Kerala
Slow travel, done properly
Overview
Kerala is the antidote to a packed itinerary. Backwaters you drift through on a houseboat, tea country that smells like the inside of a teapot, and a coastline that has been trading with the world for two thousand years.
We build it as a three-part trip — Munnar's hills, Alleppey's water, and a coastal finish at Kochi or Kovalam — with enough space between them that you actually rest.
Best time to visit
September – March
Post-monsoon through winter is dry, green and comfortable. October–February is peak. June–August is monsoon — dramatic and cheap, and genuinely the best window for Ayurvedic treatments.
View on Google Maps →What you'll see
Alleppey backwaters
A night on a private houseboat through the paddy-lined canals.
Munnar tea country
Endless clipped tea gardens, Eravikulam park, and cool mornings.
Fort Kochi
Chinese fishing nets, Jew Town, and Portuguese-Dutch-British layers.
Thekkady / Periyar
Spice plantations and a boat safari on the reservoir.
Kovalam & Varkala
Lighthouse beach, red cliffs, and the Arabian Sea sunset.
Kathakali & Kalaripayattu
Classical dance-drama and the world's oldest martial art, performed nightly.
Things to do
- Overnight private houseboat, Alleppey
- Tea estate and factory walk, Munnar
- Periyar boat safari
- Spice plantation tour, Thekkady
- Ayurvedic massage and treatments
- Kathakali performance in Fort Kochi
Where you'll stay
Tea-estate resorts
4.6Munnar
Valley-facing rooms in the plantations, cool nights
Private houseboats
4.7Alleppey
En-suite cabins, onboard chef, one night on the water
Heritage homestays
4.5Fort Kochi
Restored colonial townhouses in the old quarter
Weather through the year
| Season | Months | Temp | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec – Feb | 22–32°C | Peak season — dry, warm, ideal |
| Summer | Mar – May | 26–36°C | Hot and humid on the coast; Munnar stays cool |
| Monsoon | Jun – Aug | 23–30°C | Heavy rain, lush, best for Ayurveda |
| Post-monsoon | Sep – Nov | 23–32°C | Green, fresh, fewer crowds |
Travel tips from our team
The things we tell every traveller before they go — learned from running these trips, not from a brochure.
- One night on the houseboat is plenty — two is a lot of sitting. We pair it with a land night instead.
- Munnar is 4–5 hours of hairpins from Kochi. Take it as a travel day, not a morning errand.
- Alcohol rules in Kerala are stricter than most of India — licensed hotels only, and dry days exist.
- Mosquito repellent for backwater nights is non-negotiable.
- Book Ayurvedic treatments through the hotel we recommend — unlicensed 'centres' are common near beaches.
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Kerala packages
We build Keralatrips to order rather than off a shelf. Tell us your dates and we'll send a written itinerary.
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