Ready-made plans
Ready-made plan

5 days in Kerala for families

Fort Kochi 1 night, Munnar 2 nights, Alleppey houseboat 1 night

I built this as the classic Kerala loop: old Kochi, cool tea hills in Munnar and a night on a houseboat. It suits families who want variety without rushing, and there is good vegetarian and halal food all along the way.

A Kathakali show in Fort KochiTea gardens and Eravikulam in MunnarA night on an Alleppey houseboatBest in Jan, Feb, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
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Day 1 Fort Kochi by the sea

  1. 13:30Land at Cochin International Airport, transfer to Fort KochiPrepaid taxi counters are just outside arrivals. The drive is about 45 km through the city.Nedumbassery · about 1.5 hrs · 1,200 to 1,800 INR per car
  2. 15:15Check in and restLet the kids nap or swim. It is hot until about 4.Fort Kochi · about 1 hr · FreeTaxi drops you at the hotel
  3. 16:15St Francis ChurchIndia's oldest European church. Vasco da Gama was first buried here. Dress modestly.Fort Kochi · about 30 mins · FreeWalk, 5 min
  4. 16:45Chinese fishing nets and the beach walkFishermen will often let kids help lower a net for a small tip.Fort Kochi · about 45 mins · free, tip 50 to 100 INRWalk, 5 min
  5. 17:30Kathakali show at Kerala Kathakali CentreArrive early to watch the dancers paint their faces. The show itself starts at 6 and runs about an hour.Fort Kochi · about 2 hrs · 400 to 500 INRWalk, 8 min
  6. 19:30Dinner at Fort House RestaurantOpen-air tables by the water. Good vegetarian options like vegetable stew and appam.Fort Kochi · about 1.25 hrs · 600 to 1,000 INR · Order: Karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish in banana leaf)Walk or auto, 10 min

Tip: Book the Kathakali seats the moment you check in. Front rows go fast.

Day 2 Old Kochi, then up to the hills

  1. 10:00Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)Famous for its Ramayana wall murals. Photos are not allowed inside.Mattancherry · about 45 mins · 5 to 100 INR
  2. 10:50Paradesi Synagogue and Jew TownBuilt in 1568. Blue Chinese floor tiles inside. Shoes off, shoulders covered.Mattancherry · about 30 mins · 10 to 50 INRWalk, 3 min
  3. 11:30Spice and antique shops of Jew TownBuy cardamom, pepper and tea here, cheaper than at the airport.Mattancherry · about 45 mins · 500 to 2,000 INRWalk
  4. 12:15Lunch at Kayees Rahmathulla CafeA Kochi biryani institution since 1948. Mostly non-vegetarian, so vegetarians can ask for ghee rice with dal.Mattancherry · about 45 mins · 250 to 400 INR · Order: Chicken or mutton biryaniAuto rickshaw, 5 min
  5. 13:15Drive from Kochi to MunnarAbout 130 km on hill roads. Carry motion sickness tablets for the kids.Kochi to Munnar · about 4.5 hrs with stops · 3,500 to 4,500 INR per carPick up from Mattancherry
  6. 15:30Cheeyappara Waterfalls stopRight beside the highway. Watch for the monkeys and keep snacks inside the car.Neriamangalam · about 20 mins · FreeOn the way, 2 hrs from Kochi
  7. 17:30Check in at Munnar, dinner at your hotelEvenings get cool, so pack a light jacket for everyone. An early night sets up tomorrow.Munnar · about evening · FreeCar, 1.5 hrs

Tip: Mattancherry Palace and the synagogue both shut on Friday, so plan this day for another weekday.

Day 3 Munnar tea country

  1. 08:00Eravikulam National Park (Rajamala)Forest buses take you up to see the Nilgiri tahr, a rare mountain goat. Book tickets online.Rajamala · about 2.5 hrs · 200 to 500 INR
  2. 11:00Tata Tea Museum (KDHP)See how tea is made, then a tasting. The short film is good for kids.Nallathanni Estate · about 1 hr · 100 to 200 INRCar, 25 min
  3. 12:45Lunch at Rapsy RestaurantSimple, busy and cheap. Good vegetarian options with parotta and kurma.Munnar Bazaar · about 45 mins · 200 to 400 INR · Order: Kerala parotta with vegetable or chicken kurmaCar, 10 min
  4. 13:45Rest at the hotelHill drives tire kids out. Take a nap.Munnar · about 1.5 hrs · FreeCar, 10 min
  5. 15:30Mattupetty Dam and boatingSpeed boats or pedal boats on the lake with tea hills all around.Mattupetty · about 1 hr · 300 to 700 INR per boatCar, 30 min
  6. 16:45Echo PointKids love shouting across the lake to hear the echo. Small snack stalls here.Kundala road · about 30 mins · 10 to 20 INRCar, 10 min
  7. 19:00Dinner at your hotelMost Munnar hotels do a Kerala dinner buffet with plenty of vegetarian dishes.Munnar · about 1 hr · 500 to 900 INR · Order: Appam with vegetable stewCar, 40 min

Tip: Book Eravikulam tickets online the night before and go at opening time.

Day 4 Down to the backwaters

  1. 08:30Drive from Munnar to AlleppeyAbout 170 km down the hills. Leave by 8:30 to reach the houseboat for lunch.Munnar to Alleppey · about 4.5 to 5 hrs · 4,500 to 6,000 INR per car
  2. 12:30Board your houseboat at the Punnamada jettyCheck-in is around noon. Make sure the boat has AC bedrooms for the night.Punnamada, Alleppey · about 30 mins · included in the boat priceCar
  3. 13:00Lunch on boardThe boat cook makes a full Kerala meal. Tell them in advance if anyone is vegetarian.Alleppey backwaters · about 1 hr · included · Order: Kerala rice meal with fish fry and thoranOn board
  4. 14:00Cruise the backwatersPaddy fields, canal villages and duck farms slide past. Sit on the front deck.Vembanad Lake · about 3.5 hrs · includedOn board
  5. 17:30Village walk where the boat moorsYour boat parks for the night by a village. A short walk along the canal bank at sunset.Kuttanad · about 45 mins · FreeOn foot from the boat
  6. 19:30Dinner on boardEarly night on the water. The generator usually runs AC from about 9 pm.Alleppey backwaters · about 1 hr · included · Order: Chicken or vegetable curry with chapatiOn board

Tip: Agree the houseboat price includes all meals, AC hours and the route before you board.

Day 5 Alleppey to the airport

  1. 09:00Check out of the houseboatBreakfast on board, then the boat brings you back to the jetty by 9.Punnamada, Alleppey · about 30 mins · included
  2. 09:45Alappuzha Beach and old pierA quick look at the beach and the 150 year old pier before the drive.Alappuzha · about 45 mins · FreeCar, 15 min
  3. 10:45Drive to KochiCoastal highway to Lulu Mall, on the way to the airport.Alleppey to Kochi · about 1.5 hrs · 2,500 to 3,500 INR per car to the airportCar
  4. 12:30Lunch and shopping at Lulu MallBig food court with Kerala, North Indian and pure vegetarian counters. Last chance for snacks to take home.Edappally · about 2 hrs · 300 to 600 INR · Order: Banana chips and halwa to take home, thali for lunchCar
  5. 15:00Transfer to Cochin International AirportAbout 30 km. Allow extra time for traffic on the Aluva stretch.Edappally to Nedumbassery · about 1 hr · 800 to 1,200 INR per carCar from Lulu Mall

Tip: Houseboat check-out is 9 am sharp, so pack the night before.

Where to stay

Kochi, Fort Kochi · nights 1Walk to the fishing nets, church and Kathakali
  • Brunton Boatyard luxury · about 18,000 to 30,000 INR a night Restored Victorian boatyard right on the harbour, big family rooms
  • Old Harbour Hotel mid · about 9,000 to 15,000 INR a night 300 year old house with a pool and garden, near the fishing nets
  • Fort House Hotel budget · about 5,000 to 8,000 INR a night Simple rooms by the water and a well loved restaurant
Munnar, Munnar and nearby estates · nights 2 to 3Cool air and tea views, close to Eravikulam
  • Windermere Estate luxury · about 15,000 to 25,000 INR a night Cottages on a cardamom and coffee estate with valley views
  • Blanket Hotel and Spa luxury · about 10,000 to 16,000 INR a night Faces Attukad waterfall, family rooms and a heated pool
  • KTDC Tea County mid · about 6,000 to 9,000 INR a night Government run, long established, walkable to town
Alleppey, Houseboat from Punnamada · nights 4The night on the water is the highlight of Kerala
  • Spice Coast Cruises (CGH Earth) luxury · about 25,000 to 40,000 INR per boat with meals a night Converted rice barges with top service and food
  • Lakes and Lagoons Houseboats mid · about 10,000 to 18,000 INR per boat with meals a night Long running operator with two and three bedroom AC boats
  • Rainbow Cruises mid · about 9,000 to 16,000 INR per boat with meals a night Reliable family boats, easy to book

Hotel prices are typical. Make it yours to see today's prices for your dates.

What to eat

  • Karimeen pollichathu at Fort House Restaurant, Fort Kochi Kerala's signature pearl spot fish, wrapped in banana leaf
  • Kochi biryani at Kayees Rahmathulla Cafe, Mattancherry Running since 1948, the city's favourite biryani, halal
  • Kerala meals on a banana leaf at Grand Pavilion, MG Road, Ernakulam A full vegetarian rice meal with sambar, avial and pickles
  • Appam with stew at Your Munnar hotel or any Kerala breakfast spot Soft lace hoppers with coconut milk stew, great for vegetarians
  • Coffee and cake at Kashi Art Cafe, Fort Kochi Art gallery cafe, a calm breakfast or afternoon stop
  • Parotta with kurma at Rapsy Restaurant, Munnar Bazaar Flaky layered bread, a cheap and filling hill town lunch

Evenings are quiet: a Kathakali show in Kochi, early dinners in Munnar and a peaceful night on the houseboat. Kerala is not a late night place, which suits families.

Why it is planned this way

  • I put Mattancherry first thing on day 2, before the palace gets busy and the synagogue shuts for lunch.
  • I left Kochi at lunch so you reach Munnar before dark, since the ghat road is slow at night.
  • I kept only one night on the houseboat. Most families find one night is perfect and two gets long for kids.
  • I set the Eravikulam visit for opening time, before the queues and the midday sun.

Opening times and prices change. Tomo checks them again for your dates when you make the plan yours.

Your dates, your hotel, your pace