9-Day Kerala Private Tour: Fort Kochi, Munnar & Backwaters

Colonial forts, tea gardens, wild elephants and a night on the backwaters

A 9-day private tour of Kerala starting and ending in Kochi, with a professional guide, private transportation, and eight nights in hotels plus one night on a traditional houseboat. The itinerary moves through Fort Kochi's Portuguese and Dutch heritage sites, Munnar's tea plantations and viewpoints, Periyar National Park for wildlife spotting, and the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom. All monument entry fees, meals, accommodation and transport are included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language of your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and relax in Kochi

• Arrive at Cochin airport
• Meet representative and transfer to hotel
• Explore local scenery and environment
• Relax in the evening

Day 2: Heritage tour of Fort Kochi

• Have breakfast
• Meet professional guide
• Visit Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace)
• Visit St. Francis Church
• See Chinese Fishing Nets
• Stroll spices bazaars and Jewish Synagogue
• Watch traditional Kathakali dance show

Day 3: Travel to Munnar and relax

• Have breakfast
• Check out from Kochi hotel
• Drive to Munnar through tea and coffee plantations
• Check in to hotel in Munnar
• Relax and enjoy mountain scenery

Day 4: Explore Munnar tea and nature

• Have breakfast
• Visit Tea Factory Museum
• Visit Signal Viewpoint and Idly Viewpoint
• Optional visit to Eravikulam National Park

Day 5: Periyar wildlife and boat ride

• Have breakfast
• Drive to Periyar
• Check in to hotel
• Visit Periyar National Park
• Take boat ride on Periyar lake

Day 6: Houseboat cruise in Alleppey

• Have breakfast
• Check out from Periyar hotel
• Drive to Alleppey Jetty Point
• Embark on traditional Houseboat
• Enjoy seafood meals on board
• Spend night on Houseboat

Day 7: Relax at Kumarakom resort

• Have breakfast on Houseboat
• Arrive at Kumarakom backwater resort
• Check in to resort
• Relax by pool or calm surroundings

Day 8: Leisure and nature in Kumarakom

• Have breakfast
• Enjoy Ayurvedic massages or visit villages
• Visit nearby bird sanctuary
• Take sunset sail

Day 9: Departure from Kochi

• Have breakfast
• Transfer to Kochi airport
• Board flight home

The experience

The tour begins with arrival at Cochin airport, where a representative meets you and drives you to Fort Kochi. After settling in, the first full day takes you through the heritage lanes with a guide: the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), St. Francis Church, the Chinese Fishing Nets, spice bazaars, and the Jewish Synagogue. In the evening you watch a Kathakali dance performance: Kerala's classical dance form. The next morning you drive inland toward Munnar, climbing through tea and coffee plantations to reach the hill station. Two days there include visits to the Tea Factory Museum, Signal Viewpoint, Idly Viewpoint, and Eravikulam National Park if you want to hike.

From Munnar you drive to Periyar, home to Periyar Tiger Reserve and one of India's largest wild elephant populations. A boat ride on the lake lets you watch wildlife from the water: elephants, sambar deer, wild boar and birds move through the reserve. Then comes the shift to water: you check out and drive to Alleppey Jetty to board a traditional houseboat for the night, drifting through Kerala's backwaters with freshly prepared seafood dinner and breakfast on board. The houseboat reaches Kumarakom the next morning, a backwater resort where you have two days to rest, swim, watch sunsets from a canoe, visit nearby bird sanctuaries, or book an Ayurvedic massage. On the final day you're transferred to Kochi airport for your flight home.

Private transportation means your own driver and vehicle for the entire route, not a shared coach. Your accommodation moves between three hotels (Trident Kochi in Fort Kochi, The Tall Tree in Munnar, Spice Village in Periyar, and Coconut Lagoon in Kumarakom) plus the houseboat night. Lunch and dinner are included throughout. Breakfast is at your hotel each morning. WiFi is available on board the vehicle, and the air-conditioned car keeps you comfortable during long drives through the hills.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all nine days.
• a professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• eight nights' accommodation in Trident Kochi, The Tall Tree in Munnar, Spice Village in Periyar, and Coconut Lagoon in Kumarakom.
• one night on a traditional houseboat in the backwaters.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
• entry fees to all monuments, Periyar National Park and other attractions.
• a Kathakali dance performance in Kochi.
• a spice plantation visit in Periyar.
• and WiFi on board the vehicle.

Information

Lasts 9d, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 1,824 per person, with live guides in 5 languages and as a private tour.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

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

Book up to2d before

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Souvenir Travel Private Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want two full days to explore each location without rushing, though prepare for long drives on days three and five as the route crosses between coastal and hill regions.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What is there to do in Fort Kochi besides the heritage walk?

Fort Kochi's colonial quarter holds the Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was first buried, and the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets along the waterfront: all visited on the guided heritage trail. The spice bazaars and Jewish Synagogue are also in the same area, and the Kathakali dance performance happens in the evening of day two.

Will I see elephants in Periyar?

Periyar Tiger Reserve is home to wild elephants and other wildlife including sambar deer, wild boar, gaur and many bird species. A boat ride on the lake gives you views across the reserve where animals come to drink and bathe, though wildlife sightings depend on the season and time of day.

What happens on the houseboat night?

You board a traditional Kerala houseboat at Alleppey Jetty after breakfast on day six and spend the night drifting through the backwaters. Freshly prepared seafood dinner and breakfast are served on board, and you wake as the houseboat reaches the Kumarakom resort in the morning.

How much driving is there each day?

Day three from Kochi to Munnar is the longest drive, moving through hill country with tea plantations. Day five from Munnar to Periyar is a shorter drive. Day six from Periyar to Alleppey is moderate. The other days involve shorter local travel or no driving at all.

What's included in the price and what isn't?

Included are private transportation, all eight nights' accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), entry to all monuments and attractions, the Kathakali performance, the houseboat night, and a spice plantation visit in Periyar. Not included are travel insurance, visa fees, tips and gratuities, and any internal flights you might book separately.