Itinerary · 7 days
Seven days. Hills, spice, backwaters, sea.
The route everyone asks for, with one car and a driver who has done it a hundred times. You pick the hotels; we do the rest.
Reuse the Lockhart Gap tea-road frame for launch. Shoot a Kovalam lighthouse-beach frame later for the final day.
Classic Kerala in seven days, one car, one driver
This is the route we drive most often, in the order that works: hills first while you are fresh, backwaters in the middle, sea at the end. Every day below is a real driving day, not a brochure day — the distances are what they are.
Day by day
The route, as we actually drive it
- 1
Kochi Airport → Fort Kochi
Settle in. Chinese fishing nets at sunset, Jew Town in the late afternoon, and a Kathakali performance at dusk if you are not too tired from the flight.
- 2
Kochi → Munnar
Leave by seven. Cheeyappara falls on the way up, tea slopes from Neriamangalam, and the Pothamedu viewpoint before checking in.
- 3
Munnar, local
Eravikulam National Park in the morning before the queue builds, Mattupetty dam, and Top Station in the afternoon when the light is best.
- 4
Munnar → Thekkady
The spice route, with a plantation stop that is worth it. Afternoon Periyar boat, and a Kalaripayattu show in the evening.
- 5
Thekkady → Alleppey
Early start to make the noon houseboat check-in. Overnight on the backwaters; your driver stays in town and collects you in the morning.
- 6
Alleppey → Kovalam
Down the coast. Lighthouse beach in the evening, with Padmanabhaswamy temple on the way in if the dress code suits your plans.
- 7
Kovalam → Trivandrum Airport
A short run to the airport. If you are flying from Kochi instead, allow five hours for the 220 km.
What it costs
| Vehicle | 7 days, all-inclusive |
|---|---|
| Sedan (up to 4) | On request |
| Innova (6–7) | On request |
| Urbania 9 | On request |
| Traveller 17 | On request |
Scroll the table sideways →
Seven days, all-inclusive of fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's food and accommodation. Hotels and the houseboat are booked by you.
Variants
Five days
Drop Kovalam and finish at Alleppey or back in Kochi.
Ten days
Add Wayanad at the start and Kumarakom before Kovalam.
Reverse
Start at Trivandrum and finish at Kochi — same rate, same route backwards.
Vehicles for this route
What works over seven days
Toyota Innova Crysta
Families of five or six on multi-day tours
Toyota Innova Hycross
Premium family tours
Force Urbania 9-seater
Families of seven to nine on tours
Common questions
What is not included?
Hotels, the houseboat, and entry or boat tickets. Everything to do with the vehicle and driver is included.
Can we change the order?
Yes, though hills-first works best. We will tell you honestly if a reshuffle makes a driving day too long.
Is seven days enough?
For this route, yes. Ten days is better if you want Wayanad as well, because the drive north is long.
Plan your seven days
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. We will send the rate and a day-by-day plan.