About Kerala
Kerala is usually travelled as a loop: Kochi for heritage and food, Munnar or Thekkady for the hills, and Alleppey or Kumarakom for the backwaters. Five to seven days covers it without rushing.
Best time to visit
October to March is the dry, comfortable season. June to September brings the monsoon, which is dramatic and green but limits backwater cruising and hill walking.
Top attractions
- Alleppey backwaters by private houseboat
- Munnar tea plantations and the factory tour
- Fort Kochi and the Chinese fishing nets
- Periyar wildlife sanctuary at Thekkady
- Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performances
- Varkala cliffs for a quieter beach finish
Travel tips
- Book houseboats with an onboard cook, the food is a large part of it
- Hill roads are winding, take motion sickness precautions
- Monsoon travel is beautiful but pack for genuine rain
- Ayurvedic treatments need a few days to be worth it
