Private journey · Kerala
Exquisite Kerala: A Journey with CGH Earth Hotels
Ten nights from Kochi to Kovalam: backwaters, spice hills and the Arabian Sea, in CGH Earth’s quiet, characterful hotels.
- Duration
- 10 nights · 11 days
- Route
- Kochi · Kumarakom · Periyar · Marari · Kovalam
- Best months
- November to March
- Hotels
- CGH Earth hotels
- Pricing
- Tailored to your choices
Why this journey
Why this Kerala tour
This Kerala tour moves slowly through eleven days of backwaters, spice hills and quiet beaches, staying in CGH Earth’s characterful hotels. From Kochi it travels to Kumarakom, Periyar, Marari and Kovalam. Like every Kerala tour we plan, it can be shaped around your dates, pace and interests.
01
Slow travel
Kerala is best taken gently: a houseboat afternoon, long lunches and short drives between each stay.
02
Hotels with a sense of place
CGH Earth’s hotels are built from local materials and run with care for the land and the people around them.
03
Rest at the end
Four nights by the sea, at Marari and Kovalam, with Ayurveda close at hand.
The route
Your route
A short north-to-south route through central Kerala. From Kochi you drive to the backwaters, up into the hills at Periyar, then down to the coast, ending at Trivandrum airport.
Day by day
Your Kerala tour, day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Kochi
You are met at the airport and driven to Fort Kochi. In the evening, watch a Kathakali performance, Kerala’s classical dance-drama.
Overnight: Brunton Boatyard, Fort Kochi
Day 2 Fort Kochi
Walk the old streets of Fort Kochi with your guide, from the Chinese fishing nets to Mattancherry Palace and the spice warehouses.
Overnight: Brunton Boatyard, Fort Kochi
Day 3 Kochi to Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, around two hours. The rest of the day is free, with Ayurvedic treatments available at the hotel.
Overnight: Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Day 4 The backwaters
A free morning, then an afternoon on a traditional houseboat through the backwaters, with lunch and tea on board.
Overnight: Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom
Day 5 Kumarakom to Periyar
Drive up into the Western Ghats, around four hours, to Spice Village among the cardamom and pepper plantations. Nature walks and Ayurveda can be arranged.
Overnight: Spice Village, Periyar
Day 6 Periyar
A boat ride on the lake in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a visit to a spice plantation and lunch.
Overnight: Spice Village, Periyar
Days 7–8 Marari Beach
Drive down to the coast for two nights at Marari Beach Resort: the beach, the spa and seafood from the village fishermen.
Overnight: Marari Beach Resort, Marari
Days 9–10 Kovalam
Continue south to Kovalam for two nights on the Arabian Sea, with time for Ayurveda, swimming and sunsets.
Overnight: The Leela Kovalam or Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra
Day 11 Depart Trivandrum
Morning transfer to Trivandrum airport for your onward flight.
Where you’ll stay
Hotels on this Kerala tour
The hotels below are our usual choices for this route. We can suggest alternatives at a similar level, or a mix of styles, if you prefer.
Brunton Boatyard
Fort Kochi · 2 nights
Coconut Lagoon
Kumarakom · 2 nights
Spice Village
Periyar · 2 nights
Marari Beach Resort
Marari · 2 nights
The Leela Kovalam
Kovalam · 2 nights
Make it yours
Shape it around you
This Kerala tour is a starting point. These are some of the changes our travellers most often ask for.
Questions
Questions about this Kerala tour
When is the best time to visit Kerala?
November to March is dry and warm. The monsoon arrives in June and many travellers choose it for Ayurveda, when the air is cool and the hills are green.
What are CGH Earth hotels like?
They are small, characterful hotels built from local materials, often in old houses or around traditional courtyards. They feel calm and personal rather than grand.
Which hotel will we stay in at Kovalam?
The Leela Kovalam or Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, depending on your preference and availability. We confirm it in your quote.
Can we add Ayurveda treatments?
Yes. Most of the hotels on this route offer Ayurveda. For a full programme of seven nights or more, we suggest a specialist retreat at the end of the journey.
Can Kerala be combined with the north?
Yes. A flight links Delhi with Kochi. Many travellers begin with the Golden Triangle and end in Kerala.
Exquisite Kerala: A Journey with CGH Earth Hotels
Enquire about this Kerala tour
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally to arrange a call at a time that suits you.
Prefer to write directly? contact@alluring.travel · WhatsApp +91 92119 13735
