Day-wise plan
Every day runs on a private cab - the order and pace are yours to change.
1Day 1 - Trip begins at Kovalam - Arrive Thiruvananthapuram
- Met at Thiruvananthapuram airport and transferred to the hotel
- Light local sightseeing if the arrival time allows
- Stay: 4 star resort, club room
2Day 2 - Thiruvananthapuram sightseeing
- City tour after breakfast
- Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, Napier Museum, Kanakakunnu Palace, the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple and the old observatory
- Free time for shopping, back to the hotel for the night
3Day 3 - Kovalam
- Move to Kovalam after breakfast
- Time on the three crescent beaches including Lighthouse Beach with its thirty metre lighthouse, and Hawa Beach
- Sunset at the beach, night at the Kovalam resort
4Day 4 - Padmanabhaswamy temple and Poovar
- Early darshan at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, then a late breakfast
- Drive to Poovar, about 30 km from the city
- Boat cruise along the palm fringed backwaters to the island resort
- Evening free by the estuary and beach
5Day 5 - Kanyakumari
- Check out and drive to Kanyakumari, where three seas meet
- Bhagavathy Amman Temple and Our Lady of Ransom Church
- Sunset from the shore
- Stay: sea view deluxe room, 4 star
6Day 6 - More of Kanyakumari
- Mahatma Gandhi memorial and the Thiruvalluvar statue
- Ferry across to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial
- Second night in the sea view room
7Day 7 - Varkala
- Drive north to Varkala after breakfast
- Beach games and the laid back cliff scene
- Papanasham beach, where families come to make offerings
- Stay: 4 star resort, sea view air conditioned room
8Day 8 - Varkala at leisure
- Slow morning on the beach or at the roughly two thousand year old Janardhana Swamy Temple, whose bell came from a wrecked Dutch ship
- Yoga on the sand, cliff top cafes and small antique shops
- Note that only Hindus may enter the temple sanctum
9Day 9 - Varkala to an Alleppey houseboat
- Drive to Alleppey and board the houseboat
- Cruise through canals and below sea level paddy fields, watching coir making and village life
- All meals served on board, night on the houseboat
- Stay: premium air conditioned houseboat
10Day 10 - Thekkady
- Check out of the houseboat and drive up to Thekkady
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a 777 sq km reserve
- Optional boat cruise on Periyar Lake with chances of elephant, gaur, deer and birdlife
- Stay: 4 star, air conditioned premium room
11Day 11 - Thekkady to Munnar
- Scenic drive with stops at the Valara and Cheeyappara waterfalls
- Pause at the Neriamangalam bridge over the Periyar river
- Check in at the Munnar resort
- Stay: premium resort, 4 star air conditioned room
12Day 12 - Munnar sightseeing
- Tea, coffee and spice hills on foot, by cycle or on horseback
- Lake cruise or bamboo rafting for the more adventurous
- Picnic stop at Mattupetty and a visit to the Tea Museum
- Second night at the Munnar resort
13Day 13 - Munnar to Fort Kochi
- Drive down to Fort Kochi and check in
- Walk the old streets lined with Portuguese, Dutch and British era houses
- Stay: 3 star air conditioned room
14Day 14 - Kochi sightseeing
- More time in Fort Kochi, about 12 km from the main city
- Heritage streets and the harbour front
- Second night in Kochi, executive room
15Day 15 - Kochi to Ooty
- Long private transfer up to the Nilgiris
- Check in at Ooty and evening at leisure
- Stay: 3 star resort, premium room
16Day 16 - Ooty sightseeing
- Early toy train ride starting from Mettupalayam at 7.30 am, tickets bought at the station
- Rose Garden, Botanical Gardens and Doddabetta peak for trekkers
- Wax World, Thread Garden, deer park and the tea factory and museum
- Shopping in the town market
17Day 17 - Ooty at leisure
- Free day at the resort with its own facilities
- Third night in Ooty
18Day 18 - Ooty to Madurai
- Check out and descend from the Nilgiris to the temple city of Madurai
- Check in and rest
- Stay: 3 star hotel, premium room
19Day 19 - Trip ends at Madurai - Madurai sightseeing and departure
- Meenakshi Amman Temple and Thirumalai Nayak Palace
- Shopping on the way
- Drop at Madurai airport for the journey home
About this plan
Nineteen days down one coast and up into the Nilgiris. Fully private · after you enquire, a planner fine-tunes stays, pace and extras around you.
Private car and driverHandpicked staysLong drives planned around you24x7 WhatsApp desk
What's in, what's not
No fine print later - the quote you get matches this list exactly.
Included in 19D / 18N
- Breakfast and stay in 3 star premium or 4 star resorts
- Honeymoon extras: cake, candle light dinner and a jasmine flower arrangement on the houseboat
- All meals on the houseboat
- Kathakali show in Kochi
- Air conditioned vehicle with a chauffeur
- Camp fire in the evening at Munnar
- Tea plantation walk at Munnar
- Sightseeing in Fort Kochi
- Complimentary sunset cruises
- Fishing in the lake
- Fruit basket, chocolates and cookies
Not included
- Airfare
- Indian visa fee for foreign guests
- Travel and health insurance
- Entry tickets at sightseeing spots and activities
- Meals and drinks not named in the itinerary or inclusions
- Personal expenses such as phone bills, room service and laundry
- Tips for drivers and guides
- Camera and video charges
- Anything not listed as included
- Vehicle use beyond the planned route
- Charges for early check in or late check out
Sightseeing on this plan
01Kovalam Beach02Kanyakumari03Varkala Cliff04Alleppey Houseboat05Munnar Tea EstatesFort Kochi
