Kerala in 15 Days: Tea Hills, Backwaters, and Coastal Culture

A slow-travel, 15-day Kerala itinerary through Kochi, Munnar, and Alleppey that blends history, tea plantations, waterfalls, wildlife, and a dreamy houseboat cruise.
Picturesque view of river with green palms on bank and shabby wooden boathouse under blue sky in tropical countryside
Photo by Godson Bright on Pexels

Spread like a green ribbon between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, Kerala is India’s “spice coast” and backwater paradise. Traders from Arabia, Europe, and China left a layered legacy here—Portuguese basilicas, Dutch mansions, a Jewish synagogue, and those famous Chinese fishing nets waltzing with the tide.


Beyond history, Kerala is a land of tea gardens, cardamom-scented forests, and mirror-still canals flanked by coconut palms. You’ll sip fresh toddy by the water, follow hill trails where Nilgiri tahr graze, and watch dusk settle over Vembanad Lake from a houseboat deck.

Practical notes: November–March is peak season with pleasant weather; June–September brings dramatic monsoon showers and lush landscapes (carry light rain gear). Dress modestly for temples, carry small cash for village stops (UPI is widely accepted too), and eat your way through appam-stew, karimeen pollichathu, and beef fry with flaky Kerala parotta.

Kochi

Kochi (Cochin) is your cultural doorway to Kerala: a peninsula where Fort Kochi’s colonial streets, Mattancherry’s spice godowns, and waterfront promenades meet a lively contemporary arts scene. It’s a place to wander slow—ducking into courtyards perfumed with pepper and cinnamon, then pausing for a filter coffee while fishermen hoist counterweighted nets at sunset.

Arrive via flight to Kochi International (COK). Compare fares and routes on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. A prepaid taxi from COK to Fort Kochi takes ~1–1.5 hours and costs about $15–25.

Days 1–4: Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, and Waterfalls

  • Fort Kochi heritage loop: Stroll past the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama’s first burial site), and the pastel-hued Santa Cruz Basilica. In Mattancherry, step into the Paradesi Synagogue and palace-lined Jew Town, where spice warehouses still breathe cardamom, clove, and pepper.
  • Art, dance, and martial arts: Catch an evening Kathakali performance (arrive early to watch the intricate makeup ritual) and a Kalaripayattu martial arts demo—both evocative windows into Kerala’s classical traditions.
  • Day trip to Athirappilly & Vazhachal Falls: A jungle-flanked drive (2.5–3 hours each way) delivers you to Kerala’s largest waterfall, nicknamed the “Niagara of India.”
  • Neighborhood cafés and meals: - Breakfast: Kashi Art Café (house-baked bread, cold coffee, gallery vibes), Qissa Café (eggs, shakshuka, and coastal light), and The Teapot (antique kettles, fluffy omelets). - Lunch: Fusion Bay (home-style Syrian Christian seafood curries), Kayees Rahmathulla Café (legendary mutton biryani), and Dhe Puttu (steamed rice cakes layered with prawns or beef—Kerala comfort food). - Dinner: Malabar Junction at Malabar House (refined coastal plates and regional wines), Fort House Restaurant (waterfront, peppery squid, and fish molee), and Paragon, Edappally (Calicut-style biryani and ghee rice; great if you’re near Lulu Mall).

Recommended tours in/around Kochi:


Where to stay: Base yourself in Fort Kochi for walkability. Boutique picks include character-filled heritage bungalows and artsy hotels; beachier stays await at Cherai (great for a day trip). Browse options on Hotels.com – Kochi or compare apartments/villas on VRBO – Kochi.


Getting onward: Depart Kochi for Munnar on Day 5 morning by private car (4–5 hours, ~$50–70) via NH85—scenic hairpins and tea estates toward the end. If you’re curious about rail options elsewhere in India, compare routes on Trip.com trains (note: no train to Munnar).

Munnar

Munnar is the postcard of the Western Ghats: an amphitheater of emerald tea gardens, cloud forests, and cinnamon-scented breezes. At dawn, ridgelines glow gold; by noon, mists swirl through shola woods and gushing falls.

Expect cool mornings and clear starry nights. This is your time for tea tastings, wildlife spotting, and mountain drives that switchback from sandalwood valleys to viewpoints above the clouds.

Days 5–9: Tea Trails, Eravikulam, and Wild Elephants

  • Eravikulam National Park: Home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr. Shuttle buses take you up to rolling meadows and airy viewpoints; aim for early morning light. During the rare Neelakurinji bloom (every ~12 years), the hills turn purple.
  • Tea time: Visit the KDHP Tea Museum to trace Munnar’s plantation history, then sip freshly brewed orthodox teas. Many estates offer guided walks through plucking fields and withering rooms.
  • Top Station sunrise: A dawn drive to this legendary viewpoint can unveil an ocean of clouds. Consider a jeep trip to nearby Kolukkumalai—the world’s highest orthodox tea estate—for dramatic ridgelines.
  • Waterfalls and village life: Lakkam and Nyayamakad Falls thunder in monsoon months; in drier times they’re gentle picnic spots. Village markets brim with cardamom, clove, and handmade chocolate—excellent edible souvenirs.
  • Eat & drink: - Breakfast/coffees: estate cafés and the Tea Museum café for tastings; try local black tea with jaggery. - Lunch: Saravana Bhavan (veg thali on banana leaf), Rapsy (Kerala beef fry, parotta, and shawarma—an old-school traveler favorite), SN Restaurant (spicy fish curry and rice). - Dinner: Resort grills at Parakkat Nature or Abad Copper Castle for tandoor and tea-smoked trout; ask for a table with valley views.

Recommended tours in/around Munnar:

Where to stay: Hillside resorts and tea bungalows define the Munnar experience—choose valley-view rooms and fireplace lounges. Search a range of stays on Hotels.com – Munnar or find private cottages on VRBO – Munnar.

Getting onward: Leave Munnar on Day 10 morning for Alleppey (Alappuzha). Private car via Munnar–Adimaly–Kottayam takes ~5–6 hours and ~$65–90 depending on vehicle. If you prefer a partial rail experience, continue by car to Ernakulam Jn then take a train to Alappuzha (~1.5 hours, ~$2–5; check schedules on Trip.com trains).

Alleppey (Alappuzha)

Alleppey is Kerala’s backwater capital—an intricate lacework of canals, paddy fields, toddy shops, and coir villages that slide by like a living travelogue. This is where you slow down, swap roads for water, and spend a night on a kettuvallam houseboat under star-pocked skies.

Base a few nights on a houseboat and a few on land near Marari Beach or the lake-facing villages of Kumarakom for birdlife and sunset hues over Vembanad.


Days 10–15: Houseboats, Village Canals, Beaches, and Birds

  • Overnight houseboat (1–2 nights): Board around noon, cruise narrow canals in the afternoon, then moor by a village for a candlelit dinner of karimeen (pearl spot) and tapioca. Dawn tea on deck is a memory that lingers.
  • Canoe/punting through village life: Swap the big boat for a hand-punted canoe to reach whisper-quiet capillaries where women weave coir rope, fishers mend nets, and kingfishers flash electric blue.
  • Marari Beach day: Golden sands, swaying palms, and a lazy seafood lunch; go early for calm seas and return for a sherbet sunset.
  • Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: Morning or late-afternoon walks bring sightings of herons, egrets, darters, and, in season, migratory visitors. Hire a local canoe for a silent glide into reed beds.
  • Food to seek out: - Breakfast: Indian Coffee House (dosa, vada, and strong filter coffee) and simple canal-side toddy shops for puttu with kadala curry. - Lunch: Thaff Sea Food Family Restaurant (prawn roast, fish curry meals), Vembanad Restaurant at Coconut Lagoon (elegant takes on Syrian Christian recipes), and Ettukettu at Kumarakom Lake Resort (heritage feasts under antique rafters). - Dinner: Cafe Catamaran by Alleppey Beach (grilled fish, sea breeze), and resort grills at Marari Beach Resort for lime-chili squid and coconut soufflé.

Recommended backwater tours:

Where to stay: Split time between a lakeside stay and a beach retreat near Marari. Think wooden-louvered cottages, hammocks, and sunset decks. Compare hotels on Hotels.com – Alleppey, or browse villas and heritage homes on VRBO – Alleppey.

Logistics and Timing (15-Day Flow)

  • Days 1–4: Kochi — Heritage walks, tuk-tuk tour, Kathakali, and Athirappilly waterfalls.
  • Day 5 morning: Kochi to Munnar by car, ~4–5 hours (~$50–70).
  • Days 5–9: Munnar — Eravikulam NP, tea museum, Top Station/Kolukkumalai, waterfalls, village markets, elephant country tours.
  • Day 10 morning: Munnar to Alleppey by car, ~5–6 hours (~$65–90). Optional rail for the final stretch via Ernakulam Jn to Alappuzha (~1.5 hours, ~$2–5) on Trip.com trains.
  • Days 10–12: Houseboat overnight + village punting day.
  • Days 13–14: Marari Beach and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
  • Day 15: Alleppey to Kochi Airport by car, ~2–2.5 hours (~$30–45). Check flight options on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Good-to-know extras: Carry a light sweater for Munnar nights, insect repellent for backwaters, and quick-dry clothes in monsoon. Many sights close mid-day; start early. Respect backwater village privacy—ask before photos, and consider tipping boatmen and guides.

Optional multi-day packages if you’d like everything bundled:

For hotels at each stop, compare rates and filters on Hotels.com and VRBO: Kochi | Munnar | Alleppey — and VRBO: Kochi | Munnar | Alleppey.

Fifteen days in Kerala lets you savor both grandeur and quiet: colonial streets and temple drums, tea-slicked hillsides and backwater sunsets. Travel unhurried, eat well, and let water and wind set the rhythm—you’ll leave with spice on your tongue and the glow of green in your memory.


Ready to book your trip?

Search Hotels
Search Homes

Trending Trips

Traveling somewhere else?

Generate a custom itinerary