Kerala has been luring travelers for millennia—Arab traders, Portuguese mariners, Dutch merchants, and the British Raj all sailed into its ports for pepper and cardamom. Today, its allure is equal parts cultural mosaic and natural drama: coastal palaces and synagogues, slow-motion canals beneath coconut palms, and tea gardens cascading down misty mountainsides.

Over seven days you’ll base in two places—Kochi (Cochin) on the coast and Munnar in the Western Ghats—while day-tripping into the famous Alleppey backwaters. Expect encounters with living history in Fort Kochi, a classic houseboat cruise with a Keralan lunch, walks through emerald tea estates, and a chance to spot wild elephants.

Practical notes: The best weather runs October–March; June–September brings the dramatic monsoon. Dress modestly for temples/churches and remove shoes where requested. Cash and UPI are widely accepted; auto-rickshaws, Uber, and Ola make short hops easy. Houseboat and national-park tickets book out in peak season—reserve in advance when you can.

Kochi (Cochin)

Cosmopolitan to its core, Kochi is a palimpsest of traders and empires. In Fort Kochi you’ll stroll by Chinese fishing nets, Indo-Portuguese mansions, and Dutch cemeteries; in Mattancherry, the Paradesi Synagogue and spice godowns whisper the city’s Jewish and mercantile past. Across the water, modern Ernakulam hums with markets, malls, and buzzy dining.

• Top sights: Chinese fishing nets at sunset; St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama’s first burial site); Santa Cruz Basilica; Mattancherry Palace; Paradesi Synagogue; ferry rides across the harbor.
• Why stay here first: Easy access via Cochin International Airport (COK), and the perfect launchpad for Alleppey backwaters and the road to Munnar.
• Eat & drink: Seafood curries, appam with stew, flaky Kerala porotta with beef fry, and biriyani from century-old kitchens.

Where to stay: Browse heritage homestays in Fort Kochi or modern waterfront hotels in Ernakulam on VRBO Kochi or compare hotels on Hotels.com Kochi.

Getting in: Fly into COK—check fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, it’s 1–1.5 hours to Fort Kochi by taxi (INR 1,200–1,800). If you’re arriving elsewhere in India, trains to Ernakulam Junction are frequent—plan on 2A/3A berths and check schedules on Trip.com trains.

Day 1: Arrive in Kochi, Fort Kochi sunsets, seafood welcome

Afternoon: Land in Kochi and settle into Fort Kochi. Stretch your legs along the seaside promenade to watch the iconic Chinese fishing nets in action. Duck into the lanes around Princess Street for boutiques and spice shops perfumed with cardamom and clove.

Evening: Catch a traditional Kathakali performance (make sure to arrive early to watch the elaborate makeup ritual). For dinner, try Fusion Bay for homestyle fish mango curry and prawn pollichathu, or book a table at The Rice Boat (Taj Malabar) for refined Syrian Christian–style seafood with harbor views. For a nightcap with skyline breezes, Sky Grill Lounge Bar (Crowne Plaza) serves grills and mocktails on a lively terrace.

Day 2: Heritage Kochi with a local, spice markets, and a tuk-tuk food crawl

Morning: Fuel up at Kashi Art Café (strong coffee; eggs with house-baked bread) or Qissa Café (Middle Eastern plates and cold brews). Then explore Fort Kochi and Mattancherry on a private guided walk—hit the Chinese nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, and the lanes to the Paradesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace.

Recommended tour:

Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide !

Afternoon: Browse the bazaar streets—watch sacks of pepper and cinnamon being traded near the old godowns. Break for biriyani at Kayees Rahmathulla Hotel (a Kochi legend; go early for the mutton biriyani) or try Ginger House Restaurant, hidden inside an antiques museum on the waterfront, for karimeen (pearl spot) fry.

Evening: Hop into a tuk-tuk for a guided food crawl—think pazhampori (banana fritters), kappa and meen curry (tapioca with fish curry), and lacy appams with vegetable stew while gliding through Fort Kochi’s lantern-lit alleys.

Enjoy the best Food tour in kochi with a local !

Day 3: A classic Alleppey backwaters houseboat day cruise

Today is a full-day backwaters experience (no need to split by morning/afternoon/evening). You’ll be picked up in Kochi and driven about 1.5–2 hours to Alleppey (Alappuzha), then board a traditional houseboat for an unhurried cruise through narrow canals lined with coconut palms and rice paddies. Watch toddy tappers at work, village life unfolding on the banks, and flocks of cormorants skimming the water. A freshly cooked Keralan lunch—often including fish curry, thoran (stir-fried veg), and rice—is typically served on board.

Kochi Private Tour: Kerala Backwater Houseboat Day Cruise in Aleppey

Alternative (low-impact) option: Glide in a traditional non-mechanized country boat for a quieter, eco-forward experience through smaller canals; includes a vegetarian village lunch.

Cochin: Backwater Village Eco Boat Cruise with Lunch

Munnar

Munnar is Kerala’s hill-station showstopper: a cool, highland town where tea bushes stitch luminous green patterns across rolling hills and clouds snag on eucalyptus groves. Colonial-era bungalows, misty viewpoints, and cardamom-scented valleys make it as restful as it is photogenic.

• Top sights: Tea estates and the KDHP Tea Museum, Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri tahr), Pothamedu and Top Station viewpoints, Attukad and Lakkam waterfalls.
• Why go: Gentle climate, superb trekking and birding, and a window onto Kerala’s tea heritage from plucking to cupping.
• Good to know: Eravikulam may close for Nilgiri tahr calving (typically around Feb–Mar). Roads are winding—motion-sickness tablets help on hairpin days.

Where to stay: Pick a tea-bungalow-style retreat or a hillside resort with sunrise views on VRBO Munnar or compare hotel options on Hotels.com Munnar.

Getting there from Kochi: Morning departures are best. It’s a 4–5 hour, 125–135 km drive via NH85. A private car with driver runs roughly INR 4,500–6,000 ($55–$75) one-way; shared buses take 5–6 hours (INR 200–400). There’s no train station in Munnar.

Day 4: Scenic road trip to Munnar, tea museum, and hilltop dusk

Morning: Depart Kochi around 8:00 a.m. for Munnar (4–5 hours). Pause at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls to stretch and take photos; the road climbs into fragrant cardamom country as the temperature dips.

Afternoon: Check in, then visit the KDHP Tea Museum (closed Mondays) to trace Munnar’s tea story—from antique rollers to tastings. Pop into a local café for a “meter chai” and banana fritters.

Evening: Drive to Pothamedu Viewpoint for a sunset panorama of sculpted tea slopes. Dinner in town: Rapsy Restaurant (longtime traveler favorite; try chicken pothichoru—banana-leaf meals) or Hotel Sri Saravana Bhavan for classic vegetarian thali, ghee roast dosa, and filter coffee.

Day 5: Tea trails, tastings, and a national-park lookout

Morning: Walk directly into the tea estates with a local guide: learn how pluckers read the bushes, visit a small factory when operating, and sample grades from robust CTC to fragrant orthodox leaves.

Munnar Tea Trail Tour with Factory Experience ( By Munnar Info)

Afternoon: Head to Eravikulam National Park (time-slotted tickets are required; check seasonal closures for Nilgiri tahr calving). The short shuttle and walk deliver superb valley views and frequent tahr sightings.

Evening: Dinner at The Fig (Fragrant Nature Munnar) for Kerala-meets-global plates (pepper-crusted fish, veg coconut stews) or Tea County’s Hill Spice Restaurant for hearty mains. Cap the night with ginger-lemon tea on your balcony—nights can be crisp.

Day 6: Wild elephants and waterfalls by jeep

Spend today on a guided jeep adventure to Anakulam, a forest-ringed village where herds of wild elephants often descend to drink at the river. The route via Lekshmi mountain road brings misty plantations, small hamlets, and photo stops at hidden cascades. Guides brief visitors on safe distances and elephant etiquette—bring binoculars and avoid strong scents.

Anakulam Wild Elephant Village life tour ( By Munnar Info)

Post-tour unwind: Back in Munnar town, consider an Ayurvedic massage to soothe road muscles (ask your hotel for a reputable center). Dinner ideas: Hotel Gurubhavan (Kerala meals with fish curry and seasonal veg) or a cozy soup-and-sandwich stop at a local café if you’re after something light.

Day 7: Sunrise tea slopes, return to Kochi, and farewell

Morning: Catch an early glow over the estates (many resorts have a nearby sunrise perch) and enjoy a last cup of plantation-fresh chai. Depart Munnar by 8:00–9:00 a.m. for Cochin International Airport; the drive typically takes 4–5 hours depending on traffic.

Afternoon: If time allows en route, stop at Indian Coffee House in Aluva for a quick masala dosa and filter coffee before your flight. For flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re continuing overland in India, check rail options on Trip.com trains.

Where to Eat and Drink: Local Favorites to Bookmark

• Breakfast & coffee (Kochi): Kashi Art Café (gallery-café hybrid; try their chocolate cake), Qissa Café (Shakshuka and strong cold brew), Pepper House Café (courtyard calm).
• Lunch (Kochi): Kayees Rahmathulla Hotel (storied biriyani), Ginger House Restaurant (waterfront antiques setting; karimeen fry), Seagull Restaurant (harborside seafood and chilled lime sodas).
• Dinner (Kochi): Fusion Bay (home-style coastal curries), The Rice Boat (seafood tasting menus). Rooftop drinks: Sky Grill Lounge Bar.
• Meal breaks (Munnar): Hotel Sri Saravana Bhavan (veg classics), Rapsy Restaurant (Kerala + Middle Eastern staples), tea tastings at estate cafés; look for hot pazhampori with chai.

Getting Around and Practical Tips

• Local transport: Auto-rickshaws for short hops; Uber/Ola in greater Kochi. Ferries link Fort Kochi, Vypeen, and Ernakulam cheaply and photogenically.
• Health & safety: Use reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent in the backwaters; carry a light jacket in Munnar. Observe wildlife at a distance and follow guide instructions.
• Timing: Paradesi Synagogue keeps limited hours and closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. KDHP Tea Museum is closed Mondays. Eravikulam can close for 4–6 weeks around Feb–Mar.

Optional Add-Ons If You Have More Time: Beach time in Marari or Cherai, day trips to Athirappilly waterfalls, or a cooking class in Kochi to master appam, stew, and fish curry techniques.

Accommodations quick links: VRBO Kochi | Hotels.com Kochi | VRBO Munnar | Hotels.com Munnar

Transport quick links: Trip.com flights | Kiwi.com flights | Trip.com trains

In a week you’ll have traced Kerala’s story from harbor to hills: fishing nets and basilicas in Fort Kochi, sleepy canals in Alleppey, and tea-green horizons in Munnar. It’s a satisfying loop that balances culture, cuisine, and nature—enough to fall for Kerala, and enough to know you’ll be back.