Grand Kerala: Kochi to Kovalam in twelve nights

Day 1: Arrive in Kochi (Fort Kochi)

Kochi (Fort Kochi)

• Kathakali performance with make-up session · 2 h. Fort Kochi's cultural centres run a nightly shortened show with an explanation of the gestures; arrive an hour early to watch the elaborate make-up being applied.
• Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura · 2 h. The former Cochin royal palace with crowns, palanquins and a deer park; closed on Mondays.

Local tip: Fort Kochi's cultural centres run a nightly shortened show with an explanation of the gestures; arrive an hour early to watch the elaborate make-up being applied.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Athirappilly and Vazhachal waterfalls day trip

Kochi (Fort Kochi)

• Athirappilly and Vazhachal waterfalls day trip · 7 h. Walk the viewpoint path and, when open, the steep trail down to the base of the falls; Vazhachal is 5 km upstream. Biggest flow Jul–Oct. Forest checkpoint fees apply, and the road closes in the evening.

Local tip: Walk the viewpoint path and, when open, the steep trail down to the base of the falls; Vazhachal is 5 km upstream. Biggest flow Jul–Oct. Forest checkpoint fees apply, and the road closes in the evening.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Kochi (Fort Kochi) → Munnar

Munnar · Kochi (Fort Kochi) to Munnar, Private car ~4–4.5h (KSRTC bus ~5h)

• Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) · 3 h. Park buses run from the gate up to the Rajamalai tahr area; book online and go at opening time. Closed for tahr calving roughly Feb–Apr each year.

Local tip: Park buses run from the gate up to the Rajamalai tahr area; book online and go at opening time. Closed for tahr calving roughly Feb–Apr each year.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Explore Munnar

Munnar

• Tea Museum and factory demonstration · 1.5 h. Shows the orthodox tea process from withering to grading, with tastings; closed on Mondays.
• Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake · 3.5 h. The scenic road east of Munnar with pedal and speed boats on the reservoirs; weekends are crowded.
• Spice and cardamom garden visit · 1 h
• Attukad waterfalls and Pothamedu viewpoint · 2 h

Local tip: Shows the orthodox tea process from withering to grading, with tastings; closed on Mondays.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Munnar

Munnar

• Kolukkumalai sunrise jeep trip · 5 h. Licensed jeeps leave Suryanelli before dawn for a rough ride to some of the world's highest tea gardens; seats are sold per jeep.
• Top Station viewpoint · 3 h. On the Tamil Nadu border about 1h from town, looking down over the plains; go early before the mist rolls in.

Local tip: Licensed jeeps leave Suryanelli before dawn for a rough ride to some of the world's highest tea gardens; seats are sold per jeep.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Munnar → Thekkady (Periyar)

Thekkady (Periyar) · Munnar to Thekkady (Periyar), Private car ~3.5h

• Periyar Lake boat cruise · 1.5 h. Forest department boats leave from Thekkady boat landing several times a day; the first sailing has the best chance of elephants and bison. Book online, as tickets sell out.
• Spice plantation tour · 1.5 h. Cardamom, pepper, clove and coffee on a guided walk around Kumily; buy spices direct at fixed prices.
• Kalaripayattu show at Kumily · 1 h

Local tip: Forest department boats leave from Thekkady boat landing several times a day; the first sailing has the best chance of elephants and bison. Book online, as tickets sell out.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Explore Thekkady (Periyar)

Thekkady (Periyar)

• Guided nature walk in Periyar Tiger Reserve · 3 h. Small groups with tribal guides from the forest eco-development committees; wear leech socks in wet months. Tigers are rarely seen, birds and langurs often.
• Kathakali show in Kumily · 1.5 h

Local tip: Small groups with tribal guides from the forest eco-development committees; wear leech socks in wet months. Tigers are rarely seen, birds and langurs often.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Thekkady (Periyar) → Alleppey (Alappuzha)

Alleppey (Alappuzha) · Thekkady (Periyar) to Alleppey (Alappuzha), Private car ~4h

• Alappuzha beach and old pier at sunset · 1.5 h
• Toddy shop lunch (karimeen and kappa) · 1.5 h. Kerala's licensed toddy shops serve some of the spiciest local food; the better ones have family rooms.

Local tip: Kerala's licensed toddy shops serve some of the spiciest local food; the better ones have family rooms.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Overnight houseboat cruise on the backwaters

Alleppey (Alappuzha)

• Overnight houseboat cruise on the backwaters · Full day. Boarding is around noon and check-out around 9am; boats cruise until about 5:30pm, then moor. Meals by the onboard cook are included. Check the licence, the route (Kuttanad paddy canals beat the crowded main channel) and AC hours before paying.

Local tip: Boarding is around noon and check-out around 9am; boats cruise until about 5:30pm, then moor. Meals by the onboard cook are included. Check the licence, the route (Kuttanad paddy canals beat the crowded main channel) and AC hours before paying.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Alleppey (Alappuzha) → Varkala

Varkala · Alleppey (Alappuzha) to Varkala, Private car ~2.5–3h (train ~2h)

• North Cliff walk and sunset · 2 h. Cafés line the cliff path above the beach; stairs lead down to the sand. Watch the edge in the dark.
• Papanasam beach and Janardanaswamy temple · 2 h. Hindu families perform rites for ancestors on the beach in the morning; give them space. The temple's inner sanctum is for Hindus only.

Local tip: Cafés line the cliff path above the beach; stairs lead down to the sand. Watch the edge in the dark.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps

Day 11: Explore Varkala

Varkala

• Surf lesson at Varkala · 2 h. Beginner lessons run Oct–Apr; mornings are cleaner before the wind picks up.
• Cliff-top yoga class · 1.5 h
• Ayurvedic massage · 1.5 h. Pick a centre with a resident doctor and separate therapists for men and women.
• Kappil lake and beach with a canoe ride · 2.5 h. Where the backwater meets the sea 8 km north of the cliff; quiet and good at sunset.

Local tip: Beginner lessons run Oct–Apr; mornings are cleaner before the wind picks up.

Open day 11 route in Google Maps

Day 12: Varkala → Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram

Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram · Varkala to Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram, Taxi ~1.5h

• Lighthouse Beach and Vizhinjam lighthouse climb · 3 h. Climb the lighthouse late afternoon for views over the three bays; swim only in the flagged areas.
• Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum · 1 h. Carved wooden palace of the Travancore kings beside the Padmanabhaswamy temple, open to all; closed Mondays.

Local tip: Climb the lighthouse late afternoon for views over the three bays; swim only in the flagged areas.

Open day 12 route in Google Maps

Day 13: Depart from Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram

Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram

• Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Hindus only) · 2 h. Entry is for Hindus only, with a strict dress code: men in a mundu with bare chest, women in a sari or long skirt and blouse (mundus can be rented at the gate). Phones are not allowed inside.

Local tip: Entry is for Hindus only, with a strict dress code: men in a mundu with bare chest, women in a sari or long skirt and blouse (mundus can be rented at the gate). Phones are not allowed inside.

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Open day 13 route in Google Maps