Kerala Family Tour Package with Jatayu Earth Centre – 7 Nights 8 Days
Overview
A giant bird sculpture on a rocky hilltop gives this family tour its name. The 7 nights 8 days Kerala family tour package with Jatayu Earth Centre takes you from the tea hills of Munnar and the forests of Thekkady to an Alleppey houseboat, then down the coast via Jatayu Earth's Center at Chadayamangalam – home of the world's largest bird sculpture – to Varkala and Kovalam, with a day trip to Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India.
The pace is set for families. Munnar gets two nights, with Mattupetty Dam, a tea factory, the Tea Museum and Echo Point. Thekkady adds Periyar Tiger Reserve, where a boat safari or bamboo rafting can be added at your own cost, and a walk through the spice plantations. After a night on a deluxe houseboat, you stop at Jatayu on the way to Varkala's cliffs and Papanasam Beach, spend a free beach day in Kovalam, and on day seven drive to Kanyakumari for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the 133-feet Thiruvalluvar Statue and the Kanyakumari Temple.
Two nights in the same Kovalam hotel at the end mean less packing on the busiest days, and the tour finishes with a drop at Trivandrum Airport. You stay in 3-star hotels and a houseboat with breakfast every day, and a private vehicle covers every transfer.
Package Features
See the world's largest bird sculpture at Chadayamangalam.
Tea hills, Echo Point, Periyar Tiger Reserve and spice gardens.
Cruise Alleppey's backwaters past paddy fields, birds and villages.
Cliff-top cafés and Papanasam Beach below the red cliffs.
Lighthouse, Hawa and Kovalam beaches with no rush to leave.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue and Kanyakumari Temple.
Included
- 7 nights' stay on double occupancy (2 nights Munnar, 1 night Thekkady, 1 night Varkala and 2 nights Kovalam in 3-star hotels; 1 night on a deluxe sharing houseboat in Alleppey)
- Daily breakfast at the hotels and on the houseboat
- Pick-up at Cochin airport or railway station and drop at Trivandrum Airport
- All transfers and sightseeing by private vehicle as per the itinerary, including the Kanyakumari day trip
- Sightseeing and activities as listed in the itinerary (items marked optional are extra)
- GST
Excluded
- Flights or train tickets to Cochin and from Trivandrum
- Lunch and dinner, including meals on the houseboat
- Entry tickets and camera fees at Jatayu Earth's Center, Periyar, the Tea Museum and other sights, unless specifically included
- Ferry tickets to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial
- Optional experiences: boating at Mattupetty Dam, the Periyar boat safari and bamboo rafting
- Houseboat air-conditioning outside 9 PM–6 AM (extra charges apply for extended use)
- Personal expenses such as shopping, laundry, phone calls and tips
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under Included
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Cochin Arrival – Transfer to Munnar
- Arrive in Cochin, where our representative meets your family at the airport or railway station.
- Drive up to Munnar (about 130 km, 4 to 5 hours), with the road climbing through forest and tea estates.
- Check in to your hotel and settle in for the evening. Overnight stay in Munnar.
- Highlights of the Day: Arrival in Cochin, drive to Munnar
Day 2 Munnar Sightseeing
- After breakfast, visit Mattupetty Dam, where you can take an optional boat ride at your own expense.
- Explore a tea factory and the Tea Museum (closed on Mondays), a good introduction to Munnar's tea history for children and adults alike.
- Continue to Echo Point, a lakeside spot where your voice bounces back off the hills.
- Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Munnar.
- Highlights of the Day: Mattupetty Dam (optional boating), Tea Factory and Tea Museum, Echo Point
Day 3 Munnar to Thekkady
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before driving to Thekkady (about 3 to 4 hours).
- Visit Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, with an optional boat safari or bamboo rafting at your own cost.
- Check in to your hotel, then walk through a nearby spice plantation and the local spice market.
- Spend the evening at leisure or shopping. Overnight stay in Thekkady.
- Highlights of the Day: Periyar National Park, boat safari or bamboo rafting (optional), spice plantations, spice market
Day 4 Thekkady to Alleppey – Houseboat Stay
- After breakfast, drive to Alleppey (about 4 to 5 hours) and check in to your deluxe sharing houseboat.
- Cruise the backwaters past lush paddy fields, birdlife and glimpses of village life on the banks.
- Relax on deck as the houseboat moors for the evening.
- Air-conditioning on the houseboat runs from 9 PM to 6 AM; extra charges apply for extended use. Overnight stay on the houseboat in Alleppey.
- Highlights of the Day: Houseboat stay in Alleppey, backwater cruise
Day 5 Alleppey to Varkala via Jatayu Earth's Center
- After breakfast on the houseboat, disembark and head towards Varkala.
- On the way, visit Jatayu Earth's Center at Chadayamangalam, home to the world's largest bird sculpture, inspired by Jatayu from the Ramayana.
- On arrival in Varkala, check in to your hotel and explore Varkala Cliff, its cafés and Papanasam Beach.
- Watch the sunset from the cliffs. Overnight stay in Varkala.
- Highlights of the Day: Jatayu Earth's Center, Varkala Cliff, local cafés, Papanasam Beach
Day 6 Varkala to Kovalam
- After breakfast, drive to Kovalam (about 2 hours).
- Complete check-in at your hotel; the rest of the day is free.
- Spend it on the beaches of Kovalam – Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam Beach and Hawa Beach.
- Stay out for the sunset over the Arabian Sea. Overnight stay in Kovalam.
- Highlights of the Day: Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam Beach, Hawa Beach
Day 7 Kovalam – Kanyakumari – Kovalam
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and set off for Kanyakumari, around 2.5 to 3 hours away by road.
- Begin sightseeing with a ferry ride to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built on the rock where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892.
- See the 133-feet Thiruvalluvar Statue, honouring the Tamil poet-saint, and visit the revered Kanyakumari Temple.
- After sightseeing, drive back to Kovalam. Overnight stay in Kovalam.
- Highlights of the Day: Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari Temple
Day 8 Kovalam to Trivandrum – Departure
- After breakfast, check out from your hotel.
- Drive to Trivandrum, less than an hour away.
- Get dropped at Trivandrum Airport for your onward journey.
- Highlights of the Day: Drive to Trivandrum, departure
Payment Policy
- An advance payment is required to book, the remaining balance will be paid as detailed in your booking confirmation.
- Only when booking is confirmed by the arrival of your advance payment, the acceptance of the booking itinerary and Luxe Trail Holidays' written confirmation is the booking confirmed.
- In some cases, the full amount is required at booking (peak season, special hotel rates and certain activities).
- Non-payment means that the booking will be subject to the cancellation terms that would apply if the payment were not received by the due date.
- Per person on double sharing, all in package price & GST.
Refund Policy
- Cancellation fees are based on the date that we receive your cancellation request from the hotel and transport suppliers' policy and if applicable peak season limitations. Charges applying will be notified to you on your quotation.
- Refunds are issued after approval by the relevant suppliers, so this may take some time.
- Refunds are given in the same way as the payment was made or as agreed with you.
- The amounts may be deducted from non-refundable amounts, payment processing fees or bank fees charged by suppliers.
- In the event of weather, road closures, government orders, etc. beyond our control, the service is not offered; if not offered, a refund or an alternative service is offered as per the supplier's terms.
Policy & Important Terms
- Every traveller, including children, must carry a valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence). Foreign nationals need a passport with a valid Indian visa.
- Houseboat air-conditioning runs only from 9 PM to 6 AM; extra charges apply for extended use.
- The Vivekananda Rock ferry runs in daylight and may be suspended in rough seas. At Varkala and Kovalam, swim only in flagged areas where lifeguards are on duty.
- Dress modestly at temples; at the Kanyakumari Temple men are asked to remove their shirts before entering.
- The order of sightseeing may change because of traffic, weather, local events or monument timings.
- The vehicle is provided for the routes in the itinerary; extra trips or detours are charged separately.
- Standard hotel and houseboat check-in and check-out times apply; early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will this tour be suitable for young kids and granny and grandad?
Yes. The long drives are broken up with sightseeing, and the last two nights are in one hotel in Kovalam. Jatayu Earth's Center is on a hill, which can be accessed by a cable car or a walking path, and Varkala Cliff has steps down to the beach, inform us about any mobility issues and we will plan accordingly.
What is the name of Jatayu Earth's Center?
Jatayu Earth's Center is a park at the top of a hill in Chadayamangalam in the area of Kollam, in which the largest bird sculpture in the world, representing Jatayu, an avatar of Lord Rama, fighting to rescue Sita in the Ramayana, is erected. It is located on the 5th day on the way from Alleppey to Varkala. Entry and any adventure activities are not included in the price of the ticket.
What's the duration of the Kanyakumari day trip?
It takes the whole day to reach Kanyakumari from Kovalam and is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours away. No packing and unpacking is required as you travel to Vivekananda Rock Memorial by ferry, visit Thiruvalluvar Statue and Thiruvalluvar Temple in Kanyakumari and then head back to Kovalam Hotel from which you are traveling to Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
In how many ways can a family calculate the price?
The above is the rate listed per person for 2 travellers staying in a double room. We estimate an additional bed/second room (as some hotels may require) for a family of 3-4 kids. Provide you details of your group and journey dates to get an accurate cost.
When is the best time to go on a family holiday in Kerala?
The best time is from October to March, when the seas along the coast are calmer and the weather on the hills is cooler. The end of December is a hectic period as school holidays are in session, so bookings should be made early in advance for this time. June to August is green monsoon, with fewer customers but heavy rain means fewer beach visits and may slow hill roads.
Does entry ticket and activity apply?
Package includes 2 Nights accommodation, Daily Breakfast, Private Transfers and the listed sightseeing (GST). Entry tickets and Vivekananda Rock ferry charges, Jatayu ticket and optional boating at Mattupetty Dam, Periyar boat safari or bamboo rafting charges are in addition to the price of admission, which is lunch and dinner.
