Kerala backwaters
🌴 Most Popular Two-Region Trip

Golden Triangle
+ Kerala

A week of intensity through India's iconic north, then a week unwinding on Kerala's slow rivers and tea hills. Most travellers find this combination almost perfectly weighted.

17
Days
5
Regions
3
Flights included
πŸ“…
Duration
17 days
πŸ“
Route
Delhi Β· Agra Β· Jaipur Β· Kochi Β· Munnar Β· Backwaters
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦
Best for
Families Β· Couples
🌀️
Best season
October – February
Your Journey
The Route β€” North to South
πŸ›¬
Sydney
Depart
✈
πŸ•Œ
Delhi
Days 1–3
πŸš—
πŸ›οΈ
Agra
Days 4–5
πŸš—
🏯
Jaipur
Days 6–7
✈
🌴
Kochi
Days 8–9
πŸš—
πŸƒ
Munnar
Days 10–11
πŸš—
β›΅
Backwaters
Days 14–15
Day by Day
Your 17-Day Itinerary
Day
1
Arrive Delhi
Airport pickup and a quiet first evening to recover from the flight. Nothing scheduled today β€” Delhi can wait until tomorrow.
✈️ International arrival🏨 Hotel check-in🍽️ Easy first dinner
Day
2
Old Delhi
Jama Masjid, the lanes of Chandni Chowk by rickshaw, and Raj Ghat at an easy morning pace. Afternoon free to rest.
πŸ•Œ Jama MasjidπŸ›Ί Chandni ChowkπŸ•ŠοΈ Raj Ghat
Day
3
New Delhi
Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, the government quarter, and India Gate in the evening. A gentler, greener day.
πŸ›οΈ Humayun's TombπŸ—Ό Qutub Minar🌿 India Gate
πŸ—ΊοΈ
Getting There
Delhi β†’ Agra
πŸš—By Road
~4 hours
Yamuna Expressway. Comfortable private vehicle, scenic drive.
✈️By Flight
No direct flight
No air connection exists between Delhi and Agra. Road is the only option.
Recommendation: Road is fine and fast. Depart mid-morning, arrive for lunch.
Day
4
Delhi to Agra Β· Agra Fort
A late-morning drive to Agra, with the afternoon at Agra Fort and your first distant view of the Taj at dusk.
πŸš— Morning drive🏰 Agra FortπŸŒ… Taj at dusk
Day
5
⭐ Trip Highlight
Taj Sunrise Β· Then Jaipur
The Taj Mahal at first light, breakfast back at the hotel, then the drive to Jaipur with a stop at Fatehpur Sikri along the way. Arrive Jaipur by evening.
πŸŒ… Taj at sunriseπŸ›οΈ Fatehpur Sikri🏯 Arrive Jaipur
Day
6
Jaipur Β· Amber Fort
The hilltop fort in the morning and the Jal Mahal in the afternoon. One of the most spectacular sights of the trip.
🏯 Amber Fort🏞️ Jal Mahal🎭 Evening free
Day
7
Jaipur Β· City and Bazaars
City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, and the markets. Your last full day in the north before flying south to a completely different India.
πŸ›οΈ City PalaceπŸ”­ Jantar MantarπŸ›οΈ Bazaars
πŸ—ΊοΈ
The Big Transition
Jaipur β†’ Kochi (Kerala)
✈️By Flight
~2.5–3 hours
Jaipur β†’ Kochi direct or via Delhi/Mumbai. This is the journey from north India to south India β€” flight is the only sensible option.
πŸš—By Road
Not recommended
Over 2,000km. Not an option for a family trip.
Recommendation: Fly. You land in Kochi and immediately feel the difference β€” humid, green, slow. A completely different country.
Day
8
Fly to Kochi Β· Arrive Kerala
A morning transfer to the airport and a flight south to Kochi. The afternoon is for settling into a completely different India β€” humid, green, and slow.
✈️ Jaipur β†’ Kochi🌴 Arrive Kerala🌊 Easy evening
Day
9
Fort Kochi
A walking day through the old port town: the Chinese fishing nets, the spice quarter, colonial churches, and a Kathakali dance performance in the evening.
🎣 Chinese fishing nets🌢️ Spice quarter🎭 Kathakali evening
πŸ—ΊοΈ
Into the Hills
Kochi β†’ Munnar
πŸš—By Road
~4 hours
A beautiful climb into the Western Ghats. Watch the air cool as you rise. No flight option exists β€” and you wouldn't want one.
✈️By Flight
No airport in Munnar
Munnar has no airport. The road journey is part of the experience.
Recommendation: Take your time on the road. The drive up into the tea hills is one of the most beautiful of the trip.
Day
10
Kochi to Munnar Β· Into the Tea Hills
A beautiful climb into the Western Ghats (around four hours), the air cooling as you rise into tea country. Arrive by mid-afternoon and breathe.
πŸš— Scenic mountain driveπŸƒ Tea country arrival🌑️ Cool air
Day
11
Munnar Β· Tea Estates
A full day among the tea estates β€” a plantation and tea-museum visit, viewpoints, and gentle walks. Cool, calm, and a real change of pace after the intensity of the north.
πŸƒ Tea plantationπŸ”οΈ Mountain viewpoints🚢 Gentle walks
Day
12
Munnar to Thekkady
A short drive to Periyar, with the afternoon free for a spice-plantation tour. The landscape shifts again β€” from cool hills to dense forest and wildlife country.
πŸš— Short drive🌢️ Spice plantation🌿 Periyar forest
Day
13
Thekkady Β· Periyar Lake
A morning boat on Periyar Lake looking for wildlife β€” elephants, bison, birds. Then an easy afternoon: a nature walk or an Ayurvedic treatment.
β›΅ Lake boat🐘 Wildlife watchπŸ’† Ayurveda option
Day
14
⭐ Trip Highlight
Board the Houseboat Β· Kerala Backwaters
Drive to Alleppey and board a private houseboat for an overnight cruise through the palm-lined canals. All meals cooked on board. The pace drops to almost nothing. One of the most peaceful nights on the trip.
β›΅ Private houseboat🌴 Canal cruise🍳 Meals on boardπŸŒ… Sunset on the water
Day
15
Backwaters to the Coast
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to a quiet beach hotel (Marari or Kovalam) for the final stretch of the trip.
πŸ–οΈ Beach hotel🌊 Arrive coast😌 Rest
Day
16
🌿 Your Day
Beach Day Β· Nothing Planned
Nothing planned β€” swim, rest, and let the trip wind down at your own pace. The sea, the coconut palms, the slow end of something extraordinary.
🏊 SwimmingπŸ“– Rest🌴 Free time
Day
17
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Kerala to Sydney β€” carrying the whole journey back with you.
πŸ›« Kerala departure✈️ Flight home

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Golden Triangle + Kerala?

The most popular two-region trip we plan. Every detail shaped around your family β€” nothing is fixed until you say so.

  • Flat planning fee Β· No commissions on hotels or flights
  • Two rounds of revisions included
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  • One person handles everything, start to finish
Start a conversation β†’
Planning fee
$3,000 AUD17-day trip
Ground services
$200–$400 AUDper person Β· per day
Hotels
Booked by youWe recommend Β· you pay direct
Flights
Booked by youUse your points or travel agent
Commissions
$0We earn nothing from your hotels
Figures are indicative. Your final quote is itemised before you commit.