Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 7 Day Kerala: Beaches & Backwaters. Now's the time to explore India on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Watch the sunset through the fishing nets of Kochi, stretch out on white-sand beaches, drift through the tranquil backwaters, and rise at dawn to see the sunrise — trust us, it's worth not hitting snooze. This seven-day tour offers a quick yet intimate introduction to the diversity of south India. Unwind with free time or some yoga, meet the local people, and spend the night with a local family. How's that read more sound for an authentic cultural experience?
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Our Price From
US$472 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $157 per person
Trip Length
7 Days
Trip Starts
Kochi
Trip Ends
Kochi
Departures
Apr 2026 to Jan 2028
Countries Visited:
Operator
G Adventures
Trip Style
18-to-Thirtysomethings
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
18-39 Years
Max. Group Size
18
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
AHBB
Itinerary
Arrive at any time and welcome to the port city of Kochi, known for its unique fishing nets, artsy cafes, and tasty seafood. Get to know your fellow travellers in the seaside neighbourhood of Fort Kochi. Stroll along the tropical backwaters and capture a group photo in the stunning scenery. Pick the best looking spot and cheers to new adventures and friends!
Accommodation: Hotel Gama Heritage
Included Experiences
- Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
- Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
Take an orientation walk visiting Fort Kochi, St Francis Church, the Dutch cemetery, and the Jewish Quarter with curio shops and a synagogue more than 400-years-old. Then travel to Alleppey, a golden streak of land woven with rivers, lakes, lagoons, and canals. Enjoy an empowering lunch before checking out the island along the lagoon with a local guide and learn about the way of life here. Settle into a homestay and get to know your hosts.
Accommodation: Greenpalm Homes
Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Orientation Walk: Get to know the delightful city of Cochin through this guided walk. Walk through the fish market and the famous Chinese fishing net, believed to have been brought by traders from Kubla Khan's court in China.
- Alleppey Guided Walk: Explore the area, known as the "Venice of the East," on foot with a local English-speaking guide and learn about the way of life here.
- Alleppey Homestay: Enjoy a stay with a local family in Alleppey and get a real taste of the culture and what life on the islands is like. Learn how to cook some delicious Kerala dishes and dig in and enjoy the meal after your lesson.
- Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project: Enjoy a traditional Kerala lunch prepared by women of the Planeterra Theruvarom Empowerment Project, which provides women from rural areas an alternative source of income by honing their hospitality and culinary skills. Learn about the local cuisine and socio-economic fabric of the region as you get to know the women. All while taking in live entertainment!
Explore the unique ecosystem of Alleppey backwaters on a morning ferry cruise. Afterward, travel down the coast by bus to the port city of Kollam. On arrival, choose to relax on the beach, climb Thangassery Light House, or peruse the nightlife.
Accommodation: Hotel Sea Pearl
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Alleppey Ferry Cruise: Enjoy a morning ferry ride through the backwaters, observing the unique ecosystem with blue-green stretches of water and coconut trees.
- Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Orientation With CEO: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Visit the Kollam Harbour and experience the importance of fishing for the community. Afterward, settle into a private vehicle and see who can count the most palm trees as you cruise down the coast to tropical Varkala. Enjoy lots of free time to explore the town, get treated by local healers, or visit the Varkala Temple. Note that Kollam Harbour is closed to visitors May through June.
Accommodation: Nikhil Residence
Included Experiences
- Kollam Fishing Docks Visit: See where all of the action happens in this busy port city and walk around Kollam's bustling fishing docks.
- Neendakara Fishing Harbour Visit: Visit the largest wholesale fishing market and harbour on the Arabian Sea, dating back to the sixteenth century. Take in the sights and sound of a busy fish market at work, and check out the morning's fishing haul.
Optional Experiences
- Janardhana Swamy Temple Visit: Enjoy a visit to this beautiful temple that gives homage to Janardana Swami, who is a form of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Pilgrims from the south of India make the trek to visit this 2000-year-old temple and pay their respects.
Choose your own adventure today, exploring Varkala solo or with your new friends. Spend time wandering the peaceful gardens of an ashram devoted to Kerala's most eminent spiritual and social reformer at the mystical Janardhana Swamy Temple. Or head to the beach and relax while watching the Arabian Sea with a drink in hand.
Accommodation: Nikhil Residence
Included Experiences
- Free Time: Lots of free time to explore the town, relax with an Ayurvedic massage, get treated by local healers, or visit the Varkala Temple.
Optional Experiences
- Janardhana Swamy Temple Visit: Enjoy a visit to this beautiful temple that gives homage to Janardana Swami, who is a form of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Pilgrims from the south of India make the trek to visit this 2000-year-old temple and pay their respects.
- Ayurvedic Massage: Ayurvedic medicine is a system of Hindu traditional medicine, and Ayurvedic massage has been practiced in India for centuries and is viewed as a part of holistic medicine. These massage techniques provide relaxation, improve circulation, and eliminate of toxins. Lie back and enjoy!
Return to Kochi by train. In the late afternoon, continue to wander the streets or opt to catch a traditional Kathakali dance performance. For your big night out as a group, immerse yourself in the exciting Kochi nightlife and reminisce about the life-changing adventures you've shared.
Accommodation: Hotel Gama Heritage
Included Experiences
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Free Time: Visit any sites skipped on the first visit to Kochi.
- Kochi Nightlife: Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.
Optional Experiences
- Kathakali Dance: Considered one of the oldest dance forms in India, Kathakali is a combination of drama, dance, music, and ritual. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. This dance drama is famous for amazing costumes, extensive makeup, and explosive body movements, and is performed exclusively by men.
Today is departure day, but do not fear, there is no such thing as goodbye, only until next time. Hug your new friends, exchange contacts, and depart at any time.
Trip Inclusions
- Relax in the calm backwaters.
- Experience a local homestay.
- Chill out on quiet beaches.
- Explore ecosystems aboard an Alleppey ferry cruise.
- Sample South Indian cuisine.
- Your G for Good Moment: Lunch at Theruvarom Women Empowerment Project, Alleppey
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
- Your Local Living Moment: Alleppey Homestay, Alleppey
- Your Big Night Out Moment: Kochi Nightlife, Kochi
- Orientation walks in Alleppey, Kollam, and Fort Kochi
- Morning ferry cruise on Alleppey's backwaters
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Bus, boat, taxi, tuk-tuk
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides
- Simple Hotels Or Guesthouse (twin-share) (5 Nights), Homestay (1 Night)
- A variety of styles of hotels/guest houses are used in India. These can vary in terms of service, efficiency and cleanliness. In many instances they might not be like what you are used to back home. Power cuts can and are a regular occurrence in many places, especially throughout North and Central India. Although a number of hotels have generators there may be times when these won’t work. It is also recommended when you are in your room to lock the door, as staff will sometime enter without reason.
- Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure. Some nights on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing a room. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities.
- Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken. For private accommodation please see tours in our Classic Travel Style.
- 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Built for young travelers ready to break free from the everyday grind, these trips bring together a safe and supportive group of like-minded people in their twenties and early thirties.
Connect on the First Night Out, explore with a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), enjoy free time, and celebrate unforgettable moments with new friends - without breaking the bank. Travel confidently, respectfully, and affordably.
Dates & Pricing
USD
Tuesday
14 Apr 2026
14 Apr 26
Kochi
Monday
20 Apr 2026
20 Apr 26
Kochi
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Tuesday
21 Apr 2026
21 Apr 26
Kochi
Monday
27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 26
Kochi
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$629
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
