from ₹3,850.00
KERALA, INDIA

Kerala Backwaters & Hills - Houseboat & Munnar Tour

★ 4.8 (56 reviews)
Bestseller Insurance
Kerala Backwaters & Hills - Houseboat & Munnar Tour Kochi, Alleppey & Munnar, Kerala, India
Complete your trip
Add essentials for a seamless journey
Flights Optional
Hotels
Sightseeing
Visa
Meal
Air-conditioned rooms & vehicle
En-suite bathrooms throughout
Daily housekeeping
Toiletries & fresh linen provided
Sun deck on houseboat
Private balcony / lake view rooms
Luggage storage & porter assistance
Laundry service on request
All meals on houseboat
Daily breakfast at hotels
Vegetarian & Jain meal options
Drinking water provided daily
Welcome drink on arrival
Private A/C vehicle for transfers
Airport / railway pickup & drop-off
Wi-Fi at all hotel stays
In-vehicle mobile charging point
GPS-tracked vehicles
Dedicated driver-guide
English-speaking local guide
24/7 on-tour support line
Assistance with local SIM / currency
First-aid kit on board & on route
Life jackets on houseboat & canoe
Verified & licensed operators
Travel insurance assistance (optional)
Flexible date changes
Secure online payment
E-tickets & digital vouchers
Free cancellation window

Package overview

Drift through palm-fringed canals on a private houseboat, wake up to mist rolling over tea gardens in Munnar, and watch fishing nets swing at sunset in Fort Kochi — this six-day journey is built around Kerala's three defining landscapes: backwater, hill, and coast.

You'll spend a night aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters, two nights in a hillside stay overlooking Munnar's tea estates, and your final night in a heritage-style property in Fort Kochi. Transfers, a private driver-guide for the road sections, and a local guide for city walks are all arranged for you — you just show up and travel.

This package suits couples, families and small groups who want a well-paced, comfortable introduction to Kerala without over-scheduling every hour. Most days have one core activity and open time to explore, eat, and rest.

Overnight stay on a private houseboat with all meals included
Guided walk through working tea gardens in Munnar
Sunset viewing of the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi
Private air-conditioned vehicle for all road transfers
Traditional Kerala thali meals and a Kathakali dance show
Small-group experience, maximum 14 travellers

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Kochi & heritage walk
Arrive at Cochin International Airport, where your driver meets you for a private transfer to your hotel in Fort Kochi. After checking in and resting, join a guided evening walk through the old quarter — colonial-era warehouses, spice markets, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset — followed by a Kathakali dance performance.
Stay
Fort Kochi — Boutique Heritage Hotel or similar
Transport
Airport to Hotel on Private A/C Vehicle
Activities
  • Fort Kochi heritage walk & Chinese fishing nets
  • Kathakali dance performance (evening)
Meals
Dinner
Airport pickup Fort Kochi Dinner included
Day 2 Drive to Munnar, tea garden visit
Depart after breakfast for the scenic 4-hour drive into the Western Ghats, stopping at waterfalls and viewpoints along the way. In the afternoon, walk through working tea estates with a local planter-guide and visit a tea museum to see how the leaf is processed. Check in to your hillside stay for two nights.
Stay
Munnar — Hillside Plantation Stay or similar
Transport
Kochi to Munnar by Private A/C Vehicle (~4 hrs)
Activities
  • Guided tea garden walk & Tata Tea Museum
  • Waterfall & viewpoint photo stops en route
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Scenic drive · 4 hrs Tea garden walk Breakfast & dinner included
Day 3 Munnar sightseeing & free time
A full day exploring Munnar's highlights: Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, and the Eravikulam National Park (seasonal, subject to entry availability) to look for the Nilgiri tahr. Afternoon is kept free for optional spice-plantation visits, short treks, or simply relaxing at your stay.
Stay
Munnar — Hillside Plantation Stay or similar
Transport
Local sightseeing by Private A/C Vehicle
Activities
  • Mattupetty Dam & Echo Point
  • Eravikulam National Park (seasonal)
  • Free afternoon for optional activities
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Sightseeing tour Free afternoon Breakfast & dinner included
Day 4 Munnar to Alleppey, board your houseboat
Descend from the hills toward the backwaters (approx. 4.5 hours). By early afternoon, board your private kettuvallam houseboat at Alleppey jetty. Cruise slowly through narrow canals and paddy fields as the crew prepares a fresh Kerala lunch on board. Overnight is spent moored on the backwaters, with dinner and breakfast prepared fresh by your onboard cook.
Stay
Alleppey — Private Kettuvallam Houseboat
Transport
Munnar to Alleppey by Private A/C Vehicle (~4.5 hrs)
Activities
  • Private houseboat cruise through backwaters & paddy fields
  • Overnight moored on the backwaters
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (on houseboat)
Houseboat cruise Overnight on board All meals included
Day 5 Village canoe ride & return to Kochi
Disembark after breakfast for a small-canoe ride through narrower backwater channels, passing coir-making villages and local homes. Transfer back to Kochi by early evening; the rest of the day is free for shopping or relaxing near your hotel.
Stay
Fort Kochi — Boutique Heritage Hotel or similar
Transport
Alleppey to Kochi by Private A/C Vehicle
Activities
  • Small-canoe ride through backwater villages
  • Free evening for shopping / leisure
Meals
Breakfast
Canoe ride Free evening Breakfast included
Day 6 Departure
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before your private transfer to Cochin International Airport in time for your onward flight. Tour concludes on arrival at the airport.
Transport
Hotel to Airport on Private A/C Vehicle
Meals
Breakfast
Airport drop-off Breakfast included

What's included

Included in this package

  • 5 nights' accommodation (2 hotel, 2 hill stay, 1 houseboat)
  • Daily breakfast, plus lunch & dinner on houseboat days
  • All airport and inter-city transfers in a private A/C vehicle
  • English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour
  • Local guide for Fort Kochi heritage walk
  • Kathakali dance show entry ticket
  • Tea garden walk & museum entry in Munnar
  • Village canoe ride with local rower
  • All applicable taxes and service charges

Not included

  • Flights or trains to and from Kochi
  • Lunches on non-houseboat days (unless noted)
  • Eravikulam National Park entry fee (seasonal, ~₹500/person)
  • Personal expenses, tips, and alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities (Ayurvedic spa, spice plantation tour)
  • Visa fees where applicable

Accommodation

Fort Kochi — Boutique Heritage Hotel
★★★★☆
2 nights
Colonial-era building, garden courtyard, A/C rooms
Munnar — Hillside Plantation Stay
★★★★☆
2 nights
Tea-estate views, fireplace lounge, garden dining
Alleppey — Private Kettuvallam Houseboat
★★★★☆
1 night
Ensuite bedroom, sun deck, onboard cook & crew

Transportation

Private A/C vehicle for all road transfers and sightseeing — sedan for 2–3 travellers, tempo traveller for larger groups.
Airport transfers included both ways from Cochin International Airport (COK).
Houseboat cruise on Day 4–5, including boarding and disembarkation at Alleppey jetty.
Average daily drive time is under 4.5 hours, with rest stops built into every route.

Meals, activities & sightseeing

Meals

Breakfast is included daily at your hotel or stay. Lunch and dinner are included only on houseboat days (Day 4–5), prepared fresh on board by your dedicated cook using local Kerala ingredients — expect steamed rice, fish curry, vegetable thoran, and seasonal fruit. On other days, your guide can recommend well-reviewed local restaurants for lunch and dinner, at your own cost.

Activities & sightseeing

  • Fort Kochi heritage walk — Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace exterior, Jew Town
  • Kathakali classical dance performance with pre-show make-up demonstration
  • Guided tea garden walk and Tata Tea Museum, Munnar
  • Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point viewpoint stops
  • Eravikulam National Park (seasonal — Nilgiri tahr sighting, subject to forest department entry)
  • Private houseboat cruise through Alleppey's canals and paddy fields
  • Small-canoe ride through narrow backwater channels and coir villages

Optional add-ons (not included)

  • Traditional Ayurvedic massage session (from ₹1,800/person)
  • Spice plantation tour with tasting (from ₹600/person)
  • Sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake (from ₹900/person)

Amenities & facilities

Accommodation & Comfort
Air-conditioned rooms & vehicle
En-suite bathrooms throughout
Daily housekeeping
Toiletries & fresh linen provided
Sun deck on houseboat
Private balcony / lake view rooms
Luggage storage & porter assistance
Laundry service on request
Food & Dining
All meals on houseboat
Daily breakfast at hotels
Vegetarian & Jain meal options
Drinking water provided daily
Welcome drink on arrival
Transport & Connectivity
Private A/C vehicle for transfers
Airport / railway pickup & drop-off
Wi-Fi at all hotel stays
In-vehicle mobile charging point
GPS-tracked vehicles
Guide & Support Services
Dedicated driver-guide
English-speaking local guide
24/7 on-tour support line
Assistance with local SIM / currency
Safety & Wellbeing
First-aid kit on board & on route
Life jackets on houseboat & canoe
Verified & licensed operators
Travel insurance assistance (optional)
Booking & Payments
Flexible date changes
Secure online payment
E-tickets & digital vouchers
Free cancellation window

Route & pickup locations

Kerala backwaters, Kochi and Munnar — tour route
Pickup: Cochin International Airport (COK) or any Fort Kochi hotel, by 10:00 AM on Day 1. Drop-off: Cochin International Airport, timed to flights departing after 1:00 PM on Day 6. Earlier flights can be accommodated with advance notice — message your travel coordinator after booking.

Customer ratings & reviews

4.8
★★★★★
56 reviews
Excellent
82%
Very good
13%
Average
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
AI Review Summary
Travellers consistently highlight the houseboat overnight as the trip's highlight and say the pace feels relaxed rather than rushed. Families found the itinerary worked well for children, and most call the driver-guides punctual and knowledgeable. A few reviews mention that seasonal park closures occasionally shifted the schedule.
Generated from the text of customer reviews
Pacing & comfort (18) Houseboat experience (14) Guide punctuality (9) Schedule changes (4)
R
Riya M. Bengaluru, India · Travelled as a couple
★★★★★
The houseboat night was unforgettable

Everything was paced well — never felt rushed. The houseboat crew cooked an incredible dinner and the sunset over the backwaters was the highlight of our trip. Our driver was punctual and genuinely knowledgeable about the routes.

Guest photo Guest photo
Stayed September 2026

Cancellation & refund policy

Refunds are calculated based on how far in advance you cancel relative to your departure date. Refund processing takes 5–7 business days back to your original payment method.

30+ days before departure Full refund, minus booking fee
15–29 days before departure 75% refund
7–14 days before departure 50% refund
Less than 7 days before departure No refund

Terms & conditions

  • A valid government-issued photo ID is required for all travellers at check-in.
  • Itinerary order may vary slightly depending on weather, local festivals, or park closures — inclusions remain unaffected.
  • Houseboat allocation is subject to availability; a similar-category boat will be provided if your original choice is unavailable.
  • Prices are per person on twin/double sharing basis.
  • The operator reserves the right to reschedule activities for traveller safety without prior notice.
  • Bookings are confirmed only after full or partial payment is received and a confirmation voucher is issued.
Important to know
Park closures are outside the operator's control — Eravikulam National Park and some wildlife viewpoints close periodically for conservation reasons, and no refund applies for such closures. Monsoon-season travellers (June–September) should carry light rain gear. Request Ayurvedic massages and other add-ons at least 24 hours in advance.
Starting From
₹24,999/ per person