Kerala Itinerary for 5 Days: Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey Houseboat (with Costs)
The classic 5-day Kerala itinerary: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and an Alleppey houseboat, with drive times, houseboat prices and a per-person budget.
The best 5-day Kerala itinerary is Kochi → Munnar (2 nights) → Thekkady (1 night) → Alleppey houseboat (1 night) → Kochi. It covers tea hills, a wildlife reserve and the backwaters with drives of 3–4 hours between stops. A comfortable private trip costs about ₹18,000–35,000 per person excluding flights, with a houseboat night at ₹8,000–25,000 per couple.
Key takeaways
- Fly into Kochi (COK) and out of Kochi — the loop needs no backtracking.
- Munnar deserves 2 nights; Thekkady and the houseboat 1 night each.
- Book a private houseboat with meals for an overnight stay rather than a short day cruise.
- September to March is the best season; the monsoon (June–August) is lush and ideal for Ayurveda.
- Eravikulam National Park usually closes for a few weeks in February–March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season.
Kerala's mix of tea-covered hills, spice plantations and palm-lined backwaters fits beautifully into five days. This is the route our planners recommend most often — it flows in a loop from Kochi, keeps driving under four hours a day and works equally well for honeymooners, families and parents.
5-day Kerala itinerary at a glance
| Day | Route | Drive time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kochi → Munnar | About 4 hours (≈125 km) | Munnar |
| Day 2 | Munnar sightseeing | Local | Munnar |
| Day 3 | Munnar → Thekkady | About 3–3.5 hours (≈90 km) | Thekkady |
| Day 4 | Thekkady → Alleppey houseboat | About 4 hours (≈140 km) | Houseboat |
| Day 5 | Alleppey → Kochi | About 1.5 hours (≈55 km) | Fly home |
Day 1: Kochi to Munnar
Land at Cochin International Airport and drive up into the Western Ghats. Stop at the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls on the way and watch the landscape change to tea estates. Check in to a hill-view resort and enjoy the cool evening air.
Day 2: Munnar sightseeing
Start at Eravikulam National Park to see the endangered Nilgiri tahr (it usually closes for a few weeks in February–March for the calving season). Visit the Tea Museum, then drive to Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Kundala Lake. Photographers should catch sunset at Top Station on the Tamil Nadu border.
Day 3: Munnar to Thekkady (Periyar)
Drive through cardamom country to Thekkady. In the afternoon take a spice plantation tour and see a Kathakali or Kalaripayattu show in the evening. Early next morning, if you can, join the Periyar Lake boat ride or a guided nature walk in the tiger reserve for a chance to see elephants, bison and birds.
Day 4: Alleppey houseboat
Drive down to Alleppey (Alappuzha) and board your private kettuvallam houseboat around noon. Cruise the backwaters past paddy fields, village churches and coconut groves; the crew cooks fresh Kerala meals — appam, fish curry or vegetarian sadya-style dishes — on board. The boat anchors for the night by around 5:30 pm, as government rules require.
Day 5: Alleppey to Kochi
Disembark after breakfast and drive to Kochi. If your flight is late, explore Fort Kochi: the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Jew Town and the Mattancherry Palace, then head to the airport.
Kerala trip cost (per person, 5 days, excluding flights)
| Item | Budget | Comfort / honeymoon |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels (3 nights) | ₹4,500–9,000 | ₹12,000–25,000 |
| Houseboat (1 night, shared by two) | ₹4,000–6,000 | ₹7,500–12,500 |
| Private car with driver (5 days) | ₹5,000–7,500 | ₹6,500–9,000 |
| Entry tickets, shows, boat ride | ₹1,500–2,500 | ₹2,000–3,500 |
| Food | ₹2,500–4,000 | ₹4,000–7,000 |
| Total per person | ₹18,000–28,000 | ₹32,000–55,000 |
Return flights to Kochi from Delhi or Mumbai typically add ₹7,000–15,000 per person.
Best time to visit Kerala
- September to March: the main season — pleasant, green after the monsoon, perfect for houseboats.
- December–January: peak prices; book houseboats and Munnar resorts early.
- April–May: hot in the plains but pleasant in Munnar; good-value rates.
- June–August (monsoon): dramatic waterfalls, low prices and the traditional season for Ayurveda treatments. The famous Nehru Trophy snake boat race takes place in Alleppey in August.
Make it 6 or 7 days
- Add Varkala for clifftop beaches and cafés (about 3 hours south of Alleppey).
- Add Kumarakom for a quieter lakeside backwater resort.
- Add Wayanad for forests, caves and treehouse stays (best as a separate north-Kerala loop from Kozhikode).
Plan your Kerala trip
TravelHuge's Kerala tour packages include hand-picked resorts, an inspected houseboat, a private car with an experienced driver and 24x7 support. Planning a beach trip next? Read our Goa trip plan.
Frequently asked questions
Are 5 days enough for Kerala?
How much does an Alleppey houseboat cost?
Is Kerala good for a honeymoon?
What is the best time to visit Munnar?
Can I do this itinerary by public transport?
Prices are indicative per-person estimates in Indian rupees, checked on 13 October 2026, and move with season, exchange rates and availability. Visa and entry rules change often — always confirm on the official government website before you travel. TravelHuge re-checks every live quote before you pay.
