Kerala Tour Packages

What is the best time to visit Kerala?

The best time to visit Kerala is October to February, when temperatures stay between 23°C and 32°C across most of the state. Hill stations like Munnar are cooler year-round. The monsoon season, June to September, suits Ayurveda retreats but limits outdoor sightseeing at beaches and backwaters.

Kerala experiences two monsoon periods each year. The southwest monsoon arrives in June and lasts until August. The northeast monsoon follows in October and typically ends by November.

Munnar, a hill station in the Idukki district at roughly 1,600 metres above sea level, stays pleasant even in April and May when coastal Kerala turns humid. Travellers who want to avoid peak-season hotel premiums often plan trips in September or early October, just after the main monsoon recedes.

Beach destinations like Kovalam and Varkala are best visited between November and March. Alleppey backwaters are accessible year-round but are most comfortable from October to March. Understanding season by zone helps travellers pick dates that match their priorities, which connects directly to how Kerala packages are structured by duration and inclusions.

What are the top places to visit in Kerala?

Kerala's top destinations include Alleppey for backwaters, Munnar for tea estates and trekking, Thekkady for wildlife, Kovalam and Varkala for beaches, Wayanad for forests, and Kochi for heritage and culture. Most 6-night packages cover three to four of these destinations in a single trip.

Alleppey, also called Alappuzha, is a backwater town in central Kerala known for its houseboat network across Vembanad Lake. A standard houseboat stay in Alleppey lasts one night and covers a fixed route through the canals.

Munnar is a hill station in Idukki district, situated at approximately 1,600 metres, and is known for its tea plantations managed by Tata Tea and other estates. Munnar also serves as the base for trekking routes to Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at 2,695 metres.

Thekkady is a wildlife destination in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, covering 925 sq km on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Thekkady offers boat safaris on Periyar Lake and guided jungle walks.

Kochi, Kerala's commercial capital, holds Fort Kochi, a heritage neighbourhood with Dutch, Portuguese, and British architectural influence. The Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi are a well-documented landmark dating back to the 14th century.

Wayanad is a highland district in northern Kerala, bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and is known for bamboo forests, tribal heritage sites, and waterfalls like Soochipara and Meenmutty. Each destination listed here has a distinct character, which is why the right combination depends on trip length and traveller preference — a point that shapes how Kerala packages are priced.

What does a Kerala tour package from Tripstor include?

A Tripstor Kerala package starting at ₹50,000 per person typically includes accommodation, houseboat stay, airport or railway station transfers, sightseeing by private cab, and breakfast daily. Flight costs are separate unless specified. Exact inclusions vary by package tier and number of nights.

Kerala tour packages from Tripstor are structured around three broad tiers: standard, deluxe, and premium. Standard packages use 3-star hotels and a basic houseboat. Deluxe packages include 4-star resorts and an upgraded houseboat with air conditioning. Premium packages use 5-star properties and private pool villas where available.

Houseboat stays in Alleppey, as mentioned earlier, are a core inclusion in most Kerala packages. A standard houseboat includes one bedroom, a dining area, a sun deck, and a crew of two. An air-conditioned houseboat costs more but is recommended for travel between March and May.

Sightseeing in Kerala packages is typically covered by a private cab with a driver. This arrangement allows travellers to set their own pace at each stop. Shared transfers or buses are not part of Tripstor's standard package structure.

Ayurveda treatments, spice garden visits, and cooking classes are optional add-ons available on request. Tripstor's team confirms all inclusions in writing before the booking is finalised, which reduces disputes at the time of travel. Package inclusions directly influence the per-person price, which the next section covers in detail.

How much does a Kerala trip cost per person?

A Kerala trip costs from ₹50,000 per person for a 5-night standard package. Deluxe packages for the same duration typically range from ₹70,000 to ₹90,000 per person. Premium packages with 5-star stays and private houseboats can exceed ₹1,20,000 per person, excluding flights.

Prices listed above are per person on a twin-sharing basis. Solo travellers pay a single supplement, which typically adds 25% to 40% to the base price. Group bookings of six or more travellers often qualify for a group discount.

Peak season travel, specifically December 20 to January 5, carries a surcharge at most Kerala hotels and houseboats. Booking at least 60 days in advance reduces this surcharge in many cases. Off-season travel between June and August is the lowest-cost window, though beach destinations are less accessible during this period.

Flights from major Indian cities to Cochin International Airport or Trivandrum International Airport are not included in the base package price. Return flights from Delhi or Mumbai to Kochi typically range from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per person, depending on the airline and booking window. Understanding the total cost picture helps travellers compare Kerala packages accurately, which connects to how itineraries are built across different durations.

What is a typical Kerala itinerary for 6 nights and 7 days?

A 6-night Kerala itinerary typically covers Kochi on arrival, Munnar for two nights, Thekkady for one night, and Alleppey for one houseboat night before departure from Kochi or Trivandrum. This route covers highlands, wildlife, and backwaters in a single trip without excessive travel time.

How does Day 1 in Kochi work on a Kerala trip?

Day 1 begins with arrival at Cochin International Airport, located in Nedumbassery, 30 km from Fort Kochi. Tripstor's driver meets travellers at the airport and transfers them to the hotel in Fort Kochi or Ernakulam. The evening is free for a walk through Fort Kochi's heritage lanes and a visit to the Chinese fishing nets at sunset.

What happens on Days 2 and 3 in Munnar?

Day 2 starts with a morning drive from Kochi to Munnar, covering approximately 130 km in four to five hours. Munnar, the hill station described earlier, is the base for tea estate visits and viewpoints like Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point. Day 3 in Munnar covers Eravikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri tahr, and the Top Station viewpoint at 1,868 metres.

What does Day 4 in Thekkady involve?

Day 4 covers the drive from Munnar to Thekkady, approximately 90 km through spice plantation roads. Thekkady, the wildlife destination in Periyar Tiger Reserve mentioned earlier, offers an afternoon boat safari on Periyar Lake. Evening options include a Kalaripayattu martial arts performance or a spice garden tour.

How is the houseboat day in Alleppey structured?

Day 5 involves a drive from Thekkady to Alleppey, covering roughly 140 km in three to four hours. Travellers board the houseboat at noon and spend the afternoon cruising through the Vembanad Lake network. Dinner and breakfast are served on board by the crew. Check-out is at 9 AM on Day 6.

What happens on Days 6 and 7 before departure?

Day 6 after houseboat check-out allows time for a visit to Alleppey beach or the Krishnapuram Palace before the drive to Trivandrum or back to Kochi. Day 7 is the departure day, with the Tripstor driver handling the airport transfer. Travellers departing from Trivandrum International Airport have the option of a quick stop at Kovalam beach on Day 6 evening.

Which Kerala destinations suit families with children?

Families with children find Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad, and Alleppey most suitable in Kerala. Munnar offers open tea estates and cool weather. Thekkady has boat safaris and elephant camps. Wayanad has treehouses and waterfalls. Alleppey's houseboat experience is a practical and engaging stay for children of all ages.

Thekkady's elephant camps, run by the Kerala Forest Department, allow children to observe and interact with elephants under supervised conditions. These camps operate in the morning and require advance booking, especially during school holiday periods in May and December.

Wayanad, the highland district described earlier, has several treehouse resorts that children find engaging. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 344 sq km, offers jeep safaris where sightings of elephants, deer, and bison are common.

Alleppey's houseboat stay, as covered in the itinerary section, gives children a direct experience of Kerala's canal life. Most houseboats have open decks where children can watch village activity along the waterways. Families with very young children should request a houseboat with safety railings when booking. The right destination mix for families differs from couples' trips, which the next section addresses directly.

Which Kerala packages suit couples?

Couples travelling to Kerala typically prefer packages combining Munnar, a private houseboat in Alleppey, and a beach stay in Kovalam or Varkala. Ayurveda resort stays are a popular add-on for couples. Deluxe and premium tiers with private pool villas are the most requested options among honeymooners.

Varkala is a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district, known for its cliff-top beach and Papanasam Beach at the base of the cliffs. Varkala offers a quieter setting than Kovalam and suits couples who prefer fewer crowds.

Kovalam, a beach destination 16 km from Trivandrum, has three adjoining beaches — Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, and Samudra Beach. Kovalam's Lighthouse Beach is the most active, with restaurants and Ayurveda centres along the shoreline.

Ayurveda resorts in Kerala offer packages ranging from 3-night rejuvenation programmes to 14-night Panchakarma treatments. Couples booking a Kerala honeymoon package through Tripstor can combine a 2-night Ayurveda resort stay with the standard backwater and hill station circuit. Knowing which combination suits a couple's pace helps Tripstor build the right itinerary, which is why the customisation process starts with a brief consultation call.

How do you reach Kerala from major Indian cities?

Kerala has three main airports: Cochin International Airport in Kochi, Trivandrum International Airport, and Calicut International Airport in Kozhikode. Direct flights connect Kerala to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Train routes also connect Kerala to most major Indian cities via the Konkan Railway and the main trunk lines.

Cochin International Airport, located in Nedumbassery, is the busiest airport in Kerala and serves as the primary entry point for most tour packages. Flight time from Delhi to Kochi is approximately 3 hours. Flight time from Mumbai to Kochi is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

Trivandrum International Airport serves travellers whose itinerary ends in South Kerala, covering Kovalam, Varkala, and Alleppey. Packages that begin in Kochi and end in Trivandrum, or vice versa, are called open-jaw itineraries and avoid backtracking on road.

Train travel to Kerala is a practical option for travellers from South India. The Kerala Express connects Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram in approximately 47 hours. The Rajdhani Express from Mumbai to Ernakulam takes around 24 hours. Tripstor arranges pick-up from railway stations as part of the standard transfer inclusion in all packages.

What are the visa and travel document requirements for Kerala?

Kerala is a domestic destination within India. Indian citizens do not require a visa, passport, or any special permit to travel to Kerala. A valid government-issued photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, or driving licence is sufficient for all hotel check-ins, domestic flights, and train travel within Kerala.

Some protected forest areas in Kerala, such as the Silent Valley National Park and certain tribal zones in Wayanad, require a forest entry permit. These permits are arranged by the local guide or forest department at the entry point and do not require advance application for most visitors.

Domestic flights within India require a valid photo ID at the airport security check. Aadhaar card is accepted at all major Indian airports as a standalone identity document. Travellers booking through Tripstor receive a confirmation voucher that serves as the booking reference for hotels and houseboats throughout the trip.