Kerala

Kerala Honeymoon Grand Escape

Honeymoon & RomanceBackwaters & HouseboatsBeaches & Coastline
Kerala Honeymoon Grand Escape
Duration11 Days / 10 Nights
Trip TypePrivate & customisable
Best Time to VisitNov – Feb
PaceRelaxed
ThemesHoneymoon & Romance, Backwaters & Houseboats, Beaches & Coastline
Starting From$1,175

Route Covered

Overnight stops in day order
1MunnarDay 1-2 · 2 nights
2Thekkady (Periyar)Day 3 · 1 night
3KumarakomDay 4 · 1 night
4Alleppey (Alappuzha)Day 5-6 · 2 nights
5VarkalaDay 7-8 · 2 nights
6PoovarDay 9-10 · 2 nights

Overview

This 11-day private tour is built for a longer Kerala honeymoon, moving slowly from the tea hills of Munnar to the spice forest at Thekkady, the lake birds of Kumarakom, an Alleppey backwater stay, Varkala's cliffs and a quiet finish at the Poovar estuary. It suits couples with ten days or more who want hills, water and coast in one private trip, best taken from November to February.

Who it suits

Couples with ten days or more who want hills, backwaters and a quiet coastal finish, without repeating the same scenery twice

Highlights

Munnar tea estate walkEravikulam National ParkPeriyar Lake boat rideKumarakom Bird SanctuaryAlleppey backwater cruiseVarkala cliff walkPoovar estuary cruise

Good to know

Six hotel changes

The pace is relaxed day to day, but the trip moves on most mornings; pack so bags are easy to repack

Cool Munnar nights

Munnar sits above 1,500 metres and is cold after dark in December and January, so bring a light jacket

Boat-only Poovar beach

Poovar's beach has no road access, so a boatman arranges the crossing; agree the route and return time before setting off

Houseboat choice

The Alleppey night can be a day cruise or an overnight houseboat; tell your travel consultant which you would prefer

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Arrive in Kochi and climb to the Munnar tea hills
Highlights
  • First evening in the tea hills
Munnar: 1 upcoming event, 1 more to be confirmed
DAY 1 · OVERNIGHT · Munnar

Arrive in Kochi and climb to the Munnar tea hills

  1. 1Meet your driver at Cochin International Airport
  2. 2Drive about 130 km into the hills, roughly 4 to 5 hours
  3. 3Settle in and rest after the climb
  4. 4Evening at leisure in cool mountain air
Cochin International Airport to Munnar, ~130 km, About 4 to 5 hrs
A full day in Munnar's tea country
Highlights
  • Tea estate walk and museum
  • Mattupetty Lake
  • Eravikulam National Park
Munnar: 1 upcoming event, 1 more to be confirmed
DAY 2 · OVERNIGHT · Munnar

A full day in Munnar's tea country

  1. 1Morning walk through a working tea estate and a visit to the tea museum
  2. 2Pedal boats on the Mattupetty reservoir
  3. 3Eravikulam National Park for the Nilgiri tahr, when the park is open
  4. 4Evening at the Top Station viewpoint
Local sightseeing in Munnar
Munnar to the spice forest at Thekkady
Highlights
  • Spice plantation visit
  • Periyar Lake boat ride
Thekkady (Periyar): 1 upcoming event, 2 more to be confirmed
DAY 3 · OVERNIGHT · Thekkady (Periyar)

Munnar to the spice forest at Thekkady

  1. 1Drive about 91 km south, roughly 3 hours
  2. 2Check in and visit a spice plantation around Kumily, with cardamom, pepper and cinnamon on the slopes
  3. 3Evening at leisure, with a boat ride on Periyar Lake if the timing allows
Munnar to Thekkady, ~91 km, About 3 hrs
Periyar Lake wildlife, then on to Kumarakom's lake birds
Highlights
  • Periyar Lake morning boat ride
  • Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
DAY 4 · OVERNIGHT · Kumarakom

Periyar Lake wildlife, then on to Kumarakom's lake birds

  1. 1Morning Periyar Lake boat ride, watching for deer, bison and elephants at the shoreline, if not already done the evening before
  2. 2Drive about 120 to 130 km to Kumarakom, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours
  3. 3Afternoon walk at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on the shore of Vembanad Lake
  4. 4Evening at leisure by the water
Thekkady to Kumarakom, ~125 km, About 3 to 3.5 hrs
Kumarakom to the Alleppey backwaters
Highlights
  • Vembanad Lake shore
  • Alleppey backwater cruise
Alleppey (Alappuzha): 5 annual events
DAY 5 · OVERNIGHT · Alleppey (Alappuzha)

Kumarakom to the Alleppey backwaters

  1. 1A further look at Vembanad Lake's shore before checking out
  2. 2Short drive of about 33 km to Alleppey, around an hour
  3. 3Check in and board for a backwater cruise through the canals near town
  4. 4Evening at leisure on or near the water
Kumarakom to Alleppey, ~33 km, About 1 hr
A full day afloat at Alleppey
Highlights
  • Kuttanad canal cruise
  • Alappuzha Beach and pier
Alleppey (Alappuzha): 5 annual events
DAY 6 · OVERNIGHT · Alleppey (Alappuzha)

A full day afloat at Alleppey

  1. 1A slow cruise through Vembanad Lake and the narrower canals of Kuttanad
  2. 2Meals served aboard if a day cruise is booked, or on arrival if staying overnight on the water
  3. 3Evening at Alappuzha Beach and its old pier, if time allows
Houseboat cruise from Alleppey, Full day
DAY 7 · OVERNIGHT · Varkala

Alleppey to the Varkala cliffs

  1. 1Drive about 110 km south, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours
  2. 2Check in above the cliff
  3. 3Evening walk along the clifftop path, with cafes looking out over the Arabian Sea
Alleppey to Varkala, ~110 km, About 2.5 to 3 hrs
A full day at Varkala
Highlights
  • Papanasam Beach
  • Janardhana Swami Temple
Varkala: 2 upcoming events, 1 more to be confirmed
DAY 8 · OVERNIGHT · Varkala

A full day at Varkala

  1. 1Morning at Papanasam Beach below the cliff
  2. 2Visit the cliff-top Janardhana Swami Temple
  3. 3Free afternoon for surfing, paddle-boarding or an Ayurvedic massage, all offered along the cliff path
Local sightseeing in Varkala
Varkala to the Poovar estuary
Highlights
  • Neyyar river estuary
  • Mangrove backwater cruise
DAY 9 · OVERNIGHT · Poovar

Varkala to the Poovar estuary

  1. 1Drive about 65 to 70 km south, roughly 2 hours, past Thiruvananthapuram
  2. 2Check in at the estuary, where the Neyyar river, a lagoon and the sea meet
  3. 3Evening mangrove channel cruise, watching for kingfishers and brahminy kites
Varkala to Poovar, ~68 km, About 2 hrs
A full day at the Poovar estuary
Highlights
  • Boat-only Poovar beach
DAY 10 · OVERNIGHT · Poovar

A full day at the Poovar estuary

  1. 1Boat crossing to the golden-sand beach that has no road access
  2. 2Time on the beach, away from the crowds of busier coasts
  3. 3Return by boat through the mangrove channels as the light turns gold
Local boat cruise at Poovar
Poovar and departure from Thiruvananthapuram
Highlights
  • Last morning at the estuary
DAY 11 · TRIP ENDS

Poovar and departure from Thiruvananthapuram

  1. 1A last quiet morning by the estuary, if your flight time allows
  2. 2Check out and drive about 25 to 26 km to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, around an hour
  3. 3Transfer to the terminal for your flight
Poovar to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, ~26 km, About 1 hr
Starting from$1,175Twin sharing, 3-star hotels, private car with driver, excludes international flights.

Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.

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Trip Facts

Activity LevelEasy. Light walking at tea estates, the bird sanctuary and the cliff path, with boat rides at Periyar, Alleppey and Poovar, and about six driving days of under 4 hours each.
What to PackA warm layer for cool Munnar evenings, light cottons for the coast, swimwear, a rain layer outside the November to February window, and insect repellent for the backwaters and estuary.
Local CustomsDress modestly and remove footwear at temples. Agree the route and return time with the boatman before any Poovar crossing, since the beach there has no road access.

Local Activities & Events

Updated Oct 23, 2026

Munnar — Days 1-3 of this trip

Coming up, dates to be confirmed
Coming Up

Thrikarthika Festival

festival

Usually on the Karthika star day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, in late November or early December

Kerala's festival of lights reaches the Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple in Munnar, with lamps lit across the temple grounds on the Karthika star day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam.

Reach out to us for the confirmed dates

Alleppey (Alappuzha) — Days 5-7 of this trip

Coming up, dates to be confirmed
Coming Up

Mullakkal Chirappu

festival

Usually runs from mid-November into late December; the Chirappu days are the final 11 of the festival

Alappuzha's Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple holds a 41-day festival whose last 11 days, the Chirappu, bring elephant processions and fireworks.

Reach out to us for the confirmed dates

Kerala — across your trip

November 2026

Vettukadu Feast

festival

Madre de Deus Church in Thiruvananthapuram marks the feast of Christ the King over ten days, with worshippers of several faiths attending.

November 2026

Champions Boat League: Kayamkulam

sports

A snake-boat race at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.

November 2026

Kalpathy Ratholsavam

festival

Chariot festival in Kalpathy, Palakkad, where decorated chariots are pulled through the village streets from the Viswanatha Swamy Temple.

November 2026 - January 2027

Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season

festival

Pilgrim season at the Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district, from the Mandalam opening through Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku to closing in January.

November 2026

Champions Boat League final and President's Trophy Boat Race

sports

The league's closing round on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, held together with the President's Trophy Boat Race.

November 2026

Guruvayur Ekadasi

festival

Eleventh-day observance at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, with strict fasting and elephant processions.

Events are reviewed by our team before publishing and drop off after they end. Please confirm timings and availability with us before your trip — local schedules can change without notice.

What's Included & Excluded

Included
10 nights' accommodation in 3-star hotels, twin sharingDaily breakfastPrivate air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeingAirport pick-up at Kochi and drop-off at ThiruvananthapuramPeriyar Lake boat ride and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary entryAlleppey backwater cruisePoovar estuary boat cruise
Not included
FlightsMeals other than breakfastEntrance fees not listedTips and personal expensesOvernight houseboat upgrade, spa treatments and other optional activities

Quick Answers

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