Entry luxuryDelhi · From $9,000 / person
Classic Private India
The essential north, without the rush. Delhi · Agra · Ranthambore · Jaipur · Delhi.
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Our journeys · Private journey
The Spice Coast
A luxury journey through Kerala · 10 days · Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Marari
Starting at $7,699 / person
- Length
- 9 nights
- Route
- Kochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Kumarakom · Backwaters · Marari · Kochi
- Pace
- Unhurried, from harbour to hills, water and sea
Per person, two sharing, excluding international flights. Private, on your dates.
Overview
For travellers who want to slow down and savour Kerala.
Kerala is India's gentlest introduction. The air smells of cardamom and rain, the food is among the best in the country, and nothing feels hurried. This journey follows the route the spice traders once did, from the harbour of Kochi up into the tea hills, across the cardamom forests of Periyar, down to the backwaters, and out to a quiet beach. Every stay is a place with a story: a restored waterfront warehouse, a tea planter's bungalow, a resort modelled on a tribal village, a heritage villa on the lake. It is built for travelers who want to slow down rather than tick off sights: private guides, hands-on experiences with chefs and growers, a night on a private houseboat, and enough time on the coast to do nothing at all.
Pace: unhurried, from harbour to hills, water and sea. Like all of our journeys it is private throughout, with your own car and chauffeur, private guides in each place and someone to call from the first day to the last.
- Kochi
- Munnar
- Thekkady
- Kumarakom
- Backwaters
- Marari
- Kochi
Journey highlights
- Fort Kochi’s harbour, spice lanes and Kathakali
- Tea tasting and estate walks in Munnar
- Spice gardens and Periyar with a naturalist
- A heritage pool villa beside Vembanad Lake
- A private houseboat night, followed by Marari Beach
Itinerary
9 nights, stop by stop.
A designed route, not a fixed one. Each stop can be lengthened, shortened or swapped before we confirm your journey.
Days 1–2 · Kochi
Harbour, Spice and a First Taste of Kerala
Day 1: Arrival by the Harbour
You are met on arrival at Kochi airport and driven to Brunton Boatyard, a heritage waterfront hotel in Fort Kochi overlooking the harbour. The afternoon is for rest. As evening comes, a gentle walk along the water to watch the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets lift and drop against the sunset, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Fort Kochi and Kathakali
A private guide leads you through Fort Kochi: St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, and the colonial lanes shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British traders. Cross to Mattancherry to wander through the old spice warehouses and the antiques lanes of Jew Town, and visit the Paradesi Synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace.
In the afternoon, a rest, then an evening Kathakali performance, ideally arriving early to watch the dancers' elaborate make-up being applied, a ritual that takes hours and is half the show.
Moments
- Fort Kochi and Mattancherry with a private guide
- Spice warehouses, the synagogue and palace
- Kathakali, with time to see the make-up preparations
Stay · 2 nights
Brunton Boatyard
Days 3–4 · Munnar
Tea Estates and Misty High Hills
Day 3: Into the Western Ghats
A scenic drive of about four to five hours into the Western Ghats, with a stop at a waterfall and a roadside spice stall along the way. As the road climbs, the air cools and the hills turn into rolling terraces of tea. Check in to a restored tea planter's bungalow, such as CGH Earth's Lockhart Bungalows, with log fires, wide verandas and views across the plantations. Afternoon tea on the lawn.
Day 4: Tea from Leaf to Cup
Morning with a tea estate specialist: walk through the plantation, watch the leaves being withered, rolled and dried in an old factory, and sit through a private tea tasting. Continue to Eravikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri tahr, a rare mountain goat found on these high grasslands. In the afternoon, a gentle walk through the hills or a spa treatment, then dinner by the fire.
Moments
- A restored tea-planter’s bungalow
- Estate walks, factory visit and private tea tasting
- Eravikulam National Park, when open
Stay · 2 nights
Lockhart Bungalows or a similar tea-estate bungalow
Days 5–6 · Thekkady
Spice Gardens and the Periyar Forest
Day 5: The Heart of Spice Country
Drive about three and a half hours to Thekkady, the heart of Kerala's spice country, passing cardamom, pepper and clove plantations. Arrive at Spice Village, a resort modelled on the dwellings of the local Manan tribe, with thatched cottages set among gardens. In the afternoon, a guided spice plantation walk, where you see pepper vines, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg growing, followed by a cooking demonstration that turns what you picked into dinner.
Day 6: A Day in the Forest
An early start for Periyar Tiger Reserve, with a naturalist-led walk or a bamboo rafting trip on the lake, watching for elephants, sambar deer, gaur and a wealth of birdlife. Tigers are very rarely seen here, so the real prize is the forest itself, quiet, cool and fragrant. Return to the resort for lunch, then an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, a short Kalaripayattu demonstration, the ancient Kerala martial art, and a night walk in the resort's gardens.
Moments
- A guided spice plantation walk and cooking demonstration
- A naturalist-led walk or bamboo rafting at Periyar
- Kalaripayattu and a garden night walk
Stay · 2 nights
Spice Village
Day 7 · Kumarakom
A Heritage Villa on the Lake
Day 7: Down to Vembanad Lake
A drive of about four hours down from the hills to the shore of Vembanad Lake and Kumarakom Lake Resort, a lakeside heritage property. You check in to a heritage villa with a private plunge pool, one of the centuries-old Kerala homes reassembled on the property, with an open-air bathroom and a terrace facing the water. Spend the afternoon at the infinity pool overlooking the lake, with an optional Ayurvedic treatment at the spa, or take a sunset cruise on the water. In the evening, dinner at the lakeside seafood restaurant, followed, if you wish, by a private Kerala cooking session or a traditional art performance.
Moments
- A heritage villa with a private plunge pool
- Lakeside dining and time to rest
- Optional spa treatments or a sunset cruise
Stay · 1 night
Kumarakom Lake Resort
Day 8 · Backwaters
A Private Night on the Water
Day 8: Palm-Lined Canals and Village Life
After breakfast, board a private premium houseboat from the resort's jetty for an overnight cruise. This is a private cabin, a private crew and a private chef, moving slowly through palm-lined canals and across the open lake, past paddy fields and village life seen from your own deck. Lunch is freshly cooked Kerala seafood, and dinner is served on deck under the stars. The boat moors for the night in a quiet stretch of water.
Moments
- Your own crew, chef and cabin
- Freshly cooked meals on board
- A quiet overnight mooring
Stay · 1 night
Premium private houseboat
Days 9–10 · Marari
Villa, Beach and Wellness
Day 9: A Day by the Sea
A slow breakfast on the water, then a short transfer to Marari Beach, where you check in to a private villa set in a coconut grove, in a resort designed to feel like a traditional fishing village. Spend the day exactly as you like: a morning yoga session, a long Ayurvedic treatment, a walk on one of the cleanest beaches in Kerala, or a visit to the neighbouring fishing village to see the morning's catch come in. The beach is quiet by design, ideal for sunsets and long dinners.
Day 10: Departure from Kochi
A final yoga session and a late breakfast, then a private transfer of about two hours to Kochi airport for your flight home.
Moments
- A private villa in a coconut grove
- Yoga, wellness or a walk by the sea
- Private transfer to Kochi airport
Stay · 1 night
Marari Beach Resort
Planning this journey
From Kerala’s harbour to hills, backwaters and sea.
For the service and design process, explore private India journeys. For accommodation choices and price considerations, see luxury travel in India.
Nine nights, six bases
Two nights each in Kochi, Munnar and Thekkady are followed by a heritage-villa night in Kumarakom, a private houseboat night and a final night at Marari Beach. Day ten departs from Kochi.
A villa and a night afloat
The Kumarakom stay proposes a heritage villa with a private pool. The following night is aboard a premium private houseboat with your own crew and chef. These are separate stays, with room category, boat specification and availability confirmed in your proposal.
Leave time for the hill roads
The route includes winding transfers between the coast, Munnar and Thekkady. We build in breaks and check park opening days, activity permits and houseboat conditions before confirming the sequence.
What to pack
- Light cotton or linen clothing, and one warmer layer for Munnar's cool evenings
- Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temple visits, and shoes that are easy to remove
- Comfortable walking shoes for the plantations and the forest
- Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and insect repellent
- A light rain jacket, since showers are possible outside the dry season
- A camera with a zoom lens for birds and wildlife
Before you travel
- Best season: October to March, when the weather is dry and pleasantly warm. Kerala is also known for monsoon Ayurveda retreats from June to September, if you want a different kind of journey.
- Wildlife: Periyar is a beautiful forest, but tigers are rarely seen. Elephants, deer and birds are far more likely.
- Road transfers: Drives between regions are scenic but winding, and can take four to five hours. We build stops and private lunches along the way.
- Houseboat night: Conditions on the water vary, so the exact route and mooring are confirmed by the crew on the day.
- Booking: The small resorts and the houseboat sell out well ahead, so reserve early for peak months.
- Visa and permit requirements, transport schedules, opening days and individual travel-health advice are checked for your passport, dates and circumstances before confirmation.
Stays
Where you would stay.
Several of these properties are small, so availability is limited, especially from December to February. Your proposed properties and room categories are subject to availability for your dates.
- KochiBrunton BoatyardAlternative: Taj Malabar Resort & Spa.Supporting stay2 nights
- MunnarLockhart Bungalows or a similar restored tea-estate bungalowAlternative: Windermere Estate.Supporting stay2 nights
- ThekkadySpice VillageSupporting stay2 nights
- KumarakomKumarakom Lake ResortHeritage villa with a private pool. Alternative: Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa.Hero stay1 night
- BackwatersPremium private houseboatHero stay1 night
- MarariMarari Beach ResortPrivate villa.Hero stay1 night
Indicative price
From $7,699
per person, two travellers sharing
- Length
- 9 nights
- Departures
- Your dates, private
- Travel dates
- Advised for your route
- Festive periods
- Priced on request
An indicative starting point in the proposed accommodation, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, rooms and final inclusions.
Included
- A dedicated trip designer who plans and manages every detail, from booking to your return home
- 24/7 in-country support, with a named contact you can reach by phone at any hour
- Private transfers by chauffeured vehicle at every stage, including airport meet-and-greet
- Private guides in Kochi, Munnar and Thekkady, and resident naturalists at the resorts
- All accommodation and meals, including the houseboat night
- Experiences as listed, from the Kathakali performance and tea tasting to the spice walk and cooking class
- Emergency planning and guidance on arranging travel insurance with medical evacuation cover; insurance itself is not included
Not included
- International flights to and from India
- Visas, travel insurance and vaccinations
- Meals not described in the itinerary, and drinks
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Festive-period supplements, quoted individually for travel over Christmas and New Year
Questions
Before you enquire.
When is a good time for this Kerala route?
October to March is the proposed travel window. Weather varies between the coast and hills, and rain can affect outdoor activities. Festive dates and exact property availability are confirmed individually; festive pricing is available on request.
Is this a fixed departure?
No. This is a private journey designed around your dates. Stays, room categories, transport and experiences are confirmed in your personal proposal.
Are all experiences guaranteed?
Specialist hosts, performances, private venues, park activities and airport assistance depend on availability, permissions and local conditions. Optional activities and spa treatments are priced separately unless explicitly included in your proposal.
Is the houseboat an overnight stay?
Yes. Day eight includes a private premium houseboat night, separate from the heritage-villa night in Kumarakom and the final night at Marari Beach. The crew confirms the exact route and mooring against water and weather conditions.
What does the from-price cover?
It is an indicative starting point per person, based on two travellers sharing a room in the stays listed, in the proposed accommodation and room categories, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, room categories and final inclusions.
Can the hotels be changed?
Yes. The stays listed are the ones we propose for this route, subject to availability when we design your journey. We suggest alternatives of similar character where a property is full, or where a different one would suit you better.
Are the journeys suitable for families?
They can be. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we will adjust the pace, rooming and experiences accordingly. Children's pricing depends on ages and room arrangements and is confirmed in the proposal.
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Begin
Make The Spice Coast yours.
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what matters most. We will shape this route, its stays and its pacing around you, and confirm the price against your own design.
Request a quote
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