Kerala
Exploring God’s own country
Kerala is one of India’s most beautiful states. From its spiderweb of lazy backwaters to the tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats, Kerala’s landscapes are breathtaking – and that’s before you even consider its 600km of coastline and beaches.
However, there is more to Kerala than just natural beauty. This is a place famous for its ecotourism initiatives and its unique culture and traditions, whether houseboats on its waterways or its vibrant Kalaripayattu martial art, said to be a precursor to Kung Fu. Kerala is also home to Ayurveda, a healing therapy using natural herbs that goes back more than 5,000 years. Come to Kerala to nourish both your body and mind.
Exploring Kerala's backwaters
Exploring Kerala's famed waterways by houseboat
The 'backwaters' is the name of the enchanting palm-lined waterways that are synonymous with Kerala. This 900-odd kilometre labyrinth of canals connects large regions of Kerala and was constructed centuries ago for transporting cargo, such as spices and rice. Traditional boats called kettuvallam (made by tying pieces of wood together with coir rope, made from coconut fibres) collected the cargo from isolated villages along the waterways and carried it to traders in town...read more
14 days
Golden Triangle and best of Kerala
India's classic route combined with Keralan adventure
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Kochi
The port city of Kochi (also known as Cochin) is Kerala's biggest conurbation, but is actually made up of a collection of tiny islands and outcrops... -
Munnar
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Eravikulam
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Kumarakom
Kumarakom is the perfect jumping off place for houseboat tour in Kerala... -
Alleppey
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Thekkady
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Periyar National Park
Found near Thekkady in the Western Ghat mountains, Periyar National Park is home to sought after populations of elephants and tigers... -
Kottayam
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Varkala
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Mangalore
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Kannur
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Wayanad
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Cheruthuruthy
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Kollam
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Kovalam
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Places to go in Kerala
Kerala Tours
South India Beyond Backwaters
Private tour & houseboat cruise through Kerala
13 daysFrom $1,842| Kerala | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Cruise & Sailing, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
South India Beyond Backwaters
Private tour & houseboat cruise through Kerala
13 days From $1,842 per person By Active India| Destinations | Kerala |
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| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
Our tour is an interesting experience into culturally enchanting and verdant landscapes and charms of tropical South India. We explore ancient Hindu temples and lavish palaces; enjoy picturesque hill walks; see exotic wildlife in its natural habitat; and relax on a houseboat while cruising through the famous Kerala backwaters.
Highlights:
- Watching wild elephants and tigers in national parks in Bandipur, Madumalai and Nagarhole.
- Riding the toy train through the hills.
- Exploring Munnar hill station famous for its picturesque tea gardens.
- Experiencing old seaport of Cochin.
- Riding the boat on Periyar Lake.
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Accommodation |
All nights in carefully-selected, quality assured hotels and/or houseboats. Hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget. |
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Guided excursions |
Expert guided tours and excursions in each location on the itinerary, escorted by a private driver and tour guide. |
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Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and ground connections with private drivers in comfortable vehicles. |
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Breakfast |
All breakfasts. |
Kerala's Backwaters & Beaches
Private tour to Kerala's highlights
7 daysFrom $1,265| Kerala | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Kerala's Backwaters & Beaches
Private tour to Kerala's highlights
7 days From $1,265 per person By Active India| Destinations | Kerala |
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| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
This tour explores the stunning rich and verdant green landscape of Kerala. We experience charms of an old trading port; take a houseboat cruise on its backwaters and spend relaxing downtime by the beach. The itinerary begins with a two-night stay in Kochi with a sightseeing tour exploring its long heritage and some outstanding architecture. We then travel to the coast for a memorable houseboat cruise through Kerala’s famous backwaters, a lush green water world of great beauty, before the tour concludes with a two-night stay at the enchanting seaside resort of Mararikulam.
Highlights
- Fort Kochi, with its grandiose colonial architecture and laid back tropical charm.
- The backwaters, a picturesque network of canals, lagoons and lush greenery.
- Houseboat cruise through the backwaters of Alleppey.
- Mararikulam, a serene and tranquil beach destination
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Accommodation |
All nights in carefully-selected, quality assured hotels and/or houseboats. Hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert guided tours and excursions in each location on the itinerary, escorted by a private driver and tour guide. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and ground connections with private drivers in comfortable vehicles. |
|
Breakfast |
All breakfasts. |
Kerala Family Tour
Adventures for all ages
10 daysFrom $1,595| Kerala | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Kerala Family Tour
Adventures for all ages
10 days From $1,595 per person By Active India| Destinations | Kerala |
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| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
Our family-friendly journey is the perfect introduction to the scenic southwestern corner of India. From picturesque old hill stations and colonial trading ports to wildlife sanctuaries and pristine beaches, there much to see, appreciate and digest on this varied tour. The tour features backwater cruise on houseboats. The tour begins at Kochi on the Malabar Coast, with its handsome old colonial buildings harking back to the day when this was the hub of India’s lucrative spice. After exploring Cochin we head inland to the green hills for a two-night stay in the lovely old hill station of Munnar. We enjoy a gentle walk through the hills and tea plantations, visiting the picturesque village of Annamudi, before we head across to the city and arrive at thekkady. After seeing the spice plantations around Thekkady, we visit Periyar National Park to watch wildlife including elephants and tigers. We descend to the coast for an enjoyable cruise along the picturesque Kerala backwaters before the tour concludes with some downtime on beautiful beaches of Marari’.
Highlights
- Fort Kochi - an amalgam of Old Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial architecture.
- Munnar - a beautiful hill station high in the Western Ghats.
- Periyar National Park - a sanctuary for exotic wildlife including elephants and tigers.
- Alleppey - a picturesque town of canals, backwaters, lagoons & beaches.
- Mararikulam- A serene and tranquil beach destination.
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Accommodation |
All nights in carefully-selected, quality assured hotels and/or houseboats. Hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert guided tours and excursions in each location on the itinerary, escorted by a private driver and tour guide. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and ground connections with private drivers in comfortable vehicles. |
|
Breakfast |
All breakfasts. |
Kerala Cycling Tour
See Kerala on two wheels
13 daysFrom $2,605| Kerala | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Active, Cycling, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Kerala Cycling Tour
See Kerala on two wheels
13 days From $2,605 per person By Active India| Destinations | Kerala |
|---|---|
| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Beach, Active, Cycling, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Mild |
This tour is a rewarding two-week discovery of all the best that this beautiful and green south-western corner of India has to offer. Get close to real Kerala with an off-the-beaten-track two-wheeled exploration of its back-roads and byways, and of course, some well-deserved relaxation on a tropical beach. This narrow Indian state sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the mountainous Western Ghats is known for its tropical greenery, quiet backwaters, spectacular wildlife reserves and endless tea and spice plantations. This carefully designed two-week itinerary gives one the freedom to stop wherever one likes; to interact with the local villagers; to get close to the soul of the place.
The tour begins with a relaxing stay in Kovalam, with its sandy beaches and lively, before we set off up the coast to the picturesque cliff tops, and bike through villages inhabited by the traditional fishing community of Varkala. It’s a gentle ride on to Kollam, the southern gateway to the Kerala backwaters – mile after mile of stunningly beautiful palm-lined inland waterways. We navigate this quiet and green world aboard wooden canoes from our base in the village of Mancombu. Our route then heads inland, into a landscape of spice, tea and rubber plantations, to reach the charming hill station of Wagamon at an altitude of 1,200 metres, and surrounded by picturesque waterfalls. We enjoy some challenging hill-cycling, and stop by at Periyar National Park where there’s a chance to see wild elephants, leopards and other rare wildlife, before returning to the coast via the hill station of Kuttikkanam. The last two days are spent in the delightful old city of Cochin, with its colonial mansions and laid-back ambience.
Highlights:
- Cycle the Kerala coastline beside magnificent tropical beaches.
- Relax on the beaches of Kovalam.
- Explore Varkala, an unspoiled village with a lovely beach.
- Explore the magical waterways around Kollam and Mancombu.
- Stay in the charming hill station of Wagamon.
- Spot wildlife at Periyar National Park.
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Accommodation |
All nights in carefully-selected, quality assured hotels and/or houseboats. Hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert guided tours and excursions in each location on the itinerary, escorted by a private driver and tour guide. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and ground connections with private drivers in comfortable vehicles. |
|
Breakfast |
All breakfasts. |
Tropical Kerala
In-depth tour of Kerala's highlights
14 daysFrom $2,285| Kerala | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Luxury, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Tropical Kerala
In-depth tour of Kerala's highlights
14 days From $2,285 per person By Active India| Destinations | Kerala |
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| Activity | Luxury, Beach, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
This relaxing journey explores laid-back southern state of Kerala, blessed with enchanting green landscapes of paddy fields, palm trees, golden beaches and forested hills. We experience old trading ports and idyllic backwaters along the coast to wild elephants and hill stations as also a spectacular Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu.
We start our tour in Kochi, the centre of the Indian spice for many centuries, before heading inland to visit the hill station of Munnar - a cool and serene town full of tea and rubber plantations and surrounded by grasslands and verdant forests. Christianity and even Judaism have left their mark on these coastal regions but it is Hinduism that dominates and hence a huge and elaborately decorated temple at Madurai – a treat for the eyes and the soul. High in the Western Ghats, Periyar National Park is home to a huge variety of wildlife where even colourful birds of various species are in abundance. We finish by relaxing on the tropical beaches of Kovalam but not before cruising along the picturesque Kerala backwaters with an overnight stay on a houseboat.
Highlights:
- Fort Kochi - an amalgam of Old Portuguese, British and Dutch architectural treasure.
- Munnar - a cool and picturesque hill station in the Western Ghats.
- Meenakshi Temple - one of the largest temple-complexes in India.
- Thekkady - famous for its spices like black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.
- Periyar – for its Wildlife Sanctuary with vast wildlife; particularly elephants.
- Alleppey – for a memorable houseboat cruise through its backwaters.
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Accommodation |
All nights in carefully-selected, quality assured hotels and/or houseboats. Hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert guided tours and excursions in each location on the itinerary, escorted by a private driver and tour guide. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and ground connections with private drivers in comfortable vehicles. |
|
Breakfast |
All breakfasts. |
Kerala and Karnataka Highlights
14 day culture and leisure tour across Kerala and Karnataka
14 daysFrom £2,614| Kerala, Karnataka | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Food, Wine |
Recommended Tour
Kerala and Karnataka Highlights
14 day culture and leisure tour across Kerala and Karnataka
14 days £2,614 – £2,998 per person By Bespoke India Travel| Destinations | Kerala, Karnataka |
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| Activity | Safari, Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Food, Wine |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
Royal palaces, wonderful wildlife, rolling hills, a cultural mélange and a wonderful expanse of golden beach encapsulates all that is this fabulous itinerary through the less well known state of Karnataka and the best known state of Kerala. This is a very different India from the one that you would normally expect. Green, verdant with fabulous wildlife, birds and walks in addition to culture and a relaxing beach stay.
Explore the markets and palaces of Mysore, the nature and wildlife in Kabini, relax at the beach and enjoy the culture heritage & cuisine of Fort Cochin.
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Accommodation | |
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Guided excursions | |
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Breakfast | |
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Ground transfers |
Kerala Travel Companies
Yonder
Tailor-made luxury holidays to Asia
| South Asia, Southeast Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Beach, Family, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Spiritual |
Active India
Tailor-made luxury, cultural and active tours of India
| India | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Cruise & Sailing, Safari, Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Cycling, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Responsible Travel |
Bespoke India Travel
Making India incredible!
| South Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Archaeology, Spiritual, Festivals, Cities, Museums & Galleries, Indigenous Tourism, History, Culinary, Food, Wine |
Red Lantern Journeys
Culture, culinary, and adventure tours in Asia
| South Asia, Southeast Asia | |
| Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Caving, Water Sports, Kayaking, Canoeing, Ziplining, Active, Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, Indigenous Tourism, Culinary, Food, Solo Travel |
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