Hills, Waterways & Golden Beaches
Discover the full spectrum of Kerala's extraordinary beauty on this 6-day tour — combining the misty tea hills of Munnar with the tranquil backwater canals of Alleppey, the unspoiled golden beach of Marari, and the Portuguese-layered streets of Fort Kochi.
Munnar's vast tea estates, the Nilgiri Tahr of Eravikulam National Park, and the panoramic summit of Top Station open the journey with some of the finest hill scenery in South India. The spice garden en route from Kochi gives you the scents and flavours that made Kerala the most sought-after destination for European traders for five hundred years.
Alleppey's backwaters are the emotional heart of the tour — a private houseboat drifting through the canal network as your crew prepares the finest Kerala meal you'll eat. Fish curry, coconut rice, prawn moilee, and freshly made appam under a swaying coconut palm.
Marari Beach is the tour's hidden gem — a quiet fishing village beach with none of the commercial development of Kovalam or Varkala. The 3-kilometre stretch of golden sand, the outrigger canoes drawn up on the shore, the coconut groves behind, and the absolute silence are extraordinary. Two nights here allow complete decompression. Fort Kochi's half-day heritage walk completes the journey.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to Kerala! Your driver meets you at Cochin Airport. Scenic drive into the Western Ghats with a stop at the dramatic Cheeyappara Waterfalls and a spice garden where cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon grow together. Arrive Munnar by late afternoon.
Full day in Munnar. Eravikulam National Park for Nilgiri Tahr on open grasslands with Anamudi peak (2,695m) as backdrop. KDHP Tea Museum — tea tasting included. Top Station viewpoint (1,700m) for finest regional panoramas. Mattupetty Dam and Indo-Swiss dairy farm. Evening in Munnar market.
Drive west, descending through rubber plantations and paddy fields to the coastal lowlands and Alleppey. Board your private houseboat by noon. Cruise through the backwater network — emerald canals, lotus ponds, and quiet waterways. All meals on board: fish curry, coconut rice, prawn moilee, thoran, and avial. Moor for the night in a quiet canal under the stars.
A peaceful final morning on the backwaters, then disembark and drive south along the coast to Marari Beach (30 minutes). Marari is a Kerala fishing village whose beach has remained largely undiscovered by mass tourism — a 3-kilometre sweep of golden sand between swaying palms, with traditional outrigger canoes drawn up on the shore and almost no commercial development. Check in to your beachside resort. Afternoon: walk to the fishing harbour to watch the boats come in, then swim, read, and do absolutely nothing.
A day entirely at your pace in Marari. Morning: guided walk through the fishing village with your local host — traditional Kerala homes, toddy tapper at work, the ancient Mararikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple with its distinctive red-tiled rooftop. Afternoon: the beach, the sea, and a sunset that turns the water copper and gold. Optional: a 90-minute traditional Ayurvedic massage at your resort — Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda, and the treatment here is exceptional.
Drive north to Fort Kochi (1.5 hours) for a morning heritage walk — the iconic Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church (the oldest European church in India), the Dutch Palace's extraordinary Hindu murals, and the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry's Jew Town. Spice warehouses and antique shops line the old port streets. Transfer to Cochin Airport for your departure.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ Accommodation in handpicked hotels throughout
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout the tour
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ All applicable taxes
- ✓ Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓ 1 night private houseboat in Alleppey (lunch + dinner on board)
- ✓ Village walk in Marari fishing village
- ✓ Fort Kochi guided heritage walk
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights to / from Kerala
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches & dinners (except where specified)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for guides & drivers
- ✗ Entry fees to monuments & parks
- ✗ Marari Temple visit offering (nominal)
- ✗ Optional Ayurvedic massage (payable at resort)
- ✗ National Park fees
Your questions, answered
Marari is a working fishing village beach — largely uncommercialized, with no beach bars, jet-skis, or hawkers on the sand. It's simply a beautiful, wide stretch of golden sand backed by coconut groves, with traditional outrigger canoes pulled up between the palms. The village behind the beach is authentically Kerala — toddy shops, a centuries-old temple, fishermen mending nets. If you want a relaxed, unspoiled Kerala beach experience away from the tourist infrastructure, Marari is significantly better than Kovalam.
October to March is ideal — the post-monsoon season, lush and green, comfortable temperatures (25–30°C on the coast, cooler in the hills), and the backwaters are navigable. December and January are peak season — book well in advance. Avoid June–August when the southwest monsoon is heaviest.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and tailored to your preferences. We can adjust the duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions such as Wayanad, Varkala, or a longer Kovalam beach stay. Submit an enquiry and our Kerala specialists will redesign it for you at no obligation.
We include carefully selected hotels — plantation retreats in the hills, heritage homestays in the backwaters, and well-appointed resort properties on the coast. All are personally vetted by our team. Upgrades to luxury tree-houses, lake-view villas, and boutique resorts are available on request.
A traditional Kerala houseboat (kettuvallam) is a converted rice barge — typically 60–80 feet long — fitted with bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and an open-air sun deck. Your crew (captain and cook) prepare all meals fresh on board: fish curry, coconut rice, prawn dishes, appam, and Kerala thali. You moor in a quiet canal for the night, away from traffic. It is one of the most uniquely peaceful experiences in India.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Processing takes 3–5 business days. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure: full refund minus admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.
