Hill station · Idukki
Munnar
Tea estates at about 1,500 metres, cool air and long valley views. Which sights are worth your time, which side of town to sleep on and how long to give it.
Plan Munnar →Hills · Backwaters · Coast
Kerala Destinations
What to do, where to stay and how many days to give each place, from a travel team based in Kerala.
Where should you go in Kerala?
A first Kerala trip usually pairs the hills with the backwaters: Munnar for tea country, Thekkady for the Periyar forest and Alleppey for a houseboat night. With a week, add the coast at Varkala or Kovalam. Wayanad, Kumarakom and Kochi suit longer or more personalised routes.
Backwaters · Alappuzha
Alleppey
Kerala's houseboat town, where rice grows below sea level and the lanes are made of water. What to see beyond the boat, where to sleep and how long to stay.
Plan Alleppey →
Wildlife · Periyar Tiger Reserve
Thekkady
The forest stop between the tea hills and the backwaters: a lake inside a tiger reserve, cardamom estates on every slope and martial arts after dark.
Plan Thekkady →
Cliff beach · South Kerala
Varkala
A red cliff above the Arabian Sea, a beach with a temple at one end and cafés along the top. How to plan a short, unhurried stay.
Plan Varkala →
Beach · near Trivandrum
Kovalam
Three sheltered bays under a striped lighthouse, half an hour from Trivandrum airport. The restful last stop of a Kerala trip, planned properly.
Plan Kovalam →
Hill district · North Kerala
Wayanad
Forest, coffee estates and wildlife in the hills of north-east Kerala. A different trip from the Munnar circuit, and one that rewards a slower plan.
Plan Wayanad →
Vembanad Lake · Kottayam
Kumarakom
The quiet shore of Vembanad Lake: lakefront villas, a bird sanctuary at dawn and sunsets over open water.
Plan Kumarakom →
Port city · Gateway to Kerala
Kochi
Kerala's port city, where most trips begin and end. How to see five centuries of trading history in a day, and where to sleep if you stay.
Plan Kochi →How do Kerala's destinations compare?
| Destination | Known for | Ideal stay | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar | Tea estates, Nilgiri tahr, misty viewpoints | 2 nights; 3 for a slower pace | September to March |
| Alleppey | Houseboats, Kuttanad canals, Vembanad Lake | 1 night on a houseboat; 2 with a lake resort | October to February |
| Thekkady | Periyar Lake, wild elephants, spice gardens | 1 night; 2 for rafting or a trek | October to March |
| Varkala | Red cliffs, Papanasam Beach, sunset cafés | 2 nights; 1 on a longer circuit | November to March |
| Kovalam | Lighthouse Beach, Ayurveda, sheltered bays | 2 nights | November to February |
| Wayanad | Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak, wildlife safaris | 3 nights; 2 at a minimum | October to May |
| Kumarakom | Lake resorts, bird sanctuary, sunsets | 2 nights; 1 as an add-on | November to February |
| Kochi | Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi, spice trade history | Half a day to 1 night | October to March |
Photos: Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Sudipta sadhukhan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Georgeumartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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