Kerala: An Emerald and Ivory Odyssey
Heritage, highlands, wilderness, backwaters and the Arabian Sea, with Ayurveda and yoga to close.
11 Nights, 12 Days
Duration
6
Destinations
Fort Kochi, the tea hills of Munnar, spice country, a private houseboat on the backwaters and the Arabian Sea at Kovalam.
Regions on this journeyKerala
Overview
Kerala: An Emerald and Ivory Odyssey is a curated journey through Kerala's heritage, highlands, wilderness, backwaters and the Arabian Sea. Emerald evokes the state's lush landscape; Ivory, its refinement, heritage and elegance.
The journey begins in Fort Kochi, where centuries of spice trade have layered architecture, faith and food, before climbing into the emerald tea hills of Munnar for three unhurried nights of tea, wellness and time to simply be.
From there, the route winds through the spice country of Thekkady to the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom and a private overnight houseboat voyage from Alleppey, before ending on the Arabian Sea at Kovalam with Ayurveda, yoga and ocean time.
Throughout, guests stay in carefully chosen luxury hotels, travel privately, and enjoy Star Travels Curated Moments that turn a journey into a personal memory.
Highlights
- Kochi: private heritage and culinary walk through Fort Kochi
- Kochi: private welcome dinner of coastal flavours
- Munnar: the Art of Tea: private plantation tasting
- Munnar: mountain wellness ritual and a choice-led day
- Thekkady: spice and scent journey: cardamom, pepper and cinnamon
- Kumarakom: private sunset on the water, and a stillness and spa day
- Alleppey: exclusive overnight houseboat with a chef-led dinner
- Kovalam: arabian Sea wellness ritual and a finale dinner
Itinerary
A suggested journey
This is one way to experience the journey, not a fixed itinerary. Your specialist will adjust the pace, order and stops around you before anything is confirmed.
- Kochi
Day 1Namaskaram, Kerala: A Gentle Arrival in Kochi
Namaskaram, and welcome to Kerala. After private arrival assistance at Kochi International Airport, enjoy a seamless transfer into Kochi. The rest of the day is deliberately unhurried, giving you time to recover from the flight and settle into Kerala at a gentler pace, before a refined first evening of Kerala's coastal flavours.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The First Welcome. A handwritten welcome note, locally inspired in-room amenities and a calm, refined first-evening dinner.
- Private airport assistance and transfer to your hotel
- Private welcome dinner
Private luxury vehicle, airport to Kochi: approximately 45 to 50 km, 1.5 hours.
A choice of 3 hotelsWelcome dinner
Day 2Spice Routes and Sea Winds of Fort Kochi
Explore Fort Kochi privately, through its architecture, old streets, galleries and flavours rather than a rushed checklist. With a specialist guide, discover how centuries of spice trade shaped this seaside city, connecting its architecture, trade, faith and food, before ending with a chef-curated tasting of Kerala cuisine.
Star Travels Curated Moment
A Table With a Story. A chef or host briefly introduces the origins of selected Kerala dishes, turning a tasting into a story of the coast.
- Private heritage walk with a specialist guide (4 to 6 hours)
- Chef-curated Kerala tasting
Private vehicle and guide; local and flexible.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast and Kerala tasting
- Munnar
Day 3Ascent into the Emerald Tea Hills
Leave the coast behind and climb into the Western Ghats, with carefully chosen comfort and photography stops along the way as the road winds up through forest and waterfalls into tea country. After checking in, the afternoon is yours, with no sightseeing planned.
Star Travels Curated Moment
Arrival Tea at Dusk. A welcome of tea and local sweets after the mountain journey, followed by a quiet sunset moment.
- Private drive from Kochi to Munnar
Private luxury vehicle, approximately 120 to 135 km, 4 to 5 hours. Mountain roads are winding, with comfort stops along the way.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
Day 4The Art of Tea in the High Ranges
Immerse yourself in Munnar's tea country through its landscape, craft and flavour, with a private tea tasting led by an expert and time to linger among the rolling plantations. Later, return to your retreat for a restorative spa or Ayurvedic ritual.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The Quiet Table. A private tea tasting with an expert, followed by a signature treatment and, where the property allows, private dining in a secluded setting.
- Private tea estate experience and tasting (3 to 4 hours)
- Signature spa or Ayurvedic treatment
Private vehicle, local and flexible.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
Day 5A Day Written by You
A deliberately unstructured day. Choose from nature walks, plantation visits, yoga, meditation or spa, or simply enjoy time within your mountain retreat. This is the luxury of having nowhere to be.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The Day Belongs to You. A beautifully presented choice card of optional experiences, so the day follows your own rhythm and mood.
- One choice-led experience from the day card
- Private vehicle and guide on standby
Private vehicle on standby, local and flexible.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
- Thekkady
Day 6Cardamom Trails into the Wild
Travel through the highlands into Kerala's spice and wilderness country around Thekkady, home to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. After arrival, discover cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and other fragrant spices on a private spice walk, followed by a refined tasting that interprets Kerala through scent and flavour.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The Scent of Kerala. A spice-focused sensory encounter that ends with a small curated keepsake to take home.
- Private drive from Munnar to Thekkady
- Private spice walk and tasting (2 to 3 hours)
Private luxury vehicle, approximately 85 to 100 km, 3 to 4 hours on mountain roads. Wildlife activities are subject to permits.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
- Kumarakom
Day 7Golden Hour on the Backwaters
Descend from the hills into the quiet world of the backwaters. Check in to your lakeside sanctuary and let the afternoon slow down, before boarding a private boat for a sunset cruise along quieter waterways, timed to catch the golden light.
Star Travels Curated Moment
Golden Hour on Water. A private sunset cruise with discreet refreshments and locally inspired canapés, where permitted.
- Private drive from Thekkady to Kumarakom
- Private sunset cruise (1.5 to 2 hours)
Private vehicle and private boat, approximately 120 to 130 km, 3.5 to 4.5 hours, with a comfort and lunch stop.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
Day 8Still Waters, Slow Mornings
A day devoted to wellbeing and the waterways. Glide through narrow canals by private canoe or boat, enjoy a signature spa ritual, and savour generous free time by the water.
Star Travels Curated Moment
A Morning Without an Agenda. An extended waterside breakfast with no scheduled morning call, or a private sunset tea moment.
- Private canoe or boat exploration
- Signature spa ritual
Private boat and resort; local and flexible.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast
- Alleppey
Day 9A Floating Residence on the Backwaters
Transfer to Alleppey and board your exclusive private houseboat. Drift through palm-fringed waterways as village life passes slowly along the banks, with fishermen, paddy fields and small churches and temples by the water. As evening falls, the houseboat moors in a peaceful spot for the night.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The Houseboat Sundown Ritual. A personalised sunset ritual on deck, followed by a candlelit, chef-led dinner of Kerala specialities.
- Exclusive-use private houseboat, overnight
- Chef-led dinner on board
Private vehicle and exclusive houseboat, approximately 35 to 50 km, 1 to 1.5 hours to embarkation.
A choice of 4 hotelsBreakfast and dinner on board
- Kovalam
Day 10Where the Backwaters Meet the Arabian Sea
Leave the backwaters and travel south along the coast to Kovalam, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. There is no sightseeing after arrival, just time to settle into your clifftop or beachside resort.
Star Travels Curated Moment
The Sea Revealed. A private sunset setting reserved overlooking the sea, followed by a relaxed dinner.
- Private drive from Alleppey to Kovalam
- Private sunset setting and dinner
Private luxury vehicle, approximately 160 to 180 km, 4 to 5 hours. An early departure, with a comfort and lunch stop.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast and dinner
Day 11Ayurveda, Ocean and the Art of Restoration
A day reserved for restoration: personalised wellness, yoga, Ayurveda or spa, time by the ocean and an unhurried final evening. It ends with a refined finale dinner celebrating the journey.
Star Travels Curated Moment
A Personal Ritual of Wellbeing. Private yoga or meditation timed to your natural rhythm, followed by a signature wellness ritual inspired by the sea.
- Private yoga or meditation session
- Signature Ayurvedic or spa ritual
- Finale dinner
Private resort experiences; no driving.
A choice of 3 hotelsBreakfast and finale dinner
Day 12Nanni, Kerala: A Fond Farewell
Enjoy a final, unhurried morning by the sea before a private transfer to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for your journey home. Nanni, as they say in Kerala: thank you. The journey may end here; what it leaves within you does not.
Star Travels Curated Moment
A Lasting Departure. An elegant, lightweight Kerala keepsake with a personal farewell card.
- Private transfer to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Private luxury vehicle, approximately 15 to 20 km, 30 to 45 minutes. Extra time is allowed for traffic.
Breakfast
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
The hotels we recommend for this journey are shown below. Your specialist will confirm the most suitable options and availability when your journey is planned.
Kochi
2 nights
A choice of 3
Munnar
3 nights
A choice of 3
Thekkady
1 night
A choice of 3
Kumarakom
2 nights
A choice of 3
Alleppey
1 night
A choice of 4
Kovalam
2 nights
A choice of 3
Hotels are chosen for their setting: waterfront heritage luxury in Kochi, boutique mountain retreats in Munnar, a wilderness resort in Thekkady, a backwater sanctuary in Kumarakom, an exclusive high-end houseboat in Alleppey, and clifftop or beach resorts with strong Ayurveda in Kovalam. Hotels are as listed or similar, subject to availability.
The detail
What the price covers
Included
- 10 nights in your choice of luxury hotels and 1 night on an exclusive private houseboat
- Daily breakfast, plus the welcome dinner, Kerala tasting, houseboat dinner, Kovalam sunset dinner and finale dinner
- Private airport assistance on arrival and departure
- All transfers by private, chauffeur-driven premium vehicle
- Specialist guides and private experiences as described
- Private sunset cruise and private canoe or boat in Kumarakom
- Signature spa, Ayurvedic and yoga sessions as described
- All Star Travels Curated Moments, including welcome and farewell keepsakes
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance and visas
- Meals not listed as included
- Additional spa treatments and activities chosen on the day
- Park and wildlife activity fees unless confirmed
- Tips and personal expenses
When to travel
The south-west monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain that can affect mountain roads, boat trips and sea swimming at Kovalam, though it is also a traditional season for Ayurveda. April and May are hot and humid on the coast. Boat activities are reconfirmed close to departure.
11 Nights, 12 DaysPrivate
Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Alleppey and Kovalam
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