Travel guide · Kerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Kerala tour packages combine the tea hills of Munnar, the Periyar forests at Thekkady and the Alleppey and Kumarakom backwaters (some with a houseboat night), with Kovalam, Varkala, Kanyakumari or Wayanad on other trips. Shorter trips cover Fort Kochi's heritage, Guruvayur and Thrissur, Vagamon, Marari beach, Marayoor and Chinnar, Poovar, Ponmudi, Nelliyampathy, Bekal fort and the theyyam of Kannur, Gavi, and the Idukki dam and Ramakkalmedu. Our Kerala itineraries run 3 to 10 days from Cochin, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Kannur, Mangalore or Coimbatore.
By Holiday Guru Travel · Updated 8 Oct 2026
In short: Backwater houseboats, tea hills, wildlife and spices and beaches. Several of our Kerala packages include a night on a houseboat in Alleppey, with meals on board; on the others one can be added on request. September to March is the best time for a Kerala tour; the monsoon (June–August) is green and quieter.
Kerala quick facts
- Trip length
- 3–10 days (33 itineraries)
- Best time
- September to March is the best time for a Kerala tour; the monsoon (June–August) is green and quieter.
- Key places
- Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam, Cochin
- Tours start in
- Cochin, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram
- Travel style
- Private cab on 7 of 33
- Hotels
- Standard / 3-star equivalent on 26 of 33; Deluxe on 7 of 33
- Meal plans
- Breakfast on all 33 itineraries
- Suits
- Families, Couples, Wellness
Best places to visit in Kerala
Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam and Cochin are the places our Kerala itineraries are built around.
Munnar
Tea estates, Mattupetty Dam and Eravikulam National Park; about 135 km (3–4 hours) from Cochin.
Thekkady
Periyar lake and forest, spice plantations and cultural shows.
Alleppey
Backwater houseboat cruises; about 190 km from Munnar and 155 km from Thekkady.
Kovalam
Lighthouse, Hawah and Ashoka beaches; about 165 km from Alleppey.
Cochin
Fort Kochi, the Chinese fishing nets and the start or end of most tours.
Things to do
- Spend a night on a houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters
- Walk through Munnar’s tea estates
- Take a boat ride on Periyar lake at Thekkady
- Watch the Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi
- Relax on Kovalam’s beaches
- See sunrise at Kanyakumari on the longer itineraries
How many days do you need?
Three to four days covers Munnar or the Alleppey backwaters; 5–6 days combines Munnar, Thekkady and the backwaters; allow 7–10 days to add Kovalam, Varkala, Trivandrum or Kanyakumari.
| Trip length | What it covers | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | Munnar and Alleppey houseboat | Munnar Alleppey Tour Package |
| 4 days | Munnar and Thekkady | Munnar Thekkady Tour Package |
| 5 days | Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey houseboat | Munnar Thekkady Alleppey |
| 6 days | Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey | Cochin Munnar Thekkady Alleppey |
| 7 days | Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam and Trivandrum | Munnar Thekkady Alleppey Kovalam Trivandrum |
Best time to visit Kerala
September to March is the best time for a Kerala tour; the monsoon (June–August) is green and quieter.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| September – March | Cool season | The most pleasant weather and the main holiday season; December–January is peak. |
| April – May | Summer | Hot and humid on the coast; Munnar stays pleasant. |
| June – August | Monsoon | Heavy rain and lush green scenery; quieter and good value. |
Suggested Kerala routes
Routes from our own Kerala itineraries, by trip length.
- 2 Nights / 3 Days: Cochin → Alleppey — Cochin and Alleppey Backwaters Break
- 3 Nights / 4 Days: Mangalore → Bekal Fort → Valiyaparamba → Ranipuram — Bekal Fort and Kasaragod
- 4 Nights / 5 Days: Athirappilly → Munnar — Athirappilly Falls and Munnar Tour
- 5 Nights / 6 Days: Cochin → Alleppey → Kovalam — Cochin, Alleppey and Kovalam Tour
- 6 Nights / 7 Days: Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam — Munnar Thekkady Alleppey Kovalam Kanyakumari
- 7 Nights / 8 Days: Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam — Kerala Hills, Backwaters and Beach
Things to consider
Getting there and around: Packages start at Cochin, Trivandrum or Kozhikode, with pick-up from the railway station, bus stand or airport and transfers and sightseeing as specified on each package.
Where you stay: Standard / 3-star equivalent or deluxe hotels as listed on each package, plus one night on a houseboat with all meals on board where the package includes it.
- Houseboat cruises follow set timings — check-in around midday and check-out the next morning.
- Carry light cotton clothes and a rain layer; Munnar evenings are cool.
- Book houseboats early for December–January.
- Periyar boat rides depend on availability; the driver follows what is open that day.
Kerala travel questions
What is Kerala known for?
Backwater houseboats, tea hills, wildlife and spices and beaches. Several of our Kerala packages include a night on a houseboat in Alleppey, with meals on board; on the others one can be added on request.
How many days should I spend in Kerala?
Three to four days covers Munnar or the Alleppey backwaters; 5–6 days combines Munnar, Thekkady and the backwaters; allow 7–10 days to add Kovalam, Varkala, Trivandrum or Kanyakumari. Our Kerala itineraries run 3–10 days.
What is the best time to visit Kerala?
September to March is the best time for a Kerala tour; the monsoon (June–August) is green and quieter.
Which places should I include in a Kerala trip?
Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kovalam and Cochin. Munnar: Tea estates, Mattupetty Dam and Eravikulam National Park; about 135 km (3–4 hours) from Cochin.
Which Holiday Guru Travel packages cover Kerala?
33 itineraries: Cochin and Alleppey Backwaters Break (2 Nights / 3 Days); Munnar Weekend from Cochin (2 Nights / 3 Days); Fort Kochi and Mattancherry Heritage Break (2 Nights / 3 Days); Guruvayur and Thrissur (2 Nights / 3 Days); Bekal Fort and Kasaragod (3 Nights / 4 Days); Idukki and Ramakkalmedu (3 Nights / 4 Days); and 27 more listed below.
Can a Kerala itinerary be customised?
Yes. Any of our Kerala itineraries can be changed — add or remove nights, change the hotel category or add sightseeing. Tell us what you need and we send a quote for your dates.
Kerala holiday packages
All 33 Holiday Guru Travel itineraries for Kerala, shortest first. Each can be customised.
| Package ID | Package | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0182 | Cochin and Alleppey Backwaters Break | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Cochin → Alleppey |
| 0172 | Munnar Weekend from Cochin | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Cochin → Munnar |
| 0476 | Fort Kochi and Mattancherry Heritage Break | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Kochi → Fort Kochi → Mattancherry → Jew Town |
| 0477 | Guruvayur and Thrissur | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Guruvayur → Thrissur |
| 0484 | Bekal Fort and Kasaragod | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Mangalore → Bekal Fort → Valiyaparamba → Ranipuram |
| 0609 | Idukki and Ramakkalmedu | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Idukki → Ramakkalmedu |
| 0485 | Kannur in the Theyyam Season | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kannur → Parassinikadavu → Thalassery → Muzhappilangad |
| 0479 | Marari Beach and Alleppey | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kochi → Marari Beach → Alleppey → Ambalappuzha |
| 0483 | Palakkad and Nelliyampathy | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Palakkad → Nelliyampathy |
| 0482 | Thiruvananthapuram and Ponmudi | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Thiruvananthapuram → Ponmudi → Thiruvananthapuram |
| 0481 | Poovar and Kovalam | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Thiruvananthapuram → Poovar → Kovalam → Lighthouse Beach |
| 0181 | Thekkady and Alleppey Tour | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Thekkady → Alleppey |
| 0608 | Thekkady and Gavi | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kochi → Thekkady → Periyar → Gavi → Vandiperiyar |
| 0077 | Kovalam Kanyakumari Tour | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Kovalam → Kanyakumari → Trivandrum |
| 0078 | Munnar Alleppey Tour Package | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Munnar → Alleppey |
| 0079 | Munnar Thekkady Tour Package | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Munnar → Thekkady |
| 0177 | Athirappilly Falls and Munnar Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Athirappilly → Munnar |
| 0180 | Munnar and Kumarakom Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Munnar → Kumarakom |
| 0480 | Munnar, Marayoor and Chinnar | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Munnar → Marayoor |
| 0478 | Vagamon and Kumarakom | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Vagamon → Kumarakom |
| 0175 | Varkala and Kovalam Beach Holiday | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Varkala → Kovalam |
| 0176 | Wayanad and Kozhikode Tour | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Wayanad → Kozhikode |
| 0080 | Munnar, Alleppey & Kovalam: Cochin to Trivandrum | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Munnar → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0081 | Munnar Thekkady Alleppey | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey |
| 0179 | Cochin, Alleppey and Kovalam Tour | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Cochin → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0082 | Cochin Munnar Thekkady Alleppey | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Cochin → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey |
| 0173 | Munnar, Thekkady and Kumarakom Tour | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Kumarakom |
| 0083 | Munnar, Alleppey & Kovalam with Houseboat Stay | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Munnar → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0085 | Munnar Thekkady Alleppey Kovalam Kanyakumari | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0084 | Munnar Thekkady Alleppey Kovalam Trivandrum | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0174 | Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Kumarakom | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kumarakom |
| 0183 | Kerala Hills, Backwaters and Beach | 7 Nights / 8 Days | Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam |
| 0178 | Grand Kerala Tour | 9 Nights / 10 Days | Cochin → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam → Varkala |
Related reading
Kerala articles
- Kerala for first-timers: Munnar, Thekkady and a houseboat
- An Alleppey houseboat night: what to expect