When to Go
Duration
Theme
Nov to March
14 Nights
Slow Journeys
Slow down in Kerala
FORT KOCHI — MUNNAR — THEKKADY — SPICE COAST CRUISES — KUMARAKOM — VARKALA
ABOUT
Follow Kerala from Fort Kochi’s historic waterfront into the tea and spice hills, then drift through the backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat. After two quiet nights beside Vembanad Lake, continue south to Varkala for yoga, cliff walks, sea air and a properly relaxed ending.
Why we love this trip
This journey captures Kerala at its most varied: historic streets, tea-covered hills, spice country, quiet waterways and the Arabian Sea. Each stage feels distinct, yet the route flows naturally from one landscape into the next.
Fort Kochi brings history, food and culture, while Munnar opens into cooler air, plantation walks and wide views across the Western Ghats. Thekkady adds forest, wildlife and the scent of cardamom and pepper before the journey reaches the backwaters, where life slows to the pace of the water.
An overnight aboard a traditional houseboat is followed by two restful nights beside Vembanad Lake, giving time to enjoy the setting rather than simply pass through it. Varkala then provides a lively but relaxed coastal finale, with yoga, cliff walks, cafés and the freedom to shape each day as you please.
We love the balance of this route. It combines guided experiences with genuine downtime, and brings together Kerala’s food, landscapes, wildlife and local life without ever feeling hurried.
DAYS 1–3 — FORT KOCHI
HARBOUR STORIES
Begin in Fort Kochi, where trading histories, fishing communities and contemporary culture meet beside the Arabian Sea. Explore the old quarters with a private guide, visit Mattancherry and the Jewish district, taste Kerala’s coastal cooking and see Kathakali with proper interpretation. Three nights leave time for galleries, cafés and an unhurried waterfront walk.
Highlight: Watching Fort Kochi’s fishing nets lower into the water as the evening light fades.
WHERE TO STAY
This is simply our starting idea; every journey can be adjusted around you. Eighth Bastion brings a clean, contemporary feel to Fort Kochi, drawing on the area’s Dutch history through nautical details, quiet courtyards and a pool.
DAYS 4–6 — MUNNAR
TEA COUNTRY
The road climbs into the Western Ghats, passing plantations, waterfalls and forested slopes before reaching Munnar. Walk through tea and cardamom country with a local guide, learn how the estates shaped the hills and follow quieter trails away from town. A full day outdoors reveals far more than a brief plantation visit.
Highlight: Walking above the tea fields as mist lifts from the folds of the Western Ghats.
WHERE TO STAY
Windermere Estate sits within a working plantation and follows the slower rhythm of estate life. Simple, characterful rooms, attentive hosting and guided walks through cardamom and surrounding hills make it feel connected to Munnar rather than merely overlooking it.
DAYS 7–8 — THEKKADY
FOREST AND SPICE
Continue to Thekkady for the forests and spice-growing landscapes around Periyar. Join a guided nature walk, explore a spice garden and learn how pepper, cardamom and other crops shape the region’s food and economy. Depending on your interests, add bamboo rafting, birding or a cooking experience led by local specialists.
Highlight: Following forest trails with a naturalist as bird calls and movement reveal what lies beyond the path.
WHERE TO STAY
Spice Village is set within gardens designed around a traditional highland settlement. Its cottages, naturalist team and spice-led food programme create a relaxed base close to Periyar, with a pool and plenty happening within the grounds.
DAY 9 — KUTTANAD BACKWATERS
A NIGHT AFLOAT
Board a traditional kettuvallam for a private journey through Kuttanad’s backwaters. Cruise past waterside homes, small farms, churches and working boats before the day-trippers disappear and the waterways grow quieter. Meals are prepared on board, with time to watch village life, read on deck and sleep surrounded by water.
Highlight: Waking on the backwaters as the first canoes move through the morning mist.
WHERE TO STAY
Spice Coast Cruises operates traditional-style houseboats with private cabins, a small crew and freshly prepared Kerala meals. The experience is deliberately simple: open water, changing scenery and the rare pleasure of having nowhere else to be.
DAYS 10–11 — KUMARAKOM
LAKESIDE PAUSE
Step ashore at Kumarakom for two slow days beside Vembanad Lake. Join an early birding walk, take a canoe through narrow waterways, try yoga or spend the afternoon by the pool. After the movement of the houseboat, this is the point in the journey where doing very little becomes the plan.
Highlight: Arriving by boat as palms, water and restored timber houses come into view.
WHERE TO STAY
Coconut Lagoon is reached by boat and built around restored Kerala homes beside the lake. Its gardens, birdlife and waterways create a strong sense of place, while the pool and generous grounds make slowing down remarkably easy.
DAYS 12–14 — VARKALA
COASTAL FREEDOM
Travel south to Varkala for three deliberately loose days beside the Arabian Sea. Walk the clifftops, join a yoga session, swim, browse local shops or settle into a café overlooking the water. Unlike an isolated resort, Varkala gives you somewhere to wander and enough atmosphere to shape each day yourself.
Highlight: Watching the sun sink into the Arabian Sea after an evening walk along South Cliff.
WHERE TO STAY
Villa Jacaranda is a tiny, design-led guesthouse on quieter South Cliff. With a garden, pool and easy access to the beach, it offers privacy without cutting guests off from Varkala’s cafés, walks and relaxed coastal energy.
Experiences
Ready to Start Planning
Your journey starts with a conversation.
Tell us what draws you to India, how you like to travel and what would make the experience feel truly special. We’ll listen, share our ideas and create a journey shaped around you.
There is no planning fee and no pressure — just thoughtful, honest advice from a small team who genuinely care about getting it right.
Send us an email and we’ll arrange a time to chat.
