5-Day Private Kerala Tour: Munnar, Thekkady & Backwaters

Five days moving through Kerala's highlands, reserves and waterways at your own pace

A 5-day private Kerala tour from Kochi covering Munnar's tea plantations and Eravikulam National Park, the Periyar Tiger Reserve near Thekkady, and the backwaters of Alleppey, with private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, driver and English or Hindi-speaking guide throughout. The itinerary includes hotel pickups, all transport between destinations, and overnight stays at resorts in each region.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Munnar

• Pick up from Cochin Airport or Station
• Drive to Munnar city
• Check in at hotel and rest
• Visit Tea Gardens in Munnar
• See Cheeyappara Waterfalls en route

Day 2: Munnar sightseeing and exploration

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Mattupetty Dam and Eco point
• Explore Eravikulam National Park
• Lunch break
• Visit Tata Tea Museum and tea plantations
• Visit Blossom Garden and viewpoint
• Shop at Munnar local market
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 3: Travel to Thekkady and wildlife visit

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Thekkady
• Visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Boat ride in Periyar National Park
• Overnight stay at Thekkady resort

Day 4: Thekkady to Alleppey backwaters

• Breakfast at resort
• Drive to Alleppey
• Check in at backwater resort
• Leisure time at resort
• Optional houseboat or shikkare cruise
• Overnight stay at Alleppey resort

Day 5: Return to Cochin and departure

• Breakfast and check out
• Drive to Cochin
• See Chinese fishing nets
• Visit Fort Kochi and historical sites
• Visit Paradesi Synagogue
• Visit museum and shop souvenirs
• Drop at airport or railway station

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from Kochi Airport, Railway Station or nearby hotels, then heads inland to Munnar, a hill station set among tea plantations at elevation. You spend two nights here, giving time to visit Mattupetty Dam and Eco Point above 1,700 meters, explore Eravikulam National Park where the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr live across 97 square kilometers, and walk through the Tata tea museum to see how black tea is processed. The Cheeyappara Waterfalls appear on the drive up, a seven-tiered cascade that most travelers pass through on the way.

Day three moves you south to Thekkady and the Periyar Tiger Reserve, a 777-square-kilometer sanctuary where you can boat inside the park itself: one of the few places in India where wildlife viewing happens from the water rather than from a vehicle. The reserve sits near spice plantations and offers the chance to spot animals at close range from the safety of a boat. You stay overnight at a resort in Thekkady before traveling to Alleppey the next morning.

Alleppey, also called Alappuzha, is the backwaters hub: a network of lagoons, lakes and rivers that earned it the nickname "Venice of the East." You have a full day at leisure at your resort, with the option to take a houseboat cruise or motorized canoe ride for a couple of hours if you want to get on the water. The final day returns you to Kochi to visit the Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town, see the Chinese Fishing Nets in operation, and explore the city's harbor and colonial monuments before your evening drop-off at the airport, railway station or port.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all five days.
• pickup from Kochi Airport, Railway Station or nearby hotels.
• overnight stays at resorts in Munnar (two nights), Thekkady and Alleppey.
• English or Hindi-speaking guide.
• all fuel, tolls and parking.
• GST.

Options for this experience

2 options

Deluxe PackageGuide in English or Hindi · Available from 6 Jan 2027Stays at 3-star category resorts. Duration: 5 days, covering 4 nights and 5 days, starting and ending in Cochin. Breakfast is provided by the resorts every day except the arrival day. Private car with chauffeur: an A/C medium car (sedan) for 2 to 3 people, an SUV (Innova or similar) for 4 to 6 people, and a Tempo Traveler for more than 7 people. Accommodation options: available on request, and we can be flexible with the hotel or resort based on availability. Pickup is included.

Premium PackageGuide in English or Hindi · Available from 6 Jan 2027Stays at 4-star category resorts. Duration: 5 days, covering 4 nights and 5 days, starting and ending in Cochin. Breakfast is provided by the resorts every day except the arrival day. Private car with chauffeur: an A/C medium car (sedan) for 2 to 3 people, an SUV (Innova or similar) for 4 to 6 people, and a Tempo Traveler for more than 7 people. Accommodation options: available on request, and we can be flexible with the hotel or resort based on availability. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 6 Jan 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saffron Leisure Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling with family or as a couple and want one guide and vehicle for all five days. You'll move between mountains, wildlife, and backwaters on your own schedule rather than following fixed group departure times.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the 5-day package?

Private transportation between all destinations, an air-conditioned vehicle throughout, driver allowance, fuel, tolls and parking are included. Hotel pickups from Kochi and overnight stays at resorts in Munnar (two nights), Thekkady and Alleppey are part of the package. GST is also included. Christmas and New Year gala dinners are optional add-ons, not part of the base cost.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between the cities?

No. Private transport is included for the entire journey: from your Kochi pickup through all transfers to Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, and back to Kochi for your departure. The same air-conditioned vehicle and driver stay with you for all five days.

What can I actually do at Periyar Tiger Reserve?

You can take a boat ride inside Periyar National Park to spot wildlife from the water: a rare experience in India where most sanctuaries require viewing from vehicles. The reserve spans 777 square kilometers and is one of the few places where animals come close enough to observe from the safety of a boat.

Is there time to relax, or is the schedule packed?

Alleppey includes a full day at leisure at your resort, with the option to take a houseboat or motorized canoe cruise if you want to explore the backwaters. Munnar has two nights, giving you time to rest after arrival and explore at a comfortable pace rather than rushing through sightseeing.