Kerala’s nickname—God’s Own Country—wasn’t casually earned. Arab and Phoenician ships once anchored here for pepper; later, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders etched their marks on Kochi’s waterfront streets. Inland, highlands rise into tea, coffee, and spice, with tribal villages and forest corridors where elephants still roam.

Wayanad, perched along the Western Ghats, is Kerala at its most emerald: mist on tea estates at sunrise, treks to a heart-shaped lake, waterfalls thundering through rainforest, and safaris in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s also a superb base for earthy Malabar cuisine—parotta with beef roast, fragrant biryanis, and fresh river fish.

Practical notes: Peak season runs October–March; monsoon (June–September) is lush but rainy and can close some treks. Dress modestly at temples, carry ID for park permits, and bring proper hiking shoes. Digital payments (UPI) are widely accepted. Fly into Kochi; depart via Kozhikode (Calicut) or circle back to Kochi. Trains are reliable for the long hops; hire cars cover mountain roads.

Kochi (Cochin)

Kochi is Kerala’s historical stage: Chinese fishing nets creak at sunset, spice warehouses scent the air, and synagogues and basilicas share lanes with murals and cafés. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry reward slow wandering—think tuk-tuks, flea markets, and colonial bungalows.

• Top sights: Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town spice lanes.
• Coffee & bites: Kashi Art Café (great for a creative breakfast and strong coffee), Qissa Café (shakshuka, croissants), Pepper House Café (waterfront breezes).
• Lunch & dinner: Kayees Rahmathulla Café (legendary Malabar biryani), Fusion Bay (Syrian Christian seafood), Seagull Restaurant & Bar (waterfront prawns and fish curry), The Rice Boat at Taj Malabar (fine Kerala seafood).

Stay near Fort Kochi for walking access. Browse stays on Hotels.com – Kochi or VRBO – Kochi.

Arrivals: Fly into COK. Search flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Trains across India: Trip.com Trains.

Day 1 – Arrive Kochi, Fort Kochi Strolls and Sunset

Morning: Fly into Kochi (COK). If you land early, drop bags at your Fort Kochi hotel and refresh with cold lime soda and a masala omelet at Kashi Art Café.

Afternoon: Walk to St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama was once buried here) and the pastel-hued Santa Cruz Basilica. Continue into the lanes of Jew Town to browse spice jars (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon) and antiques.

Evening: Catch the sunset glow on the Chinese fishing nets along Vasco da Gama Square. See a classical Kathakali makeup demo and performance at the Kerala Kathakali Center, then dine at Fusion Bay—order meen pollichathu (fish baked in banana leaf) with appam and a side of thoran.

Day 2 – Tuk-Tuk History Ride and a Quiet Backwater Cruise

Morning: Hop in a tuk-tuk with a local driver to cover more ground, with stories and photo stops in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Coffee at Qissa Café before you set out.

Kochi’s Best TukTuk Sightseeing Tour with Local Driver

Afternoon: Trade the city for palm-fringed canals on an eco-minded village backwater cruise. Glide past toddy tappers and canoe ferries; watch kingfishers flash electric blue. It’s serene and photogenic.

Backwater Tour from Cochin

Evening: Return to the harbor for dinner at Seagull Restaurant & Bar. Try prawn roast, Malabar fish curry, and flaky Kerala parotta. Nightcap at The Drawing Room (Fragrant Nature) overlooking the lights on the channel.

Wayanad

Wayanad is where Kerala climbs into the clouds: pepper vines wrap silver oaks, tea gardens curve over ridges, and elephants patrol forest tracks at dawn. Trails lead to a heart-shaped lake, prehistoric petroglyphs, and lookout points that snag the sunset.

• Top sights: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Muthanga/Tholpetty) safari, Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak (Heart Lake), Soochipara Falls, Pookode Lake, Banasura Sagar Dam, Kuruvadweep (seasonal).
• Cafés & meals: 1980’s – A Nostalgic Restaurant (Kerala thali, kozhi roast), The Coffee Grove (filter coffee, grills), Wilton Restaurant (biryani and banana fritters) in Sultan Bathery, Udupi Hotel (dosa, vada) in Kalpetta, The Bungalow at Vythiri Village (buffet with regional specialties).
• Good to know: Forest passes are limited; carry ID; plastic is restricted. Trails may close during heavy rain or fire risk—check locally the day before.

Base yourself near Vythiri/Meppadi (for Chembra and Soochipara) or Sultan Bathery (for Edakkal and Muthanga). Browse stays on Hotels.com – Wayanad or VRBO – Wayanad.

Getting there from Kochi: Easiest is morning train Kochi (Ernakulam Jn) to Kozhikode (3–4 hrs; AC chair INR ~600–900) on Trip.com Trains, then private taxi to Vythiri/Kalpetta (3–3.5 hrs; INR ~3,500–5,000). A direct private transfer Kochi–Wayanad takes 7–8 hrs.

Day 3 – Kochi to Wayanad, Lakeside Loops

Morning: Board an early train to Kozhikode, then drive the winding ghats into Wayanad. Pause at a roadside chai stand for ginger tea and pazham pori (banana fritters).

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs at Pookode Lake—rent a pedal boat, scan for cormorants, and browse the small spice stalls for vanilla pods and wild honey.

Evening: Dinner at 1980’s – A Nostalgic Restaurant in Kalpetta: order the spicy beef ularthiyathu (or mushroom roast) and Kerala parotta, followed by payasam if available.

Day 4 – Safari Dawn and Ancient Carvings

Morning: Safari at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary—choose Muthanga (closer to Sultan Bathery) or Tholpetty (toward Mananthavady). Gates typically open around 7:00 a.m.; jeeps are limited. Expect deer, gaur, peacocks, and a good chance of elephants. Tickets and jeep fees total roughly INR 300–400 per person plus vehicle (shared jeeps keep costs down).

Afternoon: Head to Edakkal Caves (closed Mondays). A short jeep shuttle from the base leads to a steep stair climb; the reward is petroglyphs dated up to 7,000 years and sweeping valley views. Hydrate and wear sturdy shoes.

Evening: Sultan Bathery bazaar for banana chips and spices, then dinner at Wilton Restaurant—try their Malabar chicken curry, ghee rice, and caramel pudding.

Day 5 – Chembra Peak Heart Lake and Soochipara Splash

Morning: Secure a Chembra Peak trekking permit (group permit, limited daily entries; last entry often early afternoon). The trek (medium difficulty) climbs through tea gardens to the famed heart-shaped lake. Pack water; guides may be mandatory.

Afternoon: Cool off at Soochipara (Sentinel Rock) Falls—short forest walk to thundering tiers and rock pools. Post-hike late lunch at The Coffee Grove: grilled fish, veg sizzlers, and a strong South Indian filter coffee.

Evening: Unwind with an Ayurvedic abhyanga massage at your resort spa, then dine at The Bungalow (Vythiri Village)—sample karimeen fry (pearl spot), avial, and red rice.

Day 6 – Banasura Sagar, Island Forests, and Village Crafts

Morning: Drive to Banasura Sagar Dam, India’s largest earth dam, for island-dotted reservoir views. Opt for a speedboat ride (paid on site) or a short viewpoint hike.

Afternoon: If water levels and forest rules permit, continue to Kuruvadweep (Kuruva Island) for bamboo-raft crossings, quiet forest walks, and birdlife. Alternate plan if closed: a guided spice plantation walk to learn pepper pollination and cardamom curing.

Evening: Drop by Uravu (Thrikkaipetta) to see bamboo craftwork and pick up sustainable souvenirs. Dinner back near Vythiri/Kalpetta—Udupi Hotel for crisp dosa and coconut chutney if you’re craving vegetarian comfort.

Day 7 – Down the Ghats to Kozhikode and Depart

Morning: Check out and drive 3–3.5 hrs to Kozhikode (Calicut). If time allows, stroll Kozhikode Beach promenade.

Afternoon: Lunch at Paragon Restaurant (a Malabar institution) for mutton biryani or prawn ghee roast, then head to CCJ (Calicut International Airport) for your flight. Search options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. If you’re returning to Kochi by train or car, plan 7–8 hrs total travel.

Evening: If you have a late departure, pick up Kozhikode halwa and banana chips for the road. Farewell to Kerala’s spices and hills.

Optional/Alternate Kochi Experiences (If Extending)

Consider an Alleppey backwater day or an overnight houseboat if you add a night to Kochi:

Half-Day Eco Punting and Village Backwater Cruise from Cochin

Alleppey Houseboat Overnight Cruise from Kochi

Where to book stays again: Kochi—Hotels.com | VRBO; Wayanad—Hotels.com | VRBO.

In one week, you’ve traced Kerala from spice-scented ports to misty tea hills—tasting biryani, hearing temple drums, and watching elephants at first light. Wayanad’s trails and Kochi’s lanes have a way of lingering; you’ll leave with camera rolls full and plans to return for monsoon moods or an Alleppey overnight cruise.