7-Day Kerala Highlights: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Coastal Relaxation (2026-03-23 to 2026-03-29)

Kochi (Fort Kochi) · Monday, March 23, 2026

Arrival in Kochi and Fort Kochi exploration

Morning:

After arrival, stroll the shady lanes of Fort Kochi to soak up colonial architecture, stopping to admire the iconic Chinese fishing nets and the colorful street art; pop into the atmospheric Santa Cruz Basilica for a quiet moment of history. Follow this with a relaxed breakfast at Saravana Bhavan, sampling dosas and filter coffee, then visit the nearby Koder House or a local gallery to preview the day's cultural discoveries.

Afternoon:

After a leisurely morning in Fort Kochi, head to Mattancherry Palace to wander the frescoed rooms and learn about Kerala's royal past, then stroll the antique-lined lanes of Jew Town to browse spice shops and handcrafted souvenirs. For a relaxed late-afternoon bite, stop at the beloved Rapsy Restaurant for fresh seafood and Malabar specialties while watching life unfold along the waterfront.

Evening:

As dusk falls, take a short tuk-tuk ride to the waterfront for a sunset stroll along Princess Street Beach, then enjoy a flavorful evening meal at Oceanos Restaurant, known for its coastal seafood and lively atmosphere. Finish the night with drinks and live music at The Teapot Café or an intimate performance at Kerala Kathakali Centre, where traditional storytelling and makeup demonstrations bring Kerala's performing arts to life.

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Mattancherry / Kochi · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Mattancherry, local cuisine and cultural sights

Morning:

Begin with a traditional Kerala breakfast at Dal Roti, savoring soft parathas and rich chai before wandering into Jew Town to explore its spice stalls and antique shops for unique souvenirs. Continue to the nearby Paradesi Synagogue to admire its hand-painted tiles and colonial-era charm, then join a guided walk through the historic lanes visiting family-run shops and stopping at a local café for filter coffee while learning about Mattancherry's multicultural past.

Afternoon:

After a morning in Jew Town and the synagogue, spend the afternoon exploring the ornate rooms and royal murals of Mattancherry Palace, then wander to nearby lanes to join a hands-on spice-mixing workshop at a local spice merchant where you'll create a personalized masala blend to take home. Finish with a relaxed late-afternoon meal at the beloved Rapsy Restaurant, sampling freshly prepared Malabar fish fry and appam while watching the neighborhood pulse with daily life.

Evening:

As twilight settles, head to Princess Street for a leisurely walk among lamp-lit stalls and street food vendors, sampling crispy pazhampori and freshly brewed chai from a popular stall. Follow this with a reservation at Oceanos Restaurant for a sunset seafood feast on the waterfront, then finish the night with a performance of traditional Mohiniyattam or a small music set at Kerala Folklore Centre, where local artists bring coastal stories to life.

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Munnar · Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Travel to Munnar and tea garden visit

Morning:

After a scenic drive up into the Western Ghats, start your morning with a fragrant walk through a renowned Tea Gardens, visiting a working estate to learn about plucking techniques and the art of CTC and orthodox processing; finish with a guided tasting of single-estate teas paired with locally baked snacks. Follow this with a short visit to Kannan Devan Hills Plantation (or a similar estate) to explore the rolling terraces and photograph misty valleys, then enjoy a relaxed brunch at a nearby plantation café overlooking the tea-clad slopes before checking into your Munnar accommodation.

Afternoon:

After checking into your hill-station hotel, head to the nearby Blossom Hydel Park for a gentle stroll among manicured lawns and panoramic views of the valley, then continue to Attukal Waterfalls to enjoy the cool spray and photo-worthy rock pools. Finish the afternoon with a guided visit to the family-run Lockhart Tea Museum & Tea Estate to see historic processing equipment, sip a freshly brewed single-estate cup during a tasting session, and pick up freshly packed teas to take home.

Evening:

As dusk settles over the high ranges, take a gentle walk through the fragrant lanes around Munnar Market, browsing stalls of fresh cardamom and homemade preserves before stopping at Saravana Bhavan (a popular regional favorite) for a comforting South Indian dinner of steaming dosas and vegetable curries. After dinner, enjoy an atmospheric nightcap at Clouds Valley Leisure Hotels' rooftop (or a similar hill-view café) to watch valley lights twinkle while listening to local stories from fellow travelers and your guide.

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Munnar · Thursday, March 26, 2026

Eravikulam National Park and hill sightseeing

Morning:

Rise early for a guided hike through Eravikulam National Park, where you'll search for the endemic Nilgiri tahr across mist-swept grasslands and enjoy panoramic views from the park's upper trails; time your visit to catch the soft morning light on the rolling hills. After the park, drive a short distance to the photogenic Photo Point and then visit Blossom Hydel Park for a relaxed stroll among landscaped gardens and tea-scented breezes, finishing with a hearty plantation-style breakfast at a nearby estate café.

Afternoon:

After the morning's park visit, take a winding drive to Rose Garden Tea Estate for a guided walk through manicured tea terraces and a demonstration of orthodox leaf processing, followed by a tasting of estate-specialty black and green teas paired with cardamom shortbread. Continue to the scenic Top Station Viewpoint to admire sweeping vistas of the Western Ghats and the iconic Neelakurinji valleys (great for late-afternoon light), then stop at Chinnakanal Falls for a brief, refreshing riverside stroll before returning to your hotel.

Evening:

As the sun softens over the tea slopes, wander to the charming hill-town lanes around Munnar Market to browse local handicrafts and pick up freshly roasted cardamom before stopping for a warming cup at Saravana Bhavan, where familiar South Indian comfort food feels especially welcome after a day on the trails. Later, catch a panoramic sunset from Echo Point, listening to playful calls across the valley, then settle into a cozy dinner at a nearby family-run homestay or plantation bungalow for a night of slow-kerala stories and homemade curries.

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Thekkady / Periyar · Friday, March 27, 2026

Drive to Thekkady — Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary activities

Morning:

After the scenic drive from Munnar, begin with a crisp forest walk led by a naturalist in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to spot birdlife, sambar deer and the occasional elephant at the lake edge; follow this with a guided boat cruise on Periyar Lake for quiet wildlife viewing and excellent photography opportunities. Finish the morning with a hearty Kerala-style brunch at Thekkady Green Restaurant (or a similar local eatery) sampling spicy stew, appam and freshly brewed filter coffee before your afternoon activities.

Afternoon:

After a leisurely lakeside brunch, take a spice-plantation walk at Mangala Spice Village to learn about cardamom, pepper and clove cultivation with hands-on tasting of fresh spices and herbal tea; follow this with a guided nature walk through the shady trails of Kumily Town to meet local vendors and sample street-side banana fritters. Finish the afternoon with a short, scenic visit to Periyar Visitor Centre for a wildlife talk and local-maps briefing before returning to your lodge to freshen up for an evening boat cruise.

Evening:

As dusk deepens, enjoy a guided night-walk around the private trails of Thekkady Spice Trails to listen for nocturnal birds and frogs, followed by a rustic dinner of Kerala-style curries and smoked fish at Athidhi Restaurant, where locals share spice-growing stories. Finish with a relaxed cultural evening at Kadathanadan Kalari Centre, watching a short traditional martial-arts demonstration and learning about regional folklore over cups of hot cardamom tea.

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Alleppey (Alappuzha) · Saturday, March 28, 2026

Houseboat experience in Alleppey (lunch on houseboat)

Morning:

Wake to the gentle sounds of backwater life with a short stroll through the village to visit the Alleppey Beach fishing harbour and watch fishermen mend nets, then board a traditional kettuvallam for a slow cruise through narrow canals fringed by coconut palms. Enjoy a hands-on morning stop at a family-run coir workshop to see rope-making and canoe-building techniques up close, followed by a riverside snack of crispy banana chips and hot chai before drifting back to your houseboat for the signature Lunch on Houseboat experience.

Afternoon:

After a leisurely lunch on your private Lunch on Houseboat, glide into quieter canals and disembark for a guided village walk through Kainakary to meet toddy-tappers and visit a riverside paddy-drying yard, sampling fresh coconut jaggery along the way. Finish the afternoon with a short canoe ride in a traditional vallam through shaded backwater creeks and a stop at a local coir-loom demonstration where artisans show rope-weaving techniques before returning to the houseboat to watch the sunset over the palms.

Evening:

As twilight deepens, disembark for a guided cycling loop through nearby waterwayside lanes to watch village life-paddy fields, toddy shops and children playing-before arriving at the charming riverside Punnamada Jetty to catch a fiery sunset over the Vembanad Lake. Follow this with a fresh seafood dinner at Halais Restaurant or a similar local favorite on the Alleppey promenade, then enjoy a slow evening stroll past lit-up houseboats and a short live-music set at Alleppey Beach's boardwalk to end the day.

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Kovalam or nearby coast · Sunday, March 29, 2026

Relax on Kerala backwaters and coastal time

Morning:

Ease into the day with a sunrise walk along Vizhinjam Beach, watching local fishermen launch their catamarans and enjoying fresh toddy-shop style coffee from a shoreline stall; follow this with a calming Ayurvedic massage and short consultation at Ayurveda Samajam to set a restorative tone for the day. After your treatment, take a short drive to Hawah Beach for tidal-pool paddling and a seaside breakfast of Kerala-style egg curry and appam at a beachfront café, then stroll the clifftop path toward Lighthouse Beach to soak in panoramic coastal views before lunch.

Afternoon:

Spend a lazy afternoon wandering the palm-fringed lanes around Hawa Beach's lesser-known neighbor, Samudra Beach, then book a late-afternoon sailing trip from Kovalam Boat Jetty to glide along the calm Arabian Sea while watching fishermen and coastal birdlife. After the sail, indulge in fresh seafood and Malabar small plates at The Lighthouse Seaview Café, followed by a short visit to a nearby Ayurvedic herb garden for a guided walk and tea to deepen your coastal relaxation.

Evening:

As the sun softens, take a sunset cruise from Vizhinjam Harbour aboard a small fishing boat to watch pelicans and distant headlands while sipping spiced lime soda, then disembark for a shoreline stroll along Samudra Beach to feel the cooling sea breeze. For dinner, head to The Lighthouse Bay Café for fresh crab curry and coconut-infused fish, followed by a leisurely nightcap at Turtle Bay Viewpoint where local musicians sometimes play under starlight.

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Estimated Costs (per person)

Place / ActivityCost
Fort Kochi (walking/strolling)Free
Chinese fishing nets (viewing)Free
Street art in Fort KochiFree
Santa Cruz BasilicaFree
Saravana Bhavan (breakfast - dosa & filter coffee)₹250
Koder House / local gallery (entry/viewing)Free
Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) entry₹10
Jew Town (shopping/browsing)Free
Rapsy Restaurant (seafood meal)₹500
Princess Street Beach (sunset stroll)Free
Oceanos Restaurant (evening seafood meal)₹800
The Teapot Café (drinks / live music)₹300
Kerala Kathakali Centre (show & makeup demo)₹400
Dal Roti (breakfast - paratha & chai)₹200
Paradesi Synagogue (entry)₹50
Guided historic walk of Mattancherry (half-day)₹600
Spice-mixing workshop (local spice merchant)₹300
Mohiniyattam / Kerala Folklore Centre performance₹400
Tea garden visit (guided estate tour & tasting) - Munnar₹400
Kannan Devan Hills Plantation visit (estate grounds)Free
Plantation café brunch (per person)₹350
Blossom Hydel Park (entry)Free
Attukal Waterfalls (visit)Free
Lockhart Tea Museum entry & tasting₹200
Munnar Market (browsing / purchases)Free
Clouds Valley / rooftop drink (nightcap)₹300
Eravikulam National Park entry + guide (per person)₹300
Photo Point (viewing)Free
Rose Garden Tea Estate visit & demonstration₹300
Top Station viewpoint (entry/parking)Free
Chinnakanal Falls (visit)Free
Echo Point (visit)Free
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - guided forest walk₹250
Periyar Lake boat cruise (shared/per person)₹300
Thekkady Green / local brunch (per person)₹300
Mangala Spice Village - spice plantation walk₹300
Periyar Visitor Centre (talk / maps)Free
Thekkady Spice Trails night walk (guided)₹400
Athidhi Restaurant (dinner per person)₹400
Kadathanadan Kalari Centre (martial-arts demo)₹200
Kettuvallam houseboat lunch (Alleppey) - shared lunch cruise per person₹1200
Alleppey Beach & fishing harbour (visit)Free
Coir workshop visit (demonstration)Free
Kainakary village walk (guided)₹300
Vallam canoe ride (short, per person)₹400
Coir-loom demonstration (artisan visit)Free
Punnamada Jetty (sunset viewing)Free
Halais Restaurant (seafood dinner)₹600
Vizhinjam Beach (sunrise walk)Free
Ayurveda Samajam - short massage & consultation (per person)₹1200
Hawah Beach (tidal pools / beach visit)Free
Lighthouse Beach (clifftop walk)Free
Kovalam Boat Jetty - sailing trip (per person)₹600
The Lighthouse Seaview Café (meal per person)₹600
Ayurvedic herb garden visit & tea₹200
Vizhinjam Harbour sunset cruise (small boat)₹400
Samudra Beach (stroll)Free
The Lighthouse Bay Café (dinner)₹600
Turtle Bay Viewpoint (nightcap / viewpoint)Free
Estimated Total (per person)₹14830
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