South India rewards curiosity. On this 7-day Kerala itinerary you’ll wander Fort Kochi’s colonial lanes, watch fishermen work cantilevered Chinese nets at sunset, and taste pepper, cardamom, and clove where the global spice trade once began. Then you’ll rise into the Western Ghats, where Munnar’s tea estates roll like green corduroy under a blue sky.

Kerala’s story threads Portuguese, Dutch, and British chapters with a timeless maritime culture, Syrian Christian traditions, and Jewish heritage in Jew Town. Expect coconut-laced curries, appam with stew, flaky Malabar parotta, and the state fish—karimeen—grilled in banana leaf. Evenings hum with Kathakali and Mohiniyattam dance, accompanied by chenda drums.

Practical notes: Fly into Kochi (COK). Distances are modest, but mountain roads are winding; plan 4–5 hours to Munnar by car. The best weather runs November–March; April–May is warm at the coast but cool in the hills, and the monsoon (June–September) is lush yet rainy. Dress modestly for temples, and carry cash for small eateries and ferries.

Kochi (Cochin)

Fort Kochi is Kerala in miniature: colonial churches, spice-scented godowns, and fishermen silhouetted against the Arabian Sea. Mattancherry’s palace murals glow with epics; the Paradesi Synagogue whispers of a 16th-century Jewish community.

Top sights include the Chinese Fishing Nets at Vasco da Gama Square, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, and the bustling spice and antique lanes of Jew Town. Evenings are perfect for a Kathakali performance and seafood by the water.

• Stay in Fort Kochi or Mattancherry: Heritage homes and boutique stays place you steps from cafés and galleries. Browse options on VRBO (Kochi) or Hotels.com (Kochi).
• Getting there: Fly into COK with Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. The airport–Fort Kochi taxi is ~1–1.5 hours, INR 1,200–1,800.

Day 1: Arrive in Kochi, Fort Kochi Sunset and Seafood

Afternoon: Arrive at COK and transfer to Fort Kochi. Check in and refresh, then take a gentle orientation stroll along Princess Street and Napier Street—past pastel bungalows, shady rain trees, and art galleries.

Evening: Join locals at Vasco da Gama Square to watch the cheena vala (Chinese fishing nets) at sunset. Sip a fresh lime soda, then dine waterside: Seagull for tiger prawns and toddy shop–style curries, or Fort House Restaurant for Syrian Christian fish molee and a breezy jetty view. Nightcap at Malabar Junction’s candlelit courtyard.

Day 2: Mattancherry, Jew Town and Kathakali Night

Morning: Breakfast at Kashi Art Café (house-baked bread, cold coffee, rotating exhibits) or Qissa Café (Arabic-influenced breakfasts, airy vibe). Visit St. Francis Church—the resting place of Vasco da Gama before his remains went to Lisbon—then the kaleidoscopic Santa Cruz Basilica.

Afternoon: Cross to Mattancherry for the Dutch Palace (Kerala murals of the Ramayana) and Paradesi Synagogue with its blue-and-white Canton tiles. Browse Jew Town’s spice warehouses and antique shops; pause at Mocha Art Café for cardamom coffee. Lunch at Kayees Rahmathulla Café in Mattancherry for legendary mutton biryani (served mornings till sold out) or Oceanos for squid roast and meen pollichathu.

Evening: Book the makeup-call plus performance at the Kerala Kathakali Center—see artists paint dramatic green-faced heroes before a powerful dance-drama. Dinner afterward at Fusion Bay (homestyle seafood thali, mango fish curry) or Pepper House Café for light bites and local art films.

Day 3: Scenic Drive to Munnar, Spice Garden and Tea Views

Morning: Depart Kochi for Munnar by private car (4–5 hours; INR 4,500–5,500) after an early breakfast. Book a car via your hotel or a local agency; mountain roads are winding yet gorgeous.

Afternoon: Stop at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls for photos, then tour a small spice plantation to see cardamom pods, pepper vines, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Arrive in Munnar by mid-afternoon; check in and sip a welcome cup of local orthodox tea.

Evening: Head to Pothamedu or Parvathy Hills for golden-hour views across tea carpets. Dinner at Rapsy Restaurant (Kerala pepper chicken, porotta, and fruit pancakes) or Hotel Guru’s (veg meals on banana leaf; ask for sambar seconds).

Munnar

Munnar’s slopes are a living museum of tea—contoured hills, British planter bungalows, and cool air scented with eucalyptus. Wildlife thrives in nearby sanctuaries, from Nilgiri tahr to highland butterflies.

Beyond tea-tasting, hike among verdant estates, boat on Kundala Lake, and ride a jeep to Kolukkumalai, home to one of the world’s highest tea factories. On clear days you can gaze into Tamil Nadu from Top Station.

• Where to stay: Choose a tea-estate bungalow or hillside retreat in Chithirapuram, Pallivasal, or Pothamedu for sunrise views. Search VRBO (Munnar) or Hotels.com (Munnar).

Day 4: Eravikulam National Park, Tea Museum and Top Station

Morning: Start early for Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) to spot the endangered Nilgiri tahr amid shola grasslands. Tickets are limited; it’s cooler and clearer in the morning. Note: The park often closes for tahr calving for several weeks around Feb–Mar—check locally.

Afternoon: Visit the KDHP Tea Museum for a short film on Munnar’s tea history and a working demo of withering, rolling, and drying. Taste single-estate brews at the end. Then drive to Kundala Lake for paddleboats or continue to Top Station for sweeping valley vistas.

Evening: Unwind by a bonfire if your property offers one. For dinner, try Tea Tales Café (light bites, tea pairings) or a homely veg thali at Sree Mahaveer. Sample Kerala-style pepper-fried paneer or mushroom roast if you prefer vegetarian fare.

Day 5: Kolukkumalai Sunrise + Return to Kochi

Morning: Pre-dawn jeep trip to Kolukkumalai (book the previous day; INR 2,500–3,500 per jeep). Watch sunrise lace the tea ridges in pink, then tour the old high-altitude tea factory to see hand-operated machinery still in use.

Afternoon: Brunch back in town—Saravana Bhavan (local branch) for ghee roast dosa, idli, and strong filter coffee. Depart Munnar for Kochi after lunch (4–5 hours). If you’re a motion-sickness sufferer, sit up front and carry ginger candies.

Evening: Check into your Kochi hotel. Stroll Marine Drive promenade for a sunset ferry ride across the backwaters of Vembanad. Dinner at The Rice Boat (classic seafood preparations) or Dhe Puttu (creative puttu combos) if you don’t mind a short ride toward Edappally.

Day 6: Alleppey Backwaters Day Cruise

Morning: Day trip to Alappuzha (Alleppey), 1.5–2 hours by road. Opt for a private shikara (INR 1,500–2,500 per hour for 2–4 guests) or a day-cruise houseboat (INR 8,000–12,000 for a small group). You can also reach Alappuzha by train from Ernakulam Jn. (~1–1.5 hours) via Trip.com trains and take an auto-rickshaw to the jetty.

Afternoon: Glide through palm-fringed canals past rice paddies, duck farms, and toddy shops. Lunch onboard is a treat: Kerala sadya on banana leaf, karimeen pollichathu (pearl-spot fish with masala), cabbage thoran, and crispy pappadam. Ask your boatman for a village walk to see coir-making and canal-side chapels.

Evening: Return to Fort Kochi. Celebrate your last full night with a Malabar seafood feast—try prawns roast, crab masala, or veg avial with red rice. For dessert: tender coconut pudding or a scoop of Kerala vanilla.

Day 7: Kochi Crafts, Folklore and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Qissa Café (Shakshuka, masala omelets) or Loafers Corner (open windows, people-watching). If time allows, visit the Kerala Folklore Museum (Thevara) for a dense collection of masks, temple art, and Theyyam costumes.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping in Jew Town for spices (pepper, cardamom), handloom dhotis, and brassware. Transfer to COK for your flight—search options on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport taxis take ~1–1.5 hours depending on traffic.

Evening: Fly out with a suitcase perfumed by fresh spices and tea.

Getting Around and Budget Notes

• City transfers: Kochi–Munnar by car 4–5 hours (INR 4,500–5,500); Munnar–Kochi same. Alleppey day trip car 1.5–2 hours each way (INR 3,000–4,000 round trip).
• Local transport: Auto-rickshaws are abundant in Fort Kochi; agree on fare beforehand or ask for the meter. Ferries connect Fort Kochi, Vypeen, and Marine Drive cheaply.
• Entry fees (approx): Dutch Palace INR ~25 (foreigners higher at times), Synagogue INR ~10–20, Eravikulam INR ~200 (Indians) / ~500 (foreigners), Tea Museum INR ~150.

Optional Add-On (If You Transit via Mumbai)

If your South India flights connect through Mumbai and you add a day, these two highly rated experiences are easy wins:

• Highlights of Mumbai Sightseeing Tour: TRAVELLERS CHOICE AWARDED

  

  Explore the Gateway of India, Dhobi Ghat, Crawford Market, and historic neighborhoods with an expert local guide. Good overview for a first-time visit.
• Elephanta Caves & Island Guided Private Tour

  

  Sail from the Gateway to UNESCO-listed cave temples dedicated to Shiva; admire rock-cut reliefs like the famed Trimurti.

Where to Book Your Stays (Quick Links): VRBO Kochi, Hotels.com Kochi, VRBO Munnar, Hotels.com Munnar

In one week, you’ll taste Kerala’s cuisine, walk its historic port, and breathe in Munnar’s cool tea-scented air. This South India itinerary balances culture, nature, and the gentle rhythm of the backwaters—leaving space to linger where it speaks to you most.