Where to go in Kerala

Most Kerala trips loop from Kochi up into the Western Ghats at Munnar and Thekkady, down to the backwaters at Kumarakom and Alleppey, and finish on the beaches at Varkala or Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram. Wayanad in the north works as a separate trip from Kozhikode. Pick a place to see things to do, stay areas by budget, food and how to get between stops.

Kochi & backwaters · Kochi, Athirappilly, Kumarakom, Alleppey

• Athirappilly Falls: Kerala's biggest waterfall in the forested Chalakudy valley (Day trip or 1 night)
• Kochi (Fort Kochi): Chinese fishing nets, spice-trade lanes and Kathakali nights (2–3 nights)
• Kumarakom: Lakeside resorts on Vembanad, birdlife and village canals (2–3 nights)
• Alleppey (Alappuzha): Houseboats, palm-lined canals and paddy fields below sea level (2–3 nights)

Western Ghats hills · Munnar, Thekkady (Periyar)

• Munnar: Rolling tea estates, misty peaks and Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam (2–3 nights)
• Thekkady (Periyar): Periyar Tiger Reserve, lake cruises and spice plantations (2–3 nights)

South coast · Varkala, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram

• Varkala: Red laterite cliffs above the beach, cafés and surf lessons (2–4 nights)
• Kovalam & Thiruvananthapuram: Crescent beaches by the lighthouse and the capital's temples and museums (2–3 nights)

Wayanad & Malabar · Kalpetta, Vythiri, Sultan Bathery

• Wayanad: Coffee and spice country with caves, peaks and wildlife sanctuaries (2–4 nights)