Kerala Backwaters, Beaches & Beyond: Your Complete Group Tour Guide

Kerala is India’s most distinctive and beloved domestic travel destination — a land of extraordinary natural beauty, ancient spice-trading heritage, vibrant performing arts, and the world-famous Ayurvedic wellness tradition. For Indian group travellers, Kerala offers a holiday that feels both exotic and intimately familiar — a lush green world of coconut palms, tea estates, elephants, houseboats, and the most aromatic cuisine on the subcontinent.

Kochi: The Gateway City

Kochi (Cochin) is one of India’s most cosmopolitan and historically layered cities. Fort Kochi’s colonial streets hold Portuguese churches, Dutch palaces, Jewish synagogues, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets along the harbour. The Kerala Kathakali dance performance — with its elaborate make-up and expressive classical movements — is a must-see cultural experience for group visitors. Kochi’s Jew Town antique market is perfect for browsing.

Alleppey: The Venice of the East

Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the heart of Kerala’s legendary backwater network — 900 km of tranquil canals, lagoons, and lakes lined with rice paddies, coconut groves, and traditional fishing villages. A houseboat cruise overnight on the Kerala backwaters — sleeping on a converted rice barge called a kettuvallam — is one of India’s most iconic and cherished travel experiences. Groups can book entire houseboats with private bedrooms, dining areas, and crew.

Munnar: Sea of Tea

Munnar is Kerala’s high-altitude tea estate town — a rolling landscape of emerald tea bushes, mist-covered hills, and crisp mountain air at 1,600 metres. Visit a working tea factory to learn about tea production, spot Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goats) in Eravikulam National Park, and walk through the magical Mattupetty Dam and Anamudi Peak viewpoints.

Thekkady & Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Thekkady is home to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary — a beautiful forest surrounding a large artificial lake. Bamboo rafting through the forest, spice plantation walks, elephant camp visits, and morning nature treks with Tribal guides are the highlights. Periyar is famous for its large elephant population that regularly visits the lake shores.