God's Own Country
From the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea, each region of Kerala has its own character. Jump to the experience that calls to you.
Glide through palm-lined lagoons, canals and paddy fields on the waterways that made Kerala famous.
Rolling tea gardens, misty peaks and cool mountain air in Kerala's favourite hill station.
Ancient caves, forest trails, waterfalls and coffee country in Kerala's green northern highlands.
A private, floating home on the backwaters of the 'Venice of the East'.
Crescent beaches, a red-and-white lighthouse and Ayurveda by the Arabian Sea.
Temple journeys planned with care, so you can focus on the darshan.
Glide through palm-lined lagoons, canals and paddy fields on the waterways that made Kerala famous.
The Kerala backwaters are a network of lakes, lagoons, rivers and canals that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. At their heart is Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala, linking Kochi, Kumarakom and Alleppey.
Life here moves at the pace of the water. You'll pass coir-making villages, toddy tappers, duck farmers and the rice fields of Kuttanad, one of the few places in the world where crops are grown below sea level.
Sleep on a traditional kettuvallam with a private crew and chef cooking fresh Kerala meals on board.
Resorts on the shore of Vembanad Lake, and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary for herons, egrets and kingfishers.
Narrow canals the big houseboats can't reach, in a small country boat or covered shikara.
Kerala's 'rice bowl', farmed below sea level behind dykes, best seen by canoe.
In August, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Punnamada Lake brings giant chundan vallams and huge crowds.
Karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish in banana leaf), Kerala fish curry and appam fresh from the kitchen.
Included in:The Classic CircuitThe Grand Kerala TourBackwater & Wellness Special
Alleppey has the most houseboats and the liveliest canals. Kumarakom is quieter and known for lakeside resorts. Many travellers stay at one and cruise from the other.
One night on a houseboat plus a night at a lakeside resort gives a relaxed, complete experience.
Yes. Cruises run through most of the monsoon and the scenery is at its greenest, though heavy rain can occasionally pause sailing.
Rolling tea gardens, misty peaks and cool mountain air in Kerala's favourite hill station.
Munnar sits high in the Western Ghats in Idukki district, where three mountain streams meet. The hills around town are carpeted in tea estates that date back to the British era, and the air stays cool all year.
It is the classic Kerala hill-station escape, about four hours' drive from Kochi, and a natural first stop before the spice country of Thekkady and the Alleppey backwaters.
Rolling grasslands and the best place to see the endangered Nilgiri tahr up close.
Walk through the plantations and learn how tea is processed at the KDHP Tea Museum.
At 2,695 metres, the highest peak in South India, rising above Eravikulam.
Viewpoint on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border with sweeping views over the valleys and clouds.
Boating on the reservoir and the famous echo across the lake.
A jeep ride to one of the highest tea estates in the world for sunrise above the clouds.
Included in:The Classic CircuitThe Grand Kerala Tour
Two nights lets you cover Eravikulam, the tea estates, Mattupetty and Top Station without rushing.
September to May has the clearest weather. The monsoon months are misty and green but can bring road delays.
Yes, that is Kerala's classic circuit. See our Classic Circuit and Grand Kerala Tour packages.
Ancient caves, forest trails, waterfalls and coffee country in Kerala's green northern highlands.
Wayanad is a plateau district in north Kerala, bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is wilder and quieter than Munnar, with dense forest, wildlife sanctuaries and spice, coffee and tea plantations.
It suits travellers who like the outdoors: trekking, caves, waterfalls and jungle stays, all a short drive up the hairpin bends of the Thamarassery Ghat from Calicut.
Rock shelters carved with Neolithic engravings, reached by a short climb up Ambukuthi Hill.
A trek to the heart-shaped lake on the way to one of Wayanad's highest summits.
India's largest earthen dam, with speedboats and islands scattered across the reservoir.
Jeep safaris at Muthanga and Tholpetty for elephants, deer and, with luck, big cats.
A three-tiered waterfall reached by a walk through forest and tea gardens.
Homestays and resorts set in coffee, pepper and cardamom estates.
Included in:North Kerala Wilderness & Heritage
Three nights covers the caves, dam, waterfalls and a safari at an easy pace.
Calicut (Kozhikode) International Airport is the most convenient; Kannur is another option.
Yes. Banasura Sagar, Pookode Lake and the plantation stays are easy and fun for all ages.
A private, floating home on the backwaters of the 'Venice of the East'.
Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the houseboat capital of Kerala. Its houseboats, called kettuvallams, were once rice barges; today they are floating homes with bedrooms, a sun deck and a crew who cook for you on board.
A typical cruise boards around noon, sails the canals and Vembanad Lake through the afternoon, then moors for the night by a quiet village before returning the next morning.
The whole boat is yours: from one-bedroom boats for couples to large boats for families and groups.
Choose deluxe, premium or luxury boats, with air-conditioned bedrooms and glass-walled upper decks.
Lunch, tea, dinner and breakfast cooked fresh by your crew, including fresh fish from the lake.
Watch the sun go down over the widest stretch of the backwaters.
Glide past churches, temples, toddy shops and paddy fields, and stop to meet local families.
Explore narrow canals too small for the houseboat on a short shikara or canoe ride.
Included in:The Classic CircuitThe Grand Kerala Tour
Yes. Our houseboat bookings are private; you share the boat only with your own group and the crew.
Accommodation, the cruise and all meals from lunch to next morning's breakfast. Drinks and extra activities are usually additional.
A day cruise gives a taste, but staying overnight lets you enjoy the sunset, dinner on the water and a peaceful morning.
Crescent beaches, a red-and-white lighthouse and Ayurveda by the Arabian Sea.
Kovalam is Kerala's best-known beach destination, just outside the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Three crescent-shaped beaches sit side by side, separated by rocky headlands.
It is the perfect way to end a Kerala tour: sea-view resorts, fresh seafood, Ayurvedic treatments and easy trips to Trivandrum's temples and museums.
The liveliest of the three beaches, with cafés, and views from the top of the Vizhinjam lighthouse.
Quieter stretches of sand for swimming, sunbathing and watching the fishing boats come in.
Kerala is the home of Ayurveda; many resorts offer massages and multi-day wellness programmes.
A short drive south, where the backwaters, a river and the sea meet at a golden-sand estuary.
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple area, Napier Museum and Kuthiramalika Palace.
A day trip to red laterite cliffs above the sea and the pilgrim beach of Papanasam.
Included in:The Grand Kerala Tour
Kovalam has more resorts and gentle beaches close to Trivandrum. Varkala is known for dramatic cliffs and a laid-back café scene. They're about an hour apart, so you can see both.
One night works at the end of a tour; two or three if you want Ayurveda or a proper beach break.
Yes. Hawa and Samudra beaches are calmer, and resorts offer pools and family rooms.
Temple journeys planned with care, so you can focus on the darshan.
Kerala is home to some of South India's most revered shrines. Sabarimala, the hilltop temple of Lord Ayyappa, draws millions of devotees each season, while the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple is one of the most important Krishna temples in India.
We handle the logistics for pilgrims and families: comfortable transport, stays near the temples and practical guidance on customs and timings, so the journey stays peaceful.
The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in the forests of Pathanamthitta, reached by a trek from Pamba.
The main pilgrimage season runs from mid-November to mid-January, following the 41-day vratham.
Known as the 'Dwarka of the South', in Thrissur district, famous for its rituals and weddings.
The elephant sanctuary near Guruvayur that houses the temple's elephants.
Padmanabhaswamy (Trivandrum), Chottanikkara, Ettumanoor and Vaikom temples can be added to your route.
Kerala is also home to historic churches such as Malayattoor and the Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungallur.
The Mandala–Makaravilakku season from mid-November to mid-January. The temple also opens for the first few days of each Malayalam month.
Men wear a mundu (dhoti) without a shirt; women wear a saree, set-mundu or salwar. We'll brief you before your visit.
Yes. We plan combined routes with stays in between, and can add other temples on request.
Itineraries our travellers keep coming back to. Every one can be adjusted: add nights, upgrade hotels or swap destinations.
KeralaFeatured5 Nights / 6 Days
KochiMunnarThekkadyAlleppey
Kerala's most-loved route in under a week: colonial Fort Kochi, the tea hills of Munnar, the spice country of Thekkady and a night on the Alleppey backwaters.
Price on request
Enquire NowKeralaFeatured6 Nights / 7 Days
KochiMunnarThekkadyAlleppeyKovalam / Trivandrum
The full length of Kerala, from Kochi's heritage quarter through the hills and backwaters down to the beaches of Kovalam near the state capital.
Price on request
Enquire NowKeralaFeatured4 Nights / 5 Days
CalicutWayanadBekal
The quieter north: Wayanad's forests, caves and plantations, then Bekal's seaside fort on the Malabar coast.
Price on request
Enquire NowKerala3 Nights / 4 Days
KochiKumarakomMarari / Varkala
A slow, restorative short break: heritage Kochi, a lakeside resort on Vembanad Lake and a final night by the sea with Ayurveda.
Price on request
Enquire NowTell us your dates, interests and budget. A Kerala specialist will design an itinerary just for you.
