5-Day Kerala Tour from Kochi: Houseboat and Wildlife

You spend a night on a houseboat drifting through the backwaters with all meals cooked aboard.

A 5-day guided tour from Kochi through Kerala's interior and waterways, with a private air-conditioned cab, English-speaking driver, three nights in 3-star hotels and one night in a private houseboat. The route climbs to Munnar's tea gardens and Mattupetty Dam, crosses into Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, then descends to the Kerala Backwaters for an overnight float before returning to Fort Kochi's historic waterfront. All breakfasts and houseboat meals are included. Monument entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cochin and travel to Munnar

• Stop at Cheeyappara Waterfalls
• Stop at Valara Waterfalls

Day 2: Munnar sightseeing

• Visit Mattupetty Dam
• Explore Kannan Devan Tea Museum
• Stroll through Rose Gardens

Day 3: Travel to Thekkady and wildlife exploration

• Visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Explore Periyar Tiger Reserve

Day 4: Travel to Alleppey and houseboat stay

• Overnight stay in private AC deluxe houseboat

Day 5: Return to Cochin and local sightseeing

• Checkout from houseboat and visit Alleppey beach
• Visit Fort Kochi Beach and Chinese fishing nets
• Visit Church of Saint Francis
• Visit Mattancherry Palace

The experience

The drive north from Kochi to Munnar covers 130 kilometers in four hours, with stops at Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls: both cascading through forested hillsides where you can stand in the spray and photograph the water falling through layers of green. Once in Munnar, the itinerary holds three separate visits: Mattupetty Dam, ringed by rolling hills and a reservoir you can walk around; the Kannan Devan Tea Museum, where you learn how the region's famous tea is processed and see the vintage machinery that still runs; and the Rose Gardens, a quiet plot of blooms where the mountain air is noticeably cooler than the lowlands below.

Day three moves you south toward Thekkady and the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: a 110-kilometer drive through forest that opens onto a landscape of dense woodland and water. The sanctuary is known for its tiger reserve and the biodiversity of the forest itself. The itinerary names both Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve as separate stops, so you have time to explore the terrain and the animals that inhabit it. That evening you reach Alleppey and board a private AC Deluxe Houseboat for the night, with all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) prepared and served on board as you drift through the Kerala Backwaters.

The final day checks you out of the houseboat by 9 am and drives you back to Kochi, 85 kilometers away. The return route includes Fort Kochi Beach for a walk along the shoreline, the Chinese Fishing Nets (the iconic wooden structures where local fishermen still work) St. Francis Church, one of India's oldest European churches, and Mattancherry Palace, also called the Dutch Palace, where you can see the murals and traditional Kerala architecture. The cab and driver are yours for the entire five days. All hotel breakfasts and the houseboat meals are included.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned cab for all five days with an English-speaking driver.
• three nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast each morning.
• one night in a private AC Deluxe Houseboat with all meals included.
• visits to Mattupetty Dam, the Kannan Devan Tea Museum and Rose Gardens in Munnar.
• access to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• stops at the Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi Beach, St. Francis Church and Mattancherry Palace on the return to Kochi.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour with 3-star hotelGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 22:00Duration: 5 days, pickup is included

Tour with 4-star hotelGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 22:004-star hotel tour, 5 days, pickup is included

Tour with 5-star hotelGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 22:005-star hotel tour, 5 days, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 22:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Varanasi Excursion

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guided route that handles all the driving and logistics: the cab, the hotels and the houseboat are arranged, so you move through the itinerary without building it yourself. The private houseboat night is the centerpiece. If you're drawn to sleeping on the water with meals cooked aboard, this five-day structure is built around that experience. Families with children from age three are welcome. The pace suits all fitness levels.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What's the drive like from Kochi up to Munnar on the first day?

The route covers 130 kilometers in four hours, with two waterfall stops along the way (Cheeyappara and Valara), where you can step out, feel the spray and photograph the cascades before continuing uphill into the tea country.

What exactly happens during the night on the houseboat?

You board a private AC Deluxe Houseboat in Alleppey and sleep on board while it drifts through the Kerala Backwaters. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all cooked and served on the houseboat, so you eat without leaving the water.

Does the tour actually visit Periyar Tiger Reserve, or is it just a drive-through?

The itinerary names Periyar Tiger Reserve and Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as separate stops in the same area, so you have time to explore the sanctuary's forest and wildlife. Tigers are present but sightings are not guaranteed.

How much time do you spend in Fort Kochi at the end?

The final day includes the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace and Fort Kochi Beach, all visited on the return drive from Alleppey. The exact time at each depends on traffic and your pace, but all four are part of the route.

Is the same driver with you the whole five days?

Yes, an English-speaking driver stays with you throughout the tour in the private air-conditioned cab, so you don't change drivers between Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and the backwaters.

What meals are included and what do you pay for separately?

Breakfast is included at all three hotels and all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included on the houseboat night. Monument entrance fees at sites like Mattancherry Palace and St. Francis Church are not included and are paid separately.