Complete Kerala 9N is a nine-night route that covers the state from the central hills to the southern coast: Kochi for two nights, Munnar for two, Thekkady for two, a night on a private kettuvallam in Alappuzha, and one night each in Varkala and Thiruvananthapuram. It suits travellers who want the full classic Kerala without rushing.
You start with Fort Kochi's heritage streets and Chinese fishing nets, climb the hill road to Munnar for tea plantations and viewpoints, and move to Thekkady for the Periyar landscape and a spice estate. Day seven is the private kettuvallam through paddy-field canals, day eight is the Varkala cliffs at sunset, and day nine ends at Kovalam beach and the capital before departure on day ten.
Hotels are comfort category on twin sharing, with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner on the houseboat day, a private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, and the backwater cruise included. Flights or train tickets, other meals, entry fees, optional activities and insurance are extra.
Your trip expert can stretch, shorten or swap any day.
Arrive in Kochi, where your driver meets you and takes you to the hotel. Check in and rest after the journey. Use the evening to walk around the neighbourhood or stay in and relax. Allow extra road time between the airport and the city, as traffic can slow the drive. Your Fort Kochi sightseeing starts tomorrow.
Spend the day in Fort Kochi. Walk through its colonial streets and see the Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront. Visit the art spaces and stop for a Kerala lunch at your own cost. The pace is easy, with no long drive today. Return to your hotel in the evening and rest before the hill journey tomorrow.
Drive from Kochi to Munnar in your private vehicle. The hill road winds through the Western Ghats, so the journey runs in daylight with stops along the way. Check in to your hotel and rest. Carry a light jacket, as the highlands are cooler. The evening is free to enjoy the quiet and the tea-country air.
Spend the full day around Munnar. Walk among the tea plantations and visit the highland viewpoints in the Western Ghats. Wear closed shoes with a good grip, as estate paths can be wet. The day has no long transfer, so you can take it slowly and enjoy the cool weather. Return to the hotel for the night.
Leave Munnar after breakfast and drive to Thekkady. This is the main travel of the day, so sightseeing stays light. Check in and settle into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy the forest surroundings near the Periyar landscape. Rest well, as tomorrow is set aside for nature and spice country.
Spend the day around Thekkady. See the Periyar landscape and visit a spice estate, where you can see how the plants grow. Guided nature walks and bamboo rafting are options in this area. Park activities have limited places, so tell us early if you want to try one. Return to the hotel for a relaxed evening.
Drive from Thekkady to Alappuzha and board your private kettuvallam. Cruise through paddy-field backwaters and village canals. Lunch and dinner are served on board. The boat moors in the evening, so expect a quiet night on the water rather than an overnight cruise. This is the only long drive of the day.
After breakfast on the boat, disembark and drive to Varkala. Check in and take the afternoon at your own pace. In the evening, walk along the laterite cliffs and watch the sunset near Papanasam beach. Use the cliff paths with care, as the surface can be slippery after rain. Spend the night in Varkala.
Drive south to Kovalam and spend time on its sheltered beach. Check sea conditions and swim only in the marked bathing areas. Later, continue to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital, to see its museums and cultural sights. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the last evening of the trip. Pack tonight for tomorrow's departure.
Enjoy breakfast and check out of the hotel. Your driver takes you to the airport or railway station for your onward journey. We time the transfer around your flight or train and the city traffic. Your Kerala holiday ends here, after hills, wildlife, backwaters and beaches.
Flights are not included.
This is a long route, so expect several road transfers; the hill road to Munnar is winding.
Travel the Munnar road in daylight and carry a light jacket.
Houseboats usually return to the jetty by about 6 PM, so the kettuvallam night may be moored near the shore.
Optional Periyar activities such as bamboo rafting or guided nature walks are extra and best booked in advance in peak months.
Breakfast is included daily; lunch and dinner are included only on the houseboat day.
Flights or train tickets are not included and are booked separately.
Entry fees and activities not listed are extra.
Travel insurance, tips and personal expenses are extra.
FAQs
What travellers ask about this trip. Your trip expert can answer anything else.
This 10-day, 9-night package suits families, couples and friends who want hills, wildlife, backwaters and beaches in one trip. Each long drive has its own day. Seniors should note the winding roads to Munnar and Thekkady, and the overnight houseboat, which may not suit everyone.
It includes eight hotel nights on twin sharing in comfort-category hotels and one night on a private kettuvallam in Alappuzha with lunch and dinner. Daily breakfast, private-vehicle transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary are included. Flights, train tickets, entry fees and GST are not.
October to March is the best window, with drier and more comfortable conditions for beaches, backwaters and hill stations. November to February is the busiest period. From June to September, heavy rain can disrupt road travel and boat plans, so this route works best in the drier months.
Ask us about changes such as swapping the overnight houseboat for a hotel stay, or choosing Kovalam instead of Varkala for the beach night. Wayanad and Bekal lie far from this southern route, so they are better kept for a separate northern Kerala trip.
The kettuvallam is a slow, quiet experience, but it does not suit everyone. The boat moors in the evening and stays near the shore, so movement is limited after docking. Seniors or travellers who want more space can ask us about a daytime cruise with a hotel stay.
The pace is steady. The transfers to Munnar, Thekkady and Alappuzha each get their own day, and no day has two long drives. The road to Munnar winds through the hills, so travel is in daylight. Carry a light jacket for Munnar and closed shoes for wet tea-estate paths.
More ideas
Munnar 2N · Thekkady 1N · Alleppey 1N · Kochi 1N
Kochi 1N · Munnar 2N · Thekkady 1N · Alappuzha 1N · Kovalam 1N
Kochi 1N · Munnar 2N · Thekkady 1N · Alappuzha 1N · Kovalam 1N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
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