Mountain to Sea — All of Kerala
Experience Kerala from its highest peaks to its southernmost beaches on this comprehensive 6-day journey — the most complete introduction to God's Own Country available in a week.
The tour opens in Munnar's spectacular tea country — Eravikulam National Park's Nilgiri Tahr, the panoramic summit of Top Station, and the mist-wrapped plantation trails that make this the finest hill station in South India.
Alleppey's backwaters form the emotional centrepiece — a private houseboat drifting through a waterworld of canals, paddy fields, and fishing villages, with fresh Kerala cuisine prepared and served on board as the world moves slowly past.
The tour concludes in Kovalam, Kerala's most celebrated beach destination, on the far southwestern tip of the Indian peninsula. Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, and the cliff-top views over the Arabian Sea are extraordinary. A half-day in Trivandrum adds cultural depth — the magnificent Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Napier Museum, and the Chitra Art Gallery.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to Kerala! Meet your driver at Cochin Airport and drive into the Western Ghats. Stop at the spectacular Cheeyappara Waterfalls and a spice garden before arriving in Munnar by afternoon.
Full day in Munnar. Eravikulam National Park, KDHP Tea Museum with tasting, Top Station viewpoint at 1,700m, Mattupetty Dam and dairy farm. Sunset walk through Munnar market.
Drive west from Munnar to Alleppey (about 3.5 hours). Board your private houseboat by noon and cruise through the backwater network. Your crew prepares all meals: fish curry, coconut rice, prawn moilee, avial, and appam. Moor for the night in a quiet canal.
A gentle final morning on the backwaters. Disembark after breakfast and drive south along the Kerala coast to Kovalam (approximately 3.5 hours). Arrive and check in to your clifftop or beachfront resort. Evening: stroll along Lighthouse Beach and Hawah Beach — sunset over the Arabian Sea from the lighthouse headland is spectacular.
Half-day city tour of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) — Kerala's capital, just 16 km from Kovalam. The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the wealthiest Hindu temples in the world, with its distinctive Dravidian gopuram tower. The Napier Museum with its extraordinary Indo-Saracenic architecture and collection of Kerala bronzes, ivory, and Kathakali costumes. The Chitra Art Gallery houses works by Raja Ravi Varma — India's most celebrated classical painter. Return to Kovalam by noon. Afternoon entirely at leisure on the beach.
Optional: a 90-minute traditional Ayurvedic massage — Trivandrum is one of the finest places in India for authentic Ayurveda treatments.
A final morning in Kovalam — one last swim in the Arabian Sea, one last Kerala breakfast by the water. Transfer to Trivandrum International Airport (16 km) for your departure. Trivandrum has direct international connections to several Middle Eastern hubs, or connect via Kochi or Mumbai.
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)
- ✓ Trivandrum half-day city tour
- ✓ Fort Kochi walking tour (optional on Day 6 if time permits)
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
- ✗ Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple inner sanctum (open to Hindus only)
- ✗ Optional Ayurvedic massage (payable at resort)
- ✗ National Park fees
Your questions, answered
The outer gopuram and grounds are accessible to all visitors; the inner sanctum is open to Hindus only. For non-Hindu visitors, the exterior of the temple is still extraordinary — one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture in Kerala. The Napier Museum and Chitra Art Gallery are open to all and are well worth your time. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) when visiting any temple in Kerala.
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.
