Kerala tourist places, region by region
By Ganesh ·
The best places to visit in Kerala (Munnar, Alappuzha, Kochi, Thekkady, Varkala, Wayanad and more) grouped by region, with a 7-day route, costs, houseboat tips and the best time to go.
The short answer: the best tourist places in Kerala are Munnar (tea hills), Alappuzha and Kumarakom (backwaters and houseboats), Kochi (Fort Kochi's old town), Thekkady (Periyar Tiger Reserve), Varkala and Kovalam (cliffs and beaches), Wayanad (forests, caves and dams), Athirappilly (waterfalls) and Vagamon (meadows and pine forest). For a first trip, the classic one-week loop is Kochi → Munnar → Thekkady → Alappuzha → Varkala.
Updated for 2026. Costs and timings are approximate. Check before you book.
Kerala by region
Kerala is long and narrow (about 550 km from Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south) with hills to the east and the sea to the west. Thinking in three regions makes planning much easier.
Central Kerala (best for a first trip)
- Kochi: Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi's colonial lanes, Mattancherry's Jew Town and synagogue, the Dutch Palace, and a Kathakali performance in the evening.
- Munnar: rolling tea estates, Eravikulam National Park (home of the Nilgiri tahr; it closes for a few weeks in the calving season, usually around February–March), Mattupetty Dam, Top Station and the Tea Museum.
- Thekkady: boat rides on Periyar Lake inside the tiger reserve, guided nature walks and bamboo rafting, plus spice-plantation tours.
- Alappuzha (Alleppey) and Kumarakom: overnight houseboats on the backwaters, village canoe rides, and the Kumarakom bird sanctuary on Vembanad Lake.
- Vagamon: meadows, pine forest and paragliding, a quieter alternative to Munnar.
- Athirappilly and Vazhachal: Kerala's largest waterfall, about two hours from Kochi; most powerful just after the monsoon.
South Kerala
- Varkala: red laterite cliffs above the beach, cafés along the cliff path, and Papanasam beach.
- Kovalam: crescent beaches and the lighthouse, close to Thiruvananthapuram.
- Thiruvananthapuram: Padmanabhaswamy Temple (strict dress code), the Napier Museum, and day trips to Ponmudi hills.
North Kerala
- Wayanad: Edakkal Caves, Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruva Island and wildlife sanctuaries.
- Kozhikode: beaches, the halwa and spice markets of SM Street, and Malabar food.
- Kannur and Bekal: Theyyam performances (mainly October to May), Muzhappilangad drive-in beach and Bekal Fort.
How to reach Kerala
- By air: four international airports (Kochi (the best hub for central Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur) with direct flights from most Indian metros and the Gulf.
- By train: Kerala is well connected by long-distance trains; Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram are the main stations.
- Getting around: hire a car with a driver for hill areas (Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad); trains and KSRTC buses work well along the coast.
Best time to visit Kerala
September to March is the main season: post-monsoon greenery, calm seas and comfortable days. December–January is peak and pricier. April–May is hot and humid on the coast but pleasant in Munnar and Wayanad, and a big domestic holiday season. June to August is monsoon: dramatic and cheaper, ideal for Ayurveda treatments, but beaches are rough. Onam (August/September) and the Nehru Trophy snake-boat race on Punnamada Lake (August) are highlights. Search interest in Kerala trips peaks in May, March and November.
Sample 7-day Kerala itinerary
- Day 1 (Kochi): Fort Kochi, the fishing nets at sunset, a Kathakali show.
- Day 2 (Kochi to Munnar (about 4 hours)): Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls on the way, tea-estate viewpoints.
- Day 3 (Munnar): Eravikulam National Park in the morning, Tea Museum, Mattupetty and Echo Point.
- Day 4 (Munnar to Thekkady (about 3 hours)): spice plantation tour, Kalaripayattu show in the evening.
- Day 5 (Thekkady to Alappuzha): early Periyar boat ride, then drive down to board a houseboat around noon.
- Day 6 (Alappuzha to Varkala): leave the houseboat in the morning, drive south, sunset on the cliff.
- Day 7 (Varkala): beach morning, fly out from Thiruvananthapuram (about 1.5 hours away).
How much does a Kerala trip cost?
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Budget hotel or homestay (per night) | ₹1,500–₹3,500 |
| Mid-range hotel or resort (per night) | ₹4,000–₹9,000 |
| Houseboat, one bedroom, overnight with meals | ₹7,000–₹15,000 (premium boats more) |
| Car with driver (per day) | ₹2,500–₹4,000 |
| Entry fees (parks, museums, boat rides) | ₹50–₹500 per person per place |
| Meals per person per day | ₹500–₹1,500 |
A comfortable 7-day trip for two with a car, mid-range hotels and one houseboat night usually costs ₹45,000–₹80,000 excluding flights.
Practical tips
- Book houseboats directly with operators licensed by Kerala Tourism, and confirm what is included (meals, AC hours, cruise times).
- Temples such as Padmanabhaswamy and Guruvayur have strict dress codes (mundu or sari/churidar; shirts off for men in some temples).
- Carry rain gear even outside the monsoon, the north-east monsoon brings showers in October–November.
- Hill roads are slow; budget about 30–35 km per hour in Munnar and Thekkady.
- Try a full sadya (served on a banana leaf), appam with stew, and Malabar biryani in the north.
Plan it on Sancharees
Put your Kerala route into a Sancharees trip to see the drive times between Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alappuzha, keep your houseboat and hotel bookings together, and share a live itinerary with family.
FAQ
How many days are enough for Kerala?
Five days covers Kochi, Munnar and a houseboat; seven to eight days adds Thekkady and a beach. Ten days or more lets you include Wayanad or the north.
Which is the most beautiful place in Kerala?
Munnar's tea hills and the Alappuzha backwaters are the most photographed, but Wayanad, Vagamon and Varkala's cliffs are just as memorable.
Is Kerala good to visit in the monsoon?
Yes, if you like rain: it is green, quiet and cheaper, and the best season for Ayurveda. Beaches are not for swimming then, and hill roads can be affected by landslides.
Is a houseboat worth it?
For most first-time visitors, yes, one night is enough. A day cruise or a shikara ride is a cheaper alternative.
Photo: Nedumudy - Houseboat by Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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