A Gentle First-Time Route Through Kerala
A first-time Kerala route through Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and the backwaters at a comfortable pace, with seven, ten and fourteen-night versions.
By Shine Babu, Travel SpecialistUpdated · 4 min read
For a first visit, Kerala can be enjoyed in a single, gentle loop: arrive in historic Kochi, climb into the tea hills of Munnar, continue to the spice country around Thekkady, then come down to the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom. It covers the state’s best-known landscapes without long, tiring days. This guide sets out that route at a comfortable pace, with versions for seven, ten and fourteen nights.
Why this route works
Kochi has Kerala’s main international airport, and every stop on the loop is a reasonable drive from the next. The route moves from heritage to hills to water, so each part of the trip feels different, and it ends close to the airport rather than with a long final journey. For more on pacing and drive times, see how to plan a South India holiday without rushing it.
The places on the route
Kochi
Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are best explored slowly and on foot: the Chinese fishing nets, colonial-era streets, the Mattancherry Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue and the spice warehouses of Jew Town. A Kathakali performance in the evening is a lovely introduction to Kerala’s culture. Two nights here gives you time to recover from the flight before the journey begins.
Munnar
The drive up from Kochi takes four to five hours and climbs steadily into tea country. Munnar is about cool air, rolling estates and walks rather than sights to tick off. Highlights include tea estate walks, a visit to a tea museum or factory, and Eravikulam National Park, home to the rare Nilgiri tahr. Stay somewhere with an estate view and give yourself at least one unhurried day.
Thekkady
Three to four hours from Munnar, Thekkady sits beside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Guided nature walks, a boat trip on Periyar Lake and a spice plantation visit are the main experiences. Wildlife sightings are a bonus rather than a guarantee, but the forest itself is beautiful.
The backwaters: Alleppey and Kumarakom
From Thekkady, the road descends for four to five hours to the backwaters. A night on a private houseboat is the classic experience, followed by time at a lakeside resort in Kumarakom or near Alleppey. Read what to expect from a private Kerala houseboat before you go.
Seven nights: the essentials
- Kochi: 2 nights
- Munnar: 2 nights
- Private houseboat: 1 night
- Kumarakom: 2 nights, then a short transfer to Kochi airport
With only a week, we leave out Thekkady. The drive from Munnar to the backwaters is long, so it helps to start early and board the houseboat around midday.
Ten nights: the classic loop
- Kochi: 2 nights
- Munnar: 3 nights
- Thekkady: 2 nights
- Private houseboat: 1 night
- Kumarakom: 2 nights
This is the route we recommend most often for a first visit. It includes every highlight, only one long drive, and a free day in both Munnar and Kumarakom.
Fourteen nights: add the coast
With two weeks, follow the ten-night loop and finish with three or four nights on the coast. There are two good options:
- Marari Beach: under an hour from Alleppey, quiet and village-like, and easy to reach from the backwaters. Fly home from Kochi.
- Varkala or Kovalam: further south, around four to five hours from the backwaters. Varkala has dramatic red cliffs above the beach, while Kovalam has Kerala’s best-known Ayurveda resorts nearby. Fly home from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), which is closer than Kochi.
A beach stay at the end gives the holiday a restful finish and is a natural place for a few days of Ayurveda.
Variations
- For honeymoons: choose more secluded hotels, add a private dinner on the houseboat and stay longer in fewer places.
- For families: keep to the ten-night loop or shorter, break up the Thekkady to backwaters drive and choose hotels with space and pools.
- For wellness: replace the final stay with an Ayurveda retreat of seven nights or more. See choosing the right Ayurveda retreat in Kerala.
- In the monsoon: stay longer in fewer places and allow extra time for road journeys.
Getting around
The route is best travelled with a private car and an experienced driver, who also acts as a helpful local guide along the way. Your driver meets you at the airport, stays with you throughout and can stop whenever you like for tea, photographs or a walk. We arrange local guides for Fort Kochi, the spice gardens and nature walks where they add something.
When to go
The route works best between October and March. It can be travelled in any season with a few adjustments; see our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Kerala.
Our sample journeys show how these routes can be shaped. When you are ready, tell us your dates and preferences and we will plan a version that fits you.
