Kerala in 7 Days: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, the Backwaters and Varkala
By Ganesh ·
A one-week Kerala route from colonial Kochi to the tea hills of Munnar, the spice gardens of Thekkady, the Alappuzha backwaters and the cliffs of Varkala, with tips on seasons, food and getting around.
Kerala packs a remarkable amount into a narrow strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. In a single week you can wander a centuries-old port town, sleep among tea plantations, walk through spice gardens, drift along palm-lined canals and end on a clifftop beach. This guide lays out a relaxed seven-day loop that we think works well for a first visit.
When to go: monsoon or dry season?
Kerala has two monsoons. The southwest monsoon usually arrives around June and brings heavy rain through roughly September; a shorter northeast monsoon follows around October and November. The dry season, roughly December to March, is the most popular time to travel: skies are clearer, the hills are pleasant and beach days are reliable. April and May are hot and humid on the coast, though the hills stay cooler.
Do not write off the monsoon. The landscape turns an intense green, waterfalls are at their fullest, crowds thin out, and many Ayurveda centres consider this the traditional season for treatments. Expect some road delays in the hills and rough seas, so beaches are better for walking than swimming. If you travel in August or September you may also catch Onam, Kerala's harvest festival, and the famous snake boat races on the backwaters.
A 7-day Kerala itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kochi
Fly into Kochi and base yourself in Fort Kochi, the historic quarter shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British traders. Take it easy on arrival: walk along the waterfront to see the Chinese fishing nets at sunset and find a café in the shaded lanes.
Day 2: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry
Spend the morning around Mattancherry: the Mattancherry Palace (often called the Dutch Palace) with its murals, the spice warehouses and antique shops of Jew Town, and the Paradesi Synagogue. In the evening, watch a Kathakali performance; many venues let you arrive early to see the elaborate make-up being applied.
Day 3: Drive to Munnar
The road climbs into the Western Ghats, passing waterfalls and spice stalls before the hillsides turn into rolling tea estates. Allow most of the day for the drive and stops. Settle in, put on a sweater and enjoy the cooler air.
Day 4: Munnar
Visit a tea museum or factory to see how leaf becomes tea, then walk through the plantations. Eravikulam National Park is home to the Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found only in this region; check whether the park is open before you go, as it closes seasonally. Viewpoints and dams around town make easy half-day outings.
Day 5: Thekkady
Head south to Thekkady, gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but a boat trip on Periyar Lake or a guided nature walk often brings elephants, bison, deer and birds. Afterwards, tour a spice plantation to see cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and vanilla growing.
Day 6: Alappuzha backwaters
Descend to the coast at Alappuzha (Alleppey) and board a houseboat, a converted rice barge called a kettuvallam. You will glide past paddy fields, village jetties and churches while the crew cooks Kerala meals on board. If an overnight stay feels like too much, a day cruise or a small canoe trip through narrower canals is a lovely alternative.
Day 7: Varkala
Finish at Varkala, where red laterite cliffs drop to the beach. Walk the clifftop path, watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea and visit the old Janardhana Swamy temple nearby. Thiruvananthapuram's airport is close by for your onward flight.
Short on time? Drop Thekkady and go straight from Munnar to Alappuzha. Have more time? Add a night in Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake or extend your beach days in Varkala.
What to eat
- Sadya: a vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf, especially during Onam.
- Appam with stew: lacy rice pancakes with a mild coconut-milk curry, a classic breakfast.
- Puttu and kadala curry: steamed rice cylinders with black chickpea curry.
- Karimeen pollichathu: pearl spot fish wrapped in banana leaf and roasted, a backwater speciality.
- Kerala parotta with a spicy curry, and fish moilee in coconut milk.
- Plenty of fresh coconut water, banana chips and cardamom-scented tea in the hills.
Getting around
Many visitors hire a car with a driver for the hill section, since the routes to Munnar and Thekkady are winding and public transport is slower. Along the coast, trains connect Kochi, Alappuzha, Varkala and Thiruvananthapuram conveniently, and state-run buses reach almost everywhere. Auto-rickshaws are easy for short hops; agree on a fare or ask for the meter before you set off. Distances look short on a map, but hill roads take time, so avoid squeezing too many stops into one day.
Practical tips
- Dress modestly outside beach areas, and cover shoulders and knees at temples, churches and mosques. Some temples restrict entry to Hindus; follow the signs.
- Remove your shoes before entering homes and places of worship.
- Carry layers for Munnar, where evenings can be chilly, and rain gear in the monsoon.
- Book houseboats with operators who are licensed and have good recent reviews, and confirm what is included before you board.
- Check current entry rules, timings and any seasonal closures on official sources before visiting parks and monuments.
- Use insect repellent, especially around the backwaters at dusk.
- For Ayurveda, look for established centres with qualified practitioners rather than roadside spas.
Plan it in Sancharees
Create a trip in Sancharees and add each stop on this route to its day, from Fort Kochi to Varkala, so the whole week is visible on one map. Forward your flight and hotel confirmation emails to your booking inbox and they will land on the right days automatically. Then share the trip with your travel companions so everyone sees the same plan.
Photos: A kettuvallam houseboat on the Kerala backwaters by Kv Gopalakrishnan, CC BY 3.0 · Munnar town among the hills by Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Periyar lake and forest, Thekkady by Wouter Hagens, Public domain · Varkala beach below the cliffs by Devender Goyal, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Houseboat on the backwaters near Alappuzha by Augustus Binu, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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