How many days for a Kerala Trip? Planning Tips and Guidance

Planning a Kerala trip? First question you may have is How many days for a Kerala Trip ? Discover how many days you need to explore Kerala’s top attractions—from backwaters and beaches to wildlife and hill stations. Kerala is a destination in India that attracts travelers of all ages and worldwide. It’s lush greenery, gorgeous landscapes, stunning backwaters, historical heritage of forts, buildings, quaint towns, and the delectable local cuisine. Kerala is among the most awarded tourist destinations in Asia for a a variety of initiatives

But for a perfect dream vacation, a common question among many travelers is How many days in Kerala is enough? Well, it all depends on your preferences, vacation days, the weather, and your budget.

This article is an attempt to solve your problem of traveling to Kerala and spending quality time with your family and friends, or even for a solo trip.

ALSO SEE – Kerala Tour Packages (UPDATED)

When you plan to visit Kerala, what you need to decide first is on which part of Kerala, you will be want to focus on your trip. The best way to

while responding to the question of How many days in Kerala is enough? It is essentially a focused planning to a certain area of the state.

Central Kerala

The most popular and scenic part of Kerala is central Kerala that consists of Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey and Kumarakom along with beach destinations like Marari . The question of  How many days for a Kerala Trip becomes easy once you decide between these destinations and most of these destinations are close by and can be easily commuted through a taxi 

The top sightseeing spots or the things to do in Central Kerala are listed below and tourist destinations are in bold. You can pick and choose them as per the number of days for your trip and your preferences.

1. Kochi 
2. Chendamangalam Synagogue
3. Mattancherry Palace
4. Fort Kochi
5. Kochi Marine Drive
6. Kumbalangi Tourist Village
7. Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
8. Willingdon Island
9. Munnar hill station
10. Periyar Tiger Reserve
11. Alleppey Backwaters
12. Kumarakom Backwaters
13. Idukki plantations tour
14. Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary
15. Paragliding and other fun activities at Wagamon
16. Marari Beach
17. Cherai Beach

Central Kerala is well connected to most parts of the world and India through Kochi International Airport

South Kerala

The southern part of Kerala has its own set of mesmerizing spots to select from. Here goes the list for your perusal.

1. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala
2. Kovalam beach 
3. Varkala beach
4. Ashtamudi Lake
5. Thenmala eco-tourism village
6. Palaruvi waterfalls
7. Sabarimala Sri Darmasastha Temple
8. Aranmula
9. Kollam
10. Neyyar

South Kerala is well connected to most parts of the world and India through Trivandrum International Airport

North Kerala or Malabar Region

North Kerala has fewer prominent sightseeing spots compared to the South and Central parts of Kerala. The key important places to explore are

1. Wayanad
2. Kozhikode
3. Bekal fort and beach
4. Kannur
5. Kozhikode

North Kerala or Malabar Region is well connected to most parts of the world and India through Kozhikode and Kannur International Airport

Trip based on the number of days

Let’s first try to find out how to create a plan for a Kerala Trip based on the number of days for the trip. The first step towards answering the question of how many days required to visit Kerala ?

A day In Kochi

If you are  visiting Kochi for an official trip and have one day or few extra days, then Fort Kochi or houseboat in Alleppey of Kumarakom should be your natural choice. You can do a day trip in houseboat and return back to Kochi or you can do an overnight trip

ALSO SEE – 60+ Kerala Houseboat Packages (UPDATED)

Boating in Backwaters is unique to Kerala. A boat ride in backwaters of Alleppey or Kumarakom is the easiest and most economical way to access and explore the famous Kerala backwaters. It will let you get up close and personal with village life in backwaters and its uncharted beauty!

ALSO SEE- Alleppey or Kumarakom? Which is best for a Kerala Houseboat Ride

A short trip for 3 to 4 days

If you have fewer days off from your work or your kid’s academic activities, then you can opt for a short trip to Kerala. But do not be disappointed, there is much to see for a 3 to 4 days trip to Kerala, such is the amazing beauty of the place. The options for your try or the spots to be added to your itinerary can be:

1. Visit Kochi, the town marked by beaches, forts, local markets, and lush greenery. You can visit Cherai beach and Fort Kochi if you love to spend time strolling around on the beaches and engaging in some sports. If you love architecture and historical monuments, then you must check out the Mattancherry Palace and Bolgatty Palace. Kochi Marine Drive is another attraction for the tourists.
2. The next spot can be Alleppey. You can stay in a houseboat for one day or even opt for a boat ride along the backwaters. It is a wonderful experience, cruising along the backwaters and being entertained by the serene beauty. You can mix with the locals, and savor your taste buds with the local foods and beverages.
3. You can explore the next spot as Munnar, a mind-blowing, pristine hill station with beautiful tea and spice plantations. You can walk across the meandering roads or drive up while soaking in its scenic beauty.
4. If you do not want to explore hills and plantations, the other option is to visit a beach like Kovalam or Varkala. Watch the sunset, sit and relax at the beach, or engage in some watersports.

   Want help? – Choose from 3 Days Kerala Tour Packages and 4 days Kerala Tour Packages

A long trip for 7 to 10 days

You will have enough time and can spend a leisure vacation if you get about 8 to 10 days of vacation for your trip. The journey will be a relaxed one; you can spend more than 1 day in a place, and the experience will be much better. Some suggestions for planning the itinerary:

1. Kochi is the obvious city to start with the trip, and instead of a hectic 1 day trip and missing out many spots, plan for a 2 days trip. You can explore the city to its fullest and can even satisfy your quest for shopping. The local markets sell some good silk clothes, you must try them out.
2. Next, for 2 days, you can stay at a houseboat at the heart of the Alleppey backwaters. You can stay nearby in a good resort or cottage near the backwaters too. It will be a completely relaxed 2 days, immersing in the beauty of the greenery, and rejuvenating in the freshness around.
3. Third is to be at Munnar for 2 days and be entangled in the magnificence of the mountains and the lush greenery of the plantations. You can buy some fresh tea directly from the gardens and even go for a tour inside.
4. Then, the best option is to visit Thekkady. You can spend a relaxed 2 days, with one day for a safari and the next day just to soak your mind into the beauty of the dense forests.
5. Lastly you can end the trip by visiting the beaches like Kovalam and Varkala. You can spend time watching the sunset, strolling along the beach, tasting some seafood, buy some souvenirs and then maybe engage in some water sports too.

   Want help? – Choose from 7 Days Kerala Tour Packages and 14 days Kerala Tour Packages

Tips and Tricks while planning for a trip to Kerala

1. First, decide on the number of days for the vacation to Kerala. Then select the places as per the days. You can select the prominent places throughout the state or focus on a particular part of Kerala
2. Kerala has multiple options to opt for amongst beaches, hill stations, forests, and backwaters. So, depending on your preferences, you can select the places.
3. Book flight or rail tickets, cabs, and accommodations well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush. Avail offers and discounts as much as possible, keep a track of them on the booking or travel websites
4. Do not overstress yourself if you are not a frequent traveler or adventure-seeking person. Relax and plan for a leisure trip instead.
5. Be mindful if you have kids with you. You may try out some amusement parks to keep them entertained and relaxed as well. 
6. Track the weather forecasts to avoid any unplanned problems in your journey
7. Judge the peak and off seasons to gauge the crowds

Best time to visit Kerala

The best time to visit Kerala is between October and March. Tourism is at its peak in Kerala at this time of the year, simply because the weather is pleasant and comfortable.

The months are ideal for a hassle-free trip. You can enjoy the mountains, beaches, backwaters, and the forests. The Kochi carnival happens at this time, and you can engage in such festivals. If you want to focus only on the hill stations of Kerala, then the summer months are best. The months of March through May are mainly the hottest in the state, and you can plan accordingly. Monsoons are better to avoid, as due to the rains, you may not be able to stroll out much. But if you desire to stay at the hotel and relax, then you can plan.

ALSO SEE- Best Time to Visit Kerala- Summer, Winter or Monsoon?

How to reach Kerala?

Kerala is accessible by air, rail, and road efficiently from different parts of the state, the country, and abroad. There are airports at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. Depending on the place from which you are traveling and the sites you are visiting in Kerala, you can opt for any of them. There are good railway stations also at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, so traveling by train will also be comfortable. If you are traveling from some nearby destinations or neighboring states, then you can also travel by car.

ALSO SEE – Airports in Kerala- Which one to Choose?

Conclusion

Hope the article has provided you with a fair idea of your question on how many days in Kerala is enough with family, friends, and even for a solo trip. You can select your destinations as per your needs and embark on a memorable vacation.