Experience "God's Own Country," a land where emerald backwaters, misty tea-covered hills, and golden beaches sit within a single state. Kerala's houseboats drift through Alleppey's canals past coconut groves and paddy fields, while Munnar's rolling tea plantations offer a cool escape from the South Indian heat. Wildlife lovers can spot elephants and tigers on a boat safari through Periyar's dense forests, and history enthusiasts can wander Kochi's Fort Kochi district, where Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences blend into a unique coastal charm.
Explore Kerala's diverse landscapes and travel from the beaches of Kovalam to the spice-scented hills of Thekkady, where cardamom and pepper plantations perfume the air. For a deeper cultural experience, witness a traditional Kathakali performance in Kochi or take part in an Ayurvedic wellness retreat that has drawn travelers to Kerala for generations. Wayanad's forests and waterfalls offer a quieter, offbeat alternative for travelers wanting to move beyond the well-worn Kochi-Munnar-Alleppey circuit.
Kerala's spice markets, backwater villages, and centuries-old temples reflect a state where tradition and natural beauty exist side by side. With Leisure Trips' Kerala tour packages, you can experience everything from a private houseboat night to a sunrise trek through tea gardens. Book a package designed around how you actually want to travel, and discover why Kerala remains one of India's most consistently loved destinations.
Kerala Tour Packages by Leisure Trips
Experiences like a private houseboat stay, a guided spice plantation walk, an Ayurvedic massage session, a Kathakali dance show, and extra nights in Munnar or Wayanad can all be added to your Kerala vacation package. Leisure Trips offers both budget-friendly and premium Kerala tour packages, with pricing that adjusts based on personal preference — the length of stay, hotel and houseboat category, and extras like private transport, guided tours, and wellness add-ons all affect the final price.
Places To Visit In Kerala
1. Alleppey Backwaters
Alleppey's network of canals, lakes, and lagoons is Kerala's most iconic image — a maze of palm-fringed waterways best explored aboard a traditional houseboat, or kettuvallam. Our Kerala tour packages typically build in an overnight houseboat stay here, letting you drift past village life, paddy fields, and Chinese fishing nets at a genuinely unhurried pace. Sunset on the backwaters is a must-see, with the water turning gold as local fishermen head home for the evening. Book your houseboat well in advance during peak season (December-January) since availability fills up fast.
2. Munnar Tea Gardens
Munnar's rolling hills, blanketed in neat rows of tea bushes, sit at a cool, misty elevation that offers welcome relief from Kerala's coastal heat. A visit to a working tea estate and factory here is included in most of our packages, giving you a close look at how tea goes from leaf to cup. Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, is a short drive away and worth the extra stop. Carry a light jacket, since mornings and evenings can get surprisingly chilly even in Kerala's tropical climate.
3. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady
Periyar's dense forests and central lake make it one of South India's most rewarding wildlife destinations, with boat safaris offering a chance to spot elephants, wild boar, and if you're fortunate, a tiger along the water's edge. Spice plantation tours in the surrounding hills are a popular addition, walking through cardamom, pepper, and clove gardens with a local guide. Early morning safaris tend to have the best wildlife activity, so book the first available boat slot if sightings matter to you.
4. Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi's colonial-era streets carry visible layers of Portuguese, Dutch, and British history, from the iconic Chinese fishing nets along the shoreline to St. Francis Church, one of India's oldest European-built churches. Our Kerala tours typically include a walking exploration of this district, along with an evening Kathakali performance where elaborately costumed dancers narrate ancient stories through expression and movement. Sunset along the Fort Kochi promenade is one of the best free experiences in the entire state.
5. Wayanad
Wayanad's forests, waterfalls, and hill ranges offer a quieter, greener alternative to Kerala's more visited circuits, appealing to travelers who want nature without the crowds. Edakkal Caves, with their ancient rock carvings, and the Chembra Peak trek are among the highlights our tours can include here. This region is a genuine escape into Kerala's wilder side. Trekking shoes with good grip are worth packing, since trails here can get muddy, especially just after monsoon.
6. Kovalam Beach
Kovalam's crescent-shaped beaches, backed by a historic lighthouse, have made it one of Kerala's most established beach destinations. The calm, sheltered coves here suit both families and couples looking to unwind after a few days of sightseeing elsewhere in the state. Ayurvedic beachfront resorts are common in this area, letting travelers combine a relaxing beach stay with traditional wellness treatments. Early morning or late afternoon are the best times for a swim, avoiding the strongest midday sun.
7. Thekkady Spice Plantations
Beyond the wildlife sanctuary, Thekkady's spice-growing hills are worth a dedicated visit for their fragrant cardamom, pepper, clove, and cinnamon plantations. Guided walks here explain how Kerala became historically central to the global spice trade, a legacy that shaped much of the state's early trade history. Most tours pair this with a visit to a local spice market, where you can pick up fresh spices to take home. Ask your guide about the traditional uses of each spice — it makes the walk far more memorable than a simple plant-naming tour.
Best Things To Do In Kerala
1. Cruise the Backwaters on a Houseboat
An overnight stay on a traditional Kerala houseboat is the single most requested experience among our travelers, and for good reason — gliding past village life on Alleppey's waterways at sunset is unlike anything else in India. Most houseboats include a home-style Kerala meal cooked fresh onboard. Book a private houseboat rather than a shared one if privacy and a customized itinerary matter to you.
2. Take an Ayurvedic Wellness Treatment
Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda, and a traditional massage or short wellness program here is a genuinely authentic experience rather than a tourist add-on. Many resorts, particularly around Kovalam and Kumarakom, offer sessions ranging from a single treatment to multi-day rejuvenation programs. Book with a resort that has a registered Ayurvedic doctor on staff for a proper consultation before any treatment.
3. Walk Through a Spice Plantation
Thekkady and the hills around Munnar offer guided walks through working spice gardens, where cardamom, pepper, and clove grow alongside each other. It's a hands-on way to understand Kerala's centuries-old role in global trade. Most plantation tours run 1-2 hours and are easy enough for travelers of all fitness levels.
4. Watch a Kathakali Performance
Kathakali's elaborate makeup, costumes, and expressive storytelling make it one of India's most visually striking classical art forms, and Kochi hosts regular evening performances aimed at visitors. Arrive early to watch performers apply their makeup, which is a fascinating process in itself. This is one of the best cultural experiences available in the state.
5. Trek Through Wayanad's Hills
Wayanad's Chembra Peak and surrounding trails offer some of Kerala's best trekking, moving through forest and grassland with sweeping valley views. The trek to Chembra's heart-shaped lake is moderately challenging but manageable for reasonably fit travelers. Carry sufficient water, as facilities along the trail are limited.
6. Go Wildlife Spotting on a Periyar Boat Safari
A boat safari across Periyar Lake offers a genuinely different way to spot wildlife compared to a jeep safari elsewhere in India, gliding quietly past elephants and birds along the water's edge. Morning slots tend to have better animal activity than afternoon ones. Bring binoculars for the best viewing experience.
Things to Know Before Traveling
- Carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license) at all times, as it's commonly requested at hotel check-ins and some checkpoints in forest areas.
- Monsoon season (June to September) brings heavy rain but also lush greenery and lower prices — a good option if you don't mind occasional indoor days, though outdoor activities like trekking should be planned carefully.
- Book houseboats and Ayurvedic resorts well in advance during peak season (December-January), since availability is limited and prices rise closer to the date.
- Dress modestly when visiting temples — Kerala's temples often have specific dress codes, sometimes requiring men to remove shirts and wear traditional dhotis.
- Kerala's roads through hill areas like Munnar and Wayanad involve winding routes, so carry motion sickness medication if you're prone to travel sickness.
- Try local Kerala cuisine like appam with stew, or a traditional sadya (banana-leaf meal) — it's a genuinely different food experience from most of India and shouldn't be skipped.
Kerala Tour Packages Pricing
We design a personalized Kerala tour based on your preferences and budget. We take care of everything, including houseboat bookings, hotel stays, local transport, meals, and guided sightseeing, so you can enjoy the backwaters, hill stations, wildlife, and cultural experiences without the stress of planning each piece yourself.
A Kerala vacation is a genuinely achievable, well-rounded trip for nearly every kind of traveler. Our Kerala honeymoon packages are a popular choice for couples seeking a romantic backwater and hill-station combination, while our family packages are built around a comfortable pace suited to all ages. When you book a Kerala trip package with Leisure Trips, you get stress-free travel planning, comfortable accommodations, and a well-paced itinerary covering the very best of the state.
23% off