Mar (Peak)
Couple (2 pax)$2,390$3,490Apr–Sep (Low)
Family (4 pax)$2,490$3,690Oct–Mar (Peak)
Group (6–8 pax)$2,190$3,290Oct–Mar (Peak)
Solo Traveler$3,590$4,990Oct–Mar (Peak)
All prices per person in USD, double/twin occupancy. Domestic flight (Kochi–Goa) included. International flights not included. Monument fees minimal for this route (~$15 total). Full customisation available — add nights, switch hotels, or extend in Goa.
🌟 TripRoutes India Insider Tips for This Package
  • The private houseboat experience is incomparably better than a shared boat — never compromise on this
  • CGH Earth properties in Kerala are consistently the finest eco-luxury experiences in South India — worth the slight premium
  • Request the Windermere Estate's homestyle Kerala dinner on the terrace overlooking the tea hills — it's extraordinary
  • For honeymooners: we can arrange a private candlelit dinner on the houseboat deck and flower decoration in the cabin
  • October and November are ideal for this trip — the Western Ghats are lush post-monsoon and Goa has perfect weather
  • Palolem Beach in South Goa is consistently quieter and more beautiful than the more famous North Goa beaches
  • We can add Varkala Cliff Beach (between Alleppey and Kochi) as an extra 2-night extension — spectacular clifftop location
Enquire & Book Now 💬 WhatsApp Us
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