The variety of holiday themes offered in the different destinations of Kerala makes for a unique holiday experience. Picturesque hill stations of Munnar, Vagamon and Wayanad leave you mesmerized. Serene backwaters of Alleppey, kumarakom and Nileshwar fill your minds with peaceful thoughts. The mysterious environment of Thekkady and Palakkad inspires awe. Beach destinations like Varkala, Kovalam and Dharmadam renew your appreciation for the grandeur of nature.

With so many marvelous opportunities of enjoying great experiences, it isn’t surprising that there are plenty of ways to explore this exotic land. And that means there are different routes you can take during your holiday in Kerala. No one can say which route is best because they are all great. You just have to see which one of them suits you best.

Take a look at the four most preferred routes for a promising vacation in Kerala.


1. The Traditional Route (Central Kerala)


This is the most popular route taken by the thousands of travellers visiting Kerala. It is especially recommended for travellers who are visiting Kerala for the first time. That is because it helps cover some of the most prominent destinations of the state, offering you an ideal Kerala holiday.

Start Point : Cochin / End Point : Cochin

The route looks like this:

Cochin (1N) – Munnar (2N) – Thekkady (2N) – Kumarakom / Alleppey (1N Cruise) – Cochin

Click here to access Google Maps

The ideal duration to cover these destinations at a relaxed pace is 6 to 7 days. But you can also cover this route in 4 or 5 days. Because of the Cochin International Airport and the Seaport, this route becomes the easiest to travel even for foreign tourists.

In the above route, you can cut down one night at Thekkady and include one of the following places:

  • Athirapally Waterfalls
  • Thattekkad (Bird watching)
  • Gavi (Jungle Safari)
  • Vagamon

2. The Beach Circuit (South Kerala)


If you’re someone who loves walking by the beach while enjoying a sunset view, don’t think twice before choosing this route for your trip. Especially recommended for beach lovers, this route be covered in a span of 5 or 6 days. Most of your time is spent in the beautiful southern part of Kerala

Start Point : Trivandrum / End Point : Cochin

The route looks like this:

Trivandrum (1N) – Varkala (2N) – Poovar (2N) – Kanyakumari (1N) – Kovalam (1N) – Trivandrum

Click here to access Google Maps

If you’ve allotted more than 7 days for your holiday, try spending those extra days in Varkala and Kovalam. You could choose to reduce a 1 night stay at any of the places mentioned above and instead include :

  • Ponmudi Hill Station
  • Ashtamudi Lake and Munroe Island

3. The Delightful Fusion (Central and South Kerala)

If you’re someone who wants more than the usual variety in your holiday, this route should be suitable for you. It covers both the Cochin circuit and the Trivandrum circuit in a span of 7 or 8 days. Travellers selecting this route can start from Cochin and end at Trivandrum or vice versa. The route allows you to experience the best of both circuits and enjoy a laid-back holiday.

Start Point : Cochin / End Point : Trivandrum

The route looks like this:

Cochin (1N) – Munnar (2N) – Thekkady (1N) – Kumrakom / Alleppey (1N Cruise) – Varkala (1N) – Kovalam (1N) – Trivandrum

Click here to access Google Maps

If you’re a beach lover, you can stay an extra day at Varkala or Kovalam and skip Thekkady. But if you prefer wildlife, you can add an extra day at Thekkady and skip either Varkala or Kovalam. If you can add more days in your holiday, try spending more nights at the beach destinations.

 4. The Offbeat Track (North Kerala)


North Kerala is a hidden treasure that most travellers are unaware of. It truly is an unexplored paradise of pristine hill stations, scenic beaches and exquisite backwaters. Unlike South Kerala, this part of the state is away from the tourist crowd. Hence, it offers a more authentic holiday experience, free from any hustle and bustle. This route is recommended for travellers visiting Kerala a second or third time. They come across entirely new experiences this time.

Start Point : Calicut / End Point : Mangalore

The route looks like this:

Calicut (1N) – Wayanad (2N) – Kannur (2N) – Nileshwar / Valiyaparamba (1N Cruise) – Nileshwar (1N) – Mangalore

Click here to access Google Maps

At Kannur, you will cover several beaches like Muzhippilangad Drive-in Beach, Dharmadam Island and Beach, Payyambalam Beach, Thottada Beach and Ezhara Beach. If you can add more days in your holiday, you can include:

  • Paithamala Hill Station
  • Ranipuram Hill Station

5. A Detour to the Waterfalls (Central Kerala)

This route is similar to the traditional route but has one significant adjustment. You will be taking a detour to reach the majestic Athirapally Falls. Athirapally Falls are regarded to be the most beautiful waterfalls in the state of Kerala. If you’re someone who loves the sound and view of a gushing waterfall, we would recommend you to pick this route for your journey through Kerala.

Start Point : Cochin / End Point : Cochin

The route looks like this:

Cochin (1N) – Athirapally (1N) – Munnar (2N) – Thekkady (1N) – Kumarakom / Alleppey (1N Cruise) – Cochin

Click here to access Google Maps

You can comfortably cover this route in a span of 6 or 7 days. But if you have fewer days, you can visit the Athirapally Falls and head to Munnar without staying overnight at Athirapally.

6. A Path for the Adventurous (Central and South Kerala)

This route covers Kerala extensively, reaching some of the state’s untouched destinations. Ideal for adventure travellers, the route can be covered in a span of 13 to 14 days. If you take this route, you will get an opportunity to live inside a wildlife sanctuary and get up close and personal with nature.

Start Point : Cochin / End Point : Trivandrum

The route looks like this:

Cochin (1N) – Valparai (2N) – Parambikulam (1N) – Munnar (2N) – Thekkady (1N) – Kumarakom / Alleppey (1N Cruise) – Alleppey (1N) – Kovalam (1N) – Kanyakumari (1N) – Trivandrum

Click here to access Google Maps

If you have fewer days for your trip, you can reduce one day at Alleppey and skip Kovalam or Kanyakumari. Since this route especially suits adventure travellers, we recommend you not to skip Valparai or Parambikulam. Some travellers prefer returning to Cochin after the cruise at Alleppey instead of going down south. You can also do the same if you don’t enjoy beaches.

Click here to explore some of the best Kerala tour packages on offer.

 

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