Kambale Family's Kerala Trip With Thrillophilia Through Hills, Backwaters, and Roads
Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDNWVCSHZM
Rating: ★★★★★
Travelers: Siddhartha Kambale, Sangita Kambale, Snehal Kambale, Sohan Kambale
Trip Duration: 8D | 7N
Date of Travel: 28 Feb 2026- 07 Mar 2026
Package Booked: Getaway to Kerala | Unveiling the Green Tapestry & Scenic Waterways
Kerala is one of those places where the journey matters just as much as the destination. One stretch runs beside backwaters lined with coconut trees, another disappears into misty hills covered in tea gardens.
The roads keep changing every few hours, you see lush green hills, and this beauty is what makes it to Kerala’s stories that last for a lifetime.
Siddhartha and his family’s eight-day Kerala trip across Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam, Kanyakumari, and Trivandrum with Thrillophilia carried a little bit of everything Kerala is known for. Quiet mornings in the hills, long scenic drives, forests that smelled of rain, houseboats floating through still water, and evenings by the sea that felt unhurried in the best way possible.
However, many Kerala reviews say that covering so many places in Kerala can sometimes make a trip feel exhausting. But Thrillophilia made the itinerary feel balanced enough for the travelers to actually enjoy where they were instead of constantly preparing for the next transfer.
Kochi Marked the Beginning of Their Kerala Trip
The trip began on the 28th of February with their arrival in Kochi.
After checking into Luxo Kochi, they stepped out to explore the city through a half-day sightseeing tour covering Mattancherry Palace, Princess Street, and Marine Drive.
Kochi felt layered in a way most cities do not. Parts of it carried old colonial charm, while other corners felt busy, local, and energetic. Princess Street especially stood out because of how naturally slow the area felt. Small cafés looked cute beside old buildings, travelers wandered around without any fixed plan, and the evening somehow passed without anybody noticing the time.
Later at Marine Drive, the atmosphere changed completely. Boats moved quietly across the water while the city lights slowly reflected across the waterfront. It was one of those simple evenings that do not sound dramatic while they are happening, but somehow stay in memory later.
Munnar Felt Like an Entirely Different World
The next morning, they left Kochi and headed towards Munnar.
The drive itself felt like a transition into another version of Kerala. The roads slowly curved upward into the hills while the air became cooler with every passing hour. On the way, they stopped at Athirapally Waterfalls, where the sound of water crashing through the rocks echoed long before the falls became visible.
People often ask, "Which part of Kerala feels the most beautiful?", but after travelling through the state like this, the answer became difficult to narrow down.
Munnar tour was all about the misty hills and green valleys, Alleppey carried still backwaters and houseboats, while Kovalam added the calmness with the rhythm of the sea.
After checking into Misty Dale, the pace of the trip naturally slowed down.
Munnar has a charming effect on people as the fog drifts through the hills unexpectedly, and even short drives between viewpoints start feeling peaceful instead of routine.
Tea Gardens and Foggy Roads in Munnar
Unlike cities where sightseeing often means rushing between attractions, Munnar felt more about the overall atmosphere than individual spots.
The roads themselves became part of the experience. Tea plantations stretched across rolling hills while clouds moved low enough to almost cover parts of the road.
Before they reached Munnar, the conversation started with, “Is Munnar really worth visiting if you are already going to other parts of Kerala?”, but places like this answer the question on their own.
Munnar was less about ticking off attractions and more about the feeling of slowing down in the middle of hills, fog, and endless greenery.
Long mountain roads can become tiring for travelers who are not used to them. Before the trip itself, the Thrillophilia team had already helped them understand how the journey would unfold day by day, including practical details around road travel timings and stays.
Small things like Thrillophilia’s destination experts suggesting travelers take Diamox 30 minutes before the drive to make the overall experience feel much lighter were really helpful.
Thekkady Brought the Quietest Part of the Journey
They proceeded to Thekkady on the fourth day.
Unlike the sprawling valleys of Munnar, the place appeared greener. Forest roads laced the place, and one could smell the same humid freshness that often follows a downpour. Their resort in the jungle park blended beautifully with the other resorts.
Thekkady seemed more laid back, tranquil, and extremely serene. Even the small drives through the streets around the place seemed rejuvenating and serene because of the pristine nature of the surroundings.
Once they were through with sightseeing, they were on the brink of their last contemplation, that,
Is a Kerala houseboat actually worth staying overnight on?
First-time travelers who are unsure whether spending so many hours on water might think that it won't be comfortable or feasible.
The travelers had similar doubts before the trip, too.
But before they even reached Alleppey, the GEO (Guest Experience Officer) at Thrillophilia had already shared details about how the houseboat stay works, what the timings would look like, how meals are served onboard, and what kind of atmosphere to expect during the evening
That clarity made a surprising difference because they arrived without confusion or unrealistic expectations.
Villages passed silently on both sides, coconut trees reflected on still water, and life around the backwaters moved at a pace that felt completely disconnected from cities.
The evening especially stood out. As the boat drifted deeper into quieter stretches, there was very little sound except water and distant conversations from nearby homes along the banks.
The Part Where Thrillophilia Made the Trip Easier
What the travelers remembered later was not just the destinations, but how easy the overall journey had felt with Thrillophilia despite covering so many places in eight days.
The car remained with them throughout the trip, which made the constant transfers far more comfortable than switching between different drivers or vehicles.
Over time, Suraj stopped feeling like just a driver and became a huge part of the experience itself. He suggested local food spots during drives, helped them avoid crowded timings at certain places, guided them during shopping stops, and shared stories about Kerala that made the journey feel more personal.
There were also moments where small planning decisions of Thrillophilia’s team mattered more than expected. The hotel timings, smoother route planning, the pacing between hill stations and coastal stays, and even the way leisure time had been added between longer travel days made the trip feel relaxed instead of hectic.
That kind of planning usually goes unnoticed while travelling. People only realize its value when something feels difficult.
The Trip That Felt Easy
On the final day, before departure, they visited the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum.
After days filled with hills, forests, waterfalls, beaches, and backwaters, the temple visit felt like a calm final pause before heading home.
Looking back, the travelers described the experience as “luxurious, calm, peaceful, and pleasant,” while also mentioning how smoothly the itinerary had been managed despite covering almost the whole state.
They especially appreciated the stays, the road journeys, and the comfort of travelling with someone who genuinely helped make the experience easier throughout.
People also ask, "How many days are enough for Kerala?", and honestly, eight days felt long enough to experience Kerala properly without feeling rushed through it.
For them, the journey became less about sightseeing and more about how the state made them feel while moving through it slowly.
