5-day Thekkady tour: Munnar, wildlife, houseboat stay

Five days threading four landscapes: hill station, sanctuary, waterways, and old port town

A 5-day private tour of Thekkady, Munnar, Alleppey and Cochin with hotel pickups, private transportation throughout, lunch and dinner daily, and one night in a private AC houseboat on the backwaters. The itinerary moves you from tea plantations and Eravikulam National Park through wildlife boating at Periyar Lake, then into the Kerala backwaters before ending in Cochin's churches, palaces and fishing nets. Minimum two passengers. Solo travelers pay the two-person rate for a private room.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cochin to Munnar

• See waterfalls and take photos
• Take photos at viewpoint

Day 2: Munnar sightseeing

• Buffet breakfast at hotel
• Boating at Mattupetty Dam
• Explore forest and echo spot
• Visit dam, lake, horse ride, boating
• Trek in Eravikulam National Park
• Visit Tea Museum
• See different flower varieties

Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady

• Buffet breakfast at hotel
• Boating at Lake Periyar in afternoon
• Wildlife viewing from boat

Day 4: Thekkady to Alleppey - Houseboat stay

• Buffet breakfast at hotel
• Board private AC deluxe houseboat
• Enjoy evening tea snacks
• Dinner on houseboat

Day 5: Alleppey to Cochin sightseeing and departure

• Checkout from houseboat by 9 am
• Visit Alleppey beach
• Visit St Francis Church
• See Chinese fishing nets
• Visit Dutch Palace
• Visit Jewish Synagogue

The experience

The tour starts with a drive from Cochin to Munnar, a hill station where the landscape shifts to tea plantations and mountain air. You spend two nights here, with days built around Mattupetty Dam (where boating is available and you can watch the forest and reservoir), and Eravikulam National Park, where trekking paths pass through tea estates and open onto views of Nilgiri Tahr and Anamudi peak. The park closes for roughly two months each February and March during the animals' calving season. A tea museum rounds out the stop.

On day three you travel to Thekkady for an afternoon boating trip on Periyar Lake at 3:30 pm. The boat moves slowly through the sanctuary, and from the water you watch for bison, gaur, wild elephants, sambhar and birds at close range. That night you stay in Thekkady. The next day you head to Alleppey and board a private AC houseboat for an overnight stay on the backwaters: the main water-based experience of the tour.

The final morning you check out by 9 am and have the option to visit Alleppey Beach before driving to Cochin. The city tour takes in St. Francis Church, the Chinese Fishing Nets at the water's edge, Mattancherry Palace (also called the Dutch Palace), and the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town. Private transportation runs the whole five days. Lunch and dinner are included each day.

What’s included

• Private transportation for all five days.
• lunch and dinner daily.
• overnight stays at hotels in Munnar and Thekkady.
• one night in a private AC houseboat on the backwaters.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sanguine Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your group is at least two people and you want the whole route (hills, wildlife, backwaters and colonial port) arranged with private transport and meals handled. The houseboat night is the centerpiece. If you're looking for a shorter trip or prefer guided commentary at each stop, check the 3-day versions instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): 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 72 h before the start.

What wildlife might I see on the Periyar Lake boat ride?

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary's boating trip at 3:30 pm offers chances to spot bison, gaur, wild elephants, sambhar and a wide variety of birds from the safety of the boat on the lake.

Is Eravikulam National Park open year-round?

Eravikulam National Park closes for roughly two months each year, normally in February and March, during the Nilgiri Tahr's calving season.

What exactly is included in the five days?

Private transportation throughout, lunch and dinner daily, and overnight stays at hotels in Munnar and Thekkady plus one night in a private AC houseboat on the backwaters are included. Entrance fees to attractions, a guide, and meals outside the specified plan are not included.

How does the houseboat night work?

On day four you travel from Thekkady to Alleppey and board a private AC deluxe houseboat for an overnight stay on the Kerala backwaters, then check out by 9 am on the final day.

What if I'm traveling alone?

The minimum booking is two passengers. Solo travelers must pay the two-person rate to secure a private room, as single rooms are not available at the hotels.

Can a third person join us?

A third passenger can share the same hotel room with an extra bed (rolling cot) and will have a mattress provided in the houseboat. A separate room for the third person can be arranged at an additional cost.