Kerala Coast to Hills Grand Tour
Route Covered
Overnight stops in day orderOverview
This Kerala hills, backwaters and beaches tour runs ten days and nine nights by private car, from Kochi through Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Varkala to Kovalam. It suits first-time visitors who want tea hills, a houseboat day and two beach towns in one trip. October to February is the most comfortable window.
First-time visitors who want hills, backwaters and sea in one trip, and accept six hotel changes and a few long drive days
Highlights
Good to know
Early start on Day 2
The Kochi to Munnar run covers about 130 km in 4 to 5 hours, so set off at first lightEravikulam closure
Reports say Eravikulam National Park shuts in February and March, so plan a different Day 3 for those monthsHouseboat night
Both Alleppey nights are booked in Alleppey; whether one is on the boat is to be confirmedSea swimming
Ask locally about surf at Varkala and Kovalam, especially in the June to September rainsDay-by-Day Itinerary
Land at Kochi and see the Chinese fishing nets at dusk
- Your driver greets you at Cochin International Airport
- About 36 km by road to Fort Kochi, then check in
- Stroll to the waterfront nets and St Francis Church
- An early arrival leaves time for Santa Cruz Basilica and Mattancherry's Jew Town
Up the hill road to Munnar
- Set out from Fort Kochi at first light and climb 130 km on NH 85
- Pause at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls if the schedule permits
- Arrive in Munnar by afternoon after about 4 to 5 hours
- Take a brief tea-slope walk before dinner
Tahr country, a tea museum and boating at Mattupetty
- Morning at Eravikulam National Park, about 16 km from town, for the Nilgiri tahr
- Tea Museum in Munnar to learn how the leaf is processed
- Afternoon boating on the Mattupetty reservoir
- Top Station, about 32 km out, is an option if energy and weather allow
South to Thekkady for a Kumily spice walk
- Drive about 91 km south to Thekkady on winding hill roads, around 3 hours
- Check in near the Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Guided walk through a spice plantation at Kumily, 4 km away
- Early night before tomorrow's boat ride
Periyar Lake boat ride and the road down to Alleppey
- Start with a Periyar Lake boat ride arranged through the reserve
- Scan the banks for deer, bison and elephants
- Then head about 138 km west to Alleppey, roughly 3.5 hours
- Wander near Alappuzha Beach and its old sea pier at dusk
A day on a kettuvallam houseboat in Alleppey
- Board a houseboat for a slow cruise on Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad canals
- Pass coconut groves, paddy fields and village jetties
- Lunch on board if the operator confirms it
- Return for the night in Alleppey
Alleppey to the red cliffs of Varkala
- Drive about 107 km south to Varkala, roughly 2.5 hours
- Check in near the cliff
- Walk the clifftop path above Papanasam Beach
- Visit the Janardhana Swamy Temple
- Sunset from the cliff edge
Sivagiri Mutt, then south to Kovalam
- Morning visit to Sivagiri Mutt, about 3 km inland, where Sree Narayana Guru is laid to rest
- Drive about 56 km to Kovalam, roughly 1.5 hours
- Free afternoon on one of the three bays
- Dinner above Lighthouse Beach
Vizhinjam Lighthouse, fishing coves and a slow beach day
- Climb the Vizhinjam Lighthouse at Lighthouse Beach for the coast view, if it is open
- Watch boats and nets at the Vizhinjam fishing hamlet
- Time for the beach, an Ayurveda session or yoga
- Final dinner together
Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport
- After hotel breakfast, take one last beach walk
- Travel about 15 km to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- Check in for your flight onward
- The tour finishes at the airport
Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.
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Trip Facts
Local Activities & Events
Updated Oct 7, 2026Varkala — Days 7-8 of the trip
Yaanam travel literature festival
culturalA travel writing festival of talks, screenings and conversations at the Ranga Kala Kendram at Varkala Cliff, started by Kerala Tourism in 2025.
First held in October 2025; Kerala Tourism's minister said it would become annual, but no official 2026 dates were found
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesKerala — across your trip
Champions Boat League: Marine Drive, Kochi
sportsA snake-boat race on the Kochi waterfront, one round of the 2026 Champions Boat League organised by Kerala Tourism.
Alpashi Utsavam
festivalThiruvananthapuram's Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple celebrates for ten days, closing with a procession to the sea for a ritual bath.
Koratty Muthy Feast
festivalAnnual feast of the Virgin Mary at the Koratty church in Thrissur district, with processions and cultural performances.
Navarathri Sangeetholsavam
culturalNine evenings of Carnatic music and classical dance at the Navarathri Mandapam in the fort palace complex beside the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Navaratri
festivalGoddess worship fills nine nights across Kerala and closes on Vijayadashami.
Panachikkadu Navaratri Festival
festivalNavaratri celebrations at the Panachikkadu temple in Kottayam district, known for Vidyarambham, when young children are introduced to letters.
Champions Boat League: Piravom
sportsA snake-boat race at Piravom in Ernakulam district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.
Events are reviewed by our team before publishing and drop off after they end. Please confirm timings and availability with us before your trip — local schedules can change without notice.
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