A Luxurious 4-Day Itinerary in Kerala

1. Day 1: Fort Kochi
   45 minutes (19.5 km) from Cochin International Airport

   In the morning, explore Fort Kochi's colonial architecture and Chinese fishing nets. Visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and see Vasco da Gama's tomb. Have a seafood lunch at The Rice Boat, a luxury restaurant on a restored rice barge. In the afternoon, visit the Mattancherry Palace, a 16th-century Portuguese palace with beautiful murals and a Hindu temple. End the day with a sunset cruise on a private houseboat with Oberoi Motor Vessel Vrinda, enjoying cocktails and traditional Kerala cuisine.

2. Day 2: Munnar
   4 hours (130 km) from Fort Kochi

   In the morning, drive to Munnar, a hill station famous for its tea plantations. Have breakfast at the luxurious Blanket Hotel & Spa, which offers panoramic views of the hills. Visit the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, the world's highest tea plantation, and learn about the tea-making process. Have lunch at the Tea Museum, which showcases the history of tea in India. In the afternoon, hike to the beautiful Lakkam Waterfalls and take a dip in the refreshing water. End the day with a relaxing spa treatment at the Blanket Hotel & Spa.

3. Day 3: Kumarakom
   4 hours (170 km) from Munnar

   In the morning, drive to Kumarakom, a village on the backwaters of Kerala. Have breakfast at the Kumarakom Lake Resort, a luxury hotel with a private lagoon. Take a private houseboat tour of the backwaters, enjoying traditional Kerala cuisine and watching the local life. In the afternoon, visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, home to many migratory birds. Have dinner at the Vembanad Restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the lake and the sunset.

4. Day 4: Kovalam
   3 hours (176 km) from Kumarakom

   In the morning, drive to Kovalam, a beach town in Kerala. Have breakfast at the Leela Kovalam, a luxury beach resort. Relax on the beautiful Kovalam Beach, which has three crescent-shaped beaches separated by rocky outcrops. Have lunch at the Curry Leaf, a beachfront restaurant that serves delicious seafood. In the afternoon, visit the Vizhinjam Lighthouse and the Halcyon Castle. End the day with a relaxing Ayurvedic massage at the Leela Kovalam.

Recommendations

You should also consider visiting the Periyar National Park, which is home to elephants, tigers, and many other animals. You can also take a day trip to Alleppey and explore the backwaters on a traditional houseboat. To maximize your fun, try some of the local cuisine, such as appam and stew, puttu and kadala curry, and fish molee.

Time and Costs Estimates

• St. Francis Church (1 hour, free)
• The Rice Boat (2 hours, INR 3,000)
• Mattancherry Palace (1 hour, INR 5)
• Oberoi Motor Vessel Vrinda sunset cruise (3 hours, INR 10,000)
• Kolukkumalai Tea Estate (2 hours, INR 2,000)
• Tea Museum (1 hour, INR 250)
• Lakkam Waterfalls (2 hours, free)
• Kumarakom Lake Resort (2 hours, INR 2,500)
• Private houseboat tour (3 hours, INR 20,000)
• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (2 hours, INR 50)
• Vembanad Restaurant (2 hours, INR 3,000)
• Leela Kovalam Beach Resort (2 hours, INR 3,000)
• Curry Leaf (2 hours, INR 2,000)
• Vizhinjam Lighthouse (1 hour, INR 50)
• Halcyon Castle (1 hour, free)
• Ayurvedic massage at the Leela Kovalam (2 hours, INR 5,000)
• Total Estimated Costs: INR 49,105

Check the prices and availability of hotels and flights in Kerala at https://booking.tp.st/VhZsadPo.