Kerala Tour Packages & Travel Guide: Know Kerala Before You Go

When is the best time to visit Kerala?

The best time to visit Kerala is October to February, when temperatures stay between 23°C and 32°C across most of the state. Hill stations like Munnar stay cooler year-round. The monsoon season, from June to September, suits Ayurveda retreats but limits outdoor sightseeing at beaches and backwaters.

Kerala experiences two monsoon periods each year. The southwest monsoon arrives in June and lasts until August. The northeast monsoon follows in October and typically ends by November.

Munnar, a hill station in the Idukki district at roughly 1,600 metres above sea level, stays pleasant even in April and May, when coastal Kerala turns humid. Travellers who want to avoid peak-season hotel premiums often plan trips in September or early October, just after the main monsoon recedes.

Beach destinations like Kovalam and Varkala are best visited between November and March. Alleppey backwaters are accessible year-round but are most comfortable from October to March. Understanding the season by zone helps you pick dates that match your priorities, which shapes how Kerala travel packages are structured by duration and inclusions. For a month-by-month view, our complete Kerala travel guide covers seasonal timing in more detail.

What are the top places to visit in Kerala?

Kerala's top destinations include Alleppey for backwaters, Munnar for tea estates and trekking, Thekkady for wildlife, Kovalam and Varkala for beaches, Wayanad for forests, and Kochi for heritage and culture. Most 6-night packages cover three to four of these destinations in a single trip.

Alleppey, also called Alappuzha, is a backwater town in central Kerala known for its houseboat network across Vembanad Lake. A standard houseboat stay in Alleppey lasts one night and covers a fixed route through the canals, which is why it anchors most Kerala backwater packages.

Munnar is a hill station in Idukki district, situated at approximately 1,600 metres, and is known for its tea plantations managed by Tata Tea and other estates. Munnar also serves as the base for trekking routes to Anamudi, the highest peak in South India at 2,695 metres.

Thekkady is a wildlife destination in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, covering 925 sq km on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Thekkady offers boat safaris on Periyar Lake and guided jungle walks.

Kochi, Kerala's commercial capital, holds Fort Kochi, a heritage neighbourhood with Dutch, Portuguese, and British architectural influence. The Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi are a well-documented landmark dating back to the 14th century.

Wayanad is a highland district in northern Kerala, bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, known for bamboo forests, tribal heritage sites, and waterfalls like Soochipara and Meenmutty. Each destination has a distinct character, so the right combination depends on trip length and traveller preference.

What does a Kerala tour package typically include?

A standard Kerala tour package starts at ₹24,999 per person for 5 nights and 6 days, covering accommodation in 3-star hotels, a houseboat stay, airport or railway station transfers, private-cab sightseeing, and daily breakfast. Flight costs are usually separate unless specified. Exact inclusions vary by package tier and number of nights.

Kerala tour packages are generally structured around three broad tiers: standard, deluxe, and premium. Standard packages, starting at ₹24,999 per person, use 3-star hotels and a basic houseboat. Deluxe packages, typically ranging from ₹35,000 to ₹55,000 per person, include 4-star resorts and an upgraded air-conditioned houseboat. Premium packages, priced at ₹60,000 per person and above, use 5-star properties and private pool villas where available.

Houseboat stays in Alleppey are a core inclusion in most Kerala packages. A standard houseboat includes one bedroom, a dining area, a sun deck, and a crew of two. An air-conditioned houseboat costs more but is worth it for travel between March and May.

Sightseeing is typically covered by a private cab with a driver, which lets you set your own pace at each stop. Shared transfers or buses aren't part of the standard structure. Ayurveda treatments, spice garden visits, and cooking classes are optional add-ons, and popular ones for anyone planning a Kerala honeymoon package built around slower, romantic days.

What is a typical Kerala itinerary for 6 nights and 7 days?

A 6-night Kerala itinerary typically covers Kochi on arrival, Munnar for two nights, Thekkady for one night, and Alleppey for one houseboat night before departure from Kochi or Trivandrum. This route covers highlands, wildlife, and backwaters in a single trip without excessive travel time.

How does Day 1 in Kochi work on a Kerala trip?

Day 1 begins with arrival at Cochin International Airport, located in Nedumbassery, 30 km from Fort Kochi. A driver meets travellers at the airport and transfers them to the hotel in Fort Kochi or Ernakulam. The evening is free for a walk through Fort Kochi's heritage lanes and a visit to the Chinese fishing nets at sunset.

What happens on Days 2 and 3 in Munnar?

Day 2 starts with a morning drive from Kochi to Munnar, covering approximately 130 km in four to five hours. Munnar is the base for tea estate visits and viewpoints like Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point. Day 3 in Munnar covers Eravikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri tahr, and the Top Station viewpoint at 1,868 metres.

What does Day 4 in Thekkady involve?

Day 4 covers the drive from Munnar to Thekkady, approximately 90 km through spice plantation roads. Thekkady, in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, offers an afternoon boat safari on Periyar Lake. Evening options include a Kalaripayattu martial arts performance or a spice garden tour.

How is the houseboat day in Alleppey structured?

Day 5 involves a drive from Thekkady to Alleppey, covering roughly 140 km in three to four hours. Travellers board the houseboat at noon and spend the afternoon cruising through the Vembanad Lake network. Dinner and breakfast are served on board by the crew. Check-out is at 9 AM on Day 6.

What happens on Days 6 and 7 before departure?

Day 6, after houseboat check-out, allows time for a visit to Alleppey beach or the Krishnapuram Palace before the drive to Trivandrum or back to Kochi. Day 7 is the departure day, with an airport transfer handled by the driver. Travellers departing from Trivandrum International Airport have the option of a quick stop at Kovalam beach on Day 6 evening.

Which Kerala destinations suit families with children?

Families with children find Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad, and Alleppey most suitable in Kerala. Munnar offers open tea estates and cool weather. Thekkady has boat safaris and elephant camps. Wayanad has treehouses and waterfalls. Alleppey's houseboat experience is a practical and engaging stay for children of all ages.

Thekkady's elephant camps, run by the Kerala Forest Department, let children observe and interact with elephants under supervised conditions. These camps operate in the morning and need advance booking, especially during school holidays in May and December.

Wayanad has several treehouse resorts that children find engaging. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 344 sq km, offers jeep safaris where sightings of elephants, deer, and bison are common.

Alleppey's houseboat stay gives children a direct experience of Kerala's canal life. Most houseboats have open decks where children can watch village activity along the waterways. Families booking Kerala family packages with very young children should request a houseboat with safety railings when booking, since this shapes which vessels work best for the trip.

Which Kerala packages suit couples?

Couples travelling to Kerala typically prefer packages combining Munnar, a private houseboat in Alleppey, and a beach stay in Kovalam or Varkala. Ayurveda resort stays are a popular add-on. Deluxe and premium tiers with private pool villas are the most requested options among honeymooners.

Varkala is a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district, known for its cliff-top beach and Papanasam Beach at the base of the cliffs. Varkala offers a quieter setting than Kovalam and suits couples who prefer fewer crowds.

Kovalam, a beach destination 16 km from Trivandrum, has three adjoining beaches — Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, and Samudra Beach. Kovalam's Lighthouse Beach is the most active, with restaurants and Ayurveda centres along the shoreline.

Ayurveda resorts in Kerala offer packages ranging from 3-night rejuvenation programmes to 14-night Panchakarma treatments. Couples can combine a 2-night Ayurveda resort stay with the standard backwater and hill-station circuit. Deluxe Kerala honeymoon packages typically start at ₹35,000 per person, while premium options with private pool villas and luxury houseboats begin at ₹60,000 per person. For ideas on pacing a romantic trip, our Kerala honeymoon guide goes beyond the backwaters into refined, couple-focused planning.

How do you reach Kerala from major Indian cities?

Kerala has three main airports: Cochin International Airport in Kochi, Trivandrum International Airport, and Calicut International Airport in Kozhikode. Direct flights connect Kerala to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Train routes also connect Kerala to most major Indian cities via the Konkan Railway and the main trunk lines.

Cochin International Airport, in Nedumbassery, is the busiest airport in Kerala and the primary entry point for most tour packages. Flight time from Delhi to Kochi is approximately 3 hours, while Mumbai to Kochi takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Trivandrum International Airport serves travellers whose itinerary ends in South Kerala, covering Kovalam, Varkala, and Alleppey. Packages that begin in Kochi and end in Trivandrum, or vice versa, are called open-jaw itineraries and avoid backtracking on the road.

Train travel is a practical option for travellers from South India. The Kerala Express connects Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram in approximately 47 hours, while the Rajdhani Express from Mumbai to Ernakulam takes around 24 hours. Railway station pick-up is usually included as part of the standard transfer in most packages.

What are the entry and travel document requirements for Kerala?

Kerala is a domestic destination within India, so Indian citizens do not require a visa, passport, or special permit to travel there. A valid government-issued photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, or driving licence is enough for all hotel check-ins, domestic flights, and train travel within the state.

Some protected forest areas, such as Silent Valley National Park and certain tribal zones in Wayanad, require a forest entry permit. These are arranged by a local guide or the forest department at the entry point and don't need advance application for most visitors.

Domestic flights within India require a valid photo ID at the airport security check. The Aadhaar card is accepted at all major Indian airports as a standalone identity document. A booking confirmation voucher serves as the reference for hotels and houseboats throughout the trip.