Green Earth Trails · Kerala & South India
Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Kovalam · Kanyakumari
Program Overview
Seven days is the journey that earns its ending. Beginning in the mist-wrapped tea estates of Munnar at 1,600 metres, this program traverses the full length of Kerala's most rewarding geography, cardamom forests, backwater canals, and a beach coast, before arriving at Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of the Indian subcontinent, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet in a spectacle unlike anywhere else on earth. The route follows a natural arc from the highlands to the coast, arriving at Trivandrum for departure — making this one of the few Kerala tours that begins at Kochi and ends at Trivandrum without doubling back. Throughout, a dedicated vehicle and driver from Green Earth Trails, a Ministry of Tourism-accredited operator, manages every detail. Seven days, five distinct landscapes, one continuous journey.
Day by Day
Transfer · 4 hours · Cheeyappara & Valara Waterfalls
On arrival at Kochi International Airport, your driver will receive you and begin the four-hour transfer into the central Western Ghats toward Munnar, the tea county of Kerala and one of the highest plateaus in southern India. The British planted tea here nearly two centuries ago; today the entire landscape is a rolling carpet of managed green interrupted only by the occasional shola forest patch or cardamom grove. En route, pause at the Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls, where the mountain streams drop in dramatic cascades down the escarpment. On arrival, check in at your Munnar resort and settle in, the hills are best absorbed slowly, and there is plenty of time ahead.
Eravikulam National Park · Drive to Echo Point · Tea Museum
After breakfast, the day belongs to Munnar's natural and cultural landmarks. Begin at Eravikulam National Park, a protected biosphere reserve where the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a thickset mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats, grazes the open grasslands above 2,000 metres. The park also contains Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at 2,695 metres. Visit the Tea Museum in the town, a thoughtfully assembled record of Munnar's 19th-century plantation history. After lunch in town, drive to the high reaches, Blossom Park, Echo Point, the Mattupetty Dam and Echo point. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Transfer · 3 hours · Spice Garden · Periyar Boat Safari
Leave the tea hills and descend into the spice forests of Thekkady, the drive itself is one of the most aromatic in South India, winding through Western Ghats terrain dense with pepper vines, cardamom pods, cinnamon bark and coffee plants. En route, stop for a guided tour of a working spice garden to understand the cultivation behind the world's finest cardamom and black pepper, both produced in these hills. On arrival, board a shared boat on the Periyar reservoir for a wildlife cruise through the national park. The lake weaves between forested peninsulas where elephants, sambar deer, Indian gaur and river otters have been spotted at the water's edge, wildlife sightings are always a matter of timing. Overnight in Thekkady.
Transfer · 4 hours · Exclusive Houseboat · Canals & Lagoons
After breakfast, check out from Thekkady and descend from the hills to the coast-facing lowlands. The four-hour drive brings you from spice-country elevation down through rubber plantations and paddy fields to the edge of Kerala's legendary backwater network at Alleppey. On arrival, board your exclusive houseboat, a traditional kettuvallam rice barge converted into a comfortable floating home with bedroom, bathroom and a wide open deck. The afternoon is for drifting: narrow canals lined with toddy palms and fishing nets, village life at the water's edge, waterbirds working the shallows, the occasional other boat. All meals are prepared and served on board by your cook from lunch through to next morning's breakfast. Air conditioning runs during sleeping hours. The houseboat is exclusively yours.
Transfer · 4 hours · Arabian Sea Coast · Lighthouse Beach
After breakfast and check-out from the houseboat, drive south along the Kerala coast toward Kovalam, a crescent-shaped bay on the Arabian Sea just south of Thiruvananthapuram. Kovalam gained its international reputation in the 1970s as a place where the world slowed down, and a certain quality of that unhurried pace remains. It consists of three beaches: Lighthouse Beach, watched over by its distinctive red-and-white striped tower; Hawah Beach; and the quieter Samudra Beach further north. Check in at your beach resort on arrival. The rest of the day is yours, the sea, the light and the rhythm of a beach town after days in the hills are a considered contrast. Overnight at Kovalam.
Poovar Backwaters · Vivekananda Rock
Today is the journey's geographical and emotional climax. Drive south from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, where three seas meet and the horizon holds sunrise and sunset in the same view. Visit the Poovar Island, where there are boating options available through the mangrove forests which would be a nature treat. At Kanyakumari, visit the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on its island in the confluence of the three seas, and the 40-metre Thiruvalluvar Statue nearby. The light at Kanyakumari at dusk, with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east, is one of the genuinely unrepeatable experiences in Indian travel. Return to Kovalam for overnight.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple · Napier Museum · Airport Transfer
After breakfast, check out from Kovalam and drive into Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital city, a compact and walkable city of temples, colonial buildings and museums set across seven hills. Visit the outer precinct of Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the wealthiest temples in the world, its golden gopuram dominating the old city skyline. Walk through the Napier Museum, a striking 19th-century Indo-Saracenic building housing a fine collection of bronze sculptures, ivory carvings and traditional Kerala craft. Visit the Kerala Palace (Kuthiramalika), built by the Travancore king Swathi Thirunal with its notable collection of royal artefacts. After lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Trivandrum International Airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation & Pricing
| Destination | Budget | Midrange | Premium | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar - 2 nights | Aranyaka Resorts | Silvertips | Amberdale | The Valle |
| Thekkady - 1 night | Merryweather | CItadel Boutique | Elephant Court | Greenwoods |
| Alleppey - 1 night | Shared Premium Houseboat | Shared Premium Houseboat | Private Premium Houseboat | Private Luxury Houseboat |
| Kovalam - 2 nights | Abad Harmonia | Abad Harmonia | Travancore Heritage | The Leela Raviz Kovalam |
| Rates from Oct to May 2027 | ₹ 34,000 per person | ₹ 36,000 per person | ₹ 47,000 per person | ₹ 75,000 per person |
| The above rates are per person prices based on two adults traveling together | ||||
| Kindly get in touch if you are traveling with more than 2 adults or require any further customisations for the program. | ||||
What's covered
Included
Not included
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tour start and end at the same airport?
No, and that is one of its strengths. You arrive at Kochi Airport (COK) and depart from Trivandrum Airport (TRV), which means the program follows a natural south-facing arc without backtracking. If you need to return to Kochi, domestic flights between Trivandrum and Kochi take under an hour and are inexpensive.
What is the best time for this 7-day tour?
October to March is the ideal window. The Western Ghats are clear, the backwaters are calm and Kanyakumari's famous sunrise is at its most striking. November to February is peak season; we recommend booking 3 to 4 months ahead to secure preferred houseboat and hotel options.
Is the Kanyakumari excursion included or a supplement?
The full-day Kanyakumari excursion on Day 6, including the drive, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Suchindram Temple and Kanyakumari town, is included in the program. Entry tickets to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and ferry charges are payable directly by guests.
Can the houseboat be upgraded to a premium category?
Yes. Our standard houseboat inclusion is a comfortable midrange vessel with air conditioning during sleeping hours. Premium and luxury houseboat options with air-conditioned living spaces, upper decks and chef-curated menus are available at a supplement. Please request at the time of enquiry.
What is the pricing structure for this tour?
Rates start from Rs 23,000 per person based on two adults travelling together, across Budget, Midrange, Premium and Luxury accommodation categories. Please contact us for current pricing, group rates or customisation requests.
Can we add cycling or trekking to this itinerary?
Absolutely. Green Earth Trails specialises in experiential programs and can integrate cycling through the Munnar estates, a greenwalk in Periyar, kayaking at Alleppey or birdwatching segments at any destination. Share your interests when you enquire and we will build accordingly.
Also available · Small group tour
If you are travelling solo or as a couple and want the convenience of a ready-made program with fixed dates and transparent pricing, our small group fixed departure is designed for you.
From ₹24,000 per person · Single supplement available
Get in touch
Tell us your travel dates, group size and any specific requirements. We will come back to you within 24 hours with a detailed proposal.
We respond within 24 hours · hello@greenearthtrails.com · +91 94009 46800 (WhatsApp)
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