From Chennai · about 1 hour 20 minutes to Kochi
Kerala Tour Packages from Chennai
Leave Chennai on an overnight train or a morning flight of about an hour and a half. Either way you are on the road to Munnar before lunch.
Munnar & Alleppey from ₹21,999 per couple · Personalised itinerary in 24 hours
Updated 10 October 2026
How do I plan a Kerala trip from Chennai?
From Chennai, fly non-stop to Kochi (COK) in roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, or take an overnight train to Ernakulam and arrive the next morning. Four to five days covers Munnar and an Alleppey houseboat night. Trivandrum (TRV) suits beach trips to Kovalam and Varkala. October to March is the most comfortable time.
- Flight to Kochi
- About 1 hour 20 minutes non-stop
- Overnight train
- Roughly 11.5 to 13.5 hours to Ernakulam
- Best arrival point
- Kochi airport (COK) or Ernakulam station
- Suggested trip
- 3 to 5 days
What is the quickest way to reach Kerala from Chennai?
Flying is quickest: a non-stop flight to Kochi or Trivandrum takes about an hour and a half. The overnight train is slower but uses no daylight.
| Route | Typical journey time | Operated by | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai → Kochi (COK), flight | 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 35 minutes | IndiGo, with other carriers on some days | For Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey |
| Chennai → Trivandrum (TRV), flight | About 1 hour 20 minutes | IndiGo | For Kovalam and Varkala |
| Chennai → Ernakulam, overnight train | Roughly 11.5 to 13.5 hours | Indian Railways, several trains daily | Ernakulam is Kochi's main railhead |
Flights and train tickets are not included in our packages. Timetables change, so check current timings before you book.
Should you fly, take the train or drive from Chennai?
Take the train if you can leave on a weekday evening, and fly if you only have a weekend. Our published routes begin with a pickup from Kochi airport or railway station, so a morning arrival at Ernakulam works as well as a flight.
Driving is possible but long: Chennai to Kochi is roughly 700 km, a full day at the wheel before the hill roads begin. We suggest arriving rested and letting our driver handle the climb to Munnar.
Which Kerala airport should you choose from Chennai?
Choose Kochi for the hills and backwaters, and Trivandrum for the beaches. Kochi is about 4 hours from Munnar; Trivandrum airport is about 30 minutes from Kovalam, where the Kerala Grand Tour ends.
How many days do you need for Kerala from Chennai?
Three to five days is enough, because so little of the trip goes on getting there.
- 3 days: Munnar Short Escape, two nights in the tea hills.
- 4 days: Munnar & Alleppey, adding a houseboat night.
- 5 days: Romantic Kerala, our honeymoon route, with Thekkady in between.
A 4-day Kerala route from Chennai
The Munnar & Alleppey route, which fits between a Thursday night train out of Chennai and a Monday evening flight home.
- 1
Day 1 · Kochi or Ernakulam to Munnar
Pickup from the airport or the station, then about 4 hours into the hills with a stop at Cheeyappara Falls.
- 2
Day 2 · Munnar
Mattupetty Dam, Kundala Lake, Echo Point and the tea museum.
- 3
Day 3 · Alleppey houseboat
About 3.5 hours to the backwaters. Board at noon; Kerala fish curry for lunch, dinner on board, and the night on the water.
- 4
Day 4 · Back to Chennai
Breakfast on deck, off the boat at 9 am, and a drive to Kochi for an afternoon flight or the evening train.
When is the best time to visit Kerala from Chennai?
October to March is the best time; fix Pongal week and long-weekend dates earliest.
| When | Weather | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October – December | Showers easing; hills very green | A good escape while Chennai has its own north-east monsoon. |
| January – March | Dry and mild; cool nights in Munnar | The most comfortable months, Pongal holidays included. December–January fills about 6 weeks ahead. |
| April – May | Hot on the coast, cooler in the hills | Fine for school-holiday trips centred on Munnar. |
| June – September | South-west monsoon; heavy rain | Kerala's wettest months, while Chennai is still hot. Quiet and green. |
CURATED PACKAGES
Kerala Packages for Travellers from Chennai
Prices are per couple, starting, for the Kerala leg. Flights are booked by you; we advise which to pick.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Chennai: Your Questions, Answered
How long does the train from Chennai to Kochi take?
Overnight trains from Chennai to Ernakulam, the main railway stop for Kochi, typically take between 11.5 and 13.5 hours. Leave in the evening and our driver can meet you the next morning. Train tickets are not included in our packages.
Can we drive our own car from Chennai to Munnar?
You can, but it is a full day's drive of roughly 600 km, ending on a steep hill road. Our packages are built around a private air-conditioned cab with one driver throughout, so we suggest starting from Kochi instead.
Is a weekend enough for Kerala from Chennai?
A long weekend is enough for one region. The Munnar Short Escape is 2 nights and 3 days from ₹12,999 per couple. With one more day, Munnar & Alleppey adds a houseboat night and starts from ₹21,999 per couple.
Which Kerala package suits a honeymoon from Chennai?
Romantic Kerala, our lead honeymoon package: 4 nights and 5 days through Munnar, Thekkady and an Alleppey houseboat, from ₹29,999 per couple, with a private cab, the same driver, daily breakfast and all houseboat meals.
Can Kanyakumari be added to a Kerala trip from Chennai?
Yes. The Kerala Complete Circuit, 9 nights and 10 days from ₹69,999 per couple, includes a night in Kanyakumari between Varkala and Kovalam. For a shorter trip, ask for a personalised itinerary and we will send one within 24 hours.
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