Kerala in 6 Days: The Perfect First-Timer's Itinerary
Cochin's old harbour, Munnar's tea hills, a Thekkady spice trail and a night on the Alleppey backwaters — a balanced route through God's Own Country.
Kerala packs hills, wildlife, backwaters and beaches into one compact, easy-to-travel state. This six-day route is the one we book most often for first-timers.
Day 1–2: Kochi
Land in Kochi and ease in with a walk through Fort Kochi — the Chinese fishing nets at sunset, colonial streets, and a Kathakali performance in the evening.
Day 3: Munnar
Drive up into the Western Ghats to Munnar, where tea estates roll out in every direction. Stop at a tea museum and the Eravikulam National Park.
Day 4: Thekkady
Head to Thekkady for the Periyar wildlife reserve. A spice-plantation tour here is a highlight — cardamom, pepper and vanilla growing wild.
Day 5: Alleppey Backwaters
The trip's centrepiece: a private houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters. Glide past paddy fields and village life, with a chef cooking fresh Keralan meals on board.
Day 6: Departure
A relaxed morning before transferring back to Kochi for your flight home.
This route works in either direction and is easy to extend with a couple of beach days in Kovalam or Varkala. We handle the car, driver, houseboat and stays end to end.
Plan this trip
Read our destination guides for the best time to visit and the top things to do:
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