Kerala and Valparai Hills

Arrive in Kochi and meet your driver for the two to three hour journey into the forested fringe of Athirappally. Spend your afternoon and evening visiting Kerala's famous Athirappally Waterfalls. You can view the cascading torrent from viewpoints at the top or follow the walking trail down to the base for a closer perspective of the curtain of water. Overnight in Athirappally.

Check out from your Athirappally hotel and begin your scenic mountain drive through the Sholayar Forest and Wildlife Division. The winding forest road passes the Upper Sholayar Dam area, an active wildlife corridor where you may spot elephants and other animals. As you cross the state border into Tamil Nadu, the dense jungle gives way to rolling tea plantations. Pause at hillside viewpoints before checking into your stay in Valparai.

Dedicate the day to exploring the Anaimalai Hills. Venture into the core zone of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, watching for wild elephants, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar Deer, and Lion-tailed Macaques. Explore Grass Hills National Park to see its unique shola-grassland ecosystem. Continue along forest trails to Birla Waterfalls and Chinna Kallar Falls, then conclude with a walk through the manicured hedges of Sirukundra Tea Estate. Overnight in Valparai.

After breakfast, drive from Valparai into Kerala's hills towards Munnar. Check into your hotel and take an afternoon sightseeing excursion. Tour the Munnar Tea Factory to observe tea processing from leaf to final cup, walk among flower displays at the Munnar Rose Garden, and shop for local homemade chocolates. You can also pause at Tea Tales Café for cardamom tea and snacks before settling in for the night in Munnar.

Depart Munnar and travel through the Cardamom Hills to Thekkady. Check in and relax before heading out for a boat safari on Periyar Lake within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where herds of elephants, bison, and deer frequently graze along the water's edge. Take a guided walking tour through a local spice plantation to see cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In the evening, visit Yodha Cultural Village for Kathakali dance-drama and Kalarippayattu martial arts performances. Overnight in Thekkady.

After breakfast, drive down from the hills to Alleppey. Board your traditional Kerala kettuvallam houseboat around midday. Settle into your cabin, cruise past palm-shaded waterways and paddy fields, and take in the panoramic river life from the deck. Enjoy fresh Kerala meals served on board, including vegetarian feasts or Karimeen fish. Spend the evening and night on board the houseboat drifting along the backwaters.

Disembark from your houseboat and transfer south along the coast to Varkala. Check into your hotel and head out to explore the Varkala Cliff Beach, where red laterite formations drop directly to the shoreline. Walk past coastal stalls, view the natural healing springs near Papanasam Beach, and find an open-air clifftop cafe for lunch or dinner. Watch the sun drop into the Arabian Sea before retiring to your hotel.

Travel inland to Chadayamangalam in Kollam district to visit Jatayu Earth's Center. Ascend by cable car to view the 200-foot-long bird sculpture, visit the internal museum and 6D theater, or explore the adventure zone. Return to Varkala in the afternoon for leisure by the water. Take an evening walk on the beach, sample local street snacks such as churuttu, and spend the night at your hotel.

Following breakfast, check out and drive south to Poovar Island. Check into your riverside hotel and set out on a boat ride through dense mangrove canals where tangled tree roots form water tunnels. Emerge where the river, lake, and sea converge at Golden Sand Beach. Relax along the sands, purchase fresh coconut water, and enjoy the sunset over the coast before returning for a calm evening at your riverside stay.

Check out from Poovar and drive into Thiruvananthapuram. Visit the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to observe its Dravidian architecture and the reclining deity of Lord Vishnu. Enjoy a traditional Kerala Sadhya on a banana leaf at Mother's Veg Plaza. Later, visit Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, and Kanakakunnu Palace. Finish your evening at Shanghumugham Beach admiring the Matsya Kanyaka sculpture and having dinner before heading to the airport for your onward flight.