South India
Kerala
Backwaters, tea hills and the slow green south.
God's Own Country — serene backwaters, lush tea estates in Munnar, pristine beaches in Kovalam and ancient Ayurvedic traditions, from houseboat stays on the Alleppey backwaters to wildlife in Periyar.
Where to go in Kerala
- Alleppey (Alappuzha)
- Houseboat country — a network of canals, paddy fields and village life best seen from the water.
- Munnar
- Rolling tea estates in the Western Ghats, cool year round and walkable.
- Kochi
- Fort Kochi’s Chinese fishing nets, colonial streets and a strong arts and food scene.
- Periyar, Thekkady
- A wildlife reserve around a lake, with spice plantations nearby.
- Kovalam & Varkala
- Beach towns in the south — Varkala sits dramatically atop red cliffs.
- Wayanad
- Quieter highlands to the north, with waterfalls, caves and coffee country.
How to reach Kerala
By flight
Kochi, Trivandrum and Calicut international airports.
By train
Well connected to all major Indian cities along the coastal line.
By road
NH66 makes for a beautiful coastal drive between towns.
Travelling from Mumbai? We book the connecting flights or trains as part of your itinerary, so the arrival lines up with your first day on the ground.
Best time to visit Kerala
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| September – March | The main season. Comfortable, drier, and best for backwaters and beaches. |
| June – August | The southwest monsoon. Intensely green and quiet, and traditionally considered the best time for Ayurvedic treatment. |
| April – May | Hot and humid on the coast, though the hills around Munnar stay pleasant. |
What to eat in Kerala
Coconut, curry leaves, rice and seafood define Kerala cooking, and there are distinct Hindu, Syrian Christian and Moplah traditions worth trying separately. A traditional Sadya is served on a banana leaf and is entirely vegetarian.
- Appam & Stew
- Karimeen Pollichathu
- Puttu-Kadala
- Sadya
Travel tips for Kerala
One night on a houseboat is usually the sweet spot. Monsoon season is considered the best time for Ayurvedic treatments. Pack light cottons and something for sudden showers.
A few things worth settling before you fly: carry photo ID for every traveller (and passports if anyone is a foreign national), keep some cash on hand for smaller towns where card acceptance is patchy, and check that your phone plan covers data where you are going. If anyone in the group has mobility needs, dietary requirements or a medical condition, tell us at the planning stage rather than on arrival — it changes which stays and which routes we recommend.
Who a Kerala trip suits
We plan Kerala for families travelling together, couples, solo travellers and corporate groups, and the same destination looks quite different for each. A multi-generational family trip is built around shorter travel days, lifts and accessible rooms where they exist, and food everyone can eat. A couple's trip can afford to be more adventurous with routes and stays. A corporate group needs reliable connectivity and predictable timings above all else. When you tell us who is coming, that answer shapes almost every other decision in the itinerary.
How we plan your Kerala trip
- You tell us the idea. One WhatsApp message with a rough sense of when, who and how long is enough to start.
- We draft the itinerary. A day-by-day plan built around your budget and pace, with a reason behind each choice of route and stay.
- We refine it together. Swap a town, slow a day down, add a splurge. We revise until the plan reads like your trip, then book everything.
- You travel, we stay reachable. While you are away we remain one message away for changes, hiccups or a dinner recommendation.
Sample itinerary
Every Kerala itinerary we build starts from a blank page, so the shape of your trip depends on your dates, pace and who is travelling. Tell us roughly when you want to go and we will send a day-by-day plan for you to react to.
Kerala travel FAQs
Alleppey to Kumarakom through the paddy-lined canals is the classic — book a private boat for sunset on deck.
June–August is intensely green and quiet — ideal for Ayurveda retreats, less so for beaches.
Most travellers do both: one night on a houseboat for the experience, and the rest on land where you have more space and facilities. Houseboats moor for the night rather than cruising after dark.
Yes. Distances are short, roads are good, and the pace suits mixed groups. Backwater days are usually a hit with children.
Genuine treatment programmes run to a schedule and often need booking ahead, particularly in monsoon. A single massage is easy to arrange on the spot; a multi-day programme is not.
Planning a trip to Kerala?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will design the days around you and stay reachable while you are away.
Plan my Kerala trip