Crafting Transcendent Journeys & Bespoke Well-Being

The Kerala Sanctuary

Munnar - Thekkady - Alleppey

Gill Travel Retreats

About this journey

Tea, spice, and backwaters - Kerala at its most alive

5★Premium 5-star stays
APAll three daily meals
12Pax exclusive traveller
45-65Designed for discerning travellers

Note: 4-star stays are offered only where 5-star accommodation is not available.

Designed for the discerning traveller between 45 and 65, this itinerary is deliberately unhurried. Monsoon is, by far, the most atmospheric season in Kerala - Munnar's tea estates deepen to emerald, Thekkady's forests breathe with fresh rain, and Alleppey's backwaters turn lush and still.

This circuit moves gently from hill to forest to water, with every leg comfortably under 5 hours. Expect plantation mornings, a private backwater houseboat night, and the kind of unhurried green stillness that only the rains can bring - never more than two activities a day.

Confirmed departure

10 - 16 September 2026
Aerial view of terraced tea plantations in Munnar

Gill Travel Retreats

What makes this journey special

Retreat highlights

01

5-Star Curated Stays

5-star stays throughout the journey, with elevated comfort and thoughtful hospitality at every stop. Note: 4-star stays are offered only where 5-star accommodation is not available.

02

American Plan (AP)

All three daily meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - included throughout, including aboard the houseboat.

03

Premium traveller

Luxury premium traveller exclusively for 12 pax, with professional driver for all road days.

04

Retreat Activities

Sunrise yoga among the tea gardens, guided meditation by the backwaters, one-on-one wellness conversations, and a storytelling evening around the fire.

05

Cultural Immersion

Eravikulam National Park, spice plantation walks, and Kerala's village backwater life.

06

Slow-Paced Design

Built for comfort - no predawn starts, no rushed transitions, generous rest time every afternoon.

Your destinations

3 extraordinary places await

Munnar tea garden resort with pool and gazebo 2 nights

Munnar

Misty tea estates, Eravikulam's rolling hills, and slow plantation mornings.

Periyar Lake boat cruise at Thekkady 2 nights

Thekkady

Spice plantations, the Periyar Tiger Reserve lake, and unhurried forest mornings. (Approx. 3 hrs from Munnar)

Traditional Kerala houseboats moored along the Alleppey backwaters 2 nights

Alleppey

A private houseboat glide through palm-lined canals - Kerala's most peaceful chapter. (Approx. 3.5 hrs from Thekkady)

Arrival & departure

Gateway: Delhi Airport - Outbound: Delhi (DEL) - Kochi (COK) (Morning departure) - Return: Kochi (COK) - Delhi (DEL) (Evening departure)

Flights excluded from package. Domestic flights should be booked separately; our team can advise on suitable routing and timing.

Gill Travel Retreats

Your journey, day by day

Go there. Experience that. Every day brings a new place, a new pace, and a new memory.

Visit the Western Ghats

Visit: Begin your journey with the green rise of Munnar and the misty welcome of Kerala's hills.

Experience: Let the tea-country air and plantation views set the tone for a slower, richer escape.

  • Stay: 5-star plantation resort, infinity views over the tea hills, Munnar
  • Meals: Welcome tea + Dinner

Visit Eravikulam and the tea estates

Visit: Explore rolling grasslands, misty viewpoints, and working tea estates in Munnar.

Experience: Wander through cool air and the quiet beauty of Kerala's high country.

  • Stay: 5-star plantation resort, Munnar
  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Visit the spice trails of Thekkady

Visit: Follow the scent of cardamom, pepper, and cloves through the forested spice gardens.

Experience: Step into the calm of the Periyar edge and the fragrance of Kerala's living landscapes.

  • Stay: 5-star forest-edge resort, Thekkady
  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Visit Periyar Lake

Visit: Glide across Periyar Lake and watch the forested shoreline come alive with birdlife and quiet movement.

Experience: Drift into stillness and let the rhythm of the water slow you down.

  • Stay: 5-star forest-edge resort, Thekkady
  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Visit the Alleppey backwaters

Visit: Cruise through Vembanad Lake and the palm-lined canals of Alleppey.

Experience: Trade mountain air for still water, golden sunsets, and a peaceful overnight glide.

  • Stay: Private premium houseboat, Alleppey backwaters
  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Visit the backwater sunrise

Visit: Wake to the quiet glow of dawn on the water and the stillness of coconut groves.

Experience: End the journey with warmth, calm, and the easy rhythm of Kerala's waters.

  • Stay: Lakeside resort (day use), Alleppey / Check out
  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Farewell Dinner

Visit Kochi for your departure

Visit: Return through Kerala's green landscape and take one last look at the coast.

Experience: Leave with the softness of the backwaters and hills still with you.

  • Stay: Check out
  • Meals: Breakfast

Gill Travel Retreats

What's included - and what isn't

Package scope

A note on the season & drive times: Mid-September keeps Kerala lush after the rains - Munnar and Thekkady still deep green, and the Alleppey backwaters calm and fully navigable. All road legs are under 4 hours, with brief showers built comfortably into our day timings.

What's included

  • 4 nights accommodation at 5-star plantation and forest resorts (AP meal plan - all 3 meals)
  • 1 night private backwater houseboat with all meals aboard
  • 1 day-use lakeside resort facility on the final day
  • Private luxury/premium traveller for 12 pax, for all road transfer days
  • Tour Manager and Happiness Coach accompanying the group for the entire journey
  • Daily refreshments on the road - water bottle, snacks, and a cold drink or juice
  • Guided wellness moments - sunrise yoga, meditation, one-on-one check-ins, and evening storytelling circles
  • Entry tickets: Eravikulam National Park, spice plantation walk, Periyar Lake cruise
  • Local expert guides for tea estate walk, spice plantation, and Periyar cruise
  • Tea-tasting ceremony in Munnar
  • All inter-city transfers: Kochi - Munnar - Thekkady - Alleppey - Kochi
  • All applicable GST on accommodation and services
  • First-aid kit + emergency support 24×7

What's not included

  • Domestic flights (Delhi ↔ Kochi)
  • Personal expenses, laundry, minibar, room service extras
  • Optional Ayurvedic spa treatments (payable at property)
  • Alcoholic or premium beverages
  • Shopping purchases - spices, tea, handicrafts
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended; purchase separately)
  • Charges arising from medical emergencies
  • Tips / gratuities for guides, driver, and houseboat crew (discretionary)
  • Porterage at airports

Gill Travel Retreats

Terms & conditions

Booking and travel essential information

Gill Travel Retreats

How to secure your booking

Ready when you are

Note: Timely payment is essential; failure to meet the scheduled deadline may result in booking cancellation.

1

Contact Us

Call us at +91 93101 17984 or email info@gilltravelretreats.com to confirm availability.

2

Submit Documents

Send scanned ID, address, and age proof along with residential address and emergency family contact. Carry originals on tour.

3

Pay Booking Fee

Advance booking fee required. Payment via bank transfer, cheque, or payment gateway link. Request a receipt.

4

Balance Payment

Pay the remaining balance 20 days prior to the tour departure date.

5

E-Documents

E-vouchers and E-tickets will be issued 72 hours prior to departure.

Enquire now

Reserve your place on The Kerala Sanctuary

Share your travel window and group details. We will follow up with availability and next steps.

Gill Travel Retreats

Ready to join The Kerala Sanctuary?

From ₹78,000 onwards per person (double occupancy) - 10 - 16 Sep 2026 - 6 Nights - Limited to 12 guests.

Luxury retreat travel with thoughtful hospitality - unhurried small-group journeys where you are welcomed as family, not a booking.