Duration 12N/13D
The Exotic Kerala tour is an 8 day guided trip through South India's Kerala state, covering Kochi, Munnar's tea hills, Periyar Tiger Reserve, the Kumarakom and Alleppey backwaters, and Kovalam beach. It includes a traditional houseboat stay, a Kathakali dance performance, a naturalist-led wildlife cruise, and private transport throughout making it one of the most complete short introductions to Kerala available for international travellers. This is a loop route, meaning you'll fly into and out of the same city (Trivandrum), while covering Kerala's three signature landscapes- backwaters, hills, and coast without retracing your steps.
Kerala, on India's southwestern coast, is known for three things above all: its backwaters (a network of lagoons, canals and lakes best explored by traditional houseboat), its hill country (misty tea and spice plantations around Munnar), and its beaches (palm-fringed stretches of coast along the Arabian Sea). Add to that a strong tradition of Ayurvedic wellness, distinctive performing arts like Kathakali, and a cuisine built around coconut, seafood and spice, and it's easy to see why Kerala is often called God's Own Country and famous as Top Places to Visit on South India Tour.
Want to explore beyond Kerala into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka? Browse the full range of South India Tour Packages.
Eight days is enough to experience Kerala's three defining landscapes- backwaters, hills, and coast- without feeling rushed. It won't cover the entire state (Kerala also has northern regions like Wayanad and Kozhikode, and southern spots like Varkala), but for a first visit, this route hits the most iconic stops with a comfortable pace of one to two nights per location.
Curious about Kerala's tea and spice heritage in more depth? See The Spice Route
Arrive in Trivandrum and transfer to the coast, where you'll board a traditional deluxe houseboat, or kettuvallam. Cruise gently through a network of canals, lakes and estuaries — part of an 900-kilometre backwater system — passing coconut groves, paddy fields and riverside villages en route to Alleppey.
Disembark in Alleppey and drive to Kochi. Spend the afternoon at leisure for shopping or rest. In the evening, watch a live Kathakali performance — a classical dance-drama rooted in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, known for its elaborate costumes and expressive, stylised facial performance.
A guided morning tour of Kochi takes in its layered colonial and trading history: a 16th-century synagogue, the Dutch Palace with its historic murals, and St. Francis Church, the oldest European-built church in India. The afternoon is free — a good time to browse Kochi's fragrant spice markets.
Drive up into the Western Ghats to Munnar, a hill town sitting at 1,520 metres and one of Kerala's most important tea-growing regions. Highlights include a working tea plantation and factory visit, Eravikulam National Park (home to the rare Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found only in this region), and the Rajamalai park.
Continue to Periyar and spend the afternoon on a boat cruise inside Periyar Tiger Reserve, a 780-square-kilometre protected forest. Wildlife here includes elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild boar, and — for the fortunate — leopards, alongside a wide range of birdlife.
Transfer to Kumarakom, on the shores of Vembanad Lake, Kerala's largest lake. In the afternoon, explore its quiet backwater channels by boat, passing villages where daily life has changed little in generations.
Head to Kovalam, a former fishing village now known for its palm-fringed coves and clean beaches along the Arabian Sea. Check in and spend the rest of the day free for swimming or a relaxing massage.
Transfer to Trivandrum airport for your onward flight.
Seven curated routes- from a 7-day Kerala escape to a two-week grand tour. Each one private, guided and fully customisable to your dates.
October to March is the ideal window, with pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall- best for houseboat cruising, hill visits, and beach time alike. The monsoon season (June–September) brings heavy rain but also Kerala's most lush, green scenery, and is a good option for travellers who don't mind rain and want fewer crowds.
A kettuvallam is a traditional Kerala houseboat, originally used to transport rice and spices, now converted for tourism with private cabins, dining areas, and sometimes air conditioning. Staying aboard one is widely considered one of the signature experiences of any Kerala trip- a slow, scenic cruise through canals and lakes that can't be replicated by road travel.
Yes. With a private vehicle, English-speaking guide, and a comfortable one-to-two-night pace at each stop, this itinerary is well suited to families, couples, and first-time visitors to India who want a well-organised introduction to Kerala without the logistics of independent travel. Prefer to explore South India by motorcycle? See the South India Spice Trail Motorcycle Tour.
Wild elephants are commonly spotted around Periyar Tiger Reserve's lake and forest edges, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Tigers are present in the reserve but are naturally elusive and rarely seen by visitors- the safari should be approached as a chance to experience the habitat rather than a guaranteed sighting.
Yes. Many travellers extend this route to include Kerala's northern hill regions (such as Wayanad) or its quieter beaches (such as Marari or Varkala). If you're looking for a longer or more offbeat version of Kerala, our Lesser Known Gems of Kerala tour covers exactly that ground.
