India Honeymoon Itinerary: Udaipur, Kerala and the Himalayas

Short answer: The India honeymoon itinerary we recommend most often is Udaipur for lakes and palaces, Kerala for a houseboat night, tea hills and a quiet beach, and, if you have two weeks, three nights in the Himalayas at Manali or Dharamshala. Ten days fits Udaipur and Kerala with one domestic flight; fourteen days adds the mountains and the Taj Mahal. October to March is the season for Udaipur and Kerala; the hills are good all year except the monsoon.

Why Udaipur, Kerala and the Himalayas for a honeymoon?

A honeymoon is not a sightseeing trip, and the standard first-time route of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is too busy and too urban for most couples. The three regions we suggest share one quality: you can do nothing well in them. Udaipur has lake views from the hotel terrace and boats at sunset. Kerala has a houseboat, a plantation bungalow and an empty beach. The Himalayas have a balcony facing snow and a fireplace.

They also fit together with short flights. Udaipur to Kochi is about two hours via Mumbai or Bengaluru; Delhi to Udaipur about 1 h 20 m; Delhi to Kullu (Bhuntar, for Manali) about 1 h 20 m when the weather allows. Dollar figures below use ₹95 to the US dollar (October 2026) and are approximate. This guide is written for international couples; for Indian couples we have a separate honeymoon trip guide with domestic routes and prices.

The 10-day India honeymoon itinerary

The Kerala half follows the shape of our Kerala Honeymoon Special, 6 days and 5 nights at ₹22,500 per person on a Deluxe basis in the off-season band of 1 November–19 December and 6 January–14 March, about 25% more at peak. The Udaipur stay is quoted per trip because the hotel is the whole experience there: lake-facing rooms at the heritage hotels on Lake Pichola cost several times what the same chain charges in the old city, and both can be wonderful.

The 14-day version: adding the Himalayas and the Taj

With two weeks, start in the mountains and finish on the beach, moving from cold to warm:

• Days 1–4, Manali (3N). Fly Delhi–Kullu if the weather is clear, or drive via Chandigarh with a night there. Stay in Old Manali or on the Naggar road, visit Solang Valley and the Atal Tunnel to Sissu for snow (Rohtang Pass is closed on Tuesdays and through the winter), walk through the deodar forest to the Hadimba temple, and sit by a fire. Our Manali honeymoon package page covers the cottages and riverside stays we use; the Kullu Manali honeymoon package is 4 nights at ₹12,999 per person.
• Day 5, Agra (1N). Fly or drive back to Delhi and on to Agra for the Taj Mahal at sunrise the next morning. The Taj is closed on Fridays and the foreigner ticket is ₹1,100 plus ₹200 for the mausoleum (about US$14); gates open 30 minutes before sunrise.
• Days 6–8, Udaipur (3N). Fly Delhi–Udaipur after the Taj, or go by road through Jaipur if you want a night there; our Jaipur to Udaipur guide compares the options.
• Days 9–14, Kerala (5N). As in the 10-day plan, with an extra beach night.

If snow is the dream and you are travelling between December and February, swap Manali for Kashmir: a houseboat on Dal Lake and a snow day in Gulmarg. Our Kashmir guide for international travellers explains access and what to expect in winter.

What makes each stop work for a honeymoon?

Udaipur. The city is small enough to walk, the old-city lanes around Jagdish temple are pretty rather than overwhelming, and the lake gives you a reason to stop and look. Take the City Palace in the morning, a boat from the palace jetty in the last hour before sunset, and dinner on a rooftop facing the Lake Palace. On the third day, drive out to the 15th-century fort at Kumbhalgarh or the Jain temples at Ranakpur, each about two hours away. Our Udaipur travel guide has hotel neighbourhoods and the day-trip options.

Munnar. Choose a plantation bungalow or a resort with a private pool rather than a town hotel; the point is the view across the tea. Mornings are cool at 1,500–1,800 m, so pack a fleece even in January. One day of estate walks and the Eravikulam park is enough; keep the second for doing nothing.

The houseboat. Book a one-bedroom boat for the two of you, not a berth on a shared one. You board around midday, cruise the wide lakes and narrow canals through the afternoon, moor by sunset as the rules require, eat a Kerala dinner cooked on board and wake to mist on the water. Our Alleppey houseboat guide explains categories and what to check before paying.

The beach. Marari, 30 minutes from Alleppey, is a fishing-village beach with a handful of resorts and no nightlife, and it saves the drive south. Kovalam is a resort beach near Trivandrum airport with more choice; Varkala has cliffs and cafes. For a treatment course, three nights is the minimum; our Ayurveda retreat guide explains what is involved.

Manali or Dharamshala. Manali for snow and forest; Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj for a slower, Tibetan, cafe-and-monastery feel with the Dhauladhar range above. Either works in three nights.

When is the best time for an India honeymoon?

If you can choose freely, February is the month we would pick for this route: fog-free in the north, dry in Kerala, late snow in Manali and no Christmas pricing. Our India in February guide covers it in detail.

How much does an India honeymoon cost?

For a 10-day route with a lake-view heritage hotel in Udaipur, a plantation stay in Munnar, a private houseboat and a good beach resort, plan on roughly ₹1,50,000–2,50,000 per person (about US$1,580–2,630) excluding international flights, with the Udaipur hotel accounting for most of the variation. A version with 3–4 star hotels throughout comes in at roughly ₹90,000–1,30,000 per person (US$950–1,370). The 14-day version adds about ₹40,000–60,000 per person (US$420–630) for the Himalayan nights, the Agra night and the extra flight.

These are planning ranges; we quote exactly once we know your dates and hotels. For what the top end buys, including the palace hotels on Lake Pichola, our luxury India tours guide is the place to look. Booking works with a token payment to confirm and the balance before travel, and we accept international cards through Razorpay and PayPal; for our Himachal packages the token is 20%, refundable in full within 48 hours of paying.

Two practical points couples sometimes miss: tell your hotels it is a honeymoon when booking, since most will upgrade or add something if they can; and travel with a private car and driver in each region rather than trying to save with trains, because the point of this trip is not to be managing connections.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place in India for a honeymoon?

For international couples, Udaipur for lakes and palaces, Kerala for a houseboat, tea hills and a quiet beach, and the Himalayas around Manali or Dharamshala for snow and forest. Each offers hotels where you can do nothing well, which is what most couples want. The Golden Triangle is better saved for a later trip.

How many days do you need for an India honeymoon?

Ten days covers Udaipur and Kerala with one domestic flight and no rushed days. Fourteen days adds three nights in the Himalayas and a night in Agra for the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Shorter than ten days, choose one region only: Kerala alone fits five or six nights well, as does Udaipur with Jaipur.

When is the best time for a honeymoon in India?

October to March for Udaipur and Kerala, with February the month we would pick: no fog in the north, dry weather in Kerala, late snow in Manali and no Christmas prices. December and January are also good but busier and more expensive. The Himalayan hill stations work from October to June; avoid July to September everywhere on this route.

Is a Kerala houseboat romantic?

Yes, if you book a private one-bedroom boat and avoid the shared ones. You cruise the backwaters from around midday, moor by sunset, eat a Kerala dinner cooked on board and wake to mist on the water. One night is the right length; two nights repeat the same stretch of water. Choose an air-conditioned bedroom and check the bathroom before paying.

Can we include the Taj Mahal in a honeymoon itinerary?

Yes, as a single night in Agra between Delhi and Udaipur on the 14-day version. See it at sunrise, when the gates open 30 minutes before dawn and the crowds are smallest, then fly to Udaipur the same afternoon. The Taj is closed on Fridays, and the foreigner ticket is ₹1,100 plus ₹200 for the mausoleum, about US$14.

How much should we budget for an India honeymoon?

Roughly US$1,600–2,600 per person for a 10-day Udaipur and Kerala route with a lake-view heritage hotel, a plantation stay, a private houseboat and a good beach resort, excluding international flights. A 3–4 star version is about US$950–1,400 per person, and the 14-day route with the Himalayas adds roughly US$420–630. Our Kerala package alone is ₹22,500 per person for five nights.