Kerala culture, Munroe kayaking and houseboat group journey

Meet your group at Cochin International Airport for the scheduled 12:00 transfer to your hotel. After check-in from 13:00, head out to see the Chinese Fishing Nets and take a walking tour of Fort Kochi. Stroll past colonial landmarks, art galleries, boutiques, and cafes at your own pace. Return with the scheduled 22:00 Fort Kochi-to-hotel pickup. You stay overnight in Kochi.

After breakfast, check out of Kochi and drive into the Western Ghats toward Munnar. Stop along the way at Cheeyappara Waterfalls and Valara Waterfalls, winding through lush tea estates and mist-draped valleys. Arrive in Munnar and check in to your hotel to unwind. In the evening, attend a Folk Fusion Cultural Show followed by a live Kalaripayattu martial arts performance at Punarjani Traditional Village. Carry a light jacket for the cool hill air. Settle in for the first of two nights in Munnar.

After breakfast, head out to the Rajamalai sector of Eravikulam National Park to spot the Nilgiri Tahr and take in sweeping mountain views. Note that the park closes during the calving season in February and March; during this time, travel the Gap Road route to Chinnakanal Waterfalls instead. Next, visit the KDHP Tea Museum, bearing in mind it is closed on Mondays. Continue to Echo Point and Mattupetty Lake and Dam. Wear sturdy shoes and bring warm layers before returning to your Munnar hotel for the night.

Eat an early breakfast, leave Munnar, and travel through scenic hills to Thekkady. Visit a spice plantation to learn how cardamom, pepper, coffee, cinnamon, and cloves are grown; if timing prevents this today, the visit happens tomorrow morning before continuing to Alleppey. In the afternoon, choose optional activities at Periyar National Park, such as a boat safari or jungle hike, at your own cost and subject to availability. Alternatively, opt for an elephant ride or coffee factory visit at your own expense. Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening. Overnight in Thekkady.

After breakfast, check out and complete any postponed spice plantation tour before driving to Alleppey. Board your traditional houseboat on the backwaters and enjoy an included lunch onboard. Cruise across Vembanad Lake and take an evening motorboat ride through narrow village canals. Settle back onto the houseboat for evening snacks, dinner, and a musical evening that ends by 22:00. The houseboat remains moored overnight on the Alleppey backwaters.

Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarking in Alleppey. Drive south to Munroe Island, where you paddle a kayak through narrow waterways, quiet canals, and mangrove groves. Continue your journey to Varkala and check in to your hotel. In the evening, take a leisurely walk along the North Cliff to browse local shops, watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea, or dine at a cliffside cafe at your own cost; Personal food and purchases are separate. Stay overnight in Varkala.

Have breakfast and travel inland to Jatayu Earth's Centre to view the monumental bird sculpture. Admission and cable car tickets are at your own cost; if the ropeway is not running, reaching the summit requires an uphill walk. Return to Varkala for free time on the beach. Relax on the sand, watch the sunset, or take part in local watersports, available at extra cost. Return to your hotel for your second night in Varkala.

Eat breakfast, check out of your hotel, and take the group transfer to Trivandrum International Airport. The single scheduled drop-off arrives at the terminal at approximately 12:30. Ensure your onward flight departs after 15:00 to allow ample time for check-in and security. Your journey concludes here.