11-Day Kerala Taj Mahal Tour: Backwaters, Beaches, Delhi and Agra

Our Kerala Taj Mahal tour joins the calm of South India with the Mughal heritage of the north. Walk the tea gardens of Munnar and the spice gardens of Thekkady, spend a night on a private houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters, relax on Marari beach and explore old Fort Kochi. Then fly to Delhi for Humayun’s Tomb and a Heritage Walk in the Mughal Walled City of Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi, and drive to Agra for the Taj Mahal at sunrise and a Heritage Walk in the Mughal Walled City of Fatehpur Sikri. It is a private tour with your own car, driver and local guides.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private holidays across India for couples, families and groups.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of the 11-day Kerala Taj Mahal tour.

Tour name: Kerala with the Taj Mahal
Duration: 11 days and 10 nights
Route: Munnar (2 nights), Thekkady (1 night), Alleppey houseboat (1 night), Marari (2 nights), Kochi (1 night), Delhi (1 night), Agra (1 night), Delhi (1 night)
Starts: Kochi airport. Ends: Delhi airport
Tour type: private car with driver, local guides, one flight from Kochi to Delhi
Highlights: Munnar tea gardens, Periyar Lake, an Alleppey houseboat, Marari beach, Fort Kochi, Humayun’s Tomb, Old Delhi, Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and Fatehpur Sikri
Best for: first-time visitors, honeymooners and families who want both South and North India
Best time: October to March

Why Choose This Tour

Two Indias in one trip: the green hills and backwaters of Kerala and the Mughal heritage of Delhi and Agra.
A night on a houseboat: the Kerala Taj Mahal tour includes a private houseboat with all meals on board.
Mughal heritage and Mughal architecture: heritage walks in Old Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri with expert guides.
Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the north: Humayun’s Tomb, the Red Fort, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
Private and flexible: add Jaipur to make a Kerala with Golden Triangle tour.

Kerala Taj Mahal Tour Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the Kerala Taj Mahal tour.

Day 1: Kochi Airport to Munnar

Your Kerala Taj Mahal tour begins at Kochi airport, where we meet you. Drive about 130 km, four hours, up into the Western Ghats, stopping at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls and the first tea gardens.

Shamrock travel tip: the hill roads to Munnar and Thekkady have many bends, so carry travel-sickness tablets if you need them, and a light jacket for the cool evenings. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Overnight: Munnar. Read our Kerala travel guide.

Day 2: Munnar Sightseeing

Day 2 of the Kerala Taj Mahal tour is in the hills. Visit Eravikulam National Park, home of the rare Nilgiri tahr, with views towards Anamudi, the highest peak in South India. See how tea is made at the Tea Museum, then visit Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Munnar

Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady

Drive about 90 km, around three hours, to Thekkady. Take a guided walk through a spice garden of cardamom, pepper and cinnamon, and in the evening watch a Kalaripayattu martial arts show.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Thekkady

Day 4: Periyar Lake and the Alleppey Houseboat

Day 4 of the Kerala Taj Mahal tour is the highlight in Kerala. Take an early boat ride on Periyar Lake in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, or go bamboo rafting. Then drive about 140 km, four hours, to Alleppey and board your private houseboat. Cruise the backwaters past villages and paddy fields, with a Kerala lunch and dinner cooked on board.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight: houseboat, Alleppey

Day 5: Alleppey to Marari Beach

After breakfast on board, drive about 30 minutes to Marari, a quiet beach with palm groves and fishing villages, and watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Marari

Day 6: Marari at Leisure

Swim, cycle through the village, or take an Ayurveda massage or a cooking class.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Marari

Day 7: Marari to Kochi and Fort Kochi

Drive about an hour and a half to Kochi. In the afternoon, your guide shows you Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, the Mattancherry Palace, and the spice shops and Paradesi Synagogue of Jew Town. In the evening, watch a Kathakali dance show.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Kochi

Day 8: Fly to Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar

Today your Kerala Taj Mahal tour moves north. Fly from Kochi to Delhi, about three hours. In the afternoon, see Humayun’s Tomb, the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal and a fine example of early Mughal architecture, and the Qutub Minar. In the evening, visit the Akshardham temple.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Delhi. Read about Delhi.

Day 9: Delhi to Agra and the Mughal Heritage of Agra

Day 9 of the Kerala Taj Mahal tour takes you to Agra. Drive about 230 km, three to four hours, on the Yamuna Expressway. Join a Heritage Walk in the Mughal Heritage of Agra: the red sandstone Agra Fort and Itimad-ud-Daulah, the Baby Taj. At sunset, see the Taj Mahal from the Mehtab Bagh garden across the Yamuna river.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Agra. Read about Agra.

Day 10: Taj Mahal at Sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri and Back to Delhi

This is the highlight of your Kerala Taj Mahal tour. Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, when the white marble turns pink and gold. After breakfast, see Sikandra, the tomb of Emperor Akbar, then drive about 40 km for a Heritage Walk in the Mughal Walled City of Fatehpur Sikri, with the Buland Darwaza. Drive back to Delhi in the afternoon.

Shamrock travel tip: the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, and only small bags, phones and cameras are allowed inside. We plan your Agra days around this. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Delhi. Read about Fatehpur Sikri.

Day 11: Heritage Walk in the Mughal Walled City of Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi, and Departure

Join a Heritage Walk in the Mughal Walled City of Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi: the Jama Masjid, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort. Drive past India Gate and the government buildings of New Delhi, India’s capital, then transfer to Delhi airport. Your Kerala Taj Mahal tour ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your Kerala Taj Mahal tour includes:

Nine nights in hotels of your choice with breakfast
One night on a private houseboat with lunch, dinner and breakfast
A private air-conditioned car with driver in Kerala and in Delhi and Agra
Local English-speaking guides in Fort Kochi, Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri
Airport pickups and drops, tolls, parking and driver costs

What Is Not Included

Flights to Kochi, the Kochi to Delhi flight and your flight home (we can book them)
Lunch and dinner on land
Entry tickets, boat rides, shows and Ayurveda treatments
Personal expenses and travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

October to March is the best time for the Kerala Taj Mahal tour, with pleasant days in Kerala and cool days in Delhi and Agra. December and January mornings in the north can be foggy. April to June is very hot in Agra, and June to September is the monsoon in Kerala. Eravikulam National Park closes for a few weeks each year, usually in February and March.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do the tour in reverse?

Yes. Start with Delhi and Agra and end on the beach in Kerala, a relaxing way to finish.

Can I add Jaipur?

Yes. Add two nights in Jaipur to make a Kerala with Golden Triangle tour. See our Golden Triangle tour.

Is the houseboat private?

Yes. You have your own houseboat with a crew and cook.

Are flights included?

Flights are not in the base price, but we book the best flights for you, including Kochi to Delhi.

Is this a good honeymoon package?

Yes. A houseboat, a beach resort and the Taj Mahal at sunrise make a classic India honeymoon. See our honeymoon packages.

How much does the Kerala Taj Mahal tour cost?

The price depends on your hotels, the houseboat, flights, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your plans and we will send a clear quotation.

More Kerala and Taj Mahal Tours

Want only Kerala, or only the Taj Mahal?

Kerala 7-day tour package: the same Kerala route without the north.
Kerala 8-day tour package: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, a houseboat and Kovalam.
5-day Delhi Agra Fatehpur Sikri tour: the Mughal heritage only.
Andaman Taj Mahal tour: island beaches with Delhi and Agra.
Varanasi Taj Mahal tour: the Ganga, Old Delhi and the Taj Mahal.

See all our Kerala tour packages, our South India tour packages, all our India tour packages and the best North India tours. Ready to book your Kerala Taj Mahal tour? Request your free quote

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

Recognised and trusted: Recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Member of PATA, TAAI, IATO and ADTOI.

Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote