Captivating Kerala - 8 days

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

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8 Days From

$1315

$1184

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

8 Days Starting and ending in Kochi

Visiting: Kochi, Munnar, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumarakom, Alleppey

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

693/CKE

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Age range:

16 + if accompanied by an adult.

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $1315 $1184 Operator discount: -$132

NB: Prices correct on 07-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Uncover the delights of tropical Kerala in India's deep south on this 8-day group tour. From Kochi visit the picturesque hill station of Munnar with its verdant tea plantations as well as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend a night aboard a houseboat, gliding along the tranquil, palm fringed backwaters.

Highlights

  • Kochi – Enjoy free time to explore the coastal city and perhaps enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance show

  • Kerala Backwaters – Cruise along the famous backwaters on a deluxe rice boat, past lush forests and local villages

  • Kumarakom – Relax on the shores of Lake Vembanad and opt to visit the local bird sanctuary

  • Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - Spot herds of elephants from an included boat ride on Lake Periyar

  • Munnar – Stroll through a tea plantation on a guided walk and visit a local market

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Casino Hotel

Saturday. Welcome to India! You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Day 2: Munnar

Location: Munnar

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Clouds Valley Leisure Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kochi - Munnar. Today we travel to the picturesque former hill station of Munnar, surrounded by sprawling tea plantations. We take a guided stroll through a local tea plantation and visit a local market, before the rest of the day is free to relax as you please. You may wish to visit nearby Blossom Park and enjoy cycling or boating in your stunning surroundings. This evening we meet others joining our group who have been travelling on our longer South India Explorer itinerary.







Day 3-4: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Kumily

Meals Included: Breakfast

Munnar – Periyar. A drive south to Periyar, South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary and home to bison, antelopes, sambar, wild boar, birds and even the odd tiger! Kumily, close to the sanctuary and where we'll stay, is a pretty little town dotted with small spice and handicraft shops. There is plenty to do in and around Periyar, so we leave the choice to you for the remainder of the day.





On day 4 we will enjoy an included boat ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants, spending the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on own. You can opt for an optional visit to explore the spice plantation or enjoy a kalaripayattu dance performance Periyar.

Day 5: Kumarakom

Location: Kumarakom

Accommodation Name: Deluxe rice boat

Meals Included: Breakfast

Periyar - Kumarakom. Today, we leave Periyar and take a drive to Kumarakom - a village spread over a cluster of islands on Lake Vembanad. The day is free to relax or explore Kumarakom at your leisure. Perhaps take a boat ride on the lake or visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to many rare bird species and is an important stopover for migratory birds in the winter (Nov-May).

Day 6: Alleppey

Location: Alleppey

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Deluxe rice boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kumarakom - Alleppey - Keralan Backwaters. On day 6, we will take a scenic drive to Alleppey. Here we board our private rice boat for a voyage through the famous Kerala backwaters. Our rice-boat takes us sedately along the enchanting palm-fringed backwaters, covering a distance of some 20 kms, during which time the boat glides past local villages and fascinating scenes of everyday rural life. Watch a beautiful sunset over the backwaters and enjoy tasty meals (starting with lunch) prepared by the on-board chef using fresh local produce.

Day 7: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Keralan Backwaters – Kochi. This morning, we disembark our rice boat and head for Kochi. Formerly a princely state, Kochi is also fondly referred to as “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”. The rest of the day is at leisure exploring Kochi on its own. This evening you can opt for an optional tour to watch an entertaining and traditional Kathakali dance show. Kathakali performers are known for their elaborate costumes and makeup, and they always put on a fantastic show.

Day 8: Kochi

Location: Kochi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Saturday. Our South Indian adventure comes to an end today. A departure transfer is included today for departures in 2024. If you are travelling in 2025 this can be booked for an additional supplement if required.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    3 - 4 star and heritage properties

  • Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 1 dinner

  • 6 nights 3-4 star and heritage hotels and 1 night deluxe houseboat

  • Boat ride on Lake Periyar

  • Houseboat cruise along the Keralan backwaters

  • Escorted by an English-speaking Indian tour guide (for groups of 4 or more)

  • Services of English-speaking Indian specialist guides at some sites

  • Airport arrival transfer on day 1 (For departures in 2024 a departure airport transfer is provided on day 8)

  • All relevant transfers and transportation in private A/C vehicles

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$4-7 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture

  • Entrance Fees: USD$15-25pp, paid in local currency

Age Policy

15 + if accompanied by an adult.

Check out our Q&As

  • What is the maximum group size?

    24

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 7

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    3 - 4 star and heritage properties

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Kornelia Maraczy  

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

28-Oct-2016

Alex is a professional guide, with good language skills, knowledge of the area, and always on time. His suggestions on other activities were welcomed, well received and appreciated. All listed activities were done. Alex is a valuable member of the On The Go team

Helen Frowe  

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

18-Mar-2015

I really enjoyed the tour! It exceeded all my expectations. The hotels were clean, modern and very nice. The houseboat was also much more comfortable than I had expected. The tour was just the right mix of activities and relaxation. The things were visited were interesting, and our guide was very knowledgeable. The On The Go staff really went the extra mile, arranging a separate car to take me to the airport because i had a late flight, and then having someone meet me at the airport to help me with mu luggage and to navigate the check in. My arrival flight was eight hours late, but they still had a driver waiting for me when i arrived. I would definitely use the company again!

Lacramioara Sorina Millson  

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

17-Apr-2018

Very good , in all aspects, suitable for experienced travellers. Good that we could get on well together as a group of 4. Very enjoyable - especiallly the relaxing houseboat trip after long car journeys.

Michael & Lynne Lodewyk & Dawson  

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

05-Jan-2024

A marvellous trip that we enjoyed very much , we were incredibly lucky to have Kannanan as our driver for 5 days of our trip, as well as being a very safe driver he was a marvellous guide , from the food, that we had no knowledge of but with his help found the dishes that we really enjoyed, to the countryside we were going through, this along with his wonderful care and consideration for us oldies made our trip so easy and memorable. We would happily recommend this trip to our friends and would suggest that they request Kannan as their driver /guide .

Caity Chadwick  

Captivating Kerala - 8 days

30-Oct-2024

The Tours were amazing but it would have been good to have some more insight about tipping in India. We had a fabulous time! 😊

1 Select your preferred date

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 16, 2024 - Nov 23, 2024
$1185

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 23, 2024 - Nov 30, 2024
$1185

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 30, 2024 - Dec 07, 2024
$1185

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 07, 2024 - Dec 14, 2024
$1185

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 14, 2024 - Dec 21, 2024
$1185

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 21, 2024 - Dec 28, 2024
$1275

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 28, 2024 - Jan 04, 2025
$1275

Saturday - Saturday

Jan 04, 2025 - Jan 11, 2025
$1275

Saturday - Saturday

Jan 11, 2025 - Jan 18, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Jan 18, 2025 - Jan 25, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Jan 25, 2025 - Feb 01, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Feb 01, 2025 - Feb 08, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Feb 08, 2025 - Feb 15, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Feb 15, 2025 - Feb 22, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Feb 22, 2025 - Mar 01, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 08, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Mar 15, 2025 - Mar 22, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Mar 22, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 05, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Apr 05, 2025 - Apr 12, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Apr 12, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Apr 19, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Apr 26, 2025 - May 03, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

May 03, 2025 - May 10, 2025
$1315 $1184

Operator discount: -$132

Saturday - Saturday

Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 04, 2025
$1445 $1301

Operator discount: -$145

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 04, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 25, 2025 - Nov 01, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 01, 2025 - Nov 08, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 08, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 15, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 22, 2025 - Nov 29, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Nov 29, 2025 - Dec 06, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 06, 2025 - Dec 13, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 13, 2025 - Dec 20, 2025
$1445

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 20, 2025 - Dec 27, 2025
$1735

Saturday - Saturday

Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 03, 2026
$1735

Saturday - Saturday

Jan 03, 2026 - Jan 10, 2026
$1735
Prices last published on 07-Nov-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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