9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Overview

Palm-fringed backwaters, a private houseboat, cliff-top beaches and temple towns – “God’s Own Country” is made for romance. The 9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat (8 nights / 9 days) takes you from historic Kochi onto the backwaters on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat, to the lakeside village of Kumarakom, and down the coast to the beaches of Varkala and Kovalam and the temple city of Trivandrum. 3-star hotels and resorts with breakfast, one night on a private houseboat with all meals, a private air-conditioned car and honeymoon touches – a cake and a flower-decorated bed – are included.

In Fort Kochi you see the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, the Santa Cruz Basilica, the Paradesi Synagogue and the murals of Mattancherry Palace. Then you board your own houseboat to drift through the Alleppey backwaters, past paddy fields and village life, with a Kerala lunch and dinner cooked on board. At Kumarakom you visit the bird sanctuary on Vembanad Lake; at Varkala you watch sunset from the cliffs above Papanasam beach and visit the Janardhana Swamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt and Kappil Lake; and at Kovalam you relax on the crescent beaches before a day in Trivandrum for the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Kuthira Malika Palace, Veli and sunset at Shanghumugham Beach.

Accommodation

City	Hotel	Nights
Kochi	Standard 3-star hotel	2
Alleppey (houseboat)	Private deluxe houseboat with AC bedroom	1
Kumarakom	3-star lakeside resort	1
Varkala	Standard 3-star hotel	2
Kovalam	3-star beach resort	2

Hotel names are confirmed at the time of booking, depending on availability. Upgrades to 4- or 5-star hotels are available on request.

Why choose this honeymoon?

A private houseboat night on the backwaters with all meals.
Heritage, lakes and two beach towns at a relaxed pace.
Honeymoon cake and flower decoration included.

Who is it for?

Honeymoon and anniversary couples, including from Nepal (no visa needed). The grade is easy. Best from October to March.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF WITH LOCATION MAP

Trip Facts

Tour Code: PTT-IN-KER-01
Duration: 9 Days
Program Type: Sight Seeing
Maximum Altitude: 10 m
Minimum Pax: 2
Mode of Travel: Private AC car, Houseboat
Start Trip: Kochi
End Trip: Kochi
Program Grading: Easy

Trip at a Glance

Day 01: Arrive in Kochi – transfer to hotel – evening at leisure
Day 02: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry – Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Paradesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace
Day 03: Drive to Alleppey (about 60 km, 1.5 hours) – overnight cruise on a private houseboat
Day 04: Disembark – Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake
Day 05: Drive Kumarakom – Varkala (about 140 km, 3.5 hours) – sunset at Papanasam beach
Day 06: Varkala – Janardhana Swamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt and Kappil Lake
Day 07: Drive Varkala – Kovalam (about 55 km, 1.5 hours) – free time on the beach
Day 08: Trivandrum – Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthira Malika Palace, Veli and sunset at Shanghumugham Beach
Day 09: Transfer to Trivandrum airport or station for departure

Trip Highlights

Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church and Jew Town in Fort Kochi
Overnight cruise on a private houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake
Sunset from the cliffs of Varkala
Kovalam beaches
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Shanghumugham Beach in Trivandrum

Itinerary in Details

Day 01Arrive in Kochi – transfer to hotel – evening at leisure
Arrival | Drive about 40 km from the airport | Overnight: Kochi (honeymoon cake and flower-decorated bed)

Welcome to Kerala! You are met at Kochi (Cochin) International Airport or Ernakulam railway station and driven to your hotel. Your room is decorated with flowers and a honeymoon cake is waiting for you.

In the evening, take a relaxed walk along Marine Drive, watching the boats on the harbour as the sun goes down, and enjoy your first taste of Kerala cuisine – fresh seafood, appam and coconut curries.
- OvernightKochi
- CountryIndia
- Highest PointKochi
- Altitude10m / 33ft
- Travel ModeDrive: 40 km / 1 hr / 15 min
- Places VisitedKochi
Day 02Fort Kochi and Mattancherry – Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Paradesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace
Sightseeing | Overnight: Kochi

Spend the day exploring Fort Kochi, a charming old port shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British traders. See the giant Chinese Fishing Nets being raised and lowered on the shore, visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and the white Santa Cruz Basilica.

In Mattancherry, visit the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace, closed Fridays) with its beautiful Ramayana murals, and the 16th-century Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town (closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays). Browse the spice and antique shops. In the evening, you can watch a Kathakali dance performance (optional).
- OvernightKochi
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 25 km / 6 hr
- Places VisitedChinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church Kochi, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue
- MealsBreakfast
Day 03Drive to Alleppey (about 60 km, 1.5 hours) – overnight cruise on a private houseboat
Drive about 60 km, 1.5 hours, then houseboat cruise | Overnight: on your private houseboat (all meals)

After breakfast drive south to Alleppey, the gateway to Kerala’s backwaters. At about noon, board your own kettuvallam – a traditional rice barge turned into a comfortable houseboat with an air-conditioned bedroom, a sun deck and a private crew.

Cruise slowly through the palm-lined canals and wide lagoons of the Alleppey Backwaters, past paddy fields, little churches, toddy shops and villagers going about their day. Your cook prepares a Kerala lunch, evening tea with snacks and dinner on board, and the boat anchors by the shore for a peaceful night under the stars.
- OvernightAlleppey Backwaters
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 60 km / 1 hr / 30 min · Boat: 30 km / 6 hr
- Places VisitedAlleppey Backwaters
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 04Disembark – Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake
Drive about 35 km, 1 hour | Overnight: Kumarakom lakeside resort

Enjoy breakfast on deck as the backwaters wake up, then disembark at about 9 am and drive to Kumarakom on the shore of Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest lake.

Walk through the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, home to herons, egrets, cormorants, kingfishers and – in winter – many migratory birds. The rest of the day is free to relax at your lakeside resort, take a sunset canoe ride or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage (extra cost).
- OvernightKumarakom Bird Sanctuary
- CountryIndia
- Highest PointKumarakom Bird Sanctuary
- Altitude2m / 7ft
- Travel ModeDrive: 35 km / 1 hr
- Places VisitedKumarakom Bird Sanctuary
- MealsBreakfast
Day 05Drive Kumarakom – Varkala (about 140 km, 3.5 hours) – sunset at Papanasam beach
Drive about 140 km, 3.5 hours | Overnight: Varkala

After breakfast drive south through the green Kerala countryside to Varkala, where dramatic red laterite cliffs rise straight from the Arabian Sea. Check in to your hotel near the cliff.

Spend the afternoon on the beach and in the cafés along the cliff-top path. In the evening, watch the sunset over the sea from above Papanasam Beach, believed to wash away sins, and enjoy a romantic seafood dinner on the cliff (own cost).
- OvernightVarkala Beach (Papanasam)
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 140 km / 3 hr / 30 min
- Places VisitedVarkala Beach (Papanasam)
- MealsBreakfast
Day 06Varkala – Janardhana Swamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt and Kappil Lake
Half-day sightseeing | Overnight: Varkala

In the morning visit the 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the hilltop Sivagiri Mutt, the ashram and resting place of the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

Then drive north to Kappil Lake, where the backwaters meet the sea – a quiet place for a boat ride or a walk on the sandbar. The afternoon is free for the beach, or try an Ayurvedic couple massage (extra cost).
- OvernightVarkala Beach (Papanasam)
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 30 km / 4 hr
- Places VisitedJanardhana Swamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt, Kappil Lake
- MealsBreakfast
Day 07Drive Varkala – Kovalam (about 55 km, 1.5 hours) – free time on the beach
Drive about 55 km, 1.5 hours | Overnight: Kovalam beach resort

After breakfast drive to Kovalam, Kerala’s most famous beach resort, and check in to your hotel. Kovalam has three crescent-shaped beaches separated by rocky headlands.

Spend the day relaxing on Lighthouse Beach and Hawa Beach, swimming in the calm bay or enjoying a fresh coconut under the palms. Climb the red-and-white lighthouse in the late afternoon for a beautiful sunset view over the coast.
- OvernightKovalam Beach
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 55 km / 1 hr / 30 min
- Places VisitedKovalam Beach
- MealsBreakfast
Day 08Trivandrum – Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthira Malika Palace, Veli and sunset at Shanghumugham Beach
Sightseeing in Trivandrum, about 16 km away | Overnight: Kovalam

Drive to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala’s capital. Visit the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Hindus only; men in dhoti, women in saree or long skirt), one of the richest temples in the world, and the nearby Kuthira Malika Palace museum (closed Mondays), with its 122 carved wooden horses.

In the afternoon relax at Veli Tourist Village, where a lagoon meets the sea, and end the day watching the sunset at Shanghumugham Beach before driving back to Kovalam.
- OvernightKovalam Beach
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 45 km / 6 hr
- Places VisitedSree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthira Malika Palace, Veli Tourist Village, Shanghumugham Beach
- MealsBreakfast
Day 09Transfer to Trivandrum airport or station for departure
Transfer about 15 km, 45 minutes | End of tour

After a last breakfast by the sea, check out and transfer to Trivandrum International Airport or the railway station for your onward journey, taking home memories of a romantic Kerala honeymoon.
- CountryIndia
- Travel ModeDrive: 15 km / 45 min
- MealsBreakfast

Altitude Chart of 9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Total Driving Time: 7h 30m Total Travel Distance: 290 km

Driving distance & time shown here are approximate — for city tours the exact distance/duration can vary and isn't always measurable.

Highest point: 33 ft / 10 m — Day 01 · Arrive in Kochi – transfer to hotel – evening at leisure

Services Included

Meet and assistance on arrival and departure
7 nights in 3-star hotels and resorts (Kochi 2, Kumarakom 1, Varkala 2, Kovalam 2) and 1 night on a private deluxe houseboat on double/twin sharing with daily breakfast
All meals on the houseboat (lunch, evening tea, dinner and breakfast)
Honeymoon cake and flower-decorated bed on arrival
All transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle (sedan for 1–2 travellers, Toyota Innova for 3–5, Tempo Traveller for larger groups), including fuel, driver's allowance, tolls, parking and state taxes
English- or Hindi-speaking driver; local guide in Kochi and Trivandrum on request
All applicable taxes (GST)

Services Excluded

International and domestic flights unless mentioned
Kathakali show, Ayurveda treatments and water sports
Monument entrance fees and camera fees
Lunch and dinner unless mentioned
Indian visa fee (not required for Nepali citizens)
Travel insurance
Tips for guide and driver, and personal expenses such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls
Anything not mentioned in the includes section

Trip Notes

Notes for this tour

Houseboat: check-in about 12 noon and check-out about 9 am. Air-conditioning in the bedroom usually runs from 9 pm to 6 am; the boat anchors at night by government rules.
Temple dress codes: at Sree Padmanabhaswamy only Hindus may enter; men must wear a dhoti (no shirt) and women a saree or long skirt. Dhotis can be rented outside.
Closing days: Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue are closed on Fridays (the synagogue also on Saturdays); Kuthira Malika is closed on Mondays.
Sea safety: swim only in flagged areas at Varkala and Kovalam; the sea is rough in the monsoon (June–September).
Visa: Nepali citizens do not need a visa for India; other nationalities need an Indian visa or e-Visa.

FAQ

9 days. It starts in Kochi and ends there. Overnight stops: Kochi. The day-by-day itinerary above shows travel times, places visited and meals for each day.

October to March is the best time, with sunny days, calm seas and comfortable temperatures (about 23–32 °C). April and May are hot and humid. The south-west monsoon (June to September) is lush and green and good for Ayurveda treatments, but brings heavy rain and rough seas at the beaches.

The grade is easy, with a maximum altitude of about 10 m. It is suitable for most travellers, including families with children and seniors; walking is mostly short and on paved paths or easy trails.

No. Nepali citizens do not need a visa for India and can travel with a valid passport or citizenship certificate; for flights, a passport or citizenship certificate with photo ID is required. Other nationalities need an Indian visa or e-Visa before travel.

Yes – you have a private kettuvallam houseboat with an air-conditioned double bedroom, attached bathroom, a sitting deck and a crew of cook, captain and helper. All meals on board are freshly cooked Kerala food, with vegetarian options. Upgrades to premium or luxury houseboats are available on request.

Meet and assistance on arrival and departure; 7 nights in 3-star hotels and resorts (Kochi 2, Kumarakom 1, Varkala 2, Kovalam 2) and 1 night on a private deluxe houseboat on double/twin sharing with daily breakfast; All meals on the houseboat (lunch, evening tea, dinner and breakfast); Honeymoon cake and flower-decorated bed on arrival; All transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle (sedan for 1–2 travellers, Toyota Innova for 3–5, Tempo Traveller for larger groups), including fuel, driver's allowance, tolls, parking and state taxes; English- or Hindi-speaking driver; local guide in Kochi and Trivandrum on request; All applicable taxes (GST).

International and domestic flights unless mentioned; Kathakali show, Ayurveda treatments and water sports; Monument entrance fees and camera fees; Lunch and dinner unless mentioned; Indian visa fee (not required for Nepali citizens); Travel insurance.

This package includes 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, as marked on each day of the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost; your guide will recommend good local restaurants, and vegetarian, vegan and other dietary needs can be catered for.

Yes. We run this tour privately for your group on the dates you choose, and we can tailor it – add extra nights, change or upgrade hotels, add activities, flights or a guide in your language (Russian, German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Hindi on request). Just send us your wishes.

A deposit of 20–30% is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due before arrival. Peak-season bookings (October–March) are recommended well in advance due to high demand. You can enquire through this page, email pigeontravel@gmail.com or contact us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm availability and send a booking confirmation.

30 or more days before departure: full refund minus deposit. 15–29 days before departure: 50% refund. Less than 15 days before departure: no refund. Please see the Cancellation Policy section for full details.

Children under 5 travel free, sharing with parents. Children aged 5–11 receive a discounted rate. Children 12 and above are charged the full adult rate.

Cancellation Policy

30 or more days before departure: full refund minus deposit. 15–29 days before departure: 50% refund. Less than 15 days before departure: no refund.

Booking Policy

A deposit of 20–30% is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due before arrival. Peak-season bookings (October–March) are recommended well in advance due to high demand.

Child Policy

Children under 5 travel free, sharing with parents. Children aged 5–11 receive a discounted rate. Children 12 and above are charged the full adult rate.

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Child With Bed	—
Child Without Bed	—
Single room supplement	—
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Grand Total Incl. Taxes	Loading price…

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9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Overview

Accommodation

Why choose this honeymoon?

Who is it for?

Trip Highlights

Itinerary in Details

Altitude Chart of 9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Services Included

Services Excluded

Trip Notes

FAQ

Cancellation Policy

Booking Policy

Child Policy

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9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Overview

Accommodation

Why choose this honeymoon?

Who is it for?

Trip Highlights

Itinerary in Details

Altitude Chart of 9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat

Services Included

Services Excluded

Trip Notes

FAQ

1. How long is the 9 Days Kerala Honeymoon Tour with Houseboat and where does it start and end?

2. When is the best time to do this tour?

3. How difficult is it, and is it suitable for children or seniors?

4. Do Nepali citizens need a visa or passport for India?

5. Is the houseboat private, and what is it like?

6. What is included in the price?

7. What is not included?

8. Which meals are included?

9. Is this a private tour? Can I customise it?

10. How do I book, and what is the payment policy?

11. What is the cancellation policy?

12. Do you offer child discounts?

Cancellation Policy

Booking Policy

Child Policy

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