Welcome to Kerala—“God’s Own Country”—where the Arabian Sea meets coconut-fringed lagoons, Portuguese-era streets, and cool, tea-scented mountains. Ancient spice routes made Kochi a crossroads for Arab, Chinese, Jewish, and European traders; in Munnar, British planters carved terrace after terrace into the Western Ghats. Today, that legacy lives in 500-year-old churches, synagogue lanes, and emerald tea estates rolling to the horizon.

Kerala’s greatest hits are delightfully diverse: drift the Alleppey backwaters on a houseboat, wander Fort Kochi’s pastel bungalows and art cafés, then climb to misty viewpoints above 2,000 meters. Wildlife sanctuaries shelter Nilgiri tahr; coastal kitchens serve pepper-laced curries, karimeen (pearl spot fish), and feather-light appams. Evenings might mean a Kathakali performance one day and a mountain sunset the next.

Practical notes: October–March is ideal (clear skies, pleasant temps), while June–September brings the monsoon and lush scenery but frequent showers. Dress modestly for temples and historic sites, carry insect repellent for the backwaters, and try Kerala’s beloved filter coffee and chai. UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities; keep small cash for rural stops.

Kochi (Cochin)

Old-world Fort Kochi is Kerala’s cultural stage: Chinese fishing nets tilt like giant sculptures; St. Francis Church whispers Vasco da Gama’s story; and spice-laden warehouses line Mattancherry’s waterfront. The air smells of cardamom and roasting coffee, and galleries hide inside art deco and Portuguese-era homes.

Top sights include the Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town antiques, Santa Cruz Basilica’s baroque arches, and street murals created during Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Evenings invite Kathakali dance-drama or Kalaripayattu martial arts shows—time-honored performance traditions.

• Stay: Browse character stays and sea-breeze apartments on VRBO Kochi or hotels near Fort Kochi and Marine Drive on Hotels.com Kochi.
• Getting in: Fly into Cochin International Airport (COK). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical domestic flights Delhi/Mumbai–Kochi run 2–3 hrs, ~$45–120. From Dubai/Singapore ~4–5 hrs, ~$150–300 (non-peak).

Munnar

Munnar is the cool, pine-scented postcard of Kerala. Curving roads lead to tea gardens like green corduroy stitched across hills, with silver oaks shading the bushes and mist drifting between ridgelines. Sunrises here look hand-painted.

Highlights include the Tea Museum and factory tastings, Eravikulam National Park (home to the sure-footed Nilgiri tahr), photogenic viewpoints like Top Station and Pothamedu, and low-key treks to waterfalls. Evenings are for spiced curries and ginger tea while clouds settle over the slopes.

• Stay: Mountain-view cottages and plantations stays via VRBO Munnar or resort hotels on Hotels.com Munnar.
• Travel from Kochi: Private car/taxi 4–5 hrs (130 km), ₹4,500–6,500 for a sedan. State buses take ~5–6 hrs (budget). There’s no train to Munnar; for India train options elsewhere, see Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrive Kochi, Fort Kochi Stroll, Harbor Sunset

Afternoon: Land at COK and transfer to Fort Kochi (45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Check in, then stretch your legs along the seaside promenade. Watch fishermen at the iconic Chinese fishing nets—this cantilevered method dates back to exchanges with Chinese traders centuries ago.

Evening: Catch a Kathakali makeup demonstration and performance near Fort Kochi (shows typically start around 5–6 pm; ask your hotel for the nearest venue). Dinner ideas: Fusion Bay (seafood meen pollichathu wrapped in banana leaf), Oceanos (excellent prawn mango curry), or Fort House Restaurant right on the water for Syrian Christian fish molee. Nightcap at Qissa Café for cardamom-scented cold brew.

Day 2: Kochi Old Quarter with a Local Guide

Morning: Breakfast at Kashi Art Café (art-filled courtyard; try the banana-walnut cake and shakshuka) or Loafers Corner Café for flaky croissants. Then dive into a guided exploration of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry—churches, spice warehouses, and colorful murals.

Afternoon: Join this highly rated local-led city tour to cover the essentials with context and a car at hand: Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide !. Expect the Chinese nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Paradesi Synagogue (closed on select days/holidays), and spice lanes.

Evening: Sunset drink at the breezy Seagull restaurant deck, followed by dinner at Ginger House (heritage courtyard dining; try pepper crab and mango curry). If you prefer vegetarian, Kayees Rahmathullah’s biryani is a Kochi legend—go early; they sell out.

Day 3: Alleppey Backwaters Day on a Houseboat

Morning: Early pickup for Alleppey (Alappuzha), ~1.5–2 hrs by road. Board your private houseboat: palm-lined canals, coir-making villages, and shimmering paddy fields glide by. Fresh Kerala lunch is usually cooked onboard.

Afternoon: Recommended tour: 6hrs Alleppey Houseboat Tour—Serene Canals, Local Life & Food. It’s a classic, unrushed sampler of Kuttanad life with photogenic narrow channels.

Evening: Return to Kochi. Light dinner near your stay—Pepper House Café (art/library space; pasta arrabbiata and icy lime sodas) or Malabar Junction for refined regional tasting plates. Rest up for the hill drive tomorrow.

Day 4: To Munnar’s Tea Country, Tea Museum, Sunset Point

Morning: Depart Kochi for Munnar by private car (4–5 hrs; ₹4,500–6,500) or bus (~5–6 hrs). The road climbs through cardamom groves and rubber estates; ask your driver to pause at Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls for photos.

Afternoon: Check in, then visit the Tea Museum by Tata (short film + machinery, ends with tastings). Coffee/tea break at Tea Tales Café—order masala chai or ginger tea with hot pakoras.

Evening: Drive to Pothamedu View Point for a sunset across quilted tea gardens. Dinner: Rapsy Restaurant (legendary parotta with beef/veg options, lemon tea) or Hotel Guru for homestyle Kerala thalis and fish fries.

Day 5: Eravikulam National Park and a Tea Trail with Factory Visit

Morning: Pre-book slots and go early to Eravikulam National Park (closed some weeks during the Nilgiri tahr calving season; check locally). Gentle walks lead to sweeping views of Anamudi, South India’s highest peak.

Afternoon: Step deeper into tea culture on this guided plantation experience—short walk, meet pluckers (when possible), and a factory process overview: Munnar Tea Trail Tour with Factory Experience.

Evening: Stroll the small bazaar for handmade chocolate and spices (cardamom, cloves, black pepper). Dinner at your resort or at Tea County’s multi-cuisine restaurant; ask for Syrian Christian fish curry if on the menu. Night sip: hot chocolate or elaichi (cardamom) milk—perfect in the chill.

Day 6: Top Station, Echo Point, Spice Farm, and Ayurvedic Wind-Down

Morning: Drive the scenic loop: Photo Point, Mattupetty Dam (consider a brief boat ride), Echo Point, and on to Top Station. On clear days, you’ll see the Tamil Nadu plains and a sea of blue when kurinji flowers bloom (once in 12 years).

Afternoon: Visit a spice plantation for an educational walk through cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg, and pepper vines. Lunch at Saravana Bhavan (Munnar Town) for crispy ghee roast dosa and filter coffee.

Evening: Book an Ayurvedic massage at your hotel or a reputable local center—ideal after hill drives. Dinner at Copper Castle’s restaurant for panoramic views and grilled fish with lemon butter or veg stew with appams.

Day 7: Return to Kochi and Departure

Morning: Depart Munnar for Kochi (4–5 hrs). Keep snacks handy; roadside stalls sell banana chips and tapioca crisps. If time permits, swing by a spice emporium in Ernakulam for final gifts.

Afternoon: Brunch in Kochi at Pai Dosa (dozens of dosa styles—the “American Chopsuey Dosa” is a fun fusion) or Malabar Café (Kerala specialties, biryani). Head to the airport for your outgoing flight—search options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have a late flight, walk Marine Drive promenade for sunset and milk tea, then depart.

Optional Add-On (spare day in Kochi area)

If you find an extra day in Kochi, consider a day trip to Kerala’s mightiest cascades in rainforest country: Athirappilly & Vazhachal Waterfalls Private Day Tour from Kochi.

Where to Eat & Drink (Quick Picks)

• Kochi Coffee/Breakfast: Kashi Art Café; Qissa Café; Pepper House Café.
• Kochi Lunch/Dinner: Fusion Bay; Oceanos; Fort House Restaurant; Kayees Rahmathullah (biryani); Seagull (sunset deck).
• Munnar Cafés: Tea Tales Café; Taste the Brew.
• Munnar Meals: Rapsy Restaurant; Saravana Bhavan; Hotel Guru; resort restaurants with valley views (Tea County, Copper Castle).

How This Route Flows

• Destinations chosen: 2 cities for 7 days—Kochi (gateway, heritage, backwaters access) + Munnar (hills, tea, wildlife). Alleppey is visited as a day trip for the backwaters experience.
• Getting around: For flights, use Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For India trains elsewhere on your trip, check Trip.com Trains. Kochi–Munnar is by road (no rail), 4–5 hours each way.

Seven days in Kerala gives you the state’s essential arc: coastal history in Fort Kochi, slow-life bliss on the backwaters, and cool mountain days among Munnar’s tea gardens. You’ll leave with cardamom-scented memories, a camera full of green horizons, and a deeper sense of the spice routes that shaped this corner of India.