First, one night in Kochi
Taj Malabar Resort & Spa, Cochin
Taj Malabar sits where the Kochi backwaters meet the sea. Heritage teak rooms, a waterfront pool and Ayurvedic spa on our Kerala tours.
Kochi · Resort · Luxury★★★★★
Luxury Accommodation3 NightsLuxuryHeritage
Kerala Hills & Spice — Luxury
About This Journey
Kerala Hills & Spice — Luxury
Three nights through Kochi, Munnar and Thekkady, a compact route through Kerala's hills and spice country. It suits travellers with limited time who still want a genuine stretch of the Western Ghats, tea estates and a working spice plantation, rather than skipping the hills altogether.
Each day covers real distance, from Fort Kochi's spice quarter to Munnar's tea gardens and Thekkady's cardamom forest, closing with a dawn boat ride on Periyar Lake.
- 01
Munnar's tea estates, briefly but properly
A day is kept for Munnar's tea gardens, staying at Scenic, Munnar - IHCL SeleQtions or Windermere Estate, despite the short overall length.
- 02
A dawn boat ride to close the trip
The final stop is Periyar Lake at dawn, staying at Spice Village - A CGH Earth Experience at the forest's edge.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
3 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Next, one night in Munnar
Scenic, Munnar - IHCL SeleQtions
Scenic, Munnar is an IHCL SeleQtions hotel above the tea gardens. Balcony rooms, plunge-pool villas and plantation walks on our Kerala tours.
Munnar · Resort · Luxury★★★★★
Finally, one night in Thekkady
Spice Village – A CGH Earth Experience
A CGH Earth spice-garden resort on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, with cottages, pools, and Ayurveda spa.
Thekkady · Resort · Premium★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Kerala Attractions in This Itinerary
2 of your 4days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Kochi → Munnar
Kochi to Munnar — Into the Western Ghats
The drive up to Munnar takes about four hours and climbs the whole way. Rubber gives way to cardamom, then to tea. Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls when the monsoon has been kind. By the time you arrive the air is fifteen degrees cooler than Kochi.
Day 3 · Munnar → Thekkady
Munnar to Thekkady — Along the Cardamom Hills
Three and a half hours south through the Cardamom Hills. The road is good and the views are constant. You can smell the plantations before you see them. Thekkady sits on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, so the last stretch runs through genuine forest.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
4 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Kochi
Arrival in Kochi — Fort Kochi & the Spice Quarter
Your driver meets you at Cochin airport. The road runs out to Fort Kochi, where four centuries of trade left their mark on one small peninsula. Walk the lanes on foot. St Francis Church, the Dutch Cemetery, the godowns of Jew Town still stacked with ginger and pepper. Evening is free for a Kathakali performance if you want one.
Kochi → Munnar
Kochi to Munnar — Into the Western Ghats
The drive up to Munnar takes about four hours and climbs the whole way. Rubber gives way to cardamom, then to tea. Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls when the monsoon has been kind. By the time you arrive the air is fifteen degrees cooler than Kochi.
Munnar → Thekkady
Munnar to Thekkady — Along the Cardamom Hills
Three and a half hours south through the Cardamom Hills. The road is good and the views are constant. You can smell the plantations before you see them. Thekkady sits on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, so the last stretch runs through genuine forest.
Thekkady
Thekkady — Periyar Lake at Dawn, then Onward
The first boat onto Periyar Lake leaves at half past seven. Dead trees still stand in the water, drowned when the dam went up in 1895, and elephant and sambar come down to drink along the shoreline. Bring a long lens. Afterwards you continue on or head for the airport.
Guest Stories
What Our Travelers Say
Real words from real journeys — rated 5.0 across 310 Google reviews.
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Guest
“
An absolutely flawless experience. We felt like royalty from the moment we landed in Delhi until our departure.
Sarah & James
United Kingdom
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Guest
“
Truly exceptional — Brijesh, our tour planner, was incredibly attentive, professional, and meticulous in organizing a flawless itinerary.
Milly Witcomb
United Kingdom
Mentions guide Brijesh
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Guest
Guest
“
Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.
Shakira Tabizi
United States
Mentions guide Brijesh
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Guest
Guest
“
Everything went beyond our expectations. Our driver Rajesh kept us comfortable in every city, and Vicky was endlessly knowledgeable.
Melissa
Australia
Mentions guide Rajesh & Vicky
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Guest
Guest
“
From the moment we landed until we left, our driver Manish made us feel so taken care of — he made the trip even more memorable.
Rossen Milanov
United States
Mentions guide Manish
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Guest
“
Brijesh is a super good man! A comfortable journey through six cities, exactly to our desires and limits.
Michelle de Matheu
United States
Mentions guide Brijesh & Manish
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Guest
Guest
“
Excellent hotels and tour guides. Our driver Manish was superb in every way — reliable, and full of local knowledge.
James Boochame
Australia
Mentions guide Manish
Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
Is three nights enough for the hills and spice country?
It gives a genuine taste of both Munnar and Thekkady. The six or eight-night versions add more time at each, plus stops like Kolukkumalai's sunrise viewpoint.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Kerala, Privately
Before you go
Planning Kerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Thekkady Spice Plantation Visit: What to See, Buy and Avoid
Destination GuideItinerary InspirationKerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Thekkady in 2 Days: Periyar, Spice Gardens and Culture
Destination GuideItinerary InspirationKerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Places to Visit in Kerala: Backwaters, Hills, Coast and the Food Between
Destination GuideFood & CultureKerala
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Kerala's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
3 real stays, 4–5★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
Get In Touch
Start Planning Your Kerala Hills & Spice — Luxury Journey
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