Kerala
Kerala
Backwaters, hills and long lunches
Best time to visit
September to March
Ideal duration
6 – 8 days
Good for
Beaches · Honeymoon · Family · Wildlife · Weekend
Overview
Backwaters, hills and long lunches
Kerala is the easiest state in India to travel slowly. Distances are short, the roads are good, and almost every drive passes water.
Why visit
What makes Kerala worth the journey.
A night on the backwaters
A houseboat from Alleppey through the paddy-fed canals, with lunch cooked on board.
Tea country
The plantations around Munnar, where the hills are cut into green terraces to the skyline.
Fort Kochi
Colonial streets, Chinese fishing nets, a working spice market and the best café culture in the south.
Food worth planning around
Appam and stew, Syrian-Christian beef fry, Malabar biryani and fish grilled the hour it was landed.
Best time to visit
Kerala, season by season.
In short: September to March.
September – November
After the rain
Everything is green, the backwaters are full and the crowds have not arrived yet.
December – February
Peak season
Dry, warm and reliable. Book houseboats and hill stays well ahead over the holidays.
March – May
Warm
Humid on the coast but comfortable in Munnar and Wayanad, and far quieter everywhere.
June – August
Monsoon
Dramatic rain and the traditional season for Ayurvedic treatment. Beaches are largely off-limits.
Photographs of Kerala
In Kerala
Travel Kerala your way.
Something else in Kerala?
These are the stays and trips we publish. Most journeys we run are built from scratch — tell us the days you have and what you want out of them.
Build a custom routeTravel tips
Practical notes for Kerala.
- 01
Book a smaller houseboat — the large ones stay on the main channel and miss the narrow canals.
- 02
Munnar is cold at night year round. Pack one warm layer even in April.
- 03
Kochi is the most convenient arrival airport for the classic loop; Trivandrum suits a southern beach trip.
- 04
Most Ayurvedic packages need a minimum of seven days to do anything meaningful.
FAQ
Kerala questions we get asked.
Is one night enough on a houseboat?
For most travellers, yes. You board at midday, cruise through the afternoon, moor overnight and disembark after breakfast — a second night mostly repeats the first.
Munnar or Wayanad?
Munnar for tea landscapes and easy access from Kochi. Wayanad for forest, wildlife and a quieter, less built-up feel.
Does Kerala work during the monsoon?
It can be wonderful if you go for the rain, the greenery and Ayurveda rather than for beaches. We adjust the route to avoid the most flood-prone stretches.
Is Kerala a good destination with small children?
One of the best. Short drives, calm water, good hospitals within reach and food that is easy to adapt.
Keep exploring
Other regions worth a look.
Start your journey
Plan a trip to Kerala.
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel. We will come back with a route and an indicative cost within a working day.