Compare Kerala Backwater Tour by GeTS Holidays vs Premium South India by Intrepid Travel

Day 1: Arrive Kochi

Hello and welcome to Kochi. Our representative will welcome you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Overnight in Kochi.

Day 2: Kochi-Munnar (124kms; 3-4hrs drive approx.)

After breakfast , enjoy a half-day tour of Cochin. Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city, also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. The ruler of Kochi allowed the Portuguese to construct a fort next to the waterfront here. Thus, emerged Fort Kochi. Also called Fort Emmanuel, Portuguese planned their livelihood around the church with settlements and churches. St. Francis church, is the first church of the colonial era where Vasco-Da-Gama's body was buried before being taken to Portugal. You'll also come across Dutch cemetery, Santa Cruz Basilica, Indo Portuguese museum and Cochin Thirumala Devaswom Temple, Willingdon Island here.

Later in the afternoon you will drive to Munnar. Upon arrival you will check-in at a hotel and relax. Evening is at leisure for your individual activities or unwind yourself in the beautiful landscape of Munnar. Overnight in Munnar.

Day 3: Munnar

Enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Munnar. Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea here has a famous tea museum inside its complex. The museum has photographs and curios which relate to the evolution of tea plantations in Munnar. Also visit Mattupetty, located about 13 kms from Munnar. Mattupetty is known for its dam and the beautiful lake, which offers enjoyable boat rides. Later visit the Kundala tea plantations and Kundala Lake. The shimmering blue lake is the most photographed part of Kundala. Take a stroll in the tea estate, and enjoy the refreshing mountain breeze. Here you can view the entire process of making tea, right from plucking of teal eaves to their processing. Overnight in Munnar.

Day 4: Munnar-Periyar (130kms; 3-4hrs drive approx.)

After breakfast in the morning you will check out of the hotel and drive to Periyar. Post arrival at Periyar, enjoy a boat ride in Lake Periyar. We then check-in at the hotel, and have the evening at leisure. Overnight in Periyar.

Day 5: Periyar-Alleppey (140kms; 4hrs drive approx.)

After breakfast, enjoy a walk near the backwater village. Where you get an opportunity for cycling, fishing, and canoeing. Take a houseboat cruise of Alleppey, ""Venice of the East"", which has a large network of canals that meander through the town and surrounding village. The Snake Boat Race held every year in August in the backwaters is a major attraction. The Kerala backwaters are a vital waterway for the transport of goods, people and their produce, and are often the only link between isolated villages and crowded towns. 

You’ll come across flocks of ducks swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky. Share the backwaters with country boats of various types carrying passengers from all walks of Kerala's rural life ranging from the milkman and newspaper boy to local politicians, priests and wedding parties.

Later in the evening you will disembark the houseboat and check in at the hotel. 

Overnight in Alleppey.

Day 6: Alleppey-Kochi (60kms; 1hr drive approx.)

After breakfast you will have the morning at leisure. Later at noon you will check out of the hotel and drive to Kochi. Upon arrival in Kochi you will check in at the hotel and relax.

In the evening, witness a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is the most recognized dance drama form in Kerala. It dates back to the seventeenth century and is themed from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. A traditional Kathakali dance performance began at dusk and continued through the night, culminating at the auspicious hour of dawn, when Good finally conquers Evil. Now, of course, shorter performances are more the norm! Costumes and makeup are dramatic characteristics of the dance, and the technique involves highly intricate gestures and expressions.

Overnight in Kochi.

Day 7: Kochi departure

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Kochi airport for your departure flight. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring Kerala with us. Your trip ends here and we wish you a safe, happy, memorable journey back to your home."

Day 1 Chennai

Namaste! Welcome to India. Your adventure begins in Chennai, India’s cultural heart and fourth-largest city. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel when you arrive. Meet your fellow travellers and experienced leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive in early, you may like to visit the market stalls of the Georgetown Bazaar. After your meeting, join your group for a welcome dinner at Chennai’s first chain restaurant, serving up an iconic array of south Indian vegetarian dishes like idly, dosa and poori.

Day 2 Puducherry (Pondicherry)

This morning, you’ll leave the city behind and drive along the scenic East Coast Road to the fishing town of Mamallapuram. Visit the 8th-century Shore Temple and its mandapams (carved pillars) and watch locals pay their respects to the deity Shiva. Later in the afternoon, continue the drive to Puducherry. A French colony until 1954, the old parts of the town retain a distinctly European feel. Leafy boulevards are lined with European houses and boutiques. When you arrive, the rest of your evening is free to explore. Puducherry has a varied food scene with traditional Indian and classic French influences, so be sure to ask your leader for some tips on where to grab dinner.

Day 3 Puducherry (Pondicherry)

This morning is free, then you’ll head out for a walking tour with your leader to see local temples and the French Quarter. Stroll past mustard-coloured buildings draped with vibrant bougainvillea as your leader shares stories of the revolutionaries, generals and kings who once walked these streets. Stop by the pastel pink Church of Notre Dame – evidence of the French colonial period is everywhere, even in the police uniforms. Along the way, stop at a cafe in White Town to try some local snacks, then the evening is free to explore at your own pace.

Day 4 Madurai

Today, continue to the city of Madurai with plenty of chai stops along the way. Arrive in the late afternoon and head out on a short orientation walk to get acquainted with one of India’s oldest cities. When you’ve got your bearings, join your leader on a tour of the city’s Tamil cuisine. Madurai is bursting with street food stalls, family-owned restaurants and plenty of regional delicacies and your leader will show you the dishes that aren’t on the tourist menus. Have a taste of mutton dosa or some fish gravy as your leader regales you with stories of centuries-old recipes and the passionate people who make them. Round off the night with some Jigarthanda – Madurai’s most celebrated dessert is a delicious and refreshing blend of condensed milk, almond gum and ice cream.

Day 5 Madurai

Continue your exploration of Madurai today. Your leader will guide you through the Tailor's Market, the local bazaars and the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Still in use today, this ancient temple is a maze of lamp-lit corridors leading to shrines where traditional rituals take place. Next is the National Gandhi Museum, dedicated to the life and achievements of the 'Father of the Nation' and the leader of India's fight for independence. Stop by the extravagant Thirumalai Nayak Palace, built in the 17th-century by King Tirumala Nayaka. This evening you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Tamil culture when you join a local family for a traditional home cooked dinner. Chat with the family about their lives and try dishes like chettinad chicken, egg paratha and vegetable korma.

Day 6 Thekkady

Make your way to the countryside town of Thekkady today, driving past pineapple and rubber plantations on the way. Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sitting high in the ranges of the Western Ghats. Stop off at a spice plantation where you’ll speak with a local expert and taste, smell and learn about the brilliant array of spices that colour and flavour India’s famed cuisine. Put your new knowledge to good use as you sit down to a flavoursome lunch made with spices from the plantation. The evening is yours to enjoy in Thekkady your own way. Maybe wander the shops selling fragrant spices and organic tea or relax in the palm fringed pool at your resort.

Day 7 Thekkady - Periyar National Park

This morning, take a guided nature walk in the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Your expert guide will help you look for tiger tracks, spotted deer, Indian elephants and gaur – the world's largest species of buffalo. You’re most likely to encounter Bonnet macaques and the Malabar giant squirrel – a species native to India. After, the rest of your afternoon is free. You may want to unwind with an ayurvedic massage. In the evening, you’ll attend a demonstration of kalarippayattu at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre. Originating in Kerala, kalarippayattu is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India and watching high-energy fighters leap several feet into the air is a thrilling sight.

Day 8 Munnar

This morning, drive north to Munnar – an old British Hill Station sitting in the surrounding valley. At 1525 m above sea level, there’s likely to be dramatic drop in temperature here! When you arrive, take a tour of the tea plantation, where a resident expert will guide you through the steps of the tea making process. Follow narrow pathways and visit the workers picking the best tea leaves, learn how these leaves are transformed into the world’s most popular beverage, and sample some of the different varieties. There may be an opportunity to visit the tea museum, though opening hours are irregular so this cannot be guaranteed. This evening, relax at your mountain resort.

Day 9 Munnar

This morning, take a guided walk around the lush hills of Munnar, often shrouded in clouds. Be sure to have your camera ready as the landscape unfolds in front of you. In the afternoon, journey out to the scenic Mattupetty Dam where you’ll find a man-made lake and spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. Here, you can take an optional motorboat ride around the lake. After some time to appreciate the scenery, return to Munnar for a free evening.

Day 10 Kerala Backwaters

Drive to the backwaters of Kerala this morning and discover Alleppey’s palm-shaded waterways. Once a significant trading port, the town is now famed for the long ‘snake boat’ races that take place in August every year. Kerala’s backwaters were once busy with passing kettuvallams – large wooden boats used to transport rice and spices. Today, these traditional vessels have been transformed into houseboats, offering guests the opportunity to explore the lagoons in total comfort, as you will during your Feature Stay tonight. Conversions are made using traditional and natural materials – bamboo becomes roofing, coir mats are turned into flooring and beds are carefully crafted from the wood of coconut trees. These floating cottages share the comforts of a first-rate hotel, including western toilets, private bedrooms, a dining area and open deck where you can watch the world go by. Sit back for an evening floating through the dreamy waters of rural Kerala.

Day 11 Kochi

Enjoy a peaceful morning at the Kerala waters before driving to Kochi in the afternoon. Cochin, as it was formerly known, is spread over several islands and is a melting pot of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and British influences. Join your leader on an orientation walk to learn how these influences manifest in the city’s architecture, restaurants and daily life. In the afternoon, take some time out to enjoy the city – maybe head to Princess Street and kick back with a cup of coffee. Tonight, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is a classical Indian dance with roots in Kerala, combining symbolic storytelling with physical technique. It’s one of the most vibrant and extraordinary theatre forms in the world and proficiency requires incredible commitment and rigorous training.

Day 12 Kochi

Today, explore the antique shops and spice bazaars of Kochi – your leader will show you how to haggle with the best of them. Visit the Fort Kochi area and stop by the famous Chinese fishing nets – perhaps Kochi’s most photographed sight. Make a visit to the Mattancherry Palace, built in the 16th-century by the Portuguese and later claimed by the Dutch. Continue to the Paradesi Synagogue – the oldest existing Jewish synagogue in India. In the early evening, meet with an ayurvedic doctor – a practitioner who uses ancient holistic techniques to promote a balance of body and mind, resulting in overall health and wellbeing. Learn all about Satvik Bhojan, the ayurvedic diet, and take part in a cooking demonstration followed by dinner using the methods and recipes discussed.

Day 13 Kochi

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in India, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation or needed transfers.