Kerala Odyssey Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Poovar · 10 nights
Ten nights from Kochi to the coast: tea country, the Periyar sanctuary, a night on a houseboat, three by the sea.
Arrive Kochi
Met at Kochi international airport and driven to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours.
Two nights at the Casino Hotel, CGH Earth’s place in Willingdon Island, with a day for Fort Cochin.
Tonight you sleep at Casino Hotel.
CGH Earth's place in Willingdon Island, Kochi.
See the full stay →Kochi
A morning tour of Fort Cochin: Vasco da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St Francis’ Church, the VOC Gate, the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue, and the Chinese fishing nets on the shore. In the afternoon, a cooking class with a local television chef and lunch of what you have made.
Kochi to Munnar
The drive climbs to 1,500 metres through tea. A spice plantation on the way — pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon.
Two nights at Tea Harvester, in a superior room looking over the tea.
Tonight you sleep at Tea Harvester.
Rooms looking over the tea, outside Munnar.
See the full stay →Munnar
Rajamalai in the Eravikulam park for the mountain goats, the Kannan Devan hills, Mattupetty and its dam, and the Tea Museum with the original roller and the Pelton wheel. Kathakali and the martial arts in the evening.
Munnar to Thekkady
Down to the spice country and into the hotel. The afternoon is free for the spice market at Kumily — cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace.
Two nights at Pepper County, a deluxe homestay at the gate of the Periyar sanctuary.
Tonight you sleep at Pepper County.
A deluxe homestay at the gate of the Periyar sanctuary.
See the full stay →Thekkady
A day in the Periyar sanctuary, with a boat on the lake. Then the Tribal Heritage Museum, which holds the dress, ritual and craft of the Mannan people.
Thekkady to Alleppey
Out through Kuttikanam and the cardamom and tea, and aboard the houseboat at Alleppey. Paddy fields, coconut palms and Kerala food cooked on board.
One night on a deluxe houseboat through the backwaters, all three meals aboard.
Alleppey to Poovar
Off the boat and down the coast, stopping at Hawa Beach in Kovalam. Poovar is an island of backwater, sand and sea.
Three nights at Isoladicocco, where the river, the lake and the Arabian Sea meet.
Tonight you sleep at Isola di Cocco.
On the banks of the Poovar River at the far south of Kerala, where river, beach and backwater meet, Isola di Cocco is a coconut-grove retreat of Kerala-style villas, a private beach, and a proper Ayurvedic centre on site. Its name means the Island of Coconuts. Days go slowly here: the pool, the sand, or the long calm of an Ayurveda treatment.
See the full stay →Poovar
Yours. There is a complimentary hour on the lake if you want it, where the river, the sea and the sand meet.
Poovar
Yours, and the day for the massage — book your slot at the hotel.
Home
Breakfast, then the drive to Trivandrum airport.
How much does the Kerala Odyssey cost?
Kerala Odyssey starts at ₹98,000£850€1,000$1,250 per person, based on two people sharing a room, with taxes included. That covers 10 nights and everything listed as included on this page. It does not include international flights: this is a land-only price, so you book your own flights to India and we handle everything from the airport onwards. Festival and peak dates are priced separately.
How many days do you need for Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Poovar?
This one runs 10 nights, which is 11 days counting the day you travel home, split between Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Poovar. The length is fixed, but tell us if you want it changed and we will re-quote.
When is the best time to do this trip?
October to April.
What is included in the price?
ten nights in the hotels shown, breakfast and dinner every day, sightseeing and transfers by private air-conditioned sedan with an english-speaking chauffeur, an english-speaking local guide on the excursions that call for one, a tea and spice plantation tour in munnar, with tastings, a boat on the lake at the periyar sanctuary in thekkady, kathakali and kalaripayattu, the dance and the martial art, one night on an air-conditioned houseboat out of alleppey, three meals aboard and a bottle of wine, a full body massage in poovar, entrance fees for the monuments and sights on the itinerary and a bottle of water each per day.
What is not included?
international flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches, and any meal not listed above, room service, telephone, laundry and anything else personal, tips and the peak fortnight, 21 december to 10 january, which is quoted separately. Everything else on this page is covered by the price shown.
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
Private. The car, the driver and the guides are yours alone, and the trip runs on your dates rather than a fixed departure. You are never put onto a coach with strangers.
How do I book?
Tell us your dates and we come back with a firm price and availability. There is no online checkout: a person answers, on WhatsApp or by email, and you book with Indiaesque directly rather than through an agent or a booking site.
Same 10 nights, one price.
The days never change. The season does, and the price moves with it. Per person, two sharing, 10 nights:
per person, two sharing, taxes in. Exact dates are priced at enquiry.
InTen nights in the hotels shown, breakfast and dinner every day · Sightseeing and transfers by private air-conditioned sedan with an English-speaking chauffeur · An English-speaking local guide on the excursions that call for one · A tea and spice plantation tour in Munnar, with tastings · A boat on the lake at the Periyar sanctuary in Thekkady · Kathakali and Kalaripayattu, the dance and the martial art · One night on an air-conditioned houseboat out of Alleppey, three meals aboard and a bottle of wine · A full body massage in Poovar · Entrance fees for the monuments and sights on the itinerary · A bottle of water each per day
Not inInternational flights · Visas · Travel insurance · Lunches, and any meal not listed above · Room service, telephone, laundry and anything else personal · Tips · The peak fortnight, 21 December to 10 January, which is quoted separately
Five bases in ten nights. The longest drive is Thekkady to Alleppey. Priced for two people sharing a room.
Best months: October to April.
Ask us anything. Dates, rooms, the driver. A person replies. Or email us.