Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala · Lake and old port town
Kollam (Ashtamudi) group trip guide
Kollam (Ashtamudi): Lake and old port town in Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala, Kerala. From Thiruvananthapuram it is 71 km by road, 2–3 hours with stops. Groups give it 1 day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Thiruvananthapuram costs ₹6,800–8,400 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Ayan Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Thiruvananthapuram
- 71 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1 day
- Best season
- September to March
- Fare from Thiruvananthapuram
- ₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
Kollam, an old trading port and the centre of India's cashew trade, sits on Ashtamudi lake, whose eight arms make it a quieter start for a backwater cruise.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Kollam (Ashtamudi) from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Palakkad → Kollam (Ashtamudi)
₹17,100–21,100
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 284 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A backwater day between Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, with Varkala close by.
Backwaters & houseboatsHistory & culture
How far is Kollam (Ashtamudi)
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palakkad | 284 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Kochi | 140 km | 3–4 h | – |
| Kozhikode | 329 km | 7–8 h | – |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 71 km | 2–3 h | – |
Group fares from Thiruvananthapuram
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹4,700–6,300 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹5,800–7,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹6,800–8,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹7,900–10,000 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹15,000–20,200 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: September to March.
- Time to give it: 1 day.
- Who goes: Families, Friends.
Add on nearby
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).
- Nearest railway station: Kollam Junction.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Kollam (Ashtamudi)
Approved operators who take groups to Kollam (Ashtamudi). Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
284 km by road from Kollam
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
Serves Kollam
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Kollam
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Serves Kollam
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Thiruvananthapuram-il ninnu Kollam (Ashtamudi)-lekku ethra dooram? (How far is Kollam (Ashtamudi) from Thiruvananthapuram?)
71 km by road: 2–3 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Kollam (Ashtamudi)-lekku tempo traveller-inu ethra rate aakum? (What does a tempo traveller to Kollam (Ashtamudi) cost?)
Round trip from Thiruvananthapuram (71 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400, 40–49 seater bus ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Kollam (Ashtamudi) cost?
Round trip from Thiruvananthapuram with driver: SUV / Innova ₹4,700–6,300; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹5,800–7,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹7,900–10,000; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Kollam (Ashtamudi)?
1 day. With the drive from Thiruvananthapuram, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. A backwater day between Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, with Varkala close by.
When is the best time to visit Kollam (Ashtamudi)?
September to March.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Kollam (Ashtamudi) from abroad?
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Nearest railway station: Kollam Junction. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved