Munnar is a hill station, which basically means that most of the area is covered in slopes and linked by winding roads. The main town is only a short walk end to end; however, the sightseeing spots, including Rajamalai, Mattupetty, and Echo Point, are spread across different directions from the town centre. All the transfers between these spots are taken care of by your private vehicle during the tour.

Rajamalai, inside Eravikulam National Park, has a ticketing system that is controlled by the forest department. Entry is regulated, and when you go there, it should be based on what your guide advises. The Nilgiri Tahr here are used to human presence and frequent the viewing path at close range, but should not be fed or approached.

Tea estates at Munnar are working farms and are not free-access areas. Your guide will take you to estates accommodating the visitor walks. Some have small processing units on site where the stages of tea production can be seen. These visits are best done in the morning before the heat of the afternoon sets in.

The temperature at Munnar, especially during the early hours in the morning and after sunset, can go down quite a bit. And if you are travelling between November and February, then a fleece or warm jacket is truly necessary and not optional.

Thekkady is the gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The reserve takes a good area of forest, and the managed areas of the reserve take a continuous flow of visitors, especially for the Periyar Lake boat ride. The ride works on a schedule determined by the forest department, and your guide will arrange the timings. It takes you along the lake’s edges, where wildlife can often be seen along the shoreline.

A few things are worthwhile to know about wildlife viewing here. The animals are wild, and sightings are dependent on the time of day, season, and a measure of luck. Elephants are seen fairly frequently; tigers much less so. This means keeping the noise low during the ride and avoiding sudden movements. Photography is allowed, but the use of a flash is not appropriate in proximity to wildlife.

The spice plantation visit is one of the most informative parts of the tour for those unfamiliar with the way that these crops are grown. Black pepper grows on host trees, the cardamom grows in the shade of taller canopy and cloves are harvested by hand. A knowledgeable guide will guide you through each crop in context. These walks can take anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour and consist of easy terrain.

Kumily, the town next to the park, has a well-stocked spice market from which produce can be purchased directly. The prices here are usually not very steep, and buying from the market helps support local traders.

The transition from Thekkady to Kumarakom is a major change in the character of the journey. The forested hills give way to level water-fringed land as you descend towards the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is more village-like than Alleppey and less crowded, and the quieter it is, the more value it offers on this itinerary.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is also best visited in the early morning. The sanctuary is an expanse of mangrove forest along the lake edge and is home to various resident and migratory species of birds. Even for those travellers who do not call themselves bird lovers, the light of the morning over the mangroves and the activity on the water is a worthwhile hour.

Hotels in Kumarakom tend to be set back from the main road, and many have direct access to the water. The evenings here are peaceful, and the lakeside is the best place to spend the evenings.

The Kettuvalam is the centrepiece of the tour, and it is worth knowing how life on board really works before you get there.

The boat’s crew includes a captain, a helper, and a cook. The captain deals with navigation, while the cook deals with all of the meals. Meals are cooked from scratch using locally-purchased produce before departure. A normal day’s food on board consists of a Kerala breakfast, a fish meal with rice and accompaniments for lunch, and a buffet dinner in the evening. Dietary restrictions should be communicated when making the booking so that the crew can be briefed beforehand.

The houseboat flows through a network of canals, lakes, and channels. At some places it is open water; at others it runs through narrow channels, where the vegetation is nearly in contact on each side. The top deck is the best place for the majority of the trip. The lower deck features a covered seating space and air-conditioned cabins.

The boat stays for the night at a designated place on the lake. The engine is off, and the quiet atmosphere is one of the more memorable parts of the experience. There is no continuous mobile charging point at night. Charging all devices before the generator turns off in the late evening.

The houseboat arrives at the Alleppey jetty in the morning. Your vehicle will be waiting for you when you get off. If time permits before the drive back to Cochinthen the old canal area of Alleppey town is worth a short walk. The network of canals that runs through the town is very much a working part of daily life here, and the contrast against a purely tourist-facing environment is evident.

The travel from Alleppey to Cochin is organised according to your departure time from the airport or railway station.

The backwater region requires a lot of patience and a quiet approach, rather than speed. Early morning light on the water, the detail of fishing nets and canoes, the life of villages along the canal banks, birds in the mangroves at Kumarakom. All of these are available to the traveller who slows down.

When taking pictures of the locals, ask before pointing a camera. Inside Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, follow all the guidelines that are issued by the forest department. Drones are not allowed in national park areas.

Cochin (Kochi) is the starting as well as finishing point of this tour; it is well connected by air, rail, and road.
By Air
Cochin International Airport is situated at Nedumbassery in Ernakulam district and has direct flights from major cities of India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, etc. International connections are available from a number of cities in the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and several European destinations. Book flights to Cochin International Airport as this tour starts and finishes here.

By Rail
Ernakulam Junction (also known as Kochi) is the main railway station of Cochin. It is well-connected to the Indian rail system with services from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and many other cities. A second station, Ernakulam Town, handles other services. Confirm which station your train ends at and let the Memorable India team know about it so that your pick up is arranged from the correct point.

By Road
Kerala is linked with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka by National Highways. Travellers from Bangalore or Coimbatore who prefer a road journey will have the routes to Cochin reasonably maintained. For long distances, air or rail travel is still more practical in preparation for a multi-day tour. State-run and private coach services ply major inter-state routes into Cochin, but journey times can be long.

Your Memorable India representative makes all the transfers from the airport or railway station as part of the tour package. There is no independent navigation required on arrival.

ID Requirements: To check in for the hotel and to travel, all the guests of the hotel need to carry a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence).

Houseboat Timings: The check-in time of the Kettuvalam is usually noon. Check out is in the morning after the overnight cruise. These timings are fixed, and early or late requests are not generally accommodated.

Power and Connectivity: Houseboats run on small generator power, and mobile network connectivity can be spotty in remote parts of the backwaters. Carry important electronics powered up before boarding.

Health and Comfort: Mosquito repellent and sunscreen are necessary for outdoor activities. Evenings at Munnar and Thekkady can be cool, especially between November and February. Pack a light layer accordingly.

Footwear: Remove shoes before entering temples and before boarding houseboats. Non-slip footwear is suggested for plantation walks and wildlife excursions.

Rainfall: Kerala receives rainfall to some extent in all the months of the year. A small-sized foldable umbrella would be a good idea to keep in any bag.

Booking Timing: For the months of travel in October to February, and particularly during the Onam festival period (normally August to September), an early booking is strongly recommended.

Cochin: Broadway Market of the old city is the best address for spices, Kasavu sarees, and coir products, and local handicrafts. From the Mattancherry area, there are several antique dealers. Ginger House Restaurant on the waterfront is a sure bet for Kerala seafood.

Munnar: The local market of this town has a vast array of locally grown and processed tea. Cardamom, pepper, and vanilla are available in plantation stores. Rapsy Restaurant is popular with the locals for Kerala parotta and other preparations from the region.
Thekkady: Kumily, the main town near the park entrance, has a well-stocked spice market. Black pepper, cinnamon and star anise from here are of good quality. The town has several restaurants offering both South Indian and rudimentary continental food too.

Kumarakom and Alleppey: It is the houseboat that serves the main meal during this part of our tour. Fresh fish, prawns, and crab are normally prepared on board in traditional Kerala ways. In Alleppey town, the canal side market area, there are a variety of local crafts and textile shops.