Kerala, “God’s Own Country,” unfurls along India’s southwest coast where the Arabian Sea meets the rainforest-clad Western Ghats. Traders from Rome, Arabia, and China shaped its ports for millennia; the Portuguese, Dutch, and British left churches, palaces, and spice godowns that still scent the air with cardamom and pepper. Today, Kerala is famed for emerald backwaters, ayurvedic wellness, and tea gardens stitched across cool mountain slopes.

Expect a plate as intriguing as the history: flaky parottas, tangy fish molee, smoky beef fry, appam with stew, and banana-leaf thalis. Coffee culture thrives in Kochi’s artsy cafés; chai culture rules the hills. Performances like Kathakali and Kalaripayattu display classical traditions that remain vibrantly contemporary.

Practical notes: Best weather is November–March; June–September brings the southwest monsoon. Dress modestly at religious sites and remove footwear before entering. ATMs are common and digital payments (UPI) are widely accepted. This 7-day Kerala itinerary focuses on two bases—Kochi and Munnar—with a full-day Alleppey backwater cruise.

Kochi (Cochin)

Old and new meet in Kochi: Chinese fishing nets creak over the harbor at sunset while galleries, cafés, and spice warehouses fill Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. You’ll wander from 16th-century churches to the Paradesi Synagogue, past murals and street art, then sip a cold lime soda by the water.

• Top sights: Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town spice market, Princess Street, Kerala Kathakali Centre.
• Food & drink: Kashi Art Café (signature chocolate cake, creative breakfasts), Fusion Bay (home-style seafood curries), Ginger House (waterside setting, Kerala pepper prawns), Seagull (harborside grills), Kayees Rahmathulla Café (historic biryani).
• Stay: Browse Fort Kochi heritage stays, waterfront hotels in Ernakulam, or apartments via VRBO Kochi and Hotels.com Kochi.
• Getting in: Fly to Cochin International (COK)—compare fares on Kiwi.com and Trip.com Flights. Airport to Fort Kochi is ~1.5 hours by taxi (INR 1,200–2,000/$15–24).

Day 1: Arrival and Fort Kochi Sunset

Morning: In transit to Kochi. If you arrive early, grab a cardamom chai and banana fritters at a terminal café.

Afternoon: Check in near Fort Kochi. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop: St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama’s first burial site), pastel lanes of Princess Street, and the Santa Cruz Basilica’s painted ceilings.

Evening: Stroll to the Chinese fishing nets for a sea-breeze sunset. Dinner at Fusion Bay: try the meen pollichathu (fish baked in banana leaf) and prawn mango curry. Nightcap or gelato along the promenade.

Day 2: Heritage Kochi, Markets, and a Foodie Night

Morning: Breakfast at Kashi Art Café (sourdough, shakshuka, great coffee). Then explore with a guide:

Featured experience: Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide !
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Walk Fort Kochi and Mattancherry: Dutch Palace murals, Paradesi Synagogue, and the spice market’s cardamom-and-clove aroma, with stories of maritime trade routes.

Afternoon: Lunch at Ginger House on the waterfront—pepper chicken, coconut rice, and fresh lime soda. Browse boutiques and antiques in Jew Town; pause at Teapot Café for masala chai surrounded by vintage kettles.

Evening: Catch a Kathakali performance (arrive early to watch the elaborate makeup ritual). Then dive into street flavors on a guided tuk-tuk food crawl:

Featured experience: Enjoy the best Food tour in kochi with a local !
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Expect beef fry with flaky parotta, appam with stew, banana chips, and a sweet ending of payasam or elaneer (tender coconut) pudding.

Day 3: Alleppey Backwaters Day Cruise

Morning: Early pick-up from Fort Kochi (about 1.5–2 hours to Alleppey/Alappuzha). Board a traditional houseboat and glide past palms, paddy fields, and toddy shops.

Featured experience: Backwaters Houseboat Cruise in Aleppey with Lunch from Cochin - Private Tour
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Afternoon: A Keralan lunch is cooked on board—often karimeen (pearl spot), thoran (stir-fry), sambar, and payasam. Watch village life glide by: school boats, coir weaving, kingfishers on the reeds.

Evening: Return to Kochi. Dinner at Seagull for grilled seafood by the water, or Fusion Bay if you want seconds of mango-coconut curries. Early night before the hill-road drive tomorrow.

Munnar

Munnar is Kerala’s highland dream: slopes quilted in tea bushes, silver oaks, and blue kurinji blossoms (which famously carpet the hills every 12 years). Cool mornings invite long walks, bird calls, and hot parippu vada with tea at roadside stalls.

• Top sights: Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri tahr habitat), KDHP Tea Museum, Pothamedu Viewpoint, Top Station, Attukad and Lakkam waterfalls, scenic tea estate trails.
• Food & drink: Rapsy Restaurant (Kerala–Arabian plates; parotta combos), Hotel Saravana Bhavan (pure-veg South Indian thalis, dosa), SN Restaurant (simple local curries), tea tastings at estate outlets.
• Stay: Tea-estate resorts and hillside cottages with sweeping valley views—browse VRBO Munnar and Hotels.com Munnar.
• Getting there: Kochi to Munnar is ~125–135 km; plan 4–5 hours by car. Expect INR 3,500–6,000 ($42–72) each way for a licensed taxi. There’s no train to Munnar; buses take ~5–6 hours.

Day 4: Road Trip to the Hills, Tea Museum, and Sunset Views

Morning: Depart Kochi after breakfast (aim 7:30–8:00 a.m.). The road climbs through rubber and spice plantations; stop for pineapple with chili-salt or fresh tender coconut along the way.

Afternoon: Check in and visit the KDHP Tea Museum to trace tea’s journey from leaf to cup, with a short factory demo and tasting. Lunch at Rapsy—try beef/veg fry with parotta or a peppery chicken roast.

Evening: Golden-hour at Pothamedu Viewpoint as mist curls over the estates. Dinner at Hotel Saravana Bhavan (ghee roast dosa, mini-idli sambar) or your resort’s specialty grill. Sleep to cicadas and cool mountain air.

Day 5: Eravikulam National Park and a Tea Trail

Morning: Early entry to Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) for sweeping valley views and a chance to spot the sure-footed Nilgiri tahr. Note: the park typically closes for calving for several weeks around Feb–Mar—check locally and swap in Top Station or Lakkam waterfalls if closed.

Afternoon: Feast on veg thali at Saravana Bhavan or simple fish curry meals at SN Restaurant. Then learn from pluckers and taste varietals on a guided plantation walk:

Featured experience: Munnar Tea Trail Tour with Factory Experience (By Munnar Info)
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Evening: Warm up with lemon-ginger tea and banana fritters at a roadside stall. Dinner idea: pepper chicken or veg stew at your hillside hotel, then stargazing if the sky is clear.

Day 6: Wild Villages, Waterfalls, and Estate Lanes

Morning: Head out on a scenic village-and-forest loop. If you want a memorable off-road excursion, consider this guided jeep experience:

Featured experience: Anakulam Wild Elephant Village life tour (By Munnar Info)
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Guides often time stops to responsibly spot elephants near rivers; sightings are never guaranteed, but the forested landscapes and village life are the highlight.

Afternoon: Picnic by Attukad or Lakkam Waterfalls. Alternatively, drive to Top Station for distant views across Tamil Nadu’s plains and hazy mountain layers.

Evening: Back in town, grab a cardamom tea and hot pakoras. Farewell dinner at Rapsy (butter garlic prawns or veg kurma) or try a homestyle “meals” set with rice, sambar, avial, and pickle.

Day 7: Down to Kochi and Departure

Morning: Depart Munnar by 7:30–8:00 a.m. for Kochi (4–5 hours). If time allows, stretch at a spice garden on the way down for pepper, cardamom, and clove demos.

Afternoon: Lunch near Kochi’s Marine Drive (quick Kerala meals or biryani). Airport transfer for your flight—search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Traveling onward in India by rail? Start with Ernakulam Junction and browse Trip.com Trains.

Where to Stay (Quick Picks)

• Kochi (Fort Kochi focus): Heritage bungalows, boutique stays, and harbor-view hotels. Compare options on VRBO Kochi and Hotels.com Kochi.
• Munnar: Tea-estate resorts and cottages with valley panoramas; many include guided walks. Browse VRBO Munnar and Hotels.com Munnar.

Optional Add-Ons (If You Have Extra Time)

• Athirappilly & Vazhachal Falls (from Kochi): Monsoon-fed cascades in lush forest. Compare to your backwater day for scheduling balance.
• Overnight Houseboat: Swap Day 3 to an overnight cruise if your pace allows; wake to birdsong and misty canals.

Transit Snapshot

• Airport → Fort Kochi: 1.5 hrs by taxi; INR 1,200–2,000 ($15–24).
• Kochi → Alleppey (Day 3 excursion): ~1.5–2 hrs by road. Rail option (Ernakulam–Alappuzha) ~1.5 hrs; see Trip.com Trains.
• Kochi ↔ Munnar: 4–5 hrs each way by car; INR 3,500–6,000 ($42–72).

Good-to-Know

• Monsoon: Heavy rain June–Sept; pack quick-dry layers and plan buffer time.
• Eravikulam closures: Often closes several weeks around Feb–Mar; confirm locally and substitute Top Station/Lakkam waterfalls if needed.
• Etiquette: Shoulders/knees covered in temples, shoes off inside. Ask before photographing people.

Alternate/Additional Backwater Options

If you prefer smaller canals and village life instead of a larger houseboat, consider this relaxed pole-boat day:

Featured experience: Full Day Backwater Village Punting Boat Cruise
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In one week, you’ll trace Kerala’s story from harborfront chapels and spice lanes to mirror-still canals and misty tea ridgelines. With this day-by-day plan, your Kerala itinerary balances iconic sights with local flavors—and enough unhurried time to breathe in the cardamom air.