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Iris Holidays
Iris Holidays
4.9
City ToursMulti-day ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate Tours
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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About
Iris Holidays is an award-winning, Govt Approved Kerala Tour Operator based in Kochi, Kerala, India. We are a Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala and Govt of India , Ministry of Tourism approved Kerala tour operator. Iris holidays is the only Kerala tour operator to have won TripAdvisor award for 10 consecutive years. We offer customized private day tours , cultural tours, heritage tours, walking tours, multi day tours and outdoor activities catering only to travelers bound for Kerala. Because of our narrow focus, you can expect deep, passionate and personal expertise on any holiday in Kerala that you book with us. We are based in Kochi, India and specialise in Customized Kerala tour packages, Kerala Honeymoon Packages, weekend tour packages and Kerala Houseboat packages. We provide package tours for Munnar, Cochin, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Kovalam,Wayanad, Varkala etc . We care for our guests and won't suggest anywhere that we haven't been to and tried ourselves.
Kochi (Cochin), India
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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Marcus D
Tartu, Estonia1,201 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
We took a 4 day 3 night tour by saloon car - 2 nights in The Leaf Resort Hotel in Munnar, and 1 night on a houseboat from the Kumarakom side of the damned backwater for approximately €450.
I found Iris Holidays on the internet using the search words ‘house-boat holidays in Kerala backwaters’. Iris Holidays was ideal as their 3 night / 4 day package ticked all my boxes - waterfalls, tea-plantations, 4-star hotels and a brief overnight house-boat trip.
My initial contact via WhatsApp was KANNAN who was most helpful and willing to answer all my questions during the planning phase. To be honest, I did not appreciate the distances involved or the quantity of road-construction activities on the Kochi to Munnar route. Whereas Kannan was the key-figure in the planning stage, our driver was AFSAL who conducted the explorations of the hill country in Munnar and the Kochi backwaters over the four days with great skill, knowledge on the ground, a huge level of empathy and a lot of humour.
Afsal, by arrangement, picked us up at our hotel beside Kochi International Airport at 09.30 and drove us to Munnar (duration about 4.50 hours). There, after checking into the Leaf Resort, which Iris Holidays chose as a 4 star hotel, Afsal suggested we attend a cultural evening of gender-segregated cultural dancing. The following morning, my wife managed to attend a yoga session before breakfast. We then had a full day exploring the hill country around Munnar. Afsal drove us through the tea plantations, got us to an elephant ride, a visit to a floral plantation, a visit visit to India’s first tea-museum (fascinating), and went for a nauseous jeep ride (which we cut short) after visiting the ridge-peak photo-point.
The following day we set off for Kumarakom via an ATM stop!! Thence to the house-boat in Kumarakom (as on the first day the drive lasted about 4.5 hours). The house-boat cruise was a delight and mosquito free. The cook on the houseboat provided a mixture of non-curry and curried dishes for both dinner and breakfast. The last day prior to being dropped at Kochi Airport was a mixture of sightseeing and shopping.
Would we go again to Kerala with Iris Holidays? YES
Would we want Afsal to drive us? YES
I have one minor complaint against Iris Holidays. One of my criteria for visiting Munnar involved the numerous and spectacular waterfalls in the region, which the agency shows on its website. The key aspect Iris Holidays failed to mention is the utter lack of waterfalls during January to March, which is the dry season in southern India. No rain means no spectacular waterfalls.
I found Iris Holidays on the internet using the search words ‘house-boat holidays in Kerala backwaters’. Iris Holidays was ideal as their 3 night / 4 day package ticked all my boxes - waterfalls, tea-plantations, 4-star hotels and a brief overnight house-boat trip.
My initial contact via WhatsApp was KANNAN who was most helpful and willing to answer all my questions during the planning phase. To be honest, I did not appreciate the distances involved or the quantity of road-construction activities on the Kochi to Munnar route. Whereas Kannan was the key-figure in the planning stage, our driver was AFSAL who conducted the explorations of the hill country in Munnar and the Kochi backwaters over the four days with great skill, knowledge on the ground, a huge level of empathy and a lot of humour.
Afsal, by arrangement, picked us up at our hotel beside Kochi International Airport at 09.30 and drove us to Munnar (duration about 4.50 hours). There, after checking into the Leaf Resort, which Iris Holidays chose as a 4 star hotel, Afsal suggested we attend a cultural evening of gender-segregated cultural dancing. The following morning, my wife managed to attend a yoga session before breakfast. We then had a full day exploring the hill country around Munnar. Afsal drove us through the tea plantations, got us to an elephant ride, a visit to a floral plantation, a visit visit to India’s first tea-museum (fascinating), and went for a nauseous jeep ride (which we cut short) after visiting the ridge-peak photo-point.
The following day we set off for Kumarakom via an ATM stop!! Thence to the house-boat in Kumarakom (as on the first day the drive lasted about 4.5 hours). The house-boat cruise was a delight and mosquito free. The cook on the houseboat provided a mixture of non-curry and curried dishes for both dinner and breakfast. The last day prior to being dropped at Kochi Airport was a mixture of sightseeing and shopping.
Would we go again to Kerala with Iris Holidays? YES
Would we want Afsal to drive us? YES
I have one minor complaint against Iris Holidays. One of my criteria for visiting Munnar involved the numerous and spectacular waterfalls in the region, which the agency shows on its website. The key aspect Iris Holidays failed to mention is the utter lack of waterfalls during January to March, which is the dry season in southern India. No rain means no spectacular waterfalls.
Written 23 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Derettens,
Wow—427 contributions and 353 helpful votes?! 🎖️ You’re a powerhouse in the travel community, and we’re so thrilled you chose Iris Holidays for your Kerala journey! 🌿✨
It’s fantastic to hear that our 4-day, 3-night itinerary ticked all your boxes—from tea plantations and yoga sessions in Munnar 🧘♀️🍃 to a mosquito-free houseboat cruise in Kumarakom 🚤🦟❌ (not always easy to promise!). We’re also blushing from your kind words about Kannan and Afsal—your dream duo of planner and guide! 🙌 Kannan’s got WhatsApp wizardry down to a science, and Afsal? Truly a legend behind the wheel and in spirit! 🚗💬💫
Your vivid recap—from ATM pit stops 🏧 to cultural evenings, elephant rides 🐘, and that “nauseous” jeep adventure—had us smiling from ear to ear! We especially loved the mention of India’s first tea museum 🍵—an underrated gem!
We sincerely appreciate your thoughtful suggestion about the waterfalls and the seasonal visibility. You're absolutely right—Kerala’s cascade magic is best seen post-monsoon (June–November), and we’ll be sure to guide future guests better on that front. Thanks for the nudge to improve! 🙏💡
To your two big questions—Would you go again with Iris? Would you ride again with Afsal? Your resounding YES means the world to us! 🥹
For round two or any travel questions, reach us anytime at +91 9742142994 or team@irisholidays.com.
Warm regards,
🌟 Team Iris Holidays 🌟
Written 24 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevin J
London, UK21 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Having only booked our own travel / trip anywhere before it was a new experience to use a tour operator but was excellent decision. Was a collaboration rather than their itinerary in that we said where we wanted to go and chose the hotels. The price paid was the same as if i had just booked the hotels myself so fact that we now had driver for the whole trip as well made cost ideal. The itinerary they send is very professional and there are suggestions each day on what to do. We probably gave our driver Anthony who was very good a very easy 2 weeks as often would not use him at all as prefer to explore ourselves and we prebooked independently some hikes, cooking school etc. Arun was great at communicating and they checked in during the trip to make sure all ok. Would highly recommend
Written 27 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for sharing your experience with Iris Holidays and for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that your first time using a tour operator was such a positive experience. It’s wonderful that the collaborative approach allowed you to personalize your trip, ensuring it matched your preferences perfectly.
We’re thrilled you found value in the arrangement, especially with the inclusion of a dedicated driver like Anthony, who sounds like he contributed to a seamless and enjoyable journey. Arun and the team strive to provide clear communication and thoughtful check-ins, so it’s heartening to know this added to your satisfaction.
Your feedback about our professional itineraries and daily suggestions reassures us that we’re on the right track in delivering a truly customer-focused service. Thank you for recommending us so highly!
We hope to assist you again in creating more memorable adventures.
Best regards,
Iris Holidays Team
Written 1 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rich K
3 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
We had a great experience with Iris Holidays. We investigated several highly rated companies and Iris was very competitive in terms of cost and quality. It is difficult to select from among highly rated tour companies, but our initial interactions and responses from Iris gave us confidence.
Our trip coordinator, Arun Dev, was thoroughly professional and took great care during the planning phase and the actual trip. We designed a fairly custom itinerary including travel outside of Kerala, in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra over three weeks. Arun was adept at coordinating all these disparate pieces and proactively dealing with changes necessitated by various last minute airline schedule changes. He was very patient as we interacted with him to design an itinerary that worked for our interests. We had many back and forth interchanges to fine tune the plan. And Arun was highly responsive, both during the planning and during the tour. He followed our hand-off from driver to driver as we started each new segment of our tour. We felt very well taken care of.
Our primary driver, Shajeer, was wonderful and provided much interesting and valued information about Kerala life and customs as he drove. He was bery accommodating and made great efforts to communicate his suggestions and recommendations as we travelled for 10 days with him throughout Kerala, and our trip was significantly enhanced by all of his efforts. We had several other drivers over the course of our 3-week tour and they were all quite good.
Overall, we highly recommend Iris Holidays for a seamless Kerala experience!
Our trip coordinator, Arun Dev, was thoroughly professional and took great care during the planning phase and the actual trip. We designed a fairly custom itinerary including travel outside of Kerala, in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra over three weeks. Arun was adept at coordinating all these disparate pieces and proactively dealing with changes necessitated by various last minute airline schedule changes. He was very patient as we interacted with him to design an itinerary that worked for our interests. We had many back and forth interchanges to fine tune the plan. And Arun was highly responsive, both during the planning and during the tour. He followed our hand-off from driver to driver as we started each new segment of our tour. We felt very well taken care of.
Our primary driver, Shajeer, was wonderful and provided much interesting and valued information about Kerala life and customs as he drove. He was bery accommodating and made great efforts to communicate his suggestions and recommendations as we travelled for 10 days with him throughout Kerala, and our trip was significantly enhanced by all of his efforts. We had several other drivers over the course of our 3-week tour and they were all quite good.
Overall, we highly recommend Iris Holidays for a seamless Kerala experience!
Written 4 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Rich K,
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had a seamless experience with Iris Holidays and that we could be part of your incredible three-week journey across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
It’s wonderful to know that Arun Dev’s professionalism and meticulous planning helped ensure your itinerary was tailored to your interests. We understand that designing a multi-state itinerary requires careful coordination, and we’re so glad that Arun’s responsiveness and proactive approach made your trip stress-free and enjoyable.
A special shoutout to Shajeer for making your time in Kerala even more enriching with his insights and recommendations! We’re thrilled that all our drivers contributed positively to your experience, and your kind words will certainly be shared with them.
We truly appreciate your trust in Iris Holidays, and we hope to welcome you again for another memorable adventure! If you ever need assistance with future travel plans, feel free to reach out.
Warm regards,
Iris Holidays
Written 7 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susanne S
4 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
My friend and I travelled through Kerala for 10 days in January 2025. Iris Holidays organised a wonderful itinerary for us. Their representative Arun was super helpful with information, great organisation and kept in touch with us throughout our trip. We had a designated driver, Mr Naseer, who was amazing at giving us restaurant tips, showing us any extra local sights that we shouldn’t miss, and was very friendly and reliable. We went to Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Kovalam and Trivandrum. Every place had a special quality and atmosphere which was unique to that location. We especially enjoyed Cochin, Munnar and Kumarakom, there is so much to see and do. In Thekkady we were surprised by bad wet weather, which can quickly happen in the mountains but it can affect the quality of boating or hiking trips. We were able to change one of our boat bookings, for which we were grateful. All in all, we had a wonderful time. We felt that our trip was good value for the mid-range budget we had allocated. The hotels were around 3-4* by European standards. Thank you to Arun and Mr Naseer for an unforgettable trip. We would recommend Iris Holidays for anyone wishing to travel through Kerala.
Written 24 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Susanne,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience of your 10-day Kerala trip with us! We’re delighted to hear that you and your friend had such a memorable time exploring this beautiful region, and that Iris Holidays could play a part in making it special.
Arun will be so pleased to know that his assistance, organization, and consistent communication helped make your journey smooth and enjoyable. We’re equally thrilled to hear that Mr. Naseer made such a positive impression with his restaurant tips, local insights, and friendly, reliable service. It sounds like his efforts added an extra layer of enjoyment to your trip.
It’s great to hear that you loved the unique charm of each destination, especially Cochin, Munnar, and Kumarakom, where there’s so much to explore and experience. While it’s unfortunate that the wet weather in Thekkady impacted your boating and hiking plans, we’re glad you were able to adjust your itinerary to make the most of your time there.
We’re also happy to know that you found the trip to be good value for your mid-range budget and that the hotels met your expectations. Your feedback about their 3-4* European standard quality is helpful for other travelers considering similar trips.
Thank you again for your kind words and for recommending Iris Holidays to others. Arun, Mr. Naseer, and the entire team are grateful to have been part of your Kerala adventure. We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable journeys in the future!
Warm regards,
Iris Holidays Team
Written 25 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Denise K
2 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
We just had a wonderful 2 week tour of Kerala through Iris Holidays. Arun Dev helped us plan our tour and activities, was flexible about any changes we requested, and checked in with us every couple days to make sure all was going well. The hotels selected for us were of the highest quality…we had an excellent driver, Mr Anoop, who brought us safely through all kinds of traffic, got us promptly to all our planned activities, and offered good suggestions and advice. In addition to museums, tours and boat trips, we had 2 great ayurvedic massages and a delicious banana leaf lunch. He always made us feel safe and well cared for, sensitive to all our needs. He communicated well and was a pleasure to spend the time with. We could not have asked for a better driver!
Written 18 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Denise,
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience with Iris Holidays! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had a wonderful two-week tour of Kerala and that our team, especially Arun Dev and Mr. Anoop, helped make your journey seamless and memorable.
It’s fantastic to know that Arun’s flexibility and regular check-ins ensured a smooth trip, and that Anoop’s expertise, care, and insightful suggestions enhanced your experience. Navigating Kerala’s lively roads is no small feat, and we’re so glad you felt safe and well looked after.
The ayurvedic massages and banana leaf lunch sound like perfect additions to your adventure—Kerala truly has so much to offer! We appreciate your kind words and would love to welcome you back for another unforgettable trip in the future.
Warm regards,
Team Iris Holidays
Written 22 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robin G
159 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
I came across Iris holidays when I was asking for some advice on the forum for a 2 week trip across South India. Initially I had planned to just use them for the car and driver, but George our agent asked if he could also quote for the hotels. This worked out quite well as we spent several weeks confirming where we wanted to visit and stay. It saved me a lot of time researching myself. The price negotiated was reasonable and so we went ahead and booked the whole trip with them.
A month or so before the holiday my cousin decided he wanted to join us for the 2nd week and George managed to get him and his wife into the same hotels at a lower price than his travel agent friend.
The deposit amount was small with full payment taken a few days into the holiday so I felt reassured. The fact they also have so many positive reviews helps as well.
Shajeer our driver was brilliant. Calm, drove sensibly and safely. His English was good. He made sensible suggestions on what to do each day and plan for the next day. This was both using the itinerary suggested by George, but also taking into account what we wanted, what he learnt about us and from google searches on the way. There was also no scheduled “shopping” / tourist trap shops booked.
Communication was brilliant throughout with both George and Shajeer.
You can tell the making of a company when things go wrong. Despite several confirmations on the flight details etc when we arrived in Chennai airport at 5am the driver has been told 5pm by the transport team. George was so apologetic and immediately asked us to get a taxi and they would refund us. I had several calls from the transport manger, Shajeer and George apologising, making sure we were ok, had got the taxi and all ok. The next few days I also had several messages to make sure everything was good. I deducted the taxi charges from the outstanding bill so we lost nothing.
Over 2 weeks we stayed in Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Thekkady and Kumarakom.
We had an amazing holiday and I would 100% book with Iris holidays again without hesitation.
A month or so before the holiday my cousin decided he wanted to join us for the 2nd week and George managed to get him and his wife into the same hotels at a lower price than his travel agent friend.
The deposit amount was small with full payment taken a few days into the holiday so I felt reassured. The fact they also have so many positive reviews helps as well.
Shajeer our driver was brilliant. Calm, drove sensibly and safely. His English was good. He made sensible suggestions on what to do each day and plan for the next day. This was both using the itinerary suggested by George, but also taking into account what we wanted, what he learnt about us and from google searches on the way. There was also no scheduled “shopping” / tourist trap shops booked.
Communication was brilliant throughout with both George and Shajeer.
You can tell the making of a company when things go wrong. Despite several confirmations on the flight details etc when we arrived in Chennai airport at 5am the driver has been told 5pm by the transport team. George was so apologetic and immediately asked us to get a taxi and they would refund us. I had several calls from the transport manger, Shajeer and George apologising, making sure we were ok, had got the taxi and all ok. The next few days I also had several messages to make sure everything was good. I deducted the taxi charges from the outstanding bill so we lost nothing.
Over 2 weeks we stayed in Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Thekkady and Kumarakom.
We had an amazing holiday and I would 100% book with Iris holidays again without hesitation.
Written 23 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Robin G,
Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful review of your 2-week South India trip with Iris Holidays! As a senior contributor with 79 contributions, your feedback carries immense weight, and we are honored by your kind words. Hearing about your positive experience with our team means so much to us.
We’re delighted that George’s planning and flexibility helped streamline your itinerary, saving you time and ensuring your cousin and his wife could join the second week seamlessly. It's always our aim to provide solutions that are not only convenient but also cost-effective, and we’re thrilled this worked out well for you.
Your compliments about Shajeer are greatly appreciated—he’ll be pleased to know his calm driving, sensible suggestions, and attention to your preferences enhanced your holiday. His ability to adapt the itinerary based on your interests is exactly the kind of personalized service we strive to offer. It’s also wonderful to hear that there were no scheduled “tourist trap” shopping stops, allowing you to enjoy an authentic experience.
We truly value your understanding regarding the initial hiccup at Chennai airport and are glad our team acted promptly to address the issue. As you rightly said, the measure of a company is how they handle unexpected situations, and we’re grateful for your patience and trust as we worked to make things right.
It’s fantastic to hear that your stays across Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Thekkady, and Kumarakom were part of an amazing holiday. Your endorsement and the reassurance that you’d book with us again mean the world to our team.
Thank you again for your comprehensive review and for choosing Iris Holidays. We look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable journey in the future!
Warm regards,
Iris Holidays Team
Written 24 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ravin O
London, UK7 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
George from Iris Holidays arranged a wonderful itinerary for us for our first trip to India. Like many others, we visited Munnar/Thekkady/Alleppey/Marari to enjoy the best sights of Kerala. It was a combination of trips to the highlands visiting breathtaking tea plantations, a houseboat stay in the backwaters and relaxing by the beach. The accommodations that were arranged for us were all wonderful, especially The Leaf in Munnar.
We were welcomed at Kochi and introduced to our driver Antoni who took good care of us for the duration of our trip. Antoni was a joy to have around. He is punctual, well spoken and educated us on the culture and history of Kerala. He was patient and pointed us to many sights that was outside our itinerary and liked that we appeared interested and asked many questions as well.
We enjoyed the backwater cruise more than the overnight houseboat stay. While the overnight stay was relaxing, the 4 hour day cruise on the small boat took us along the smaller tributaries of the backwater and afforded us a colourful glimpse of the houses and people living around the backwater.
We were fortunate to enjoy good food throughout our stay, although we ate mostly in the hotel restaurants.
What disappointed us on this trip was the plastic litter we saw on many of the roads. It’s a distraction from the natural beauty of the area.
We were welcomed at Kochi and introduced to our driver Antoni who took good care of us for the duration of our trip. Antoni was a joy to have around. He is punctual, well spoken and educated us on the culture and history of Kerala. He was patient and pointed us to many sights that was outside our itinerary and liked that we appeared interested and asked many questions as well.
We enjoyed the backwater cruise more than the overnight houseboat stay. While the overnight stay was relaxing, the 4 hour day cruise on the small boat took us along the smaller tributaries of the backwater and afforded us a colourful glimpse of the houses and people living around the backwater.
We were fortunate to enjoy good food throughout our stay, although we ate mostly in the hotel restaurants.
What disappointed us on this trip was the plastic litter we saw on many of the roads. It’s a distraction from the natural beauty of the area.
Written 3 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ravin O,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful 11-day journey through Kerala with us! We’re thrilled that George curated an itinerary that gave you a well-rounded experience, from the breathtaking tea plantations in Munnar to the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey and the relaxing beaches of Marari. We’re also delighted to hear that you particularly loved your stay at The Leaf in Munnar—it’s truly a special place!
A special mention to Antoni—he will be so happy to hear that his punctuality, knowledge, and warm personality enhanced your trip. It’s fantastic that he was able to introduce you to cultural and historical aspects beyond your itinerary and that you appreciated those extra discoveries along the way.
We also appreciate your insight on the backwater experiences—it’s great to know that the small boat day cruise stood out for its immersive journey through the local lifestyle. Your feedback is valuable for future travelers considering both options!
We completely understand your concern about the plastic litter—sustainability is something we deeply care about, and we hope to see ongoing improvements in waste management to preserve Kerala’s natural beauty.
Thank you once again for choosing Iris Holidays for your first trip to India. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Warm regards,
Team Iris Holidays
Written 3 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josh B.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands28 contributions
Jan 2025 • Couples
We had the 5 day / 4 night tour from Iris Holidays where we had 2 nights in Munnar, 1 night in Thekkady, 1 night in a houseboat in Alleppey. Our driver was Vipin, amazing driver and really made the trip relaxing. He was always on time, had a clean car, drove us to destinations quickly and most importantly we always felt safe. He also helped us with any requests like buying extra bottles of water, finding red bananas and taking some photos for us. He also suggested additional activities but he never tried to convince us to do something which we really appreciated!! Would really recommend Vipin for anyone taking tours with Iris Holidays, he made things very easy for us!
As for the hotels we stayed in the Munnar Queen in Munnar, this hotel was nice inside but could use some touch ups on the exterior. The room had an amazing view and the staff was very nice. The food was great here as well, lots of selection. The only downside was the wifi was not great in the rooms. For the hotel in Thekkady we stayed in the Woodnote, we were lucky enough for an upgrade, room was big, clean and modern. The only downside was the bathroom area had an opening to the outside so a few bugs were coming in. Also the wifi was not working well. Lastly for Alleppey the houseboat was hygenic, the upstairs area very cozy and the food was insanely good. It was the best lunch we’ve had in India so far! The activities were straightforward.
The only feedback is to be more transparent for some events like the Tiger Reserve. The company does mention the price but does not mention the transit to this area. You have to take a bus which is 530 rupees per person for foreigner. Also for the shows Kathakali and Kalaripayattu this is 300 rupees per person per show. My feedback would be to be more transparent with this.
Overall amazing trip, very relaxing and exactly what we expected!
As for the hotels we stayed in the Munnar Queen in Munnar, this hotel was nice inside but could use some touch ups on the exterior. The room had an amazing view and the staff was very nice. The food was great here as well, lots of selection. The only downside was the wifi was not great in the rooms. For the hotel in Thekkady we stayed in the Woodnote, we were lucky enough for an upgrade, room was big, clean and modern. The only downside was the bathroom area had an opening to the outside so a few bugs were coming in. Also the wifi was not working well. Lastly for Alleppey the houseboat was hygenic, the upstairs area very cozy and the food was insanely good. It was the best lunch we’ve had in India so far! The activities were straightforward.
The only feedback is to be more transparent for some events like the Tiger Reserve. The company does mention the price but does not mention the transit to this area. You have to take a bus which is 530 rupees per person for foreigner. Also for the shows Kathakali and Kalaripayattu this is 300 rupees per person per show. My feedback would be to be more transparent with this.
Overall amazing trip, very relaxing and exactly what we expected!
Written 22 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear joshbaltazar1,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review of your 5-day, 4-night Kerala trip with Iris Holidays! We’re so glad to hear that your journey was relaxing and met your expectations.
Vipin will be thrilled to hear your kind words about his service. It’s wonderful to know he made your trip so comfortable with his punctuality, safe driving, and willingness to assist with your requests, from finding red bananas to taking photos. His thoughtful approach, including suggesting activities without pressuring you, is exactly the level of service we strive for, and we’re delighted it left such a positive impression.
We appreciate your honest feedback about the accommodations. It’s great to hear that Munnar Queen provided you with breathtaking views and great food, and we’ll share your note about the exterior touch-ups with the hotel team. For Woodnote in Thekkady, we’re glad you enjoyed the upgrade and the overall experience, and we’ll bring up the bathroom design and wifi concerns with the property. Lastly, it’s wonderful that your houseboat stay in Alleppey was a highlight, with delicious food and a cozy environment that enhanced your experience.
We also truly value your feedback about transparency for additional costs, such as the Tiger Reserve transit and the cultural shows. This is an area where we can certainly improve, and we’ll work on providing clearer information upfront to ensure guests feel fully informed when planning their itinerary.
Thank you again for choosing Iris Holidays and for recommending Vipin and the team. We hope to welcome you back for another amazing adventure in Kerala someday!
Warm regards,
Iris Holidays Team
Written 25 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Duncan M
Brighton, UK14 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
I cannot recommend Iris Holidays enough if you wish to travel to Kerala. From the very start, communication was always prompt and reliable. Kannan was great at putting a travel itinerary together and working with us to ensure we got the most out of our holiday and to allow us to see exactly what we wanted. We were warmly greeted on arrival by Vijeesh at Cochin airport, along with our driver Asfal. Asfal was amazing, his driving was very safe, the car was clean and comfortable and he ensured we got the most out of our week in Kerala. He was kind, courteous and always with a smile. We definitely hope to return to Kerala and when we do, we will only look to use Iris holidays - and ask for Afsal as our driver! They are clearly a company that are professional, reasonably priced and care about their customer experience. Thank you for a wonderful time in Kerala!
Written 2 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Duncan,
Thank you for your fantastic review and for sharing your experience with Iris Holidays! 😊 We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had a wonderful, tailor-made tour and that our team, especially Kannan, Vijeesh, and Asfal, contributed to making your Kerala trip so memorable.
It's great to know that communication was smooth, your itinerary was perfectly planned, and Asfal ensured a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable journey. Your kind words about his professionalism and warm hospitality truly mean a lot!
We’d be honored to welcome you back to Kerala in the future, and we’ll be sure to have Asfal ready to make your next trip just as special. Thank you once again for choosing Iris Holidays—we appreciate your recommendation! 🌿✨
Best regards,
Team Iris Holidays
Written 7 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Explore43232721824
3 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
The entire trip, expertly organized by Iris, was an exceptional experience. From the initial package offering to the personalized recommendations from Niranjana, the organizing team demonstrated exceptional attention to detail. Our guide, Mr. Babu, further enhanced the trip with his exceptional knowledge and guidance.
Throughout the four-day itinerary, Mr. Babu skillfully orchestrated our visits, ensuring that we made the most of our time at each location. His insights, suggestions, and tips enriched our experience and helped us capture unforgettable memories.
The houseboat was another highlight, offering a serene ambiance and warm hospitality.
Overall, our stay and experience with Iris were truly memorable.
Throughout the four-day itinerary, Mr. Babu skillfully orchestrated our visits, ensuring that we made the most of our time at each location. His insights, suggestions, and tips enriched our experience and helped us capture unforgettable memories.
The houseboat was another highlight, offering a serene ambiance and warm hospitality.
Overall, our stay and experience with Iris were truly memorable.
Written 17 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Explore43232721824,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your trip organized by Iris Holidays was such a memorable experience. It's great to know that from the initial planning stages, with Niranjana's personalized recommendations, to the detailed execution of your itinerary, everything met your expectations.
We’re especially glad that Mr. Babu made your journey even more enriching with his knowledge and guidance. It sounds like his efforts really helped you make the most of your time in each destination, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
We’re also delighted that you enjoyed the serene ambiance and hospitality on the houseboat – it’s truly a unique experience that we’re happy to have been able to offer.
Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future!
Warm regards and safe travels!
Kannan
Team Iris Holidays
Written 20 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi- my husband and I want a 4 night tour. Pick up Cochi airport. Main attractions - Munnar tea plucking and tasting experience, katha kali dance, Alleppey overnight cruise. We want private car, and at least 4 star lodging. Can you give us a quote? Are you on WhatsApp?
Written 17 February 2024
Dear Traveler,
Hello Shivania,
Thank you for considering us for your upcoming Kerala tour. We understand you're interested in a 4-night private tour starting from Cochin Airport, with experiences including a tea plucking and tasting session in Munnar, a Kathakali dance performance, and an overnight houseboat cruise in Alleppey, all while traveling in a private car and staying in at least 4-star accommodations.
We offer customised packages for each customer and would be happy to help you. Please whatsapp us at +91 999 500 4276 or through our website
Written 25 March 2025
yasuji sato
Tokyo, Japan
Hello We are two Japanese parents and son. We will go on a trip to Kochi from January 25. I am interested in your tour, but I do not have much English. Do you have any staff who can speak a little Japanese?
Written 3 January 2020
Hello Yasuji, Welcome to Kerala! We have a Japanese guide in Kochi who can assist you with tours in Kochi. Suggest you send us an enquiry so that we can help you to design a tour for you and parents
Written 5 January 2020
Hello
Me and my sister would like to do the 4 day tour Best of Kerala.
We arrive at the airport Kochi on 26. 12. 19 at 08. 00 o'clock. Departure 30. 12. 19 at 21. 40.
If that works out, we'd be very happy. Is this trip private or are other guests coming with us?
Best regards
Dani
Written 19 December 2019
Hello Dani, We will be happy to help you. Can you kindly share your email ID through our website by clicking on the button Get a FREE Holiday Plan on the top right side. We will share with you a customised packages
Written 8 February 2020
Hi, Im interested to book private tour from Cochin to Munnar and from Munnar to Thekkady were we would like to take a boat tour i periyar lake and maby even have some shorter version of hiking in National park ( or whatever you can recommend to do) . After that we would like to get to kumarakom and maybe see something on the way. We are 2 adults and dates would be November 23 forward. Thank you !
Written 20 October 2019
Hello Sandra, We will be happy to help you. Can you kindly share your email ID through our website by clicking on the button Get a FREE Holiday Plan on the top right side.
We will share with you a customised packages
Written 21 October 2019
Hi Dear, I need to book private tour for kerala starting from december 25th late night to Dec 30th to and from Kochi. I need 1 night private house boat for back water and private car and driver between 25th and 30th. we are 4 adult and 1 child 11 years old
Written 2 October 2019
Dear aartsraj- We will be happy to help. Can you let us know your email ID and enter details in our website so that we can design a customised tour package and send it to you
Written 8 October 2019
Hi, we are planning a 4 nught stay in kumarkom. How can you make this holiday memorable for us.
Written 30 September 2019
Hello Ilamungek - All our trips are custom designed capturing the details that can make your holiday memorable. We would be happy to design and a FREE itinerary for you and suggest you contact us through our website to discuss details.
Looking forward to hosting you in Kerala
Written 1 October 2019
Hi, we are planning a 4 nught stay in kumarkom. How can you make this holiday memorable for us.
Written 30 September 2019
We would be happy to host you in Kumarakom in Kerala. Do send us the dates and the number of people through the contact request form in our website and we will send a custom designed holiday that will make your holiday memorable
Written 9 October 2019
Hello Loumx, Can you let me know how you saved £1500 for the holiday in Kerala? I am also considering a holiday and want to see whether I can get a great service from Iris Holidays as well without being overcharged by UK Tour Operators
Written 3 February 2019
Hi, Siri H, I Spend a lot of time on this site choosing the hotels I want to stay at. On this occasion I asked a well known operator to price the trip and it felt OTT based on individual prices of hotels/flights. So, having found Iris in TA, I asked them to price up the land package and found the best flight via Expedia then tinkered to get them to match up. We flew in to Kochi, stayed there 2 nights, on to Thekkady for 3 nights then Alleppey for 2 + a night on a houseboat and finally a long relaxing week on the beach at Varkala and flight out of Trivandrum. We had the driver until Varkala. Hope this helps.
Written 4 February 2019
Hi
My wife and I are arriving on the 21st Oct for a 2 week trip booked with you guys. I am trying to find out the best way to get rupees on arrival? The UK government website says tourists are not permitted to bring Rupees into the country.....
Written 13 October 2018
Dear Neil - We are looking forward to hosting you in Kerala. You can bring the amount in your currency and exchange the same in India on arrival or from your departure airport.
Any person residing outside India and visiting India may bring into India currency notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs.25,000 (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand only) per person.
The limit for foreign currency notes is USD 3,000 per person and must be declares by filing CDF (Currency Declaration Form) if it exceeds the limit.
Your credit card will also work in India in most reputed hotels .
Hope this answers your query
Written 14 October 2018
Me and my friend would be visiting kerala from 12th to 14th of October 2018 and we would be reaching kochi on 12th October by 7pm and we would have evening free for kochi sightseeing. We are planning for a visit to munnar on 13th October to see nilakuranji bloom at eravikulam national park munnar. We would also like to visit few more tourist attractions in and around munnar. We are falling short of the time, since we have just one day planned for munnar. Hotel has already been booked at kochi. We need a rental car with a driver cum guide to take us to munnar and show places in a day and then drop us back to our hotel at kochi. How much would it cost for 2 people for a one day trip to munnar? Please mention all the inclusions and exclusions.
Written 24 August 2018
Dear Alpeena - Thanks for asking the question and we provide complete land only packages only which offer everything that you can do from landing in airport till you return back at any hotels/ places of your choice at a cost lesser than what you can possibly get directly. We may not be able to offer the services of only a car and driver only .
Hope you have a great holiday in Kerala
Written 8 September 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.