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India: Kerala & Backwaters | 2027
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India: Kerala & Backwaters | 2027
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Length
9 Days
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Quality
This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities. -
Starts in
Kochi (India)
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Ends in
Kochi (India)
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Available Tour Start Dates
OCT 9, 2027 to MAR 18, 2028
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Activity Level
No Rating Provided
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Language
English
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Guaranteed Date(s)
Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).No
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Special Interest(s)
18-to-Thirtysomethings
Contiki tours are only available for 18- to 35-year olds.
From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price for at least one departure date of this tour. Price is for the tour only. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare (unless noted otherwise), travel insurance, and more, are additional.
$1,051.20
Overview
Over 9 days, discover a side of India where tea-covered hills, spice plantations, clifftops overlooking beaches and palm-lined backwaters take centre stage. Explore the historic streets of Kochi, trek through the rolling landscapes of Munnar and unwind in laid-back Varkala. Along the way, you'll cook with a local family, taste tea and spices at their source, cruise through Periyar National Park and spend a night aboard a traditional houseboat in Alleppey's backwaters.
Visited During Tour
Alleppey / Alappuzha (India) | Kochi (India) | Munnar (India) | Thekkady (India) | Varkala (India)
Dates, Offers & Prices Dates
Tour Itinerary Itinerary
More Details Details
Dates, Offers & Prices
The following are India: Kerala & Backwaters | 2027 tour dates available from Contiki. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
Tour Itinerary
Contiki Tour Code 839-2734
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Day
1Kochi
Welcome to Kerala! We'll kick off our adventure in Kochi, known for its coastal charm, colourful streets and food you can't miss. Meet your Contiki crew before we head off to a local family's home for a hands-on cooking experience, learning South Indian recipes before sharing dinner together. Not a bad way to start a trip.
- Meals Included:
- Dinner
Accommodations: Abad Fort Hotel (or similar) -
Day
2Kochi
This morning, we'll dive deep into Fort Kochi's history. Check out colonial landmarks, bustling streets and the character-filled lanes of the Jewish Quarter (on foot and even on tuk-tuks!). Then you've got the afternoon free to browse local shops and markets. This evening, you have the option to see a Kathakali dance performance - one of Kerala's most iconic art forms known for elaborate costumes, intricate face paint and expressive eye movements.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Abad Fort Hotel (or similar) -
Day
3Kochi to Munnar
Say goodbye to the coast as we leave Kochi behind and head into Kerala's misty highlands. We'll wind our way through lush scenery with plenty of opportunities to stop for a chai or coffee while soaking up the views. By afternoon, we'll arrive in Munnar, a hill station in the Western Ghats, known for its rolling tea estates and crisp mountain air. Settle into your hotel and enjoy a free evening to explore or find a local spot for dinner with the crew.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Silver Tips Hotel (or similar) -
Day
4Munnar
Get ready for an active morning as we kick off our exploration of Kerala's tea capital with a guided trek through the Lekshmi Hills. After a morning of tea-estate views and fresh mountain air, enjoy some free time before exploring Munnar town and browsing local markets with your Trip Manager. This evening, you can choose to jump on a jeep ride to the Viriparai sunset viewpoint for panoramic views of Kerala's highlands.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Silver Tips Hotel (or similar) -
Day
5Munnar to Thekkady
Before leaving Munnar behind, we'll dive deeper into Kerala's tea country. Visit a historic tea factory to see how the region's famous brews are made, enjoy a tasting session and then stroll through rolling plantations and a local village for a glimpse into life in the highlands. Next up: Thekkady. After arriving, we'll explore a spice plantation filled with the flavours and aromas that have made Kerala famous, then your Trip Manager will show you around town. Tonight, you can choose to watch a Kalaripayattu martial arts show before a free evening to explore and grab a bite.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Treetop (or similar) -
Day
6Thekkady and Varkala
A peaceful boat ride to kick off the day? Oh yeah. We'll cruise through Periyar National Park, gliding past forested shores and soaking up the scenery. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along the way, slow down and enjoy nature from the water. After breakfast, we'll make our way to Varkala, Kerala's laid-back beach destination. Once we've arrived, your Trip Manager will give you a quick orientation of the area. Head to the clifftop, enjoy sweeping views of the Arabian Sea and catch the sunset before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Accommodations: Akhil Beach Resort (or similar) -
Day
7Varkala
Slow things down today with a yoga session at our hotel. Keen to swap zen for adventure? Join an optional surf lesson and learn the basics with a local instructor. The afternoon is yours to make the most of Varkala's easy-going vibe — think beach time, clifftop cafes, Ayurvedic treatments or simply finding the perfect spot to watch the sun slip into the sea.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodations: Akhil Beach Resort (or similar) -
Day
8Varkala to Alleppey
Goodbye beach, hello backwaters. Today, we'll leave Varkala's clifftop coastline behind and make our way to Alleppey, home to Kerala's famous waterways. Houseboat day is here! On arrival, we'll climb aboard and cruise through a maze of palm-fringed canals, drifting past villages, rice fields and everyday life on the water. Enjoy lunch on board as the backwaters work their magic, before we dock up for a relaxed evening. Tonight, dig into a delish dinner with the crew and settle in for a night on the water.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodations: Houseboat (or similar) -
Day
9Alleppey to Kochi
It's not every day you get to wake up on Kerala's famous backwaters. So grab some breakfast, find your spot on deck and enjoy one final cruise back to the jetty. With one of Kerala's biggest bucket-list experiences ticked off, it's time to say goodbye to this beautiful place. Back on land, we'll make the journey back to Kochi Airport, passing rice paddies, coconut trees and fishing villages along the way. Kerala, it's been a pleasure. Until the next adventure.
- Meals Included:
- Breakfast
More Details
Contiki is informing us of the following additional details regarding their India: Kerala & Backwaters | 2027 tour:
Travelers Notes
* INDIA: USA passport holders require a visa for India. Visa must be obtained prior to departure. Depending on visa type, applications can be submitted from 120 days prior to departure up to 4 days prior to departure. * IMPORTANT: Please see important visa details sent with your invoice.* START/END TIMES: Trip starts in Kochi at 4:00pm and ends in Kochi at 11:00am.* TRANSFERS: Arrival transfers are available, they are bookable via single or twin only. Twin transfers can only be booked when two passengers are traveling together on the same reference number. No twin share transfers available.Flight information is required in order to book transfers. Departure transfers not available, as the trip will end at Kochi Airport.* POSSPORT/VISA: Full passport details are required 60 days prior to departure. Services cannot be booked without this information. The client is fully responsible for obtaining all necessary visas.* INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is compulsory on all Contiki Asia trips.* GROUND HANDLER: This trip is operated by Distinct Destinations.
Pricing listed above for tours is per person, in US Dollars, and is based on double occupancy. Pricing may change for other occupancy types. Pricing is based on the last time the vendor electronically sent us pricing data, which varies by vendor (usually occurs overnight or multiple times throughout each day).
Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Contiki. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Contiki (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.