The best things to do in Kerala are cruising the Alleppey backwaters by houseboat, riding the tea roads of Munnar, taking a boat safari on Periyar Lake in Thekkady, watching Kathakali in Fort Kochi, and slowing down on Varkala and Kovalam beaches. Pick two or three regions, not eight.
Most first trips try to fit everything in and spend half the holiday in a car. Kerala runs only about 550 km top to bottom, but the hill roads are slow. What follows is what earns your time, grouped the way people travel: with family, with friends, as a couple, plus the offbeat things most guides skip. Prices, timings and entry rules are current as of September 2026, and we flag what shifts by season.
What are the best things to do in Kerala?
Pick two or three regions, not eight. A strong first-timer route is Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, which strings together a harbour town, hills, wildlife and backwaters with no long backtracking. Everything below expands on that, grouped by who you travel with.
| Activity | Where | Time it needs | Rough cost (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight houseboat cruise | Alleppey / Kumarakom | 1 night | Starts from INR 5000 |
| Tea estates and viewpoints | Munnar | 1 full day | Fuel and jeep hire; viewpoints free or under Rs 50 |
| Boat safari on Periyar Lake | Thekkady | Half day | Rs 255 per adult, plus forest entry |
| Kathakali performance | Fort Kochi | 1.5 hours | Rs 300 to 600 |
| Ayurvedic treatment | Kovalam, Kochi, Kumarakom | 1 to 2 hrs, or multi-day | Rs 1,500 upward per session |
| Beach days | Varkala, Kovalam | 1 to 2 days | Free |
What can families do in Kerala?
Families do best on the backwaters, the hills and the easy wildlife, and worst on long trek days with young kids. Keep the drives short and build in downtime.
Cruise the Alleppey backwaters on a houseboat
This is the one activity almost every family remembers. A one-bedroom overnight houseboat runs roughly Rs 7,000 to 9,000 for a deluxe boat and Rs 12,000 to 15,000 for premium, for two people, with lunch, dinner and next morning breakfast included (as of September 2026). Children get their own deck to watch village life drift past. Book a boat that stays on the narrow canals rather than the wide, busy Vembanad Lake, where dozens of boats bunch together.
Ride the tea estates of Munnar
Hire a local jeep for a half day around Kolukkumalai or the Top Station road. The tea walking is gentle, the air is cool, and there is room for children to run without traffic.
Spot the Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam National Park
The park bus takes you up to Rajamala, where the tahr, a wild mountain goat, walk right up to the path. Indian adult entry is Rs 200 and Rs 500 for foreign nationals (as of September 2026), booked on the official park site. The park shuts each year for the calving season.
Book Eravikulam entry online about two days ahead, and time your visit outside the February to March calving closure.
Take a Periyar boat safari in Thekkady
The 90-minute government boat on Periyar Lake is calm and family-friendly, at Rs 255 per adult (as of September 2026). Seats are limited, so arrive about an hour before your slot, and check the current child fare at the counter.
Book the Periyar forest boat, not a private one, and take the 7:30 am or 9:30 am departure for most animals at the water's edge.
What can you do in Kerala with friends?
A group can take on what families skip: early treks, surf, spice trails and the odd late night in Fort Kochi.
Trek Chembra Peak in Wayanad
The climb to the heart-shaped lake is the most popular half-day trek in the state, a proper uphill slog of two to three hours each way, so carry water and start early. Trekking is weather-dependent, and the forest department sometimes limits or closes the trail in heavy monsoon, so check locally before you set out.
Surf and cliff-walk at Varkala
Varkala has Kerala's best beach hangout, a line of cliff-top cafes above Papanasam beach with a small surf scene. It suits a group far better than manicured Kovalam. The sea here runs strong currents in places, so swim only where the lifeguards flag it safe.
Raft and hike in Thekkady
Beyond the lake boat, the forest department runs guided bamboo rafting and border hikes inside the Periyar reserve. These sell out, so book ahead through the official Thekkady channels rather than turning up.
Chase waterfalls at Athirappilly
Athirappilly, about two hours from Kochi, is the largest waterfall in Kerala and roars hardest just after the monsoon, from September to December. At the height of the monsoon the viewing points turn slippery and are sometimes fenced off for safety.
What can couples do in Kerala?
Kerala is one of India's most booked honeymoon states, so couples are spoilt for choice. The trick is choosing the quieter versions of the famous spots.
Take a private houseboat night on the Kumarakom side
Kumarakom, across Vembanad Lake from Alleppey, is calmer and greener than the main Alleppey jetty. A premium or luxury houseboat with a candlelit dinner on deck is the classic Kerala honeymoon night. Luxury boats start around Rs 25,000 upward for two (as of September 2026).
Book an Ayurvedic treatment for two
A proper Ayurvedic massage, an abhyanga, starts from about Rs 1,500 for a single session at a reputable centre and climbs fast for multi-day packages. Choose a Kerala government Green Leaf or Olive Leaf certified centre over a hotel spa promising the same thing, and know that authentic treatment is medical and modest, not a couple's spa.
Stay a night on a Munnar tea estate
The old planters' bungalows above Munnar give you cool nights, mist in the valley at dawn and no crowds. It beats a town hotel by a distance.
Walk Fort Kochi at dusk
The Chinese fishing nets, the old Jewish quarter and the antique lanes are made for an evening stroll, ending at a Kathakali show. Performances at the Fort Kochi centres begin with the make-up from around 5 pm and the show from about 6 pm, with tickets roughly Rs 300 to 600 depending on the centre (as of September 2026).
Unique things to do in Kerala
If you have seen the postcards and want the parts that miss the brochures, start here.
Watch Theyyam in north Malabar
Between roughly December and April, village shrines around Kannur and Kasaragod host Theyyam, a ritual where a performer becomes the deity in towering costume and firelight. It is free, it is real worship rather than a show, and almost no package tour includes it. Ask locally for the night's kavu, dress modestly, and stand where the villagers stand.
Watch a Kalaripayattu practice
Kerala's ancient martial art is fought in a sunken earthen pit, and several centres in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram open evening sessions to visitors. It is faster and more physical than most people expect.
Ride the state ferry instead of a houseboat
The public boat from Alleppey to Kottayam costs a few rupees, takes about two and a half hours, and cuts through the same backwaters the houseboats charge thousands for. It is the local shortcut for budget travellers. Check the current jetty timetable on the day, as services change.
Time a trip to Onam or Thrissur Pooram
With flexible dates, Onam (late August to early September) brings the sadya feast, snake-boat races and flower carpets across the state, and Thrissur Pooram (around April to May) is the loudest, most spectacular temple festival in Kerala. Both dates move with the Malayalam calendar each year, so confirm before booking.
See the Neelakurinji when it blooms
The famous slopes inside Eravikulam flower blue once every twelve years, and the next Eravikulam bloom is due in 2030. A separate patch around Chokramudi and Mattupetty flowered in 2026 on its own cycle. If you are reading this in a non-bloom year, the Neelakurinji is worth skipping outright, whatever the brochures suggest.
If you are reading this in a non-bloom year, the Neelakurinji is worth skipping outright, whatever the brochures suggest.
Adventurous things to do in Kerala
Beyond backwaters and tea, the Western Ghats give you high treks, paragliding ridges and river runs, and the coast adds surf. Most of it runs in the dry October to March window.
Most Ghat treks, safaris and boat runs pause or turn risky in the June to September monsoon. Plan adventure for the dry October to March window.
Prices below vary by operator and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on booking.
Trek to Meesapulimala near Munnar
Meesapulimala is the second-highest peak in the Western Ghats south of the Himalayas, and the guided climb through the shola grasslands above Munnar is the best serious day trek in the region. It runs on booked slots with a compulsory guide, arranged through the Munnar tourism and forest offices, so you cannot just walk up. Start at dawn for the cloud views and carry layers, because the top is cold and windy even in summer.
Paraglide over Vagamon
Vagamon, in Idukki, is Kerala's main paragliding spot, with open meadows and reliable ridge wind. Tandem flights with a certified pilot need no experience, and the state tourism board runs an annual paragliding festival here, usually early in the year. Flying is entirely weather-dependent and gets called off on wet or gusty days, so keep the plan flexible and book the morning slot when the air is calmest.
Zip-line and rappel in Wayanad
Wayanad is the adventure hub of north Kerala. Operators around the district run zip-lining across tea and coffee slopes, rock climbing, rappelling and off-road trails, most of it beginner-friendly with harness and helmet provided. Pair it with the Chembra Peak trek for a full active day. Book through an established operator rather than a roadside stall, and check that the safety gear looks maintained before you clip in.
Bamboo raft across Periyar Lake, Thekkady
The forest department's guided bamboo rafting inside the Periyar reserve is the quiet alternative to the crowded lake boat. You walk a stretch of jungle with an armed guard and a naturalist, then raft across the lake, with a real chance of elephants, gaur and plenty of birds. It runs on limited daily slots and sells out, so book ahead through the official Thekkady channels. It is a half to full day with walking, so it is suitable for fit adults more than young children.
Jeep the Kolukkumalai trail at dawn
Kolukkumalai, above Munnar, is billed as the highest tea estate in the world, and the only way up is a rough 4WD jeep track from Suryanelli. Local jeeps leave in the dark to reach the ridge for sunrise above the cloud line. The ride is rough and not for anyone with a bad back, but the sunrise and the old wood-fired tea factory at the top make the early start worth it. Go with a local jeep operator who knows the track.
Surf and kayak the coast and backwaters
For water adventure, Varkala and Kovalam have small surf schools running beginner lessons in season, while dawn kayaking through the narrow canals of Alleppey or the Ashtamudi and Valiyaparamba backwaters gets you into village waterways the big houseboats cannot reach. The kayak trips are calm and suit most fitness levels. Check sea conditions before any surf session, as currents along this coast run strong.
When is the best time to visit Kerala?
The best time to visit Kerala is October to March, when the weather is dry and cool and everything is open. Here is how the seasons trade off.
| Season | Months | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Oct to Feb | Dry, cool, busy, highest rates | First-timers, families, beaches, houseboats |
| Shoulder | Mar to May | Hot and humid on the coast, pleasant in the hills | Munnar, Wayanad, fewer crowds |
| Monsoon | Jun to Sep | Heavy rain, lush hills, lower prices | Ayurveda courses, waterfalls, budget travel |
The honest catch: the monsoon is lovely in the hills but hard on the coast. Backwater visibility drops, and some treks and boat services pause. For the classic houseboat-and-beach trip, come in the dry months and pay the higher rate.
How do you get around Kerala?
Fly into Kochi (COK), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) or Kozhikode (CCJ) depending on your route, then hire a car with a driver for the hills. Kochi is the most central base for the Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey circuit.
Distances look small but the hill roads are slow. Kochi to Munnar is about 130 km but takes four hours, and Munnar to Thekkady is another three to four hours of ghat driving. A hired car with a driver is the sensible choice for most itineraries, because self-driving the ghats and hunting for parking at busy spots eats your day. Trains run well along the coast between the cities but not up into the hills. Local ferries, as above, are the cheap and scenic way to cross the backwaters.
Planning your Kerala trip with trip2keralam
We are a Kerala-based team, and this is home ground. We work with the houseboat operators on the Alleppey and Kumarakom backwaters, the drivers who know which ghat road is blocked after rain, and the forest-department booking windows at Thekkady and Eravikulam that sell out days ahead. That local footing is the difference between a trip that flows and one that spends its mornings in a queue.
When we plan a route, we build it around short drives and the right season, and we tell you plainly what to skip. For a starting point, our Kerala tour packages cover the classic Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey loop. Couples usually begin with our Kerala honeymoon packages, and hill lovers with Munnar tourism and Wayanad tours. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our on-ground team will map a route that fits the season, keeps the driving short and locks in the bookings that sell out.
FAQs
What is the number one thing to do in Kerala?
An overnight houseboat cruise on the Alleppey or Kumarakom backwaters is the single most popular activity, and the one most travellers rate highest. A one-bedroom boat with meals starts from about Rs 7,000 a night (as of September 2026). Book a boat that spends time on the narrow canals, not just the crowded main lake, and you will see far more village life.
How many days do you need in Kerala?
Six to seven days covers the core comfortably: a night or two in the Munnar hills, a wildlife stop at Thekkady, a houseboat night at Alleppey, and time in Kochi or on a beach. Ten days lets you add Wayanad or the north Malabar coast without rushing. Fewer than five days and you spend too much of it driving.
Is Kerala expensive to visit?
Kerala works on any budget. Local ferries cost a few rupees and beach days are free, while a luxury houseboat can cross Rs 25,000 a night (as of September 2026). A comfortable mid-range trip, with a car and driver, decent hotels and one houseboat night, is very doable, and prices sit lowest in the June to September monsoon.
Can you visit Kerala during the monsoon?
Yes, and it has its own appeal, especially for Ayurveda courses and full waterfalls. The trade-off is real: coastal beaches turn rough, some boat services and treks pause, and sightseeing gets wet. If your heart is set on a houseboat-and-beach trip, come in the dry October to March season instead.
What should you not miss in Kerala?
Do not miss the Alleppey backwaters, the tea country and viewpoints of Munnar, a Periyar boat safari in Thekkady, and an evening of Kathakali in Fort Kochi. If your dates line up, a Theyyam ritual in north Malabar or the Onam festival is worth planning the whole trip around. Those five give you backwaters, hills, wildlife, culture and festival colour in one trip.
Are there entry rules for Kerala temples?
Many Hindu temples in Kerala restrict entry to Hindus, and most enforce a dress code: mundu or dhoti for men, often bare-chested, and a saree or long skirt for women, with no shorts. Rules vary from temple to temple, so check before you go and dress conservatively. When in doubt, ask at the entrance rather than assume.
Is Kerala good for a family with kids?
Very. The houseboats, the Eravikulam park bus, the calm Periyar boat and the tea estates all suit children, and you can keep drives short by picking two or three neighbouring regions rather than crossing the whole state. Avoid packing in long treks with young kids, and build in downtime between sightseeing days.
