The Ultimate Adventure in Kerala

Your host is an expert in all things Kerala, specialising in the region and running trips there for over two decades. If weather or other factors affect the ability to visit a specific place or conduct a particular activity, your host will have plenty of alternative options.

There is one main guide for groups of up to 10 people, and an additional guide for groups of 11-14 people. During the hikes in the Western Ghats, an additional guide joins the group for some local expertise. For the day trek at Periyar Tiger Reserve, a local community guide leads the way. For the kayaking day in the backwaters, an additional kayaking guide joins the group.

This trip starts and ends at different hotels in different parts of Kerala, so it's not viable to leave luggage in Kochi at the start of your trip. The same vehicle is used throughout the adventure, so you are free to leave additional luggage securely in the vehicle for the duration of your adventure through Kerala.

Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. The following advice may be subject to change. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.

All foreign nationalities entering India require a valid visa, which in most cases must be obtained in advance of travel (please check the regulations for your nationality). You must have a machine-readable passport, valid for at least 180 days from your arrival date in India. Persons of Indian origin must have an OCI card. Clients with a Pakistani passport or of Pakistani descent will need extra time and additional documents for visa processing.

Applicants of eligible countries can either apply online for an Indian e-Visa or apply for a Standard Visa, which involves an in-person visit to a branch of the Indian High Commission's Visa Facilitation Service (VFS). There have been delays to Standard Visa processing times so please book your appointment ASAP if using this service.

Travellers eligible for an e-visa, which includes those from the UK, US, CA and EU, can apply online via https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. Applications for 30-day e-Tourist visas can be made from 30 days before the proposed date of travel and not less than 4 days before your arrival date in India (applications for multiple entry 1-year e-Tourist visas can be made from 120 days in advance).

Applications for a Standard Visa (requiring both an online application and an in-person appointment) can be made via the VFS Global website.

Filtered water is available at most of the hotels you stay at on this trip, allowing you to fill up your refillable bottle and bike bottle each day. Additionally, your tour leader and driver will carry a large container of purified water for the group to refill their bottles from.

You'll be using expedition-style kayaks. These are very stable and easy to paddle for everyone, from new paddlers through to experienced paddlers. Expedition kayaks can be used on the sea, estuaries, rivers, lakes and canals. Your host has a mixture of single and double kayaks for use, depending on the group size and individual preference. It's more than likely that you'll be able to have a go at both during the trip.

The expedition kayaks are made from a plastic and polystyrene composite, are designed for two persons, and have an average weight limit of 170kg.

You'll be riding a hardtail mountain bike, with front suspension ideal for the tarmac and light dirt roads that you'll be cycling on. While the quality of the roads in Kerala are a decent standard compared with other parts of India, having front suspension will still be required compared with a rigid front fork on a classic road bike. Your host will provide helmets, however if you prefer to use your own please bring it with you.

Houseboats in the Kerala backwaters have a mixed history regarding their impact on the environment. In short, some are excellent, but others leave a lot to be desired. Therefore, we have carefully selected a boat and crew with a strong approach to sustainability. Marvel houseboat is certified 'Golden Category' by the Department of Tourism in Kerala, using solar power for all the electrics on board and bio-septic plumbing to ensure non-toxic and non-harmful waste disposal. They have their own sewage plant, so waste is treated properly rather than being dumped in the backwaters. Since 2022, the crew have moved away from using bottled water and instead use a large water dispenser to reduce their single-use plastic footprint. The houseboat only moves through the canals, lakes, and rivers up until 17:00, after which time it is anchored in a safe lake area. From 17:00 to 06:00 is when local people go fishing in their small boats, so any noise will disturb their fishing activity, which is their livelihood. The crew are all locals of Kuttanad in Alleppey, whose families depend on the backwaters—this gives the staff the ultimate incentive to protect this area.

Tiger sightings are less common compared to elephant sightings in Periyar, so there is a chance that you won't spot a tiger. There are an estimated 40 Bengal tigers in the park, living in the dense forests with abundant prey species. The sanctuary provides a suitable habitat for these apex predators. This is a true wilderness area and offers a magical experience regardless of tiger sightings, so keep your expectations in check. However, if you are lucky enough to spot a tiger, it will be a memory of a lifetime.

The Periyar forest programmes, such as the full-day hike you'll be doing on this trip, are tightly controlled and managed to benefit the ecology of the national park. A coalition of local communities, tribal populations, and ex-poachers manage tourism in the park in conjunction with the national park authority. Income from running the guided hikes goes directly to these local communities and tribal members, who are employed as guides and naturalists. This is a highly acclaimed, award-winning eco-tourism initiative. The Eco Development Committee (EDC) at Periyar has established the tourist carrying capacity of the tiger reserve using scientific tools, so there are strict rules for full-day hikes—only six persons per group and a maximum of four groups. This controls the number of people in the forest at any one time, which also benefits the overall experience with very good sightings of birds and mammals. Our groups will be staggered according to the maximum group sizes in Periyar.

This trip takes place in environments where wild animals are present in their natural environment, where protections and controls on their movement may be limited or non-existent. Some species may be dangerous, venomous, or unpredictable. Sightings are a privilege – but safety is key. Always follow your guide’s instructions and any posted signage.

We recommend considering your comfort around wildlife and discussing any concerns with your host before travel, particularly if you have allergies, phobias, or related health conditions.

This trip operates in areas where daytime temperatures can reach extreme highs, where limited shade and high humidity can also be a factor. These conditions can affect physical performance and increase the risk of dehydration or heat-related illness. Your guide will adjust the pace and monitor the group closely, but hydration, proper clothing, and sun protection are essential.

Before travelling, consider your ability to be active in high temperatures and consult a medical professional if you have concerns – especially if you have any cardiovascular or heat-sensitive conditions. Arriving a day or two prior to the trip may help you adjust gradually to the heat.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Kerala's weather and climate can be divided into three seasons:

• Winter: November to February
• Summer: March to the end of May
• Monsoon season: End of May to mid-November (with most rainfall from June to August)

Winter is generally the best time to visit Kerala, with comfortable temperatures, pleasant weather, and lower humidity. Expect temperatures between 22°C (71°F) and 30°C (86°F). However, in the higher altitude areas of the Western Ghats, temperatures will be much cooler, ranging from 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F). In the summer months of April and May, these higher altitude areas become a great place to avoid the heat, as temperatures remain in the late teens at the hill stations while they rise in lower areas. Kerala experiences two monsoon seasons, the most prevalent of which being the Southwest Monsoon, typically from June to August, during which time we don't run trips. The Northeast Monsoon typically brings the odd shower from October to November.