From Hills to Backwaters: Four Friends Discover Kerala Together with Thrillophilia

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDTC2FJSHM
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Saibal Bhowmick, Sova Bhattacharya, Gouri Biswas, and Tarun Kumar Biswas
Trip Duration: 7 Days | 6 Nights
Date of Travel: 13 Sep 2025 to 19 Sep 2025 
Package Booked: 7 Days In Kerala Immerse Yourself In Cultural Riches

For Saibal Bhowmick, Sova Bhattacharya, Gouri Biswas and Tarun Kumar Biswas, all above 60, this seven-day Kerala holiday was as much about travelling together as it was about the destination. As two couples, they were not looking to rush through a checklist of attractions. The value of the journey lay in sharing new experiences, enjoying Kerala's changing landscapes and having enough comfort built into each day to enjoy it fully.

Thrillophilia's itinerary was structured around that rhythm. Destinations, road journeys and experiences were spread across seven days, allowing the group to move from the hills and forests to the backwaters without turning the holiday into a race.

A Gentle Start in Kochi, with the Journey Beginning Together

The first day eased the four travellers into Kerala rather than rushing them into a packed schedule. After arriving at Cochin International Airport, they had a private Innova transfer arranged into the city, allowing both couples to travel together from the outset.

A four-hour private sightseeing tour then introduced them to Kochi's layered history through Fort Kochi, the Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica and Marine Drive. For a group travelling above 60, this offered a manageable introduction while still giving them a varied first look at the city.

More importantly, it established the social rhythm that would define the holiday. As they later reflected, “It was a very pleasant vacation we had together along with another couple.”

Into the Hills: Making the Journey and Munnar Part of the Experience

The move from Kochi to Munnar was planned as more than a change of hotels. Their private Innova kept the four travellers together, while stops at Neriamangalam Bridge and the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls broke the drive into comfortable stretches.

This was also where their experience with the driver became particularly important. As they later reflected, “Any tour becomes absolutely enjoyable only and if only you have a tourist friendly driver who has an understanding of the routes and most importantly a good temperament-and we had one.” His route knowledge and temperament helped make the journey feel like part of the holiday rather than simply transit.

With two nights in Munnar, the group had time to explore without immediately moving on. A full-day private tour balanced cultural and scenic experiences, including the Tata Tea Museum, Macofa Chocolate Factory, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, along with quieter viewpoints and landscapes.

For four friends travelling together, this variety mattered. The itinerary did not depend on one physically demanding experience or follow the same rhythm throughout. Scenic pauses, indoor experiences and sightseeing were interspersed, allowing the group to discover Munnar comfortably and at a pace that suited them.

From Thekkady's Forests to Kumarakom's Quiet Backwaters

Leaving Munnar's tea-covered hills behind, the four travellers continued by private Innova to Thekkady, where Kerala revealed a more forest-orientated side.

At Periyar, the experience was about more than wildlife sightings. This became particularly clear in their review: “A jungle safari in thekkady was a nice experience but only saw three elephants from a large distance- not for the animals but for the jungle and the off road experience in a jeep which we never had before.”

For the group, the unfamiliar terrain and the shared experience of travelling through the jungle became memorable in their own right.

The following day brought another change of pace in Kumarakom. Sightseeing around Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Vembanad Lake slowed the itinerary after the more adventurous experiences of Munnar and Thekkady. Again, private transport meant the group could stay together without managing changing travel arrangements.

The progression also maintained a practical rhythm for travellers above 60. More active experiences were followed by quieter landscapes, allowing the four friends to enjoy Kerala's variety without consecutive days becoming unnecessarily demanding.

Ending Where Kerala's Landscapes Came Together

The final chapter brought the group to Alleppey, where the pace slowed completely. Their overnight stay on a premium private houseboat gave them a different perspective of the backwaters, surrounded by canals, floating villages and Kerala's waterside life.

This was particularly fitting given how central boating had become to their journey. As they recalled, “We had four boating on backwaters including one on a private houseboat- and all had different experiences to offer.” The different water-based experiences had not felt repetitive, with the overnight houseboat stay providing a quieter and more personal finale.

With breakfast, lunch and dinner included on board and two rooms for the group, the final night required little planning. It gave Saibal, Sova, Gouri and Tarun time to simply enjoy each other's company before their journey home.

The next morning, a private Innova transfer took them to Alleppey railway station, closing seven days across historic Kochi, the hills of Munnar, Thekkady's forests and Kerala's backwaters.

A Journey Made Better by the Right Planning with Thrillophilia

For Saibal, Sova, Gouri and Tarun, Thrillophilia's role went beyond arranging a seven-day itinerary. Private transfers, varied stays and a measured flow between sightseeing, adventure and relaxation helped four travellers above 60 experience Kerala comfortably together.

The on-ground experience mattered too. From Kochi to Alleppey, the combination of thoughtful routing and dependable travel coordination helped turn a planned itinerary into the pleasant shared vacation they remembered.

Also Read: Arghyamalya and Jayita's Unforgettable Trip to Kerala with Thrillophilia