The short answer
The best things to do in Kerala are a night on the backwaters, walking the tea hills of Munnar, a boat trip in Periyar, exploring Fort Kochi, watching Kathakali or theyyam, a home cooking class, an Ayurveda treatment and a few days on the beach.
On the water
1. A night on a houseboat near Alleppey. 2. A canoe trip through narrow village canals. 3. A sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake from Kumarakom.
In the hills
4. A guided walk through the Munnar tea estates. 5. A morning boat trip at Periyar. 6. A spice garden visit near Thekkady. 7. A plantation stay in Wayanad.
Culture and food
8. A walk around Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. 9. A Kathakali performance. 10. A theyyam ritual in north Kerala in season. 11. A cooking class in a family home. 12. Lunch at a toddy shop. 13. A temple festival if your dates allow.
Rest
14. An Ayurveda treatment, or a proper course of two weeks or more. 15. Time on the beach at Marari, Varkala or Kovalam.
Local tipDo not try to do everything. Choose a few of these and leave space for an unplanned day.
Why these experiences
This list comes from what our Cochin team has planned for travellers over 20 years, and what those travellers tell us when they come home. It is not a list of every sight in Kerala. It is the experiences that, in our view, are worth building a trip around.
More on our favourites
A canoe through the village canals
Houseboats stay on the wider channels. A small canoe takes you into the narrow canals, past homes, temples and schools. Go early in the morning. For many travellers it is the highlight of the backwaters.
Walking the tea estates
Munnar's tea gardens are best seen on foot with a local guide, on paths between the bushes and through small villages. Walks can be gentle or long and steep.
Fort Kochi on foot
The old town is small enough to walk. Go early for the fishing nets, Jew Town, the Dutch Palace and the spice warehouses of Mattancherry, then rest in the afternoon heat.
Cooking in a family home
A cooking class in a Kerala home is a chance to learn about the food and to sit down with a local family. Our team knows hosts who enjoy having guests.
Best experiences by type of traveller
| Traveller | Our top picks |
|---|---|
| First time in India | Fort Kochi, a houseboat, Munnar, a beach |
| Families | Periyar boat trip, spice garden, canoe, Marari beach |
| Couples | Private houseboat, tea estate stay, couples Ayurveda |
| Culture lovers | Kathakali, theyyam, temple festivals, Mattancherry |
| Food lovers | Cooking class, toddy shop lunch, Kochi seafood, sadya |
How many of these fit in one trip
On a typical 12 to 14 night trip, you can comfortably fit in about eight to ten of these experiences without rushing. We would rather you do fewer things well. When we plan, we place each experience at the time of day and the place where it works best.
From our Cochin officeTell us the three experiences you care about most. We will build the route around them and fit the rest in where they suit.
Our Kerala expert
Based in Cochin
Our Kerala office has been planning trips from Cochin for 20 years. This guide reflects what we tell travellers who call us.
Ready to plan your Kerala trip?
We build trips around the experiences you care about.
Frequently asked questions
Its backwaters, tea hills, spices, Ayurveda, beaches and food.
A backwater trip and time in the hills are the two experiences most visitors remember.
Yes. It is relaxed, green and easier to travel than many parts of India.
Kathakali in Fort Kochi, sunset on the backwaters or a beach, and dinner in a local restaurant. Kerala is not known for nightlife.
A Periyar boat trip, spice gardens, canoeing on the backwaters and time on the beach at Marari.
