Kerala, the “God’s Own Country,” unfurls from the Arabian Sea to the Western Ghats in a tapestry of backwaters, spice ports, and tea-cloaked mountains. Ancient traders from Arabia, China, and Europe once dropped anchor here, leaving synagogues, churches, and warehouses scented with cardamom and pepper. Today, you’ll still see Chinese fishing nets tilt at sunset and kettuvallam houseboats glide along canals lined with coconut palms.

This one-week Kerala itinerary focuses on two classic bases: coastal Kochi (for heritage, food, and access to the backwaters) and hill-station Munnar (for sweeping viewpoints, tea trails, and cool mountain air). With day trips to Alleppey and time in the tea gardens, you’ll cover Kerala’s greatest hits without rushing.

Practical notes: Peak season runs November–March; late May–September brings monsoon skies and lush scenery (plus afternoon showers). Dress modestly for places of worship, carry small cash for local snacks even though UPI is widely accepted, and pre-book national park and popular experiences in high season. Kerala cuisine stars seafood moilee, appam with stew, beef fry, and banana-leaf vegetarian sadyas—come hungry.

Kochi

Kochi (Cochin) is Kerala’s historic harbor—part spice emporium, part art district. Stroll Fort Kochi’s pastel bungalows, peek into centuries-old synagogues and churches, and watch fishermen work cantilevered Chinese nets at dusk. It’s the perfect soft landing: walkable, photogenic, and packed with cafés and galleries.

Top sights include the Paradesi Synagogue (1568), Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), St. Francis Church (1503), and the waterfront promenade. Food is a highlight: from homestyle Kerala thalis to butter-garlic tiger prawns right by the water.

• Where to stay: Base yourself in Fort Kochi for heritage stays and easy walking; Willingdon Island for resort vibes; or MG Road (Ernakulam) for city conveniences. Browse stays on VRBO Kochi and compare hotels on Hotels.com Kochi.
• Getting in: Fly into Kochi International Airport (COK). Search fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. From within India, trains to Ernakulam Junction are frequent—check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrive in Kochi, Fort Kochi First Impressions

Afternoon: Arrive and check in around Fort Kochi. Stretch your legs along the seaside promenade to the Chinese fishing nets; you can watch crews lever the giant nets—a tradition said to date to medieval trade with China. Coffee break at Kashi Art Café for cold brew and a slice of flourless chocolate cake among contemporary art.

Evening: Sunset at Fort Kochi Beach, then dinner right on the water at Fort House Restaurant—order the prawn pepper fry or fish moilee with appam. Alternatively, Fusion Bay serves family recipes of crab roast and squid in tangy coconut gravy. Nightcap at The Drawing Room (Malabar House) for a craft gin and tonic in a leafy courtyard.

Day 2: Heritage Kochi + Kathakali

Morning & Afternoon (Guided): See the essentials with a local expert: Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide !. Expect Fort Kochi’s lanes, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, and the Paradesi Synagogue, with stories that connect spice trade to global history.

Refuel at Ginger House (waterside courtyards, ginger-laced fish curry) or the classic Kayees Rahmathulla Café for famed mutton biryani that sells out by mid-afternoon.

Evening: Experience Kerala’s iconic dance-drama with a reserved seat at Skip the Line: Kerala Cultural Show Ticket. Arrive early to watch the elaborate face-painting and learn the hand mudras that carry the story.

Post-show dinner at Malabar Junction (elegant garden setting; try the Syrian Christian duck roast) or casual Dal Roti for flaky parathas and kathi rolls.

Day 3: Alleppey Backwaters Day Cruise

Slip into Kerala-time on a day houseboat experience: Private Alleppey Backwater Houseboat DayTour with Taxi from Kochi. A driver collects you (~1.5–2 hours each way), then you’ll drift past rice paddies, toddy shops, and village life while the onboard cook serves a Kerala lunch—often karimeen (pearl spot) fry, thoran (stir-fried veg), and red rice.

Prefer DIY? Trains from Ernakulam Jn to Alappuzha take ~1.5 hours and cost roughly $1–3 in reserved classes—check Trip.com Trains.

Back in Kochi, celebrate the day with seafood at The Rice Boat (if you’re near Willingdon Island; classic tiger prawn pollichathu) or head to Dhe Puttu (Edappally) for creative puttu (steamed rice cake) stacks layered with chicken or paneer.

Munnar

Munnar’s cool air and rolling tea estates are the stuff of Indian hill-station legend. Laid out by planters of the British Raj, the slopes are still plucked by hand; the result perfumes the town with the faintest hint of fresh tea. Dawn light over the Western Ghats is a revelation—ridges ripple to the horizon like emerald corduroy.

Beyond plantations, visit Eravikulam National Park (home to the Nilgiri tahr), drive to Top Station for deep valley views, and sample spice gardens. Evenings are for hot chai, cardamom-scented desserts, and stargazing.

• Where to stay: Choose a tea-estate bungalow for views, a boutique hillside resort near Pothamedu View Point, or a walkable in-town base. Compare options on VRBO Munnar and Hotels.com Munnar.
• Getting there from Kochi: Private car/taxi is most efficient: 4–5 hours, approx ₹4,500–₹6,500 ($55–$80) one-way. Buses run from Ernakulam or Aluva to Munnar (5–6 hours; budget-friendly but less comfortable). Depart in the morning to enjoy waterfall stops en route.

Day 4: Kochi to Munnar, Waterfalls and Tea Vistas

Morning: Depart Kochi after an early dosa breakfast at Pai Dosa (Ernakulam) or Qissa Café (if you prefer continental). On NH85, pause at Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls for photos and fresh pineapple with chili-salt from roadside vendors.

Afternoon: Check in and take an easy walk at Pothamedu View Point or Attukad Waterfalls. Sip a first cup of local orthodox tea at Tea Tales Café while watching clouds roll over the ridges.

Evening: Dinner at Rapsy Restaurant (long-running local favorite—try beef fry with parotta or veg kurma) or head to your resort’s terrace restaurant for grilled trout and coconut rice. Cool nights invite a bonfire; carry a light jacket.

Day 5: Tea Museum and Tea Trail Experience

Morning: Visit the KDHP Tea Museum (usually closed Mondays) to see antique rollers and learn how leaf becomes your cup. The short documentary adds context to Munnar’s plantation era. Grab mid-morning cards of buttery almond halwa at a nearby bakery.

Afternoon: Lace up for the Munnar Tea Trail Tour with Factory Experience (By Munnar Info), a guided plantation walk with interactions with tea pluckers and a factory visit; it’s a hands-on way to appreciate gradient, soil, and craftsmanship behind each cup.

Break for a simple veg thali at Hotel Sri Nivas (fast service, budget-friendly) or a spice-forward biryani at Sree Mahaveer.

Evening: Browse for cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon at a reputable spice shop; ask for vacuum-sealed packs. Dinner at EastEnd’s multi-cuisine restaurant or the cozy Copper Castle dining room—don’t miss hot lemon ginger tea for the road back.

Day 6: Peaks, Parks, and Panoramas

Morning: Sunrise run to Top Station (start ~5:00–5:30 a.m. depending on season) for sweeping Kannan Devan vistas. On the way back, try roadside pazham pori (banana fritters) and chai. Alternatively, if you prefer wildlife, plan Eravikulam National Park (book timed entry; park periodically closes around Feb–Mar for tahr calving—check current status before traveling).

Afternoon: Explore a spice garden for an intro to cardamom pods on the stem, vanilla vines, and clove trees; short guided walks are informative and family-friendly. Lunch at Gurubhavan in old Munnar for kappa (tapioca) with spicy meen curry or a crisp-fried fish.

Evening: Wind down at Blossom Hydel Park for an easy riverside stroll or opt for a resort campfire. Dinner at The Cliff (if open seasonally) for tandoor and mountain views, or return to Rapsy for comfort classics.

Day 7: Munnar to Kochi and Departure

Morning: Leisurely breakfast, then a final walk through nearby tea lanes for photographs—the morning light is best. Depart by 9:00 a.m. to reach Kochi Airport in time for your afternoon flight (4–5 hours; allow extra during weekend or holiday traffic).

Afternoon: If you have buffer time near Aluva, grab a quick South Indian lunch at a highway Saravana Bhavan-style eatery. Fly out of COK; compare options on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.

Where to Eat and Drink (Kochi Shortlist)

• Breakfast & Coffee: Kashi Art Café (arty courtyard, great bakes), Qissa Café (eggs shakshuka, French press), Loafers Corner (heritage-house café for pancakes).
• Lunch: Ginger House (ginger-inflected Kerala dishes, waterside), Kayees Rahmathulla Café (legendary biryani—go early), Oceanos (Syrian Christian seafood classics).
• Dinner: Fort House Restaurant (sea breeze and spice), Fusion Bay (homestyle curries), The Rice Boat (refined seafood near the harbor).

Logistics and Tips

• Transfers: Kochi–Munnar by private car is most reliable (₹4,500–₹6,500; 4–5 hours). Reserve a clean AC sedan via your hotel or a trusted local operator.
• Seasonality: Eravikulam NP can close for Nilgiri tahr calving; tea estates operate year-round but fog/rain may limit long views in monsoon—pack a light rain jacket.
• Payments: UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities; carry ₹100–₹500 notes for rural stalls and tips.
• Connectivity: Data is inexpensive; pick up an Indian SIM at COK arrivals.

Optional Add-Ons (Time Permitting)

• Kumarakom Backwaters + birdwatching day trip from Kochi for a quieter alternative to Alleppey.
• Kolukkumalai jeep ride (very rough track) for sunrise above the world’s highest orthodox tea factory—best with a local driver in dry weather.

Recommended activity recap (book ahead in peak season):

• Best of Kochi Private Tour

  

• Kathakali Cultural Show (Skip the Line)

  

• Alleppey Houseboat Day Tour with Taxi

  

• Munnar Tea Trail + Factory Experience

  

In a week, you’ll sample Kerala’s greatest hits: history-steeped Kochi, a languid day on Alleppey’s backwaters, and the cool, fragrant tea slopes of Munnar. It’s a balanced itinerary with just enough movement to keep things fresh—and plenty of time to savor the flavors and views that make Kerala unforgettable.