Key takeaways
- Fly into Kochi and out of Thiruvananthapuram; Varkala is about 50 km and 1h–1h 15m from the airport.
- Spend 1 night in Kochi, 2 in Munnar, 1 in Thekkady, 1 on a houseboat and 1 in Varkala.
- Eravikulam National Park usually closes from about 1 February to 31 March for Nilgiri tahr calving.
- Houseboat prices can double between 20 December and 5 January; book it and the Munnar hotel first.
On this page
- Kerala 7-day itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Fort Kochi
- Days 2–3: Munnar
- Day 4: Thekkady (Periyar)
- Day 5: Periyar boat ride and the Alleppey houseboat
- Day 6: Varkala
- Day 7: Varkala to Thiruvananthapuram airport
- What to skip if you have 5 or 6 days
- What does a 7-day Kerala trip cost?
- Best time for this itinerary
- Our recommendation
- Sources we checked
Kerala 7-day itinerary at a glance
| Day | Route | Drive | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive Kochi; Fort Kochi and a Kathakali show | Airport–Fort Kochi about 45 km, 1h 15m–1h 30m | Kochi |
| Day 2 | Kochi to Munnar; Cheeyappara and Valara falls on the way | About 125 km from Fort Kochi, 4h | Munnar |
| Day 3 | Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point | Local | Munnar |
| Day 4 | Munnar to Thekkady; spice plantation walk; evening cultural show | About 90 km, 3h | Thekkady |
| Day 5 | Early Periyar boat ride; drive to Alleppey; board the houseboat around noon | About 140 km, 4h | Houseboat |
| Day 6 | Leave the boat at 09:00; drive to Varkala; cliff sunset | About 110 km, 2h 30m–3h | Varkala |
| Day 7 | Beach morning; fly out of Thiruvananthapuram | About 50 km, 1h–1h 15m | — |
Drive times are for a hired car with driver and include short stops. Kerala's hill roads are narrow and winding, so plan for an average of 30–35 km an hour in the hills.
Day 1: Fort Kochi
Fly into Kochi (Nedumbassery) and drive about 1h 15m–1h 30m to Fort Kochi. Walk past the Chinese fishing nets at sunset, St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and the Mattancherry and Jew Town lanes with their spice warehouses and antique shops. Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue are closed on certain days of the week, so check before you go.
In the evening, see a Kathakali show at one of Fort Kochi's cultural centres (about ₹400–500). Arrive an hour early to watch the performers apply their make-up, which is half the experience.
Where to stay: Fort Kochi for heritage homestays and cafés, or Ernakulam for cheaper hotels and an easier start to Munnar.
Days 2–3: Munnar
Leave by 08:00. Munnar is about 108 km from Kochi airport and a little more from Fort Kochi, roughly 3–4 hours by road. The road climbs through Kothamangalam and Adimali, with stops at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, which are fullest from June to December.
On Day 3, reach Eravikulam National Park early. Entry is about ₹200 for Indian adults, and a forest bus takes you from the gate to the Rajamala tourist zone to see the Nilgiri tahr. Tickets are sold online and at the counter, and weekends queue up early. Then visit the Tea Museum at Nallathanni, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point. The park usually closes from about 1 February to 31 March for the calving season, so check the official site.
Where to stay: Munnar town for budget hotels and easy food; Chithirapuram, Pallivasal or Chinnakanal for estate resorts with views. For travel options, see how to reach Munnar.
Day 4: Thekkady (Periyar)
Thekkady is about 90 km and 3 hours from Munnar, through cardamom and tea country via Poopara and Kumily. In the afternoon, take a guided spice plantation walk (about ₹300–500 per person) to see cardamom, pepper, cloves and nutmeg growing. Kumily town has evening Kalaripayattu (martial art) and Kathakali shows at several small theatres.
Where to stay: Kumily town, close to the Periyar Tiger Reserve gate, for an early start on Day 5.
Day 5: Periyar boat ride and the Alleppey houseboat
Take the first Periyar Lake boat ride at about 07:30, when animals such as elephants, gaur and sambar come to the water. Boats leave several times a day (about 07:30, 09:30, 11:15, 13:45 and 15:30). Fares vary by operator, from about ₹255 on the Forest Department boat to about ₹450 on the KTDC boat; book on the official Periyar Tiger Reserve or KTDC site, as tickets sell out. Report at the counter at least 30 minutes early.
Drive about 4 hours to Alleppey (Alappuzha) via Kottayam and board by noon or soon after. A private 1-bedroom houseboat with meals costs about ₹9,000–12,000 for deluxe, ₹13,000–18,000 premium and ₹19,000–30,000 or more for luxury. Boats cruise until about 17:30, moor for the night under local rules and finish at 09:00. Tell your operator you will arrive by 13:00 so lunch is not missed. Read how to reach Alleppey from Kochi for other ways to get there.
Day 6: Varkala
From Alleppey, drive about 110 km south on NH66 to Varkala, 2h 30m–3h. The red laterite cliff above Papanasam beach is lined with cafés, shops and yoga studios, and the beach is best in the late afternoon. Swim only between the lifeguard flags; currents can be strong. Janardhana Swamy Temple, about 2,000 years old by tradition, is a short walk inland.
Where to stay: North Cliff for cafés and sea views; South Cliff or Odayam for quieter stays.
Day 7: Varkala to Thiruvananthapuram airport
Spend the morning on the beach or at Kappil Lake, where the backwaters meet the sea, about 15 minutes north. The drive to Thiruvananthapuram airport is about 50 km and 1h–1h 15m. If your flight is in the evening, stop at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple (strict dress code; no phones inside) or Shanghumugham Beach near the airport.
What to skip if you have 5 or 6 days
- 6 days: drop Thekkady and drive Munnar–Alleppey directly (about 5 hours).
- 5 days: drop Varkala too and return to Kochi; follow our Kerala 5-day itinerary.
- Do not add Wayanad or Kovalam to 7 days; both need extra driving days.
What does a 7-day Kerala trip cost?
Our 5-day cost guides show about ₹46,000–90,000 for two on the shorter loop, depending on the city and budget level: see the Kerala trip cost from Hyderabad, from Chennai and from Mumbai. This 7-day route adds two nights (Thekkady and Varkala), two more days of car hire, a Periyar boat ride and a spice walk.
| Item | Cost for two |
|---|---|
| Two extra hotel nights (Thekkady and Varkala) | ₹7,000 |
| Two extra days of car hire, including one-way drop to Thiruvananthapuram | ₹7,500 |
| Food for two extra days | ₹3,000 |
| Periyar boat, spice walk and cultural show | ₹2,500 |
| Subtotal | ₹20,000 |
| 10% buffer | ₹2,000 |
| Extra over the 5-day trip | ₹22,000 |
So a mid-range 7-day trip from Chennai is about ₹81,620 + ₹22,000 = ₹1.04 lakh for two. Flying out of Thiruvananthapuram instead of Kochi rarely changes the fare much from southern metros.
Best time for this itinerary
| Months | Hills (Munnar, Thekkady) | Backwaters and Varkala |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Green, some afternoon rain | Calm; Varkala season starting |
| December–January | Dry and cool, busiest | Best weather; peak houseboat prices |
| February–March | Dry; Eravikulam usually closed | Warm, calm sea, good value |
| April–May | Pleasant, summer crowds | Hot and humid |
| June–September | Heavy monsoon rain, landslide risk | Rough sea at Varkala; many cafés close |
Our recommendation
Seven days is the ideal length for a first Kerala trip if you want both hills and a beach. Book the houseboat and the Munnar hotel first, as they fill earliest, then the Periyar boat once your dates are fixed. If you are still choosing between Kerala and a Goa beach holiday, read Kerala vs Goa.
Sources we checked
Checked on 20 October 2026. Official sources win if anything here differs.
- https://www.keralatourism.org/faq/how-far-is-munnar-from-cial
- https://eravikulamnationalpark.in/
- https://www.periyartigerreserve.org/
- https://www.ktdc.com/
- https://www.abadhotels.com/green-forest-resort-thekkady/blogs/periyar-boating.html
Prices checked October 2026. We re-check every 90 days. Spotted something out of date? Write to taazeem@choose4choice.com.
Frequently asked questions
Are 7 days enough for Kerala?
Yes. Seven days covers Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, a houseboat night in Alleppey and the Varkala cliff without rushing.
What is the best route for a Kerala trip?
Kochi – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey – Varkala, flying into Kochi and out of Thiruvananthapuram so you do not backtrack.
How far is Thekkady from Munnar?
About 90 km, or 3 hours by road.
How much is the Periyar boat ride?
About ₹255 on the Forest Department boat and about ₹450 on the KTDC boat. Book on the official sites, as early-morning slots sell out.
Is Varkala better than Kovalam?
For this route, yes: Varkala is on the way from Alleppey to Thiruvananthapuram and has the cliff-top cafés. Kovalam is south of the city and adds driving.
How much does a 7-day Kerala trip cost for two?
About ₹1.04 lakh mid-range from Chennai, including flights, a houseboat night and a 10% buffer. Budget travellers who take the train can do it for about ₹60,000–65,000.
