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Kerala itinerary for 5 days

A 5-day Kerala trip plan in which each day stays in one part of Kerala, in route order: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry; The drive up to Munnar; Eravikulam and Top Station; Alleppey backwaters; and Varkala cliff.

A Kerala trip is usually a circuit rather than one base: Kochi for arrival and heritage, Munnar for tea plateaus, Alleppey or Kumarakom for a houseboat night, and Varkala or Kovalam for the coast. Five to seven days covers three of those four comfortably.

Trip length
5 days
Best time
September to March
Bases
Kochi, then Munnar, then Alleppey, then Varkala
Region
Kerala, India
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5-day Kerala itinerary, day by day

Day 1: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry

Arrive in Kochi. A walkable colonial quarter for the arrival day: the fishing nets at sunset and a Kathakali performance in the evening.

  • St Francis Church
  • Mattancherry Palace
  • Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue

Day 2: The drive up to Munnar

Check out and move to Munnar today. Four to five hours up from Kochi, so the stops are along the way: waterfalls on the ghat road, then the tea museum and an estate walk.

  • Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls
  • Tea Museum, Munnar
  • Tea estate walk

Day 3: Eravikulam and Top Station

Munnar’s big day out. Eravikulam (closed for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, around February and March) in the morning, then the dam, lake and the drive to Top Station.

  • Eravikulam National Park
  • Mattupetty Dam
  • Echo Point
  • Kundala Lake boating

Day 4: Alleppey backwaters

Check out and move to Alleppey today. Board a houseboat around noon and sleep on the water; boats moor at sunset. Ask for karimeen (pearl spot) for lunch.

  • Houseboat cruise through the backwaters
  • Kuttanad paddy fields
  • Karimeen lunch on board
  • Alappuzha Beach at sunset

Day 5: Varkala cliff

Check out and move to Varkala today. Red cliffs above the sea with cafes along the top. The calm end of the trip, about three hours south of Alleppey. Keep the end of the day free so the journey home is not rushed.

  • Janardhana Swamy Temple
  • Papanasam Beach
  • Varkala North Cliff cafes

The app times each stop for your dates and shows the driving distance between stops and the cab cost for each day.

Where to stay

Kerala is a circuit, not one base: Fort Kochi on arrival, Munnar for two nights, Thekkady, a night on an Alleppey houseboat, then Varkala or Kovalam on the coast. Fly out of Thiruvananthapuram to avoid driving back.

When to go

September to March is dry and pleasant across the state. June to August brings heavy monsoon — beautiful in the hills and the right season for Ayurveda treatments, but poor for backwaters and beaches.

Getting there

Kochi (COK), Trivandrum (TRV) and Kozhikode (CCJ) all have international flights; the state is well connected by rail end to end.

Frequently asked questions

Is 5 days enough for Kerala?

Yes. 5 days covers Fort Kochi and Mattancherry; The drive up to Munnar; Eravikulam and Top Station; Alleppey backwaters; and Varkala cliff without rushing, which is why it is the most common trip length for Kerala.

What is the best 5-day itinerary for Kerala?

Day 1: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry (St Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace, Jew Town and Paradesi Synagogue). Day 2: The drive up to Munnar (Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, Tea Museum, Munnar, Tea estate walk). Day 3: Eravikulam and Top Station (Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake boating). Day 4: Alleppey backwaters (Houseboat cruise through the backwaters, Kuttanad paddy fields, Karimeen lunch on board, Alappuzha Beach at sunset). Day 5: Varkala cliff (Janardhana Swamy Temple, Papanasam Beach, Varkala North Cliff cafes).

Where should I stay in Kerala?

Kerala is a circuit, not one base: Fort Kochi on arrival, Munnar for two nights, Thekkady, a night on an Alleppey houseboat, then Varkala or Kovalam on the coast. Fly out of Thiruvananthapuram to avoid driving back.

What is the best time to visit Kerala?

September to March is dry and pleasant across the state. June to August brings heavy monsoon — beautiful in the hills and the right season for Ayurveda treatments, but poor for backwaters and beaches.

How do I get to Kerala?

Kochi (COK), Trivandrum (TRV) and Kozhikode (CCJ) all have international flights; the state is well connected by rail end to end.

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