Kerala in 4 days
South India at its greenest and calmest: houseboats on the backwaters, the tea hills of Munnar, the cliff-backed beaches of Varkala, the spice gardens around Periyar, and a long tradition of Ayurveda.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- Morning
A houseboat on the backwatershalf a dayA slow cruise on a converted rice barge through the canals and lagoons around Alappuzha and Lake Vembanad, past villages and paddy fields.
Day 2
- Morning
The tea estates of Munnarfree · half a dayHills covered in tea bushes in the Western Ghats, with a tea museum and nearby Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr.
- Late afternoon
The beaches of Varkalafree · 2 to 3 hBeaches at the foot of red laterite cliffs, with a clifftop path of cafés and guesthouses and the old Janardana Swamy temple nearby.
Day 3
- Morning
Periyar Tiger Reserve2 to 3 hForest around a lake near Thekkady, explored by boat or on guided walks, where elephants are often seen amid cardamom and pepper country.
Day 4
- Several days
Ayurvedic treatmentsseveral daysKerala's traditional medicine, from single massages to courses lasting several weeks; choose a centre approved by the state tourism board.
Where to sleep in Kerala
- Palmy Residency · €25 a night
- Villa Jacaranda · €45 a night
- Cardamom County · €85 a night
- Elephant Court · €90 a night
- Abad Copper Castle · €75 a night
- The Leela Kovalam · €220 a night
- Taj Malabar Resort & Spa · €190 a night
- Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty · €170 a night
Plan this trip
Hotel prices per room per night, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.