Kerala 8 Days Itinerary: Guruvayur to Alleppey Houseboat
Standard Package

Kerala 8 Days Itinerary: Guruvayur to Alleppey Houseboat

Guruvayur, Athirapilly Falls, Munnar, Thekkady, an Alleppey resort and a houseboat. 8 days, round trip from Kochi.

⌖ Kerala, India ✦ Family & senior friendly planning
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DestinationKerala
Travel styleStandard Package

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Your holiday

A thoughtfully planned holiday experience.

Eight days that show every side of Kerala: darshan at Guruvayur's Sri Krishna Temple, a night beside Athirapilly, Kerala's biggest waterfall, two nights in Munnar's tea hills, Periyar wildlife in Thekkady, then a lakeside resort and a houseboat night in Alleppey. Round trip from Kochi with a private car and driver.

Good to know

Package typeStandard Package
Planning supportSmall changes by enquiry
Best forFamilies, couples & seniors
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Trip highlights
✦ Kochi to Guruvayur – Temple Town
✦ Guruvayur to Athirapilly – Kerala's Biggest Waterfall
✦ Athirapilly to Munnar – Up to the Tea Hills
✦ Munnar – Eravikulam and the Tea Museum
✦ Munnar to Thekkady – Periyar Tiger Reserve
✦ Thekkady to Alleppey – A Backwater Resort
Day-wise plan

Your itinerary, day by day.

Day 1
Kochi to Guruvayur – Temple Town

Kochi to Guruvayur – Temple Town

⌖ Guruvayur

Your driver meets you at Kochi airport or railway station for the drive north to Guruvayur, about two and a half hours away. The Sri Krishna Temple here is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in South India, often called the Dwarka of the South. Join the darshan in the traditional dress the temple requires (entry is for Hindus only). Nearby, Punnathur Kotta, an old palace compound, is home to dozens of temple elephants, which you can watch from a distance as they are bathed and fed.

Drive: about 2½ hours · Overnight: Guruvayur

Day 2
Guruvayur to Athirapilly – Kerala's Biggest Waterfall

Guruvayur to Athirapilly – Kerala's Biggest Waterfall

⌖ Athirapally 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

Drive about two hours south-east to Athirapilly, where the Chalakudy River plunges about 24 metres over a wide rock face into the forest below. Walk the path from the top of the falls down towards the base for the best views and the roar of the water. A few kilometres upstream, the Vazhachal falls cascade over a series of rocks. The falls close to visitors in the late afternoon, so we arrive by lunchtime. Spend the evening at your hotel near the falls, surrounded by forest.

Drive: about 2 hours · Overnight: Athirapilly

Day 3
Athirapilly to Munnar – Up to the Tea Hills

Athirapilly to Munnar – Up to the Tea Hills

⌖ Munnar 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

Today is the longest drive of the trip, about six hours with stops. The road runs east through rubber country and then climbs into the Western Ghats, past the Cheeyappara waterfall and a spice garden where you can see pepper, cardamom and nutmeg growing. The first tea estates appear as you approach Munnar in the late afternoon.

Drive: about 6 hours with stops · Overnight: Munnar

Day 4
Munnar – Eravikulam and the Tea Museum

Munnar – Eravikulam and the Tea Museum

⌖ Munnar 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

Start at Eravikulam National Park at 9 am, where a park bus takes you up to the grasslands of the Nilgiri tahr, a wild mountain goat found only in these hills. Visit the Tea Museum to see how tea is made and taste a cup. In the afternoon, drive along the Mattupetty road to Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, with stops at viewpoints over the estates. See our Munnar tour packages for more ideas.

Overnight: Munnar

Day 5
Munnar to Thekkady – Periyar Tiger Reserve

Munnar to Thekkady – Periyar Tiger Reserve

⌖ Thekkady 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

Drive down from the hills to Alleppey (Alappuzha), about four hours away, and check in to a resort on the backwaters. Relax by the pool or the water for the afternoon, then walk on Alleppey Beach at sunset.

Drive: about 4 hours · Overnight: Alleppey

Day 6
Thekkady to Alleppey – A Backwater Resort

Thekkady to Alleppey – A Backwater Resort

⌖ Alleppey 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

Drive down from the hills to Alleppey (Alappuzha), about four hours away, and check in to a resort on the backwaters. Relax by the pool or the water for the afternoon, then walk on Alleppey Beach at sunset.

Drive: about 4 hours · Overnight: Alleppey

Day 7
Alleppey Houseboat – A Day on the Water

Alleppey Houseboat – A Day on the Water

⌖ Alleppey 🍽 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Around noon, board your private houseboat for a cruise through the backwaters, past paddy fields, coconut palms and village life on the water's edge. The crew cooks lunch, dinner and breakfast on board. The boat moors for the night at about 5:30 pm, as local rules require. Compare boats on our Alleppey houseboat packages page.

Overnight: houseboat

Day 8
Alleppey to Kochi – Fort Kochi and Departure

Alleppey to Kochi – Fort Kochi and Departure

⌖ Kochi 🍽 Meals: Breakfast

After a short morning cruise and breakfast, leave the boat by 9 am and drive about two hours to Kochi. With an evening flight, there's time to see Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and the spice shops of Jew Town. Your driver drops you at Kochi airport or the railway station. See our Fort Kochi tourist places guide.

Drive: about 2 hours

Hotel confirmation

Hotel names will be provided after booking, subject to availability and confirmation. We do not hold hotel confirmations before booking.

Inclusions

  1. 6 nights in hotels or resorts of your chosen category (1 in Guruvayur, 1 in Athirapilly, 2 in Munnar, 1 in Thekkady, 1 in Alleppey), with daily breakfast
  2. 1 night on a private houseboat, with lunch, dinner and breakfast on board
  3. A private sedan, SUV or tempo traveller with an English- or Hindi-speaking driver for all 8 days, including fuel, tolls, parking and driver allowance
  4. Pickup and drop at Kochi airport or railway station
  5. All sightseeing and transfers listed in the itinerary

Exclusions

Not included: flights or trains, entry tickets (Athirapilly falls, Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum, Periyar boating), special darshan tickets at Guruvayur, cultural shows, meals other than breakfast and houseboat meals, and personal expenses.

Important Terms

These terms apply to every Kerala tour package booked with Dreamland Vacations LLP ("we", "us"). By paying the advance, you ("the guest") accept them on behalf of everyone named in the booking.

1. Quotes and availability

1.1 Quotes are valid for 3 days and are subject to availability until the booking is confirmed. Hotel and houseboat prices change often, especially for December and January travel.

1.2 Hotels named in a quote are our first choice. If one is unavailable when you book, we'll offer a hotel of the same category and tell you before confirming.

2. Booking and payment

2.1 Once we confirm availability, pay 50% of the total package cost to confirm your booking. Your booking is confirmed only when we have received this payment and sent you a written confirmation with hotel names.

2.2 Full payment is due 30 days before your travel date. If it is not received by then, we may treat the booking as cancelled by you, and the charges in section 4 apply.

2.3 For bookings made within 30 days of the travel date, full payment is due at booking.

2.4 We accept payment by bank transfer, UPI or our online payment link. Payment-gateway charges, where applicable, are shown before you pay and are not refundable.

3. Prices

3.1 Prices are per person, based on two adults sharing a room, unless the quote says otherwise. GST is charged extra at the rate applicable on the invoice date.

3.2 Child rates apply to children aged 5 to 11 sharing their parents' room. Children under 5 travel free without an extra bed, subject to hotel policy.

3.3 Hotels add compulsory gala-dinner charges for 24 and 31 December. These are not included unless the quote says so and are payable at the time of booking.

3.4 Once confirmed, the package price is fixed, except for changes in government taxes, park fees or fuel surcharges imposed after booking.


Cancellation by you

4.1 Cancellations must be sent by email to info@dreamlandvacations.com. The charges below are counted from the day we receive your email, in Indian time.

4.2 Bookings for travel between 20 December and 5 January, and any hotel, resort or houseboat we have told you is non-refundable, cannot be refunded once confirmed, whatever the cancellation date.

4.3 Flights and train tickets booked through us follow the airline's or railway's own cancellation rules, plus our service fee of Rs 500 per ticket.

4.4 GST and payment-gateway charges already paid are not refundable.

4.5 We recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation, as these charges apply whatever the reason for cancelling, including illness.

5. Changes by you

5.1 One change of travel dates is free if requested 31 or more days before the original arrival date, provided the new dates are within the same season and the hotels are available. You pay any difference in price.

5.2 Date changes requested within 30 days of arrival are treated as a cancellation and a new booking.

5.3 Other changes, such as upgrading a hotel, adding a night or adding a houseboat, are possible at any time, subject to availability and the price difference.

5.4 Changing the name of a traveller is free up to 7 days before arrival.

6. Refunds

6.1 Refunds are made to the original payment method within 21 working days of the cancellation, after deducting the charges in section 4.

6.2 There is no refund for any service you don't use once the tour has started, including meals, sightseeing, a missed houseboat check-in or leaving early. If you leave early, we'll try to cancel later bookings and pass on whatever the hotels or suppliers refund to us.

7. Changes by us

7.1 If we must change a confirmed hotel, we'll replace it with one of the same or a higher category at no extra cost, and tell you as soon as we know.

7.2 If we have to cancel your tour for any reason other than those in section 8, you can choose a full refund of what you have paid or a different tour of equal value.

8. Events beyond our control

8.1 Heavy rain, landslides, floods, strikes and hartals, road closures, government orders, park closures and similar events can disrupt travel in Kerala, especially in the hills during the monsoon.

8.2 If such an event affects your tour, we'll arrange the best available alternative, such as a different route, hotel or sightseeing. Any extra costs are payable by you, and we'll refund only what the hotels and suppliers refund to us for services not used.

8.3 Houseboat cruising may be shortened or stopped in bad weather or under local regulations. Periyar boating and Eravikulam National Park can close without notice. These are not grounds for a refund of the package.

9. Our responsibility

9.1 We arrange hotels, houseboats, transport and sightseeing through independent suppliers. We take care to choose them well, but we are not responsible for loss, injury, damage, delay or illness caused by their acts or omissions, or by you.

9.2 Please look after your own belongings. We're not responsible for lost or stolen items.

9.3 Wildlife sightings, weather and views cannot be guaranteed.

10. Travel notes

10.1 Every guest must carry a valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID). Foreign nationals need a valid passport and Indian visa. Hotels may refuse check-in without ID.

10.2 Hotel check-in is usually 2 pm and check-out 11 am or 12 noon. Early check-in and late check-out depend on availability and may be charged.

10.3 The vehicle is for the itinerary as booked. Drives beyond it, or after 8 pm, may cost extra. Drivers may switch off the air-conditioning on steep hill roads.

10.4 Houseboats moor for the night at a fixed time under local rules. Air-conditioning on Deluxe boats usually runs at night only.

10.5 Behaviour that endangers others or breaks the law may lead to the tour being ended without refund.

Good to Know

  1. Guruvayur Temple is open only to Hindus. Men wear a mundu (dhoti) with no shirt, and women traditional Indian dress. Queues can be long on weekends and festival days.
  2. Athirapilly falls close to visitors in the late afternoon, and the path to the base can be slippery in the monsoon. Wear shoes with a good grip.
  3. Eravikulam National Park closes for a few weeks each year between February and April for the Nilgiri tahr calving season. On those dates we replace it with Top Station or extra time at the tea estates.
  4. The Tea Museum is closed on Mondays. In Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace is closed on Fridays, and the Paradesi Synagogue on Fridays and Saturdays.
  5. Day 3 is the longest drive. We stop for lunch on the way.


Best Time for This Itinerary

October to March is the best time for this trip, with pleasant weather in the hills and calm backwaters. Athirapilly is at its most spectacular from July to October, just after the monsoon rains, though the hills are wetter then. December and January are the busiest months, and Guruvayur is especially crowded during temple festivals. See our guide to the best time to visit Kerala.

Make It Your Own

  1. Shorter version: our Guruvayur, Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey 7-day tour visits Guruvayur as a day trip and skips Athirapilly.
  2. Skip the temple: our Kerala 7 Days Itinerary focuses on Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey.
  3. End on the beach: see our Vagamon, Munnar & Kovalam tour.
  4. Upgrade the hotels: choose 3-star, 4-star or 5-star, place by place, and a Premium or Luxury houseboat.
  5. Travelling with family? We'll choose hotels with pools and family rooms. See our Kerala family tour packages.

Not sure which route suits you? Compare them all in our Kerala itinerary guide, or browse all our Kerala tour packages.

Get a free quote for this itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Kerala tour package of 7 nights and 8 days cover?
This 7-night, 8-day plan covers Guruvayur, Athirapilly Falls, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, with two nights in Munnar, a backwater resort and a houseboat night. It starts and ends in Kochi.
Can non-Hindus visit Guruvayur?
Non-Hindus cannot enter the Sri Krishna Temple, but they can visit the town and the Punnathur Kotta elephant camp. If you'd rather skip the temple, we can start with Athirapilly or an extra night in Munnar instead.
How long is the drive from Athirapilly to Munnar?
About six hours with stops for lunch and the roadside waterfalls. It is the longest drive of the trip, and the last part climbs through hairpin bends into the hills.
When is Athirapilly waterfall at its best?
The falls are fullest and most dramatic from July to October, during and just after the monsoon. From October to March the flow is calmer but the weather is more comfortable for walking down to the base.
Is this itinerary good for families with children?
Yes. Athirapilly, the tea estates, the Periyar boat ride and the houseboat are all popular with children. Most drives are four hours or less, and we can choose hotels with pools and family rooms.
Can I see the elephants at Guruvayur up close?
The elephants at Punnathur Kotta are temple elephants, and visitors watch them from a distance for safety. Mornings are the best time, when the elephants are bathed and fed.
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