From Kochi to the Tip of India — Nine Days of Kerala & Beyond
The Kerala Deep South Signature is our most comprehensive Kerala journey — nine days that take you from the colonial harbour of Fort Kochi to the very tip of the Indian subcontinent at Kanyakumari, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean meet in a sunrise that travellers describe as one of the most moving experiences in India.
The tour opens with Fort Kochi's extraordinary layering of history, then ascends to Munnar's tea highlands for two full days, crosses the Cardamom Hills to Thekkady's Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, drifts through Alleppey's backwaters on a private houseboat, and arrives at Kovalam's beach for two nights.
The final night is the tour's emotional climax: Kanyakumari — the southernmost point of mainland India, where the two lighthouses mark the meeting of three seas and the sunrise over the water is one of India's transcendent experiences. The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the Thiruvalluvar Statue rising from the sea, and the ancient Kumari Amman Temple make this an extraordinary conclusion to the longest and finest Kerala journey we offer.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to Kerala! Transfer to Fort Kochi. Afternoon: Dutch Palace (Mattancherry), Paradesi Synagogue, St Francis Church, and Chinese fishing nets. Evening: Kathakali classical dance with pre-show makeup ceremony.
Drive into the Western Ghats with stops at Cheeyappara Waterfalls and a spice garden. Arrive Munnar by afternoon.
Full day in Munnar: Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri Tahr, Anamudi backdrop), KDHP Tea Museum with tasting, Top Station (1,700m), and Mattupetty Dam.
Drive south (3 hrs). Spice plantation tour. Afternoon wildlife boat safari on Periyar Lake. Evening Kalaripayattu performance.
Drive to Alleppey and board your private houseboat. Cruise through the backwaters — all meals on board. Moor in a quiet canal overnight.
Final morning on the backwaters. Disembark after breakfast and drive south to Kovalam (3.5 hrs). Arrive and check in. Evening: Lighthouse Beach sunset.
Half-day Trivandrum: Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, Chitra Art Gallery. Return to Kovalam by noon. Afternoon: beach, Ayurveda, or seafood dinner.
Drive south along the coast (90 km, about 2 hours) to Kanyakumari — the southernmost tip of mainland India. Visit the Kumari Amman Temple on the seafront, then take the short boat ride to the extraordinary Vivekananda Rock Memorial (on a rock in the sea where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892) and the towering Thiruvalluvar Statue beside it. Stand at Kanyakumari's beach at sunset — to the east the Bay of Bengal, to the west the Arabian Sea, and to the south the Indian Ocean. Check in to your hotel for the night.
The reason to spend a night in Kanyakumari: the sunrise. Stand on the tip of India as the sun rises over the Bay of Bengal and simultaneously illuminates the Arabian Sea to the west — a sight of rare and moving beauty. After breakfast, continue to your onward destination: drive north to Trivandrum Airport (90 km) for onward flights, or continue to Madurai or Chennai by road or rail.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ Accommodation in handpicked hotels throughout
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ All applicable taxes
- ✓ Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓ Evening Kathakali performance in Kochi
- ✓ Fort Kochi heritage guided walk
- ✓ 1 night private houseboat in Alleppey (lunch + dinner on board)
- ✓ Periyar wildlife boat safari
- ✓ Kalaripayattu performance
- ✓ Spice plantation guided tour
- ✓ Boat to Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari
Not Included ✗
- ✗ Flights to / from Kerala
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches & dinners (except where specified)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for guides & drivers
- ✗ Monument & park entry fees (unless stated)
- ✗ Park and monument entry fees
- ✗ Optional Ayurvedic massage in Kovalam
- ✗ Boat ticket to Vivekananda Rock (payable at jetty)
Your questions, answered
Kanyakumari is geographically and emotionally the natural conclusion to any south India journey — the literal tip of the subcontinent, where three seas meet. The sunrise there is one of the most genuinely moving experiences in Indian travel — not hyperbole, but the genuine response of most travellers who stand there in the early light. Adding just one night extends your journey by a single day but adds something irreplaceable. We recommend it to everyone who has the time.
October to March is ideal — post-monsoon, lush and green, comfortable temperatures (25–30°C on coast, cooler in hills). December–January is peak season; book well ahead. Avoid June–August (heavy monsoon).
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and tailored to you. We can adjust duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry — no obligation.
We include carefully vetted 4-star and 5-star hotels, plantation retreats, heritage homestays, and boutique resorts. Upgrades to luxury tree-houses, lake-view villas, and exclusive resorts are available on request.
A kettuvallam is a converted rice barge with bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and sun deck. Your crew (captain and cook) prepare all meals fresh on board — fish curry, coconut rice, prawn dishes, appam. Moored in a quiet canal overnight. One of India's most unique experiences.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Takes 3–5 business days. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
60+ days: full refund minus admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50%. Under 15 days: no refund. Travel insurance strongly recommended.
