Why Kerala?

Kerala is unlike anywhere else in India, a narrow strip of paradise between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Here, life moves at the pace of the backwaters. Ancient spice routes thread through jungle villages, Ayurvedic traditions heal the body and soul, and the air is thick with cardamom, pepper and sea salt.

God's Own Country

Crafted around you

Every IndoPassage Kerala journey is designed to immerse you in the real Kerala, not just the highlights. Whether you want a slow houseboat drift through the backwaters, a tea plantation stay in Munnar, or an authentic Kathakali evening in Kochi, we weave it all together seamlessly.

Journey Highlights

A glimpse of what awaits you in God's Own Country

Backwater houseboat cruise

Drift through a labyrinth of emerald waterways on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat, your floating home for the night

Munnar tea plantations

Wake up to mist rolling over endless green hills and walk through some of the world's most beautiful tea estates

Witness one of India's most spectacular classical dance forms, two thousand years of storytelling through extraordinary costume and expression

Kathakali in Kochi

Ayurvedic rejuvenation

Surrender to Kerala's ancient healing tradition, the birthplace of Ayurveda, with personalized treatments in a jungle retreat

Periyar wildlife sanctuary

Cruise through the mist-covered Periyar Lake watching elephants, bison and exotic birds come to the water's edge at dawn

Wander the atmospheric lanes of Fort Kochi where Portuguese churches, Chinese fishing nets and spice warehouses tell 500 years of history

Fort Kochi heritage walk

Your 12-Day Kerala Journey

A carefully sequenced route through God's Own Country, from the spice-scented streets of Kochi to the golden shores of Kovalam

Day 1 — Arrive in Kochi Touch down in the Queen of the Arabian Sea, a city where Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish, and British layers sit comfortably side by side. Transfer to your heritage hotel in Fort Kochi. Evening stroll along the waterfront to watch the iconic Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sunset, just as fishermen have done here for 500 years.

Day 2 — Fort Kochi Fort Kochi rewards slow exploration. Wander to the 16th century St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and through the narrow lanes of Jew Town where antique shops spill onto the street. Evening: a private Kathakali performance where two thousand years of storytelling unfolds through extraordinary costume, eye movements, and expression.

Day 3 — Kochi to Munnar A scenic 4-hour drive up into the Western Ghats where the air grows cooler and the landscape transforms dramatically from coastal plains to endless rolling tea estates. Munnar sits at 1,600 metres — its mornings are misty, its evenings are cool, and its silence is extraordinary.

Day 4 — Munnar Walk through working tea estates where women in bright saris move between the bushes with extraordinary skill. Visit a century-old tea factory to understand the journey from leaf to cup. Explore Eravikulam National Park — one of the last refuges of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, a rare Himalayan mountain goat found almost nowhere else on earth.

Day 5 — Munnar A slower, deeper day in the hills. Wander through cardamom groves where the air is thick with fragrance, and visit Mattupetty Dam where the still water mirrors the surrounding mountains perfectly. Or simply sit on your bungalow veranda with a cup of tea grown on the hillside visible from your chair.

Day 6 — Munnar to Thekkady Drive south through some of the most beautiful hill scenery in South India, descending gradually into the Cardamom Hills. Thekkady sits on the edge of the Periyar Tiger Reserve — one of India's most important wildlife sanctuaries, covering 925 square kilometres of dense jungle and grassland.

Day 7 — Thekkady Early morning boat safari on the glassy waters of Periyar Lake — bison, sambar deer, otters, and over 300 species of birds come to the water's edge at dawn in extraordinary numbers. Afternoon: a guided spice plantation walk through groves of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg — the spices that once made Kerala the most sought-after destination on earth for traders.

Day 8 — Thekkady to Alleppey Descend from the hills to Kerala's legendary backwater country — a 900-kilometre network of lakes, canals, and lagoons running parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. Board your private kettuvallam houseboat, hand-built using traditional techniques with bamboo poles and coir rope, your floating home for the night.

Day 9 — Alleppey Backwaters A full day drifting through a labyrinth of emerald waterways where the pace of life hasn't changed in centuries. Watch fishermen cast their circular nets at dawn, children wave from the banks, and coconut palms lean lazily over the water. Lunch is prepared fresh on board — Kerala fish curry, appam, and coconut rice made by your personal cook.

Day 10 — Alleppey to Kovalam Disembark and drive south along the Malabar Coast to Kovalam — a crescent of golden beach framed by rocky headlands and swaying palms. Check into your Ayurvedic beach resort where the Arabian Sea stretches endlessly to the west and the pace drops to almost nothing.

Day 11 — Kovalam Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda — a 5,000-year-old healing tradition that treats the whole person, not just the body. Today is yours entirely: personalised treatments prescribed by a resident Ayurvedic physician, yoga at sunrise on the clifftop, and long walks on the beach. Optional visit to the magnificent Padmanabhapuram Palace — a 16th-century wooden masterpiece considered the finest example of traditional Kerala architecture.

Day 12 — Trivandrum Departure A short 20-minute transfer to Trivandrum International Airport. Depart Kerala carrying the scent of cardamom, the silence of the backwaters, and the kind of deep rest that only God's Own Country can give.

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary to give you a sense of the Kerala Calm journey. Every IndoPassage itinerary is fully bespoke. crafted around your travel dates, interests, pace, and budget. Get in touch and we'll design yours from scratch.

Predict the future by creating it

Ready to experience God's Own Country? Let us craft your perfect Kerala journey