Monuments, Backwaters & Tropical Splendour
Discover the captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty on this 9-day Golden Triangle and Kerala tour — a journey that takes you from the grandeur of Mughal architecture to the emerald tranquility of India's most beautiful state.
Begin in Delhi for an efficient half-day tour covering the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Humayun's Tomb, and India Gate. Continue to Agra for the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, then to Jaipur for the full Pink City experience — Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and the best gem markets in India.
From Jaipur, fly to Kochi (Cochin) — a port city that has absorbed Portuguese, Dutch, and British layers of history on top of its ancient Dravidian culture. Fort Kochi's colonial streets, the Chinese fishing nets silhouetted at sunset, the Jewish Synagogue, and the Dutch Palace's extraordinary murals make this one of India's most atmospherically layered cities.
Drive into the Western Ghats to Munnar — Kerala's most scenic hill station. At 1,600 metres, the landscape is a rolling ocean of tea — some 80,000 acres of plantation on mountain slopes that disappear into the mist. The Eravikulam National Park above Munnar is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr; dawn in the park as herds of these mountain goats graze against the backdrop of the peaks is sublime.
Thekkady's Periyar National Park offers a boat safari on the lake at the heart of the sanctuary — elephants at the water's edge, gaur (Indian bison) in the forest margins, and the possibility of a leopard in the trees above. The tour concludes with a night aboard a traditional Kerala houseboat (kettuvallam) on the backwaters of Alleppey — drifting through a waterworld of lotus-filled canals, paddy fields, and fishing villages, with all meals prepared and served on board.
What makes this journey special
Your journey, unfolded
Welcome to India! After hotel check-in and a quick breakfast, a half-day Delhi tour covers the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride, Raj Ghat memorial, and Humayun's Tomb. After lunch, drive to Agra (3–4 hours). Visit Agra Fort and watch the Taj Mahal turn amber at sunset from Mehtab Bagh across the river.
Rise early for the Taj Mahal at dawn. After breakfast and checkout, drive toward Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri — the spectacular UNESCO ghost city built and abandoned by Emperor Akbar. Arrive Jaipur by evening and check in.
A full day in the Pink City. Amber Fort by jeep, the City Palace, UNESCO Jantar Mantar observatory, and the iconic Hawa Mahal. Evening in Johari Bazaar for gems, textiles, and blue pottery.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Jaipur airport for your flight to Kochi (Cochin). Arrive in God's Own Country and check in to your Fort Kochi hotel. Evening: explore Fort Kochi's atmospheric streets — the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset, the Dutch Palace's extraordinary murals, the Paradesi Synagogue (one of the oldest in the Commonwealth), and the old spice warehouses along the waterfront.
Drive east into the Western Ghats — the road climbs through rubber and cardamom plantations as the air cools and the mist thickens. Arrive at Munnar, Kerala's most famous hill station at 1,600m. Visit a working tea factory to see the full process from leaf to cup. Walk through the tea gardens as the afternoon light turns them luminescent. Sunset from the hilltop above town is extraordinary.
Morning visit to Eravikulam National Park — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat. The park's open grasslands at around 2,000m, with Anamudi (South India's highest peak at 2,695m) as backdrop, are hauntingly beautiful. Afternoon at leisure in Munnar — explore the spice market, visit Mattupetty Dam and the Indo-Swiss dairy farm, or simply walk the plantation trails.
Drive south to Thekkady — the gateway to Periyar National Park. En route, visit a spice plantation where pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon are grown side by side — the scent alone is extraordinary. Afternoon: a boat safari on Periyar Lake, at the heart of the national park. Elephants wade into the shallows, gaur (Indian bison) graze on the lakeside clearings, and the forest is alive with birdlife. This is Kerala at its wildest.
Drive west through the hills and rubber plantations, descending to the coastal backwater district of Alleppey (Alappuzha) — one of India's most extraordinary landscapes. Board your private traditional houseboat (kettuvallam) — once a rice barge, now fitted with bedrooms, a kitchen, and a sun deck. The crew of two (captain and cook) takes you through a network of emerald canals lined with coconut palms, paddy fields, and fishing villages. Lunch and dinner are prepared fresh on board: Karimeen (pearl spot fish), prawn curry, coconut rice, and banana flower thoran. Moor for the night in a quiet canal.
A final morning gliding through the backwaters as the canal world wakes — fishermen casting their nets, children in school boats, and birds diving for breakfast. Disembark at Alleppey and drive to Kochi (90 minutes) for your departure flight. The tour concludes at Kochi's Cochin International Airport — one of India's most beautiful airports, solar-powered and open to the Kerala sky.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included ✓
- ✓ Accommodation in handpicked 4/5-star hotels throughout
- ✓ Daily breakfast throughout the tour
- ✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
- ✓ English-speaking expert guide at every site
- ✓ All monument entry fees & applicable taxes
- ✓ Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓ 24/7 on-ground support throughout
- ✓ Fort Kochi guided heritage walk
- ✓ 1 night aboard a private houseboat in Alleppey (all meals)
- ✓ Periyar Lake wildlife boat safari
- ✓ Eravikulam National Park entry
Not Included ✗
- ✗ International or domestic flights
- ✗ Indian visa fees
- ✗ Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ✗ Lunches & drinks (except where specified)
- ✗ Personal expenses & shopping
- ✗ Gratuities for guides & drivers
- ✗ Domestic flight (Jaipur → Kochi) — quoted separately based on dates
- ✗ Personal Ayurvedic treatments (available on request)
Your questions, answered
A traditional Kerala houseboat (kettuvallam) is a converted rice barge, typically 60–80 feet long, fitted with 1–3 bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and an open-air sun deck at the bow. The bedroom has a real bed, private bathroom with hot shower, and air conditioning or ceiling fans. Your crew — a captain and a cook — live on the boat with you. The cook prepares all meals fresh from the Kerala kitchen: fish curry, coconut rice, prawn dishes, vegetable thoran, and freshly made appam. You moor in a quiet canal for the night, away from other traffic. It is one of the most uniquely peaceful experiences in all of India.
October to March is ideal — the post-monsoon season, when the landscape is at its most lush and green, temperatures are comfortable (25–30°C on the coast, cooler in the hills), and the backwaters are navigable. December and January are peak season — book well in advance. Avoid June–August (southwest monsoon is heavy). The Golden Triangle portion is also best October–March, making this an excellent year-round combination tour.
October to March is ideal — comfortable temperatures across all destinations, clear skies, and optimal sightseeing conditions. We strongly advise against April–June (extreme heat) and July–September (monsoon). Our specialists can advise on the ideal timing for your specific combination of destinations.
Absolutely. Every Discover India tour is fully private and built around your preferences. We can adjust duration, swap destinations, change hotel categories, or add extensions. Submit an enquiry and our specialists will redesign the itinerary for you at no obligation.
We include carefully selected 4-star and 5-star hotels throughout — heritage properties, boutique stays, and well-appointed city hotels, all personally vetted by our team. Upgrades to palace hotels or luxury properties are available on request.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Processing takes 3–5 business days and costs $25–$80 USD. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.
Yes — our tours work well for families with children aged 6 and above. We can adjust the pace, add family-friendly activities, and ensure child-friendly meals. Please mention children's ages when enquiring so we can tailor the itinerary accordingly.
Cancellations 60+ days before departure: full refund minus a small admin fee. 30–59 days: 75% refund. 15–29 days: 50% refund. Under 15 days: no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance. Full terms are provided with your booking confirmation.
