Kerala

28 Nov to 4 Dec 2026. Seven days from the Kochi harbour to the Varkala cliffs. All pure veg.

How the week flows

Kochi, then the tea hills of Munnar, the spice forests of Thekkady, one night on the backwaters (Alleppey or Kumarakom, your pick), the cliffs of Varkala, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple on the way to the airport.

Tap a day at the top to jump. Swipe pictures sideways. Tap any box with a + to open it.

7 days6 nights, 5 places
~19 hrsTotal driving in the week
12 to 32°CCool Munnar nights, warm coast
Pure vegFood tips every day
1

Sat 28 Nov | Kochi

Land in Kochi

🚗 Airport to Fort Kochi, about 1 hr 15 min
🛏 Kochi

Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi
Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi
Jew Street, Mattancherry
Jew Street, Mattancherry

The plan

  1. About 7:00 PMLand at Kochi airport. Driver meets you at arrivals.
  2. 8:15 PMCheck in at Fort Kochi, freshen up.
  3. 8:45 PMEasy dinner and an early night. Big day tomorrow.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Share your flight number with the driver so he tracks delays.
  • Order dinner in at the hotel if the flight runs late. Fort Kochi kitchens start closing around 10 PM.
  • Keep a light bag ready for the morning walk.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't plan sightseeing tonight, the drive from the airport is long.
  • Don't change too much cash at the airport, rates are poor.

Pure veg today

Ask your hotel for a pure veg dinner tonight. Fort Kochi has few pure veg restaurants open late.

🛏 Where to stay: live prices, 5 to 3 star

Live Booking.com prices for 2 adults, 1 room, taxes included, checked 14 Oct 2026. Tap a hotel to see today's price for your dates.

2

Sun 29 Nov | Kochi to Munnar

Fort Kochi morning, Munnar by evening

🚗 Kochi to Munnar, about 4 to 5 hr. Leave by 12:30 PM
🛏 Munnar

Jew Town, Mattancherry
Jew Town, Mattancherry
The road into Munnar
The road into Munnar

The plan

  1. 7:30 AMFishing nets in the morning light, when the fishermen are working.
  2. 8:30 AMBreakfast, then St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica.
  3. 9:45 AMMattancherry Palace murals, Paradesi Synagogue (open today), Jew Town spice shops.
  4. 11:45 AMEarly veg lunch.
  5. 12:30 PMLeave for Munnar. Short stops at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls.
  6. About 5:30 PMReach Munnar. First tea gardens near Pallivasal, just before town. Check in, rest.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Leave Kochi by 12:30 PM so most of the ghat road is in daylight. Sunset is around 6 PM.
  • Keep motion sickness tablets handy for the last 2 hours of bends.
  • Carry a jacket in the car, Munnar gets cold after dark.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't push the start later than 1 PM. Driving the hairpins in the dark is slow and tiring.
  • Don't expect a tea factory on this road. Tea starts only near Munnar, and the Tea Museum closes at 5 PM.
  • Don't buy 'homemade chocolate' on the roadside without checking for egg.

Pure veg today

Lunch in Kochi before leaving. In Munnar tonight: Saravana Bhavan or Sree Krishna Gujarati Marwari (pure veg).

🛏 Where to stay: live prices, 5 to 3 star

Live Booking.com prices for 2 adults, 1 room, taxes included, checked 14 Oct 2026. Tap a hotel to see today's price for your dates.

3

Mon 30 Nov | Munnar

Full day in the tea hills

🚗 Local sightseeing, about 3 to 4 hr of driving in total
🛏 Munnar

Tea estate near Munnar
Tea estate near Munnar
Morning mist over tea
Morning mist over tea

The plan

  1. 7:45 AMEravikulam National Park (Rajamala) at opening, for mist, views and the Nilgiri tahr.
  2. 11:30 AMWalk into the tea rows for photos. Lunch in town.
  3. 2:00 PMMattupetty Dam and lake. The Mattupetty tea factory is on this road, call ahead as Monday hours vary.
  4. 3:30 PMEcho Point and Kundala Lake.
  5. 4:45 PMTop Station for valley views at sunset, if the road is clear.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Book Eravikulam tickets online the day before.
  • Wear good walking shoes, the Rajamala walk is uphill.
  • Ask your driver to call the Mattupetty factory before you go.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't plan the Tata Tea Museum today. It is closed on Mondays.
  • Don't feed or touch the Nilgiri tahr.
  • Don't litter. Munnar is strict about plastic.

Pure veg today

Pack fruit and snacks for Eravikulam. Lunch at Saravana Bhavan or Shree Mahaveer Bhojanalay.

🛏 Where to stay: live prices, 5 to 3 star

Same hotel as last night. The Munnar prices on Day 2 cover both nights.

4

Tue 1 Dec | Thekkady

Tea factory, then wildlife

🚗 Munnar to Thekkady, about 3 to 3.5 hr plus the tea stop
🛏 Thekkady

Periyar Lake, Thekkady
Periyar Lake, Thekkady
Kathakali at Mudra Cultural Centre
Kathakali at Mudra Cultural Centre

The plan

  1. 7:15 AMShort Ayurvedic massage at the hotel (about 45 min to 1 hr).
  2. 8:45 AMCheck out. Drive out past Devikulam towards Lockhart Gap.
  3. 9:15 AMLockhart Tea Factory: guided tour of a working 1930s orthodox tea factory, tasting, shop (about 1 to 1.5 hr).
  4. 10:45 AMContinue to Thekkady through cardamom country.
  5. 1:45 PMReach Thekkady, quick lunch.
  6. 3:30 PMPeriyar Lake boat ride (afternoon slot).
  7. 5:00 PMKathakali, then Kalaripayattu show at 6 PM.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Book the Periyar boat online in advance. Afternoon slots sell out.
  • Confirm with your driver that the Thekkady route goes via Lockhart Gap. Most drivers use it.
  • Choose a 'Green Leaf' or 'Olive Leaf' certified centre for the massage.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't book the 3 to 4 hr Lockhart tea trail walk today. Keep it to the factory visit so you make the boat.
  • Don't eat a heavy meal right after the massage.
  • Don't buy spices from shops with no price labels.

Pure veg today

Ask your hotel for its veg kitchen. Look for 'pure veg' boards on the Kumily to Thekkady road.

🛏 Where to stay: live prices, 5 to 3 star

Live Booking.com prices for 2 adults, 1 room, taxes included, checked 14 Oct 2026. Tap a hotel to see today's price for your dates.

5

Wed 2 Dec | Alleppey or Kumarakom

Backwaters: pick one

🚗 Depends on option, about 3.5 to 4 hr
🛏 Houseboat or lake resort

Houseboat at Alappuzha
Houseboat at Alappuzha
Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom
Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom
Kumarakom backwaters
Kumarakom backwaters

🚗 Thekkady to Alleppey, about 4 hr

  1. 7:30 AMLeave Thekkady.
  2. 12:00 PMBoard in Alleppey, cruise Punnamada and Kuttanad canals.
  3. 1:30 PMVeg Kerala lunch on board.
  4. 5:30 PMAnchor for the night.
  5. Next 9 AMCheck out, drive to Varkala (about 3 to 3.5 hr).

Good

  • Most boats and routes to choose from
  • Village life, paddy fields, narrow canals
  • Lower prices, all budgets

Trade-offs

  • Busy in season, many boats on the water
  • More engine noise near the jetties
🛏 Where to stay

All meals on board. Ask for a pure veg cook when you book.

🚗 Thekkady to Kumarakom, about 3.5 to 4 hr

  1. 7:30 AMLeave Thekkady (optional Vagamon detour).
  2. 12:00 PMBoard at Kumarakom, cruise the open Vembanad Lake.
  3. 1:30 PMVeg lunch on board.
  4. 5:30 PMAnchor, big sunset over the lake.
  5. Next 6:30 AMBird Sanctuary walk before checkout.
  6. Next 9 AMDrive to Varkala (about 3.5 to 4 hr).

Good

  • Far fewer boats, calm water
  • Bird Sanctuary next door, migratory birds in this season
  • Newer, better kept premium boats

Trade-offs

  • Fewer narrow village canals
  • Generally pricier, few budget boats
  • Longer drive to Varkala next day
🛏 Where to stay

Fewer boats in Kumarakom, mostly premium. Confirm meals and a pure veg cook.

🚗 Thekkady to Kumarakom, about 3.5 to 4 hr

  1. 12:30 PMCheck in to a lakeside resort, lunch.
  2. 3:30 PM2 to 3 hr private houseboat or shikara cruise on Vembanad.
  3. 6:00 PMSunset from the resort jetty, Ayurveda or pool time.
  4. Next 6:30 AMBird Sanctuary walk.
  5. Next 10 AMDrive to Varkala.

Good

  • Proper room, pool and spa, easy for elders and kids
  • Still get time on the lake
  • Resort kitchens handle pure veg well

Trade-offs

  • You don't sleep on the water
  • Top resorts are expensive
🛏 Where to stay

Live Booking.com prices for 2 adults, 1 room, taxes included, checked 14 Oct 2026. Tap a hotel to see today's price for your dates.

Alleppey or Kumarakom?

PointAlleppeyKumarakom
CrowdBusy, many boatsQuiet, fewer boats
SceneryNarrow canals, villages, paddyWide open Vembanad Lake
NatureVillage lifeBird Sanctuary, migratory birds Oct to Feb
BoatsEvery budgetMostly premium and luxury
Stays on landMostly simpleTop lake resorts
Drive from ThekkadyAbout 4 hrAbout 3.5 to 4 hr

Column meanings: Point is what is being compared. Alleppey and Kumarakom show how each place does on that point.

Our pick for a quieter, family trip: Kumarakom. Pick Alleppey if you want the classic canal and village scene at a lower price.

Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Fix a pure veg menu when you book, and confirm again with the cook.
  • Carry mosquito repellent and a torch.
  • Keep valuables in your bag, not on the open deck.
  • In Kumarakom, carry binoculars for the Bird Sanctuary.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't expect to cruise at night. Boats must stop by evening by rule.
  • Don't take the cheapest boat. Check photos of the actual boat and AC timings.
  • Don't swim in the backwaters.

Pure veg today

All meals are on board. A good cook can do a full veg Kerala spread: avial, thoran, sambar, pachadi, payasam. Lake resorts in Kumarakom also cook pure veg on request.

6

Thu 3 Dec | Varkala

Cliffs and the sea

🚗 Alleppey to Varkala, about 3 to 3.5 hr
🛏 Varkala

Varkala cliff and beach
Varkala cliff and beach
Sunset from the cliff
Sunset from the cliff

The plan

  1. 9:00 AMBreakfast on board, houseboat checkout.
  2. 12:30 PMReach Varkala, check in, lunch.
  3. 3:30 PMWalk the North Cliff path: cafes, shops, sea views.
  4. 4:30 PMPapanasam beach and the old Janardhana Swamy Temple.
  5. 6:00 PMSunset from the cliff top.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Swim only between the lifeguard flags.
  • Use the stairs to go down to the beach, not the sandy slopes.
  • Dress modestly near the temple end of the beach.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't swim when red flags are up. Currents here are strong.
  • Don't walk near the cliff edge after dark, much of it has no railing.
  • Don't assume cliff cafes are pure veg. Most share one kitchen.

Pure veg today

Ask clearly for 'pure veg, no egg'. Many cafes have big veg menus.

🛏 Where to stay: live prices, 5 to 3 star

Live Booking.com prices for 2 adults, 1 room, taxes included, checked 14 Oct 2026. Tap a hotel to see today's price for your dates.

7

Fri 4 Dec | Trivandrum

Temple, then home

🚗 Varkala to Trivandrum, about 1.5 hr
🛏 Fly home

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Last look at Papanasam beach
Last look at Papanasam beach

The plan

  1. 7:00 AMQuiet morning at the beach, breakfast, pack.
  2. 9:00 AMCheck out and drive to Trivandrum.
  3. 10:30 AMSree Padmanabhaswamy Temple darshan before the noon closing.
  4. 12:30 PMLunch in Trivandrum.
  5. AfternoonRest or shop at Chalai market, then head to the airport for the evening flight.
Do, don’t and food

✅ Do

  • Follow the temple dress code. Men: dhoti (mundu), no shirt. Women: saree or a long skirt with a blouse. Dhotis can be rented at the gate.
  • Leave phones and cameras at the cloak room.
  • Keep 2 hours for the temple, queues vary.

⛔ Don't

  • Don't arrive after about 11:30 AM. The temple closes around noon and reopens in the evening.
  • Don't carry bags or electronics inside.
  • Don't cut the airport too fine. Allow 45 min from the city.

Pure veg today

Trivandrum has many pure veg restaurants. Ariya Nivaas near Thampanoor is a well known choice for a meals plate.

✈️ Flight home from Trivandrum airport tonight.

Getting around: travel options

The route is about 700 to 750 km over 7 days. Prices are for the whole trip with an AC vehicle, fuel, tolls and driver allowance, from recent Kerala taxi rate cards. Confirm parking and extra km rates before you book.

We have a car with driver for the full loop at ₹24,800. Hill roads to Munnar and Thekkady have no trains, and a driver saves you the hairpin bends.

Budget (excluding flights)

For 2 adults sharing one room. Hotel prices are live Booking.com rates with breakfast, checked on 14 Oct 2026. Tap any name to check today's price.

Hotels, one pick per level

Night3 star4 star5 star
Sat 28 Nov
Kochi		Abad Fort
₹3,938		Villa Elixir Fort Kochi
₹5,511		Taj Malabar Resort & Spa
₹30,444
Sun 29 Nov
Munnar (2 nights)		Chithirapuram Palace
₹9,961		Pleasant Hill Resort
₹11,130		The Leaf Munnar
₹21,769
Tue 1 Dec
Thekkady		Hotel Sandra Palace
₹4,515		Abad Green Forest Thekkady
₹7,560		Spice Village (CGH Earth)
₹26,784
Wed 2 Dec
Kumarakom or houseboat		Backwater Brook
₹5,670		Abad Whispering Palms
₹12,390		Coconut Lagoon (CGH Earth)
₹31,824
Thu 3 Dec
Varkala		The Meadows
₹5,929		Hindustan Beach Retreat
₹10,620		Hanric Amaranta Hotel & Beach Resort
₹15,718
Hotels total₹30,013₹47,211₹1,26,539

Column meanings: Night is the check-in date and the stop. Each star column shows our pick at that level and its total price for the stay, breakfast and taxes included. Munnar covers 2 nights.

Activities and tickets

Eravikulam and the Periyar boat are official prices. Others vary a little by centre, so carry cash. Skip the shikara if you take a houseboat.

Trip total

Cost3 star4 star5 star
Hotels₹30,013₹47,211₹1,26,539
Car with driver₹24,800₹24,800₹24,800
Activities (high end)₹13,720₹13,720₹13,720
Lunch and dinner, pure veg₹12,000₹15,000₹18,000
Tips and extras₹3,000₹3,000₹3,000
Trip total₹83,533₹1,03,731₹1,86,059
Per person₹41,766₹51,866₹93,030

Column meanings: Cost is the type of spend. Each star column is the total when you stay at that hotel level. The car is our ₹24,800 quote. Activities use the high end of each price. Food covers lunch and dinner, pure veg; breakfast is in the hotel price.

Pack

  • Light cottons for the coast
  • Jacket or shawl for Munnar
  • Walking shoes
  • Mosquito repellent, sunscreen
  • Dhoti or saree for the temple
  • Binoculars for Kumarakom

Pure veg phrases

  • "Pure veg, no egg, no fish."
  • Jain: "No onion, no garlic."
  • Ask for "meals" or "sadya"
  • Many thalis add fish curry, ask first

Book ahead

  • Eravikulam tickets (Day 3)
  • Lockhart Tea Factory visit (Day 4)
  • Periyar boat, afternoon slot (Day 4)
  • Houseboat or lake resort with veg cook (Day 5)
  • Car with driver for the week
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