From the above listed major tourist destinations, make a list of places you wish to cover in Kerala.
I shall be writing about all these places in detail below with travel time required for each. After reading this post, you would be in a position to finalize the places to visit depending on your leave from office. Once places of visit and number of nights in each destination are finalized, Itinerary can be prepared with ease.
Cochin:
If you are short in time, I suggest you to move directly to your first destination from Cochin. This can be Munnar which is 4 to 5hrs drive from Cochin, Thekkady which is 5hrs drive, Alleppey 2hrs, Guruvayoor 2hrs and Athirapilly-vazhachal, a short 2hrs drive. If you want Kovalam as your first destination, it is better to arrive at Trivandrum instead of having a hectic travel of 6 to 7hrs on the same day of arrival.
For every travel you need to consider halting time in between for sightseeing, food etc. If your first destination is Alleppey Houseboat, make sure you reach Cochin at least by 9AM so that you can check in to Houseboat at 12Noon. If your arrival is after 10AM at Cochin, then don’t plan Alleppey Houseboat cruise on the same day as check in to houseboat is at 12Noon and check out is at 9AM next day. If you are reaching Cochin after 3PM, then don’t plan any travel on that day. In this case best option is to stay in a hotel near to airport or railway station depending how you come to Cochin. Most of the hotels near to airport gives free pick up from airport thus can save money on vehicle on that day. Do inform your travel agent about your mode of arrival to book hotel accordingly. Cochin airport is almost 20km from Cochin city/railway station.
If you are planning to stay at Cochin on arrival day, normally check in time of all hotels is 12 Noon and if you are reaching early morning, do inform this in advance to your travel agent. In this case you can request for early check in. Most of the hotels allow this subject to room availability and do note that breakfast will not be complimentary for this day.
If you are planning to travel to other destination on the same day, I suggest you to start directly to that destination instead of having a half day sightseeing of Cochin and then traveling to next destination. If you are arriving Cochin by train or bus or after a long flight travel, try to refresh yourself before driving from Cochin to your next destination. This helps you to enjoy the trip right from beginning and can visit all sightseeing on the way. Coordinating your first destination in accordance with your arrival time is very important.
Munnar:
Munnar, a hill station, is one of the most beautiful places in Kerala. There are lots of Tea plantations and more than a dozen places to see near Munnar. This is a must see place if you are visiting Kerala. Climate will be mostly cold throughout the year. Munnar is 140km from Cochin.
If you are traveling to Munnar, you should try to stay there at least for 2 nights. For your onward journey, travel time listed from Cochin is 4 to 5hrs, but in practical you will reach Munnar in about 7 to 8 hrs only. There are lots of sightseeing spots in between. You can enjoy waterfalls and rolling hillside with tea gardens on the way. During this travel enjoy as much as you can on the day and don’t be in a rush to reach Munnar. You can even visit spice plantations on the way. After enjoying the scenery, you will be reaching Munnar by evening only.
If you feel like, you can spend some time in the market. If your hotel is away from Munnar town, try to have food and finish all activities in town and move to hotel. Coming back from hotel to town in night is not a good idea as there can be fog in the road and driving is not safe.
Second day should be dedicated for sightseeing in and around Munnar. If you want to cover almost all places, try to start sightseeing by 8.30. Or you can choose places to visit according to your interest and mood. Purchase spices, tea etc. while you go for shopping.
Selecting the resort/hotel is most important while you are in Munnar. Every hotel in Munnar is not in town, you will find hotels within a radius of approximately 30km from Munnar. Most of the good resorts are away from city. If you are a person who wishes to stay in city, do make sure the hotel you select is in city itself. If you want to be away from all traffic and love to have a relaxed mood select a resort/hotel accordingly. While approaching any tour operator, if you have a specific choice, make sure you communicate this clearly.
It is always better to do a Google search on the hotel selected. Nobody can tell you whether you will like a hotel or not. As this is very subjective and depends upon your interests and background. Personally I like to stay away from city when I am on holiday and used to prefer hotels outside the city. But for business trips, I prefer city hotels.
A normal package can be prepared with 2 night stay at Munnar. If you wish to stay at Munnar for 3 nights, you will get a lot of time to relax. A package with one night in Munnar is not that advisable. I have seen many times people taking package with one night at Munnar and one night at Alleppey when they have only 3 days to spend. This is not a good idea as they will not be able to cover neither Munnar nor Alleppey.
From Munnar, you can travel to next destinations like Thekkady, Alleppey, or Cochin. Moving to Kovalam directly from Munnar is not a good idea as travelling time would be minimum 10hrs. If you are moving to Cochin to catch return flight/train do make sure you have minimum 6hrs in between, as you may even stop for food during this travel. So do your time planning accordingly.
Distance to various places from Munnar
- Distance from Munnar to Madurai – 130KM
- Distance from Munnar to Cochin – 135KM
- Distance from Munnar to Aluva – 130KM
- Distance from Munnar to Theni – 165KM
- Distance from Munnar to Thekkady – 110KM
- Distance from Munnar to Trivandrum – 280KM
- Distance from Munnar to Alleppey – 190km
- Distance from Munnar to Kodaikkanal – 180km
Thekkady:
To watch wild life closely, you need to go for boating through the Periyar River. Wild animals, forest areas of Periyar sanctuary and Mullapperiyar dam from long view can only be seen during this boating. Vehicles are not allowed inside the sanctuary for sightseeing.
Boating in Thekkady has fixed timings and the guest need to be personally in the queue to get tickets. You need to give your personal details as well as show ID card while taking this ticket. Depending on season, the rush for boating varies. In peak seasons, there might be heavy rush, so try to be in queue at least 3 to 4 hrs before the departure time.
Thekkady has lot of activities/shows running in the evening. If interested, you can watch Kalarippayattu (martial arts of Kerala), Kathakali, Magic show, musical fountain, tribal dance etc. You can also go for Ayurveda massage, Elephant ride, Elephant bath, Elephant shower, Spice plantation tour etc. You can plan for boating through Periyar River as well above activities if you have one night stay at Thekkady. Unless you are interested in adventurous activities, don’t stay for more than 2 nights there. If you are opting for two night’s stay, you can relax on the second day enjoying the wilderness of Thekkady..
If you are an adventurous person, this is the place for you. Plan for 2 or 3 nights at Thekkady and you get to do all sorts of adventure activities here. You can go for Gavi tour which includes full day Jeep safari, trekking etc., bamboo rafting, eco-tourism, nature walk, night patrolling etc. Go through the details for these activities and fix the number of days you want to stay at Thekkady.
From Thekkady you can move to Alleppey, Munnar, Cochin, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Kodaikkanal (Tamil Nadu). Again Kovalam is not a good idea as there will be lot of traveling.
Distance to various places from Thekkady
- Distance from Thekkady to Kumily – 4km
- Distance from Thekkady to Munnar – 110km
- Distance from Thekkady to Alleppey – 150km
- Distance from Thekkady to Cochin – 170km
- Distance from Thekkady to Kodaikkanal – 120km
Houseboat Cruise in Alleppey:
Alleppey is famous for Kerala style houseboats. Alleppey has a good beach also. A houseboat cruise is a different experience and should not miss this if you have enough holidays with you. Houseboats give a different feel than staying in a hotel. These floating villas have dining hall, rooms with bath rooms and kitchens. Number of rooms varies from one to nine as of now.
Houseboat cruise can be of two types; you can either opt for a 21hrs overnight cruise or can take morning cruise for 5 to 6 hrs.
If you are opting for morning cruise, you have to check-in at 10AM and check-out will be at 4 or 5 PM depending on the cruise provider you opt. In this case, you will be greeted with welcome drink (lime juice or tender coconut) and will serve lunch prepared in boat and evening snacks. Boat will cruise through the inland canals, backwaters and lakes. And you can also watch the long stretch of paddy fields at Alleppey (Kuttanad). This cruise, I am sure, will be one of the most memorable experiences of your lifetime.
Boat will halt during lunch timings and food is prepared in the boat itself. The boat will have a Captain (driver), Cook and sometimes a helper too depending on the size of boat. These boats are engine driven.
For overnight stay houseboat cruise (21hrs), you need to check-in to your houseboat at 12 Noon and check-out will be at 9 AM next day. The boat will take you for a cruise at 12 Noon and will be going around till lunch time. The boat will halt for lunch and after lunch it cruises till 5.30 to 6PM and then anchors till next day morning. You will be cruising again next day for at least an hour before check out.
For this kind of cruise, you will be getting welcome drink, lunch, evening snacks, tea, dinner and breakfast for the next day morning. Food is prepared in the boat itself and all boats will have their fixed menu. They take your food preference before you reach Alleppey and raw materials will be stored in boat before it leaves the shore.
If you are a non-vegetarian, you will be getting rice, vegetable (2types), fish fry, curd, pickles, pappad, Sambar for lunch and chicken, chappathy, rice, vegetable curry, dal for dinner. If you are a vegetarian, the menu is similar with some changes. It will be Payasam instead of fish fry for lunch and one more variety of veg curry instead of chicken for dinner. For breakfast, it will be idly-sambar, omelet and bread butter jam.
It’s always advisable to inform them in advance if you have any specific preference as once you start the journey getting raw materials is not easy. If you have children with you and want more milk or such food, don’t forget to inform that in advance. During the cruise, you can purchase prawns, extra fish on your own (if you feel like). The crew will cook and serve that for you.
If you are opting for A/C Houseboat, unless specifically mentioned A/C operates from 9 PM to 6 AM only. If you require full time A/C or need extra hours, then inform the houseboat operator in advance. You will be charged extra unless your package is with full time A/C houseboat. If you want extra A/C time, they need to carry extra fuel with them and unless you tell in advance, this will be difficult.
While on board, do close the windows and doors of your room in the evening. As it is in water and flies may enter in the evening. Houseboats are normally parked in a safe place where the owner of houseboat has easy access or is near to his house. Houseboats are of different categories and rooms may not be as big as your hotel room.
The biggest disadvantage of houseboat is that if there is some issue with A/C or TV in the night, it may not be able to get it repaired till next day. To get an electrician late night to that halting place may not be possible. But such things happen very rarely.
Depending on your interest, either go for 21hrs cruise or take a morning cruise and then stay in a resort at Alleppey or Kumarakom.
Kumarakom and Alleppey Resorts:
Alleppey is famous for Houseboats, backwater resorts and beach whereas Kumarakom is for Houseboats and backwater resorts. Both are just 30km apart. Both places have descent resorts as well as houseboats. Depending on the option selected, you may move to that place. You can plan for a resort stay either after a Houseboat morning cruise or for the next night after overnight cruise.
If you have enough days, I always suggest taking one night stay in a resort after your Houseboat cruise. In most cases, you will be reaching Alleppey or Kumarakom after 3 night stay at Munnar, Thekkady or any other places and a resort stay here will definitely relax you.
You can either move back to Cochin to catch your flight back or can travel ahead to Kovalam after this relaxing stay.
While selecting a resort at Kumarakom or Alleppey, make sure you do enough research. Make sure the resort is as per your liking because there are few things to do at when you are in a Kumarakom/Alleppey resort. You can visit Alleppey beach in the evening and can relax. Some backwater resorts do provide additional facilities like pedal boating, swimming pool and Ayurvedic spa. And there are resorts providing countryside boating, fishing and cooking class. This resort can be either at Alleppey, Kumarakom and I know some good backwater resorts on the way to Cochin also.
Once you are done with Alleppey and Kumarakom , you have several options. It depends upon your travel plan. You can either move towards Cochin and return back home on the same evening or stay at Cochin and travel to Guruvayoor or Athirapilly-Vazhachal on the next day. Or you can move to south from Alleppey to visit Kovalam, Trivandrum, Varkala and Kanyakumari. You also have the option of going to Thekkady or Munnar from here if you started the tour from Trivandrum. Alleppey lies almost midway between Trivandrum from Cochin.
Distance to various places from Alleppey
your vehicle will find it difficult in pulling through hills. There
should be space to keep your luggage also while selecting the vehicle.
- Distance from Alleppey to Cochin – 80km
- Distance from Alleppey to Munnar – 190km
- Distance from Alleppey to Thekkady – 140km
- Distance from Alleppey to Trivandrum – 170km
- Distance from Alleppey to Kovalam – 180km
- Distance from Alleppey to Kanyakumari – 250km
Trivandrum/Kovalam:
While at Trivandrum, it’s advisable to stay at Kovalam which is famous for its beach. If you are really in a tight schedule, one night stay is sufficient but we recommend two night stay to fully enjoy this place. When you have two nights at Kovalam, you can visit Trivandrum one day and next day you can visit Kovalam beaches. Select resort as per your interest at Kovalam.
There are some luxury resorts at Poovar also. Poovar is a place just 14km from Kovalam and is famous for its estuary, where backwater and sea meet! To fully unwind you can extend your stay for one more night, either at Kovalam or at Poovar.
If Kovalam is your last destination, try to book return ticket from Trivandrum which helps you to spend enough time at this place and to avoid long journey of 6 to 7 hrs to Cochin. If your return ticket is from Cochin, try to leave Kovalam at least 8 hrs in advance to be on the safer side. And if the return ticket is for morning flight/train from Cochin, make sure you stay at Cochin instead of rushing from Kovalam on the last day.
From Kovalam, you can do day-visit to Kanyakumari. You can spend one night at Kanyakumari, if you have time. Kanyakumari is 90km from Trivandrum and is almost 2hrs drive. There is Kerala-Tamil Nadu check post in between.
If your tour is starting from Trivandrum, you have the choices of moving to Kanyakumari, Varkala, Alleppey, Cochin from here.
Distance to various places from Trivandrum
- Distance from Trivandrum to Cochin – 250km
- Distance from Trivandrum to Munnar – 310km
- Distance from Trivandrum to Thekkady – 270km
- Distance from Trivandrum to Kovalam – 13km
- Distance from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari – 90km
Kanyakumari:
Though Kanyakumari is not in Kerala, if you are travelling up to Trivandrum it is recommended to visit this place. Try to have one night stay at Kanyakumari so that you can see the sunset as well as the sunrise. Make sure you reach Kanyakumari before 4PM to see the sunset. If you are on a tight schedule, a day trip to Kanyakumari from Trivandrum is also recommended.
If you are staying overnight, you can visit the temple in the evening when the crowd is less. At around 7PM, there are lots of rituals happening there. When I go, I visit the temple at 6PM, have darshan and stay inside the temple till 8PM and come back to hotel. Then I wake up at 2.30AM and visit the temple again early morning at 3.30AM and come back to hotel. During this time, rush will be less and one can go inside quickly.
There is an elephant Sanctuary near to temple where you can see more than 60 elephants and is a must see place if you are visiting Guruvayoor temple.
Athirapilly-Vazhachal Waterfalls:
Cherai Beach:
Cherai is ideal for a beach visit and is only 30km from Cochin. Either you can have overnight stay here or visit if you have enough time.
Wayanad:
Hope with the above details, you will be now in a position to chart your travel itinerary with the destinations chosen and number of nights to be spent at each location decided.
Get Route Plan Done
Some suggested route plans are mentioned below. Depending on your interest, you may decide on the number of days to be spent at each destination. You may skip any place in between also. As km is also mentioned, this will help you to get the routing done easily for your holidays.If arrival is at Cochin
- Cochin – (135 km) – Munnar – (110 km) – Thekkady– (160 km) – Alleppey resort – Alleppey Houseboat – (80 km) – Cochin
- Cochin – (135 km) – Munnar – (110 km) – Thekkady– (160 km) – Alleppey resort –Alleppey Houseboat – (80 km) – Varkala – (150 km) – Kanyakumari– (90 km) – Trivandrum/Kovalam – (230 km) – Cochin
- Cochin – (80 km) – Alleppey resort –Alleppey Houseboat – (210 km) – Kanyakumari– (90 km) – Trivandrum/Kovalam – (230 km) – Cochin
- Cochin – (135 km) – Munnar – (110 km) – Thekkady– (160 km) – Alleppey resort –Alleppey Houseboat – (80 km) – Cochin – (90 km) – Guruvayoor– (140 km) – Athirapillyvazhachal– (70 km) – Cochin
- Cochin – (300 km) – Wayanad– (300 km) – Cochin – (135 km) – Munnar –
(110 km) – Thekkady– (160 km) – Alleppey resort –Alleppey Houseboat –
(80 km) – Varkala – (150 km) – Kanyakumari – (90 km) –
Trivandrum/Kovalam Cochin
- Trivandrum/Kovalam – (90 km) – Kanyakumari – (150 km) – Varkala – (80 km) – Alleppey Houseboat –Alleppey resort – (160 km) – Thekkady – (110 km) – Munnar – (135 km) – Cochin
Selecting Vehicle
In Kerala, finding an Indica with carrier is difficult. If you are just 2 or 3 people traveling but require
better luxury go for Indigo instead of Indica. If there are 4 to 7 persons, then choose Tavera and for more luxury Innova can be selected.
If there are 8 or more people in your group, then travel in Tempo traveler. Do note that when you are on this holiday trip, you are travelling
approximately 150km every day that too through hilly areas. If you try to save money by congesting yourself in a vehicle, then your travel will not be relaxing. Not only that
your vehicle will find it difficult in pulling through hills. There
should be space to keep your luggage also while selecting the vehicle.
Luggage/Cash/ID card
Do carry ID card of every person who travels with you. ID card is required at the time of check-in at hotels.
I hope this article helps you in planning your Kerala trip smoothly and to decide the itinerary. You may contact me at director@paradise-kerala.com for any clarifications required. I would be the happiest person in this world to clarify you. I am reachable on 9947876214 any time.
If you find me wrong anywhere in the article, I am open for discussion and will be updating the same.
Thank you very much and wish you a great Kerala experience.
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