Kerala itinerary for 10 days: a family plan, day by day
A 10-day Kerala itinerary for families: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Kovalam, with drive times, hotels, the best months and what it costs.
AVR Travels · · 6 min read
This 10-day Kerala itinerary suits families with children, couples and parents who would rather see five places properly than rush through eight. The route runs Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Kovalam, with two nights at every stop after the first and drives of 3 to 5 hours between them.
It is the plan behind our Kerala trip, written out here so you can see how each day runs before you decide anything.
Best time to visit: October to March is dry and pleasant across the state. It is also peak season, especially over Christmas and New Year. June to September is the southwest monsoon: green, quiet and the traditional season for Ayurveda. April and May are hot and humid on the coast, but still comfortable in Munnar.
Day by day
Day 01
Arrival in Kochi
Land in Kochi and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, walk through Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront, St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica, all within walking distance of each other. Dinner and overnight in Kochi.
Day 02
Kochi to Munnar
Drive up into the Western Ghats to Munnar, about 130 km and 4 to 5 hours. After check-in, visit the Tea Museum, 15 to 20 minutes from the hotel, then take an easy evening walk through the tea plantations. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 03
Munnar sightseeing
Start at Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr, 30 to 40 minutes from town. Then Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake, each a short drive from the last. End at Top Station, about an hour beyond Kundala, for the view across the Ghats. Dinner and overnight in Munnar.
Day 04
Munnar to Thekkady
A shorter drive today, about 85 km and 3 hours. In the evening there is a guided spice plantation tour, followed by a Kathakali performance, Kerala's classical dance-drama with its painted faces and costumes. Dinner and overnight in Thekkady.
Day 05
Periyar National Park
A full day in Periyar. The Gavi safari runs through the forest to Gavi and back and takes about 6.5 hours. In the afternoon, a boat ride on Periyar Lake, where elephants and gaur come down to the water, then an evening nature walk. Dinner and overnight in Thekkady.
Day 06
Thekkady to Kumarakom
Drive about 150 km, 4 to 5 hours, to a backwater resort in Kumarakom. In the late afternoon, a sunset cruise through the backwaters. Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 07
Vembanad Lake and Kumarakom
A morning by boat on Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in India, with a visit to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on its banks. In the afternoon, drive about 30 km to Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall. Dinner and overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 08
Kumarakom to Kovalam
Drive south to Kovalam, about 4 hours, stopping at Jatayu Earth's Center on the way. Afternoon at Lighthouse Beach, then Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium and the Kovalam art gallery in the evening. Dinner and overnight in Kovalam.
Day 09
Kanyakumari day trip
Early morning at Hawa Beach, where water sports are available if anyone wants them. Then a 2-hour drive to Kanyakumari for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Triveni Sangam, where three seas meet. On the way back, stop at Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which has a strict dress code. Sunset on the beach, dinner and overnight in Kovalam.
Day 10
Departure
Check out and transfer to Trivandrum airport, about 30 minutes away. If your flight leaves from Kochi instead, the drive is about 250 km and 6.5 hours, so an evening flight is the safer choice.
Where to stay
Every stop has a Comfort and a Premium option. These are the hotels in the plan, or similar if they are full on your dates.
- Kochi, 1 night: Novotel Kochi (Comfort) or Brunton Boatyard (Premium)
- Munnar, 2 nights: Eastend Munnar or Grand Plaza (Comfort), or Windermere Estate (Premium)
- Thekkady, 2 nights: Serene Horizon or Spring Dale Horizon (Comfort), or Spice Village (Premium)
- Kumarakom, 2 nights: Manor Backwater Resort (Comfort) or Coconut Lagoon, CGH Earth (Premium)
- Kovalam, 2 nights: Hotel Seaface (Comfort) or The Leela Kovalam (Premium)
If you want a night on the water, we can swap one of the Kumarakom resort nights for a private houseboat.
Getting there
Fly into Kochi and home from Trivandrum. The trip ends in Kovalam, 30 minutes from Trivandrum airport, so arriving and leaving from different airports saves you the long drive back north. Flying home from Kochi still works, but the last day becomes a drive of about 6.5 hours.
Flights or trains to and from Kerala are not part of the trip price. Once you land, a private AC vehicle with a driver stays with you for the whole route.
Budget
AVR's brochure prices this trip from ₹45,000 per adult, land only. That covers 9 nights of hotels with breakfast and dinner, the private AC vehicle and driver, one litre of drinking water per person per day, and entry tickets for the Tea Museum, Mattupetty Dam, the Kathakali show, the Gavi safari, Periyar boating, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium and the Kovalam art gallery. Children are priced at about half the adult rate.
Not included: flights or trains, lunches, water sports at Hawa Beach, tips, personal expenses and travel insurance. The figure is indicative. The final price depends on your dates, the hotel tier you choose and how many of you are travelling.
Tips for travelling with kids and parents
- The longest drives are Day 2 and Day 6, at 4 to 5 hours each. Leave after breakfast, carry snacks and water, and plan a break halfway.
- The road up to Munnar climbs through the hills. If anyone gets car sick, keep tablets handy and give them the front seat.
- The Gavi safari takes about 6.5 hours. With small children or grandparents who tire easily, you can keep just the Periyar boat ride and the evening walk on Day 5.
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple has a strict dress code, so pack suitable traditional clothes for Day 9 and check the rules before you go.
- Food can be kept mild if you ask, and the hotels on this route all take families.
How to change it
Ten days is a comfortable length for Kerala. If you have more or less time, or want a different pace, these are the easiest changes.
- Shorter: the simplest cut is the Kovalam and Kanyakumari leg at the end. You finish after Kumarakom and we plan the airport transfer from there.
- Slower: skip the Gavi safari and spend Day 5 on the Periyar boat ride and the nature walk.
- Longer: add a five-day or fourteen-day Ayurveda programme with a consultation, daily treatments and a doctor on call. It pairs well with the June to September season.
- Upgrades: a premium two-bedroom houseboat with a chef on board, or a helicopter from Kochi to Munnar, 25 minutes instead of 5 hours on the road.
If you want a shorter hill trip in the south instead, look at Coorg. Otherwise, tell us your dates, who is travelling and the pace you like, and we will send the day-by-day back on WhatsApp from the Kerala trip page.
Questions families ask
Is 10 days enough for Kerala?
Yes. Ten days covers Fort Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Kovalam, with two nights at every stop after Kochi and drives of 3 to 5 hours between them. It also leaves room for a day trip to Kanyakumari.
What is the best month to visit Kerala with family?
October to March, when it is dry and pleasant across the state. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks, so book early for those. April and May are hot on the coast, and June to September is the monsoon.
Is Kerala good for families with young kids?
Yes. Drives are 3 to 5 hours at most between stops, the food can be kept mild if you ask, and the hotels on this route all take families. Children are priced at about half the adult rate.
Should we fly into Kochi and out of Trivandrum?
That works best. You arrive in Kochi and finish in Kovalam, 30 minutes from Trivandrum airport. Flying home from Kochi adds a drive of about 6.5 hours on the last day.
Can we add a houseboat night?
Yes. The trip already includes a backwater sunset cruise and a morning boat ride on Vembanad Lake, and we can swap one Kumarakom resort night for a private houseboat.
How much does a 10-day Kerala trip cost?
AVR's brochure prices it from ₹45,000 per adult, land only, covering hotels with breakfast and dinner, a private car with driver and the listed entry tickets. Flights or trains are extra, and children are about half the adult rate.
