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Kerala Beaches Holiday

Beaches, backwaters and slow village charm

AITO

Kerala’s coastline offers a trio of contrasting experiences.

Kovalam is the original beach resort – busy and built-up in parts, but handy for Trivandrum airport and still home to good hotels and calm swimming waters. Further north, Mararikulam (Marari) remains a low-key fishing village with wide, tranquil beaches and a thriving eco-conscious spirit. Quietest of all, Neeleswaram sits inland amid rubber plantations and sacred groves, where festivals and nature intertwine. Each offers a different window into life on Kerala’s coast – from lively to laid-back and truly local.

 

Kovalam still draws visitors to its three main beaches: bustling Lighthouse, Hawah with its surf, and Samudra, the calmest and cleanest of the trio. Expect seafood shacks, water sports, and a lively mix of travellers. While it’s no longer undiscovered, there’s convenience in its location and a few gems tucked away from the crowds.

Mararikulam has embraced ecotourism with quiet dignity. Local regulations keep buildings low-rise and discreet, helping the coastline retain its natural beauty. Life moves slowly here: fishermen cast nets at dawn, butterflies drift past palms, and the only schedule worth keeping is the tide.

Neeleswaram is ideal for those seeking culture and quiet in equal measure. Sacred groves (Kavus) shelter medicinal plants and rare species, while festivals like Pooram bring colour and song to the village. The nearby backwaters of Kasaragod and the beaches at Thaikadapuram offer tranquil escapes just a short ride away.

 

ETG Sample Itineraries in Kerala

Culture

India

Kerala Encompassed

23 Days
birdlife of sri lanka
Wildlife

India

Birds of South India

14 Days
Explore Full Itinerary
Culture
23 Days

India

Kerala Encompassed

Gain a great insight into the variety Kerala has to offer as you travel south to north over three weeks. You’ll have the opportunity to stay in different types and styles of accommodation, ranging from tea bungalows to a plantation mansion, houseboat, treehouse and tents, to name a few.

Spend your days among tea and spice plantations, relaxing in rural settings, spotting wildlife, cruising along the Alleppey backwaters, visiting local markets and getting to know the towns that make Kerala tick. Relax on a remote beach to round off your holiday through ‘God’s Own Country’.

Highlights

Cruise the backwaters

Explore the canals on a houseboat for two nights, watching local life pass by

Birdwatching

Wake up on the banks of the Periyar River, where you’ll have the chance to spot over 120 species of birds

Safaris

Track elephants and tigers in Nagarhole National Park

Gallery

Explore Full Itinerary
birdlife of sri lanka
Wildlife
14 Days

India

Birds of South India

Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.

 

Highlights

Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary

End your journey with a visit to the Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary, home to some 170 exquisite bird species

Valparai

Explore Valparai’s remote landscapes through forest treks in an area full of wildlife, including some of the most endangered varieties of hornbills

Bandipur National Park

Spot elusive big game on sunrise and sunset safaris in Bandipur National Park

 

Gallery

Birds Murmur camp (34)
Birds Murmur bird

Kerala on the Map