Kerala Tour Packages
Kerala packs tea-covered hills, spice plantations, wildlife reserves, houseboat-filled backwaters and palm-lined beaches into a narrow strip between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
Kerala at a glance
- RegionSouth India, India
- CapitalThiruvananthapuram
- Time zoneIndian Standard Time (UTC+5:30)
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+91
- CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)
- LanguagesMalayalam
- Emergency112 (all emergencies)
Best time to visit: September to March
Top Kerala travel packages
A few of our Kerala itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.
Family holidaysThiruvananthapuram · Kanyakumari ·…Kanyakumari & Thiruvananthapuram Tip-of-India Tour5 Days | 4 Nights
Honeymoon packagesMunnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · KovalamKerala Honeymoon with Houseboat & Beach7 Days | 6 Nights
Hill-station holidaysMunnarMunnar Tea Country Short Break4 Days | 3 Nights
Beach holidaysKochi · Kumarakom · Alleppey · VarkalaKerala Backwaters & Beaches7 Days | 6 NightsEssential tips for travelling to Kerala
UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; keep some cash for small shops, rural areas, hill towns and tips.
Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
112 (all emergencies)
Languages spoken: Malayalam.
Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram have the main airports; Kozhikode serves the north and Wayanad. Distances are short but hill roads are slow, so allow 3–4 hours for most transfers.
Houseboat cruises usually start around noon and end the next morning; overnight stays have the boat moored at night by regulation.
Carry light rain gear in any season; afternoon showers are common in the hills.
General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.
Where is Kerala?
Open a larger map → · The map frames the 15 places we cover in Kerala.
- Kochi9.93°, 76.27°
- Munnar10.09°, 77.06°
- Alleppey9.49°, 76.33°
- Kumarakom9.62°, 76.43°
- Thekkady9.60°, 77.16°
- Wayanad11.69°, 76.13°
- Kovalam8.40°, 76.98°
- Varkala8.73°, 76.71°
- Vagamon9.69°, 76.90°
- Thiruvananthapuram8.52°, 76.94°
- Kannur11.87°, 75.37°
- Kodungallur10.22°, 76.20°
- Malayattoor10.19°, 76.51°
- Sabarimala9.43°, 77.08°
- Guruvayur10.59°, 76.04°
Who should visit Kerala?
Plan your Kerala trip
Everything you need to know about Kerala
Kerala packs tea-covered hills, spice plantations, wildlife reserves, houseboat-filled backwaters and palm-lined beaches into a narrow strip between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The classic route runs Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, with Kovalam or Varkala added for the beach.
We plan trips to 15 destinations in Kerala: Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad and more. Highlights include Chinese fishing nets, Eravikulam National Park, Houseboat cruise, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Periyar Lake boat safari. Local food worth trying: Appam with stew, Karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish), Seafood at the nets and Kerala sadhya. Our Kerala itineraries run from 3 to 9 days and every one can be changed to suit you.
When to go
September to March. Post-monsoon greenery and dry, comfortable days. The monsoon (June to August) is the traditional season for Ayurveda treatments.
Getting around
Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram have the main airports; Kozhikode serves the north and Wayanad. Distances are short but hill roads are slow, so allow 3–4 hours for most transfers.
View all Kerala packages
Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.
5D / 4NThiruvananthapuram · Kanyakumari · KovalamKanyakumari & Thiruvananthapuram Tip-of-India Tour
Fly into Trivandrum for its temple and palaces, watch sunrise and sunset at Kanyakumari's three-sea confluence and end on Kovalam's beaches.
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6D / 5NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · AlleppeyKerala Highlights: Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey
The classic first trip to Kerala: Fort Kochi's heritage, two nights in Munnar's tea hills, Periyar's spice gardens and a night on a houseboat.
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7D / 6NMunnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · KovalamKerala Honeymoon with Houseboat & Beach
Tea-garden views, a private houseboat night on the backwaters and two beach days at Kovalam, with time for an Ayurvedic massage for two.
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4D / 3NMunnarMunnar Tea Country Short Break
Three nights in Munnar for Eravikulam's Nilgiri tahr, tea estate walks, Mattupetty and a jeep ride up to Kolukkumalai at sunrise.
View itinerary →7D / 6NKochi · Kumarakom · Alleppey · VarkalaKerala Backwaters & Beaches
Water all the way: Kochi's harbour, a lakeside stay at Kumarakom, a houseboat through Alleppey's canals and cliff-top Varkala to finish.
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7D / 6NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · AlleppeyKerala Family Holiday
Paced for families: tea museum and boating in Munnar, a Periyar boat safari and elephant-country spice farms, and a houseboat children love.
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4D / 3NWayanadWayanad Adventure & Nature
Treks, caves and waterfalls in north Kerala: Edakkal's engravings, Banasura Sagar, Chembra Peak (subject to permits) and a treehouse night.
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9D / 8NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · KumarakomKerala & Kanyakumari Grand Tour
Nine days from Kochi to the tip of India through tea hills, spice country, Vembanad Lake and the Kovalam coast.
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7D / 6NKovalamAyurveda Wellness Retreat in Kovalam
A week by the sea built around a doctor-led Ayurveda programme at a certified centre, with gentle beach walks and nothing else on the schedule.
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4D / 3NVarkalaVarkala Cliffs & Yoga Break
Clifftop cafés, yoga classes, surf lessons and sunset over Papanasam beach: an easy three-night reset on Kerala's red cliffs.
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3D / 2NKumarakom · AlleppeyAlleppey Houseboat & Kumarakom Weekend
A two-night backwater taster: a lakeside resort evening in Kumarakom and an overnight kettuvallam cruise through Alleppey's canals.
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5D / 4NKochi · Munnar · VagamonKochi, Munnar & Vagamon Hills
Swap the crowds for meadows: Munnar's estates followed by Vagamon's pine forest, paragliding (in season) and misty viewpoints.
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6D / 5NWayanad · Coorg · MysuruMalabar & Coorg Road Trip
A green road trip across the Western Ghats: Wayanad's forests, Coorg's coffee country and Mysuru's palace on the final evening.
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5D / 4NKochi · Kumarakom · ThiruvananthapuramKerala Heritage & Culture Trail
Culture first: two nights in Fort Kochi for Kathakali and spice markets, Kumarakom's village life and Trivandrum's palace and museum quarter.
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3D / 2NThekkadyThekkady Spice & Wildlife Short Break
Two nights at the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve: an early lake safari, a spice plantation walk and a kalaripayattu show.
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7D / 6NMunnar · KumarakomKerala Monsoon Ayurveda & Hills
Built for the monsoon months: misty Munnar, then four nights of Ayurveda by Vembanad Lake when the treatments are traditionally most effective.
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8D / 7NKochi · Munnar · Kumarakom · KovalamKerala Luxury Escape
Plantation bungalows, a lakeside villa and a cliff-top beach resort, with private transfers and a premium houseboat cruise available on request.
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3D / 2NKochi · AlleppeyKochi & Alleppey Short Break
A two-night introduction to Kerala: Fort Kochi's nets and heritage streets, then a shikara or houseboat on the Alleppey backwaters.
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5D / 4NVarkala · KovalamKerala Beaches: Varkala & Kovalam
Two different beaches in one trip: Varkala's cliffs and cafés, then Kovalam's lighthouse bay with a day out to Poovar's estuary.
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6D / 5NKochi · Munnar · AlleppeyKerala Senior Citizens' Easy Tour
Short drives, two nights in each hill or city base, a ground-floor houseboat cabin request and plenty of rest between sights.
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5D / 4NKochi · MunnarKochi & Munnar Extended Stay
Kochi's heritage followed by a longer Munnar stay with time for Top Station, Attukad falls and a spice-plantation tour.
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4D / 3NKannurKannur Theyyam & Malabar Coast
Three nights on the Malabar coast for theyyam at village shrines, St Angelo Fort, the Muzhappilangad drive-in beach and Thalassery biryani.
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5D / 4NKochi · Kodungallur · MalayattoorKerala St Thomas Christian Trail
Santa Cruz Basilica and St Francis Church in Fort Kochi, the Marthoma shrine at Azhikode where St Thomas is believed to have landed, and the hill shrine of Malayattoor.
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3D / 2NKochi · KodungallurKochi & Cheraman Juma Masjid
Fort Kochi's spice-trade quarter and Mattancherry, then Kodungallur's Cheraman Juma Masjid, traditionally held to be India's first mosque, and the Muziris heritage sites.
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3D / 2NSabarimalaSabarimala Ayyappa Darshan
Two nights for the Sabarimala pilgrimage: Virtual-Q booking, the drive to Nilakkal, a dip in the Pamba, the climb to the Sannidhanam and darshan up the eighteen holy steps, with vehicles arranged for whole groups.
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4D / 3NSabarimala · GuruvayurErumeli, Sabarimala & Guruvayur Yatra
The traditional route by Erumeli for petta thullal at the Dharma Sastha temple and Vavar mosque, the climb from Pamba to Sabarimala, then darshan at Guruvayur on the way home.
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4D / 3NGuruvayur · Kochi · ThiruvananthapuramGuruvayur & Kerala Temple Trail
Darshan at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, a night in Kochi, then the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, with dress-code guidance for each.
View itinerary →27 itineraries
Places to visit in Kerala
KeralaKochi
Kochi grew on centuries of spice trade, and Fort Kochi still shows layers of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Jewish heritage.
KeralaMunnar
Munnar is Kerala's best-known hill station, at around 1,600 metres in the Western Ghats, where tea estates cover the slopes in neat green rows.
KeralaAlleppey
Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the centre of Kerala's backwaters, a maze of canals, lagoons and paddy fields lived on by whole communities.
KeralaKumarakom
Kumarakom is a cluster of islands on the eastern shore of Vembanad Lake, quieter than Alleppey and lined with lakeside resorts.
KeralaThekkady
Thekkady is the town beside Periyar Tiger Reserve, where a lake created by a nineteenth-century dam attracts elephants, gaur and deer to its shores.
KeralaWayanad
Wayanad is a green plateau in north Kerala of coffee estates, prehistoric caves, waterfalls and forest reserves that link to Karnataka's Bandipur and Nagarhole.
KeralaKovalam
Kovalam is a string of crescent beaches south of Thiruvananthapuram, with a red-and-white lighthouse on the headland.
KeralaVarkala
Varkala is the only place on the Kerala coast where red laterite cliffs drop straight to the beach.
KeralaVagamon
Vagamon is a quiet hill area of rolling meadows, pine forest and tea estates at the edge of Kottayam and Idukki districts.
KeralaThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala's capital, is a green, hilly city built around the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
KeralaKannur
Kannur, on Kerala's north Malabar coast, is the home of theyyam, the ritual dance in which performers become gods in village shrines, mostly from November to May.
KeralaKodungallur
Kodungallur, the ancient port of Muziris, is where tradition says St Thomas the Apostle landed in AD 52 and where the Cheraman Juma Masjid, traditionally held to be India's first mosque, still stands.
KeralaMalayattoor
Malayattoor is a hill shrine of St Thomas the Apostle above the Periyar river, one of the most important Christian pilgrimages in India.
KeralaSabarimala
Sabarimala is the forest hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in the Western Ghats of Pathanamthitta district, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
KeralaGuruvayur
Guruvayur is home to the Sri Krishna Temple, one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage centres in Kerala, where thousands of weddings and first-rice ceremonies take place every year.
Top attractions in Kerala
Wildlife in Kerala
Wildlife experiences
Sightings depend on season and luck and are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, stay with licensed guides and never feed wild animals.
Cultural experiences in Kerala
Heritage and landmarks
Experiences
- Kathakali performance
- Spice market shopping
- Kathakali or martial arts show
- Kalaripayattu show
- Tea garden visits
- Bharani festival (March or April)
- Darshan at the Sannidhanam
- Early-morning darshan
- Krishnanattam dance (performed as an offering)
Festivals and events marked with months happen only at those times of year; dates vary, so ask us before you plan around one.
On the menuFood to try
- Appam with stew
- Karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish)
- Seafood at the nets
- Kerala sadhya
- Kerala parotta with curry
- Fresh cardamom tea
- Homemade chocolates
- Karimeen fry
- Kerala fish curry with red rice
- Toddy shop snacks
- Prawn roast
- Karimeen pollichathu
Outdoor activities in Kerala
Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Kerala: September to March. We check operating seasons for your dates.
Kerala travel tips
Visa and entry
Indian citizens do not need a visa; carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar or a passport for hotels and flights.
Health and safety
Travel insurance is a good idea, especially for adventure activities. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Best time to visit
September to March. Post-monsoon greenery and dry, comfortable days. The monsoon (June to August) is the traditional season for Ayurveda treatments.
Getting around
Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram have the main airports; Kozhikode serves the north and Wayanad. Distances are short but hill roads are slow, so allow 3–4 hours for most transfers.
Local etiquette
- Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, a compact umbrella or rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Phone and internet
Mobile data is good in towns and cities. Coverage can be patchy in remote, hill and forest areas, so download offline maps before you set off.
Budget
We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.
Kerala FAQs
What is Kerala famous for?
What is the best time to visit Kerala?
How many days do I need for Kerala?
Is tap water safe to drink in Kerala?
What are the emergency numbers in Kerala?
How much does a Kerala tour package cost?
Can Nexara Holidays plan a Kerala trip from Chennai?
More destinations in South India
South IndiaTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the largest temple complexes on earth, from Madurai's Meenakshi Amman to the Chola temples around Thanjavur.
South IndiaKarnataka
Karnataka stretches from the Vijayanagara ruins at Hampi to the coffee estates of Coorg and Chikmagalur, the royal city of Mysuru and a quiet coastline at Gokarna and Udupi.
South IndiaAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is best known for the Tirumala Venkateswara temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, but it also has the beaches and hills of Visakhapatnam, the coffee-growing Araku Valley and long stretches of the Bay of Bengal coast.
South IndiaTelangana
Telangana centres on Hyderabad, a city of Qutb Shahi tombs, Nizami palaces, pearl markets and biryani, alongside a modern tech skyline.
South IndiaPuducherry
Puducherry (Pondicherry) is a former French enclave three hours south of Chennai.
Kerala guides and articles
Travel guideBest time to visit Kerala: a season-by-season guide
When to visit Kerala for hills, backwaters, beaches and Ayurveda, with what each season is really like and how to plan around the monsoon.
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Travel guideHow many days do you need in Kerala? 4, 6 and 9-day plans
Sample Kerala routes for four, six and nine days, with honest advice on drive times, where to sleep and what to leave out.
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Travel guideKerala houseboat guide: how to choose and what to expect
Everything to know before booking a Kerala houseboat: categories, air-conditioning, timings, food on board, private versus shared boats and where to cruise.
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Travel guideTravelling with infants and toddlers: a practical guide
How to plan holidays with babies and toddlers, from passports and flights to choosing destinations, hotels, food and daily pacing.
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Travel guideTravelling with elderly parents: planning a comfortable trip
How to plan a holiday or pilgrimage with elderly parents: choosing destinations, pacing, hotel rooms, medical preparation and airport assistance.
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Travel guideTravelling in India during the monsoon: where it works and where to avoid
Which Indian destinations are beautiful in the monsoon, which are best avoided, and how to plan safely around rain, landslides and closures.
Read →Plan your Kerala holiday
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