The Best Kerala Itinerary for 7 Days or more

In this post, I’ll share with you the best Kerala itinerary based on my experience of travelling to the state again and again in the last 6 years.

Kerala is a culturally rich, liberal, and breathtakingly beautiful state in India. Vastly different from the northern side of India and planning what to do on a limited time can be overwhelming.

So, in this post, I present to you a detailed 7-day itinerary of Kerala with ideas to modify it for longer or even shorter durations.

If you already have a basic knowledge about Kerala, then skip to this section.

Because I’m going to take 2 minutes to express my love for this beautiful state.

I’ve tried to cover all bases in the post to help you plan a trip to Kerala. Expand the table of contents below and jump to the relevant section if you want to.

I include affiliate links for the tours, hotels and products I recommend. This means if you make any purchase through the links in the post, I may get a commission without any additional cost to you. While I strive to help you make the most of your trips, this income helps support the expenses for running this site.

An Introduction to Kerala

With an area of 38,863 square kilometers, Kerala is one of the smaller states in India. Located in the western coast it has the best of both the worlds – mountains and the sea. And it is steeped in ancient folklore, vibrant dance forms and unique culinary experiences for travelers.

Kerala is a state of contrasts, in the best way possible. It is one of the most culturally rooted places on earth yet also famous for progressive political ideology. This is a state where you’ll find some of the most ancient Indian art forms still thrive as a part of the mainstream culture.

It’s a state that has preserved forests and natural resources like no other yet managed to be economically prosperous.

A state that is highly political, but allures people from everywhere seeking serenity and peace. Our driver in Wayanad proudly told us that it’s not religion that divides us, it’s politics. While I don’t think either of that is better than the other, it’s interesting to see this perspective.

A stunningly beautiful state that has time and again, lived up to its tourism tagline “God’s own country”. Nestled on the southwestern coast, Kerala is a paradise of diverse landscapes, serene backwaters, vibrant traditions, and warm hospitality.

I could go on about the socio-political paradox of Kerala that continues to intrigue and perplex me. But let’s stick to the more practical details here.

Main attractions of Kerala

Geographically Kerala is located in the Western coastline of India in the south. On one side you have the most pristine beaches and on the other side you have the Western Ghats of India. The Western Ghats is home to the most beautiful hill stations in the southern India. So here’s what you get when you plan a trip to Kerala.

• Spend time in the Idyllic Hills of Western Ghats watching waterfalls, strolling in tea plantations, coffee groves and spice farms in Wayanad, Munnar, Vagamon and more.
  
• The Western ghats region is also a UNESCO natural heritage site. Not for the scenic beauty but because of the wealth of flora and fauna. So, you get to go on wildlife safaris, nature walks, lake cruises and spot some of the engagered and unique species on earth.
  
• Spend time in the beautiful beaches of Kochi, Kovalam, and Varkala which are less crowded but no less beautiful than the beaches of Goa.
  
• And who doesn’t know about the famous backwaters of Kerala. It’s not just Alleppey where you find it. You can enjoy it in Kochi, Kasargod, Poovar and many other places in the coastline.
  
• A lesser-known side of Kerala are its Historic sites. The pre-historic Edakkal caves, 17th century Bekal Fort, Kochi’s colonial history are just a few of the many fascinating places to explore.
  
• Religious sites give you an insight to the people and culture of the region. So, no matter what faith you follow, the numerous churches, the ancient Hindu temples, the mosques and other religious architecture are worth exploring.

How many days are sufficient for Kerala?

You cover the best of Kerala on a tight schedule in 7 days. This is usually the most practical time-frame most people have for spending in one state of India.

If you can extend your stay to 10 days, you will have more time to explore some of the destinations and enjoy some excursions. I’d personally prefer a 10-day Kerala itinerary.

If you are on an India tour and can’t afford a week for Kerala, 5 days should be enough to enjoy the unmissable experiences – natural beauty of Munnar, the backwaters of Alleppey or Kumarakom and the pristine beaches of Kovalam along with some cultural performances.

Ofcourse the longer you stay the better. There’s enough to plan a packed Kerala itinerary for 2 weeks as well, which I’ll show you later in this article.

A quick note on name of the places

My Flexible Kerala Itinerary at a glance

While you can tweak as per your liking after reading the full article, this is the plan I recommend for your first vacation in Kerala. Of course, if you have visited some of these places already and want to go offbeat you can check out this article.

Skip to this section to check out the detailed travel guide following this itinerary.

📲Getting simcard is difficult in India for foreign nationals. The easiest way to stay connected is with Airalo e-sim. For multi-country trips, you can buy global e-sim valid for 130 countries.🤳

An Alternate 7-day Kerala Itinerary

Alternatively, you can also start from the Calicut International Airport and design an itinerary from there. You can drive from Calicut to Wayanad, then to Munnar, Alleppey, Varkala and end with Kochi on the 7th day.

Since Wayanad also has a thriving wildlife experience, we can skip Thekkady in this alternate itinerary.

If it’s your first visit to Kerala, I’d recommend sticking to my first plan, which I rate as the best Kerala itinerary. That’s because Thekkady is much easier to explore in a day than the Wayanad. And Kovalam has better tourist infrastructure than Varkala.

There’s a reason why most Tour packages for Kerala are also designed around the places mentioned in the first itinerary.

🙋‍♀️Want to custom-design your Kerala itinerary and have some questions? Comment here or even better, post your queries on the awesome Backpack & Explore Facebook community.

Kerala Itinerary for 2 weeks

So, here’s the dilemma. Most of the tourist destinations and international airports are concentrated in the southern part of Kerala. Entire northern half of Kerala is therefore left out in my itinerary above. However, I know how difficult it is to manage a trip for more than 10 days in just one state.

But if you do spend 2 weeks in Kerala, you won’t be wasting your time. You can see how the culture and cuisine transform as we move from north Kerala towards the south, even in this rather tiny state.

Northern Kerala towards the Karnataka border has a strong Arabic influence in their culture, architecture and cuisine. Here you’re more likely to get the best type of non-vegetarian dishes like Keralite biryani, chicken curry etc.

As you move towards the south you notice a distinct change. Towards the hills in the south there is a dominant influence of Hinduism. You’ll find a plethora of pure vegetarian restaurants serving Appam-ishtew, idli, iddiyappam etc. 

On the coastline, there is a larger European influence in the monuments but also a blend of old Hindu culture as seen in the attire and performances. So, here’s how I’d plan a longer itinerary of Kerala for 2 weeks.

🚙 🚗 Rent a Zoomcar for self-driving all the way in Kerala🚔

Kerala Itinerary for 7 days – In Detail

So, let’s dive deeper into the wilderness of Kerala and take a virtual tour that will make you fall in love with the state.

Day 1 in Kerala – Arrive at the Historic Kochi

While Trivandrum is the political capital, Kochi is the unofficial tourism and cultural capital of Kerala. It has a well-connected railway station as well as an international airport. So, this is a great place to start your trip.

As soon as you arrive, bargain the rates for a local cab. Normally the rates start from Rs. 12/km for lower-end 4-seater cars, and the fares would go up for the type of car, number of seats, travel season, night rates etc.

You can check the rates here to have a fair idea of the current rates and avoid being scammed.

Kochi is a bustling modern city haunted by a long, intriguing history. It’s the place believed to be Vasco da Gama’s passage to India.

Then there’s the oldest Jewish quarters in India that you can find in Kochi, the Pardesi Synagogue standing as a tall testimony to the thousand years of religious tolerance in India.

There are the Dutch Palace, Portuguese churches as well as remnants of the Bristish colonialism.

And thriving despite centuries of brutal invasions and colonial atrocities are the age-old pagan art forms that you can witness through dance performances, artefacts in the markets and music.

Kochi’s beauty lies not in its architectural grandeur but in the unique stories behind the buildings, the streets and corners.

The Mattancherry Palace also known as the Dutch Palace was actually a monument gifted by the Portuguese to the Indian raja. It was later extended and renovated by the Dutch in 17th century.

Inside the palace are murals depicting Hindu deities along with exhibition of royal artillery of the past.

Day 2 – Relax in the backwaters of Alleppey or Kumarkom

After an exhausting, yet fulfilling day exploring Kochi, it’s time to relax in the backwaters of Kerala. Today we will drive 55km to Alleppey, often touted as the Venice of India.

But before that we can wake up early and walk to the beach to catch a glimpse of the sunrise and explore the morning markets.

After a wholesome breakfast at hotel, we set out for Alleppey or Kumarakom. They are on two sides of the Vembanad lake – the largest natural lake in India.

You can either stay in a houseboat or in a hotel on the banks of Vembanad lake. 

A day in Alleppey

Day 3 in Kerala trip plan: Drive to Munnar

Munnar is one of my favorite places in India. I think it is the best hill station in south India which despite the hype, manages to leave you awestruck at its raw natural beauty.

Speckled with waterfalls, adorned by lush green tea gardens, pine forests and surrounded by lofty hills, Munnar does seem like God’s own country.

While most people stick to places near the Munnar town, the outskirts, especially the Chinnakanal region is breathtaking.

 

On Day 3, you have to drive about 180 km from Alleppey to reach Munnar. While driving you will bid goodbye to the coastal warmth and move higher towards the hills.

As you enter the serpentine roads of the Western Ghats, turn off the AC and wind down the windows of your car.

The temperature has suddenly dropped, and the scenery has completely changed within a 4-hour drive. Watch out for the scenic viewpoints at every turn.

Try not to stop everywhere you want to, lest you get late, or the driver gets annoyed.

Don’t have a fixed itinerary for the day. Rather just stop and absorb the beauty around you wherever you can.

I highly recommend staying away from the city center and close to some tea garden. Keep an eye for the numerous waterfalls as well while driving to your hotel.

 

Day 4 – Exploring Munnar

After a fulfilling brunch at hotel or outside, you can set off for a long exhausting tour of Munnar. One day may not be enough, but here’s an itinerary covering the most memorable places in Munnar.

Drive to Eravikulam National Park right after breakfast. You need to set aside at least 2-3 hours for the trip, because of the long queue for tickets, the safari bus-ride and exploring on foot.

The beauty of this sensitive Nilgiri-biosphere is awe-inspiring. You will lose the idea of time while exploring the waterfalls and spotting the Niligiri tahr (an endangered species of animal found here) while walking in the forest. 

After this, head to Kanan Devan hills for a tour of the Tea factory

Then drive to Mattupetty Dam. If it is too crowded (which likely it will be), then drive to Kundala lake for a boat ride. 

And then, skip Top Station and save yourself some time for the other spectacles.

Similarly, if you want to watch the elephants, Carmelagiri is a touristy location where you can ride on them. But a more offbeat place for Elephant sighting is the Anayirangal Park (aka the Elephant Abode) in Chinnakanal.
You can take a boat-ride here and find elephants thronging to the lake for drinking water.

Like any other hill stations, most places close by 5pm. Stop at the Lockhart viewpoint on your way back to the hotel.

Shall I tell you a secret?

Skip the tea factory tours in Munnar and instead head to Kolukkumalai in the early morning. Technically it’s in Tamil Nadu state, but Chinnakanal is the closest getway to this hidden paradise on earth which also has one of the world’s oldest and higest tea-factory. Take a tea factory tour here instead after a bumpy jeep-ride.

Day 5 – Thrilling Thekkady

Thekkady is situated only 90 km away from Munnar, but it can take about 2.5 – 3 hours to reach because of the hair-pin belts. It is the home to Periyar National Park, the abode of Royal Bengal tigers among many other stealthy predators.

It’s also significant for religious pilgrims as this is where the trek to the Ayappa Temple of Sabrimala begins.

Make sure you stay close to the Periyar National Park which is the center of all the activities in Thekkady itinerary.

Thekkady Sightseeing Plan

Assuming you started from Munnar at 9-9:30, it will be almost noon by the time your reach Thekkady.

Head to the reception of the Periyar National Park and get the brochure for all activities they offer and their timings

First you can go on a jeep ride through the tea and spice plantations. It will also take you to Ottakathalamedu, a hill-top from where you cans see magnificent panoramic views.

Then, after a quick lunch it will be time for the unmissable Periyar Lake Cruise. You will see a host of migratory birds in the lake, deer and antelopes on the banks, and, if lucky, you have a chance to spot elephants here too. 

Spend the evening shopping in Kumily and then head on to Mudra Cultural Centre to witness Kalaripayattu. This is an ancient martial art form which is both brave and beautiful.

If you have the energy, you can also book a thrilling night safari in the forest. Or simply rest at night; you’ve had a long day already.

Day 6 – Pamper yourself at Kovalam

Our trip is coming to an end soon. But don’t be sad as it’s time to drive to Kovalam. Located approximately 215 kilometers (134 miles) from Thekkady, it will take around 5-6 hours by road.

While like everywhere else in Kerala there’s a plethora of options available for different budget types, I highly recommend booking a beach-side spa resort in Kovalam.

In places like Kochi, Munnar or Trivandrum you can easily stay in budget hotels and explore outdoors all day. But Kovalam and the Alapuzha regions are famous for Ayurvedic Spa and medicinal treatment. Why not pamper yourself a bit here?

Kovalam itinerary for the day

Assuming you started from Thekkady at 9 am, it will be almost 3pm by the time you reach Kovalam.

You can stop for lunch on your way to the hotel, or have lunch immediately after checking in.

You can then head off to the three beautiful beaches of Kovalam – the Lighthouse beach, the Hawah beach and the Samudra beach. You can trek to the short cliffs for capturing amazing views.

You can spend the entire evening strolling in the beaches or go for an Ayurvedic spa massage.

Day 7: Bidding goodbye from Trivandrum

The last day of a vacation always makes your heart heavy. But don’t worry, we still have a lot to do today before we depart from Trivandrum in the evening. 

Trivandrum, officially called Thiruvananthapuram (a tongue-twister for foreigners) is the capital of Kerala. It is located only 19 km away from Kovalam and you can reach easily within 30 minutes through the smooth coastal road. 

So before heading to Trivandrum we will take a detour to Poovar, a floating town in the Poovar lake near Kovalam.

 

A guide to Kerala Trip Planning

A few more Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Closing Thoughts

I hope this article inspires you to travel to this amazing state and make memories of a lifetime. I will leave you with a list of my favorite travel sites for travel planning in India. 

If you liked this post, you may also find these articles interesting.

Best of Karnataka – One state, many worlds

Best of Enchanting Tamil Nadu

I have already linked to detailed itineraries to the places mentioned on my post. But here they are again for you to read and save for later.

Munnar travel guide

Thekkady travel guide

Wayanad itinerary

Kasargod (Bekal) travel guide

Let’s stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to get notified by email when a new post comes in.

Pin It !

Let’s stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to get notified by email when a new post comes in.