Alleppey to Munnar: Distance, Drive Time and Route

Alleppey to Munnar by road: distance, drive time, the route via Kottayam or Kothamangalam, stops worth making and how to plan the transfer.

By the Lux India Tours Team·Oct 19, 2026

Destination GuideItinerary InspirationKeralaPlanning Guide

A narrow road between tea bushes and trees on the Kochi to Munnar route

Alleppey to Munnar takes you from the water to the hills. It is a long drive, but a scenic one, and it works well as the transfer between the backwaters and the tea country.

This guide gives the distance, the time and the route options.

A narrow road between tea bushes and trees on the way to Munnar

Tea country on the Munnar road.

At a glance
Distance	About 155 to 170 km by road, depending on the route
Drive time	4.5 to 5.5 hours without long stops
Common routes	Via Kottayam and Kanjirappally, or via Ernakulam and Kothamangalam
Best start	8 am or earlier
Road	Good on the plains, winding on the last ghat section

The routes

Via Kottayam: the usual route. The road heads east from Alleppey to Kottayam, then climbs through rubber and spice country and Adimali into Munnar.
Via Ernakulam and Kothamangalam: longer, and used if you are also stopping in Kochi. It joins the Kochi to Munnar road. See our Kochi to Munnar guide.

Your driver will choose based on traffic and the time of day.

Stops worth making

Kottayam: a break for lunch, with Kerala meals in a local restaurant.
A spice or tea shop: on the climb into the hills. Buy small amounts.
Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls: on the Kothamangalam route, full from June to December.
Photo bends: near the top, with views over the tea slopes.

How to plan the day

Leave Alleppey by 8 am, after checking out of your houseboat.
Stop for lunch in Kottayam, around noon.
Reach Munnar by mid-afternoon, in time for a walk before dark.

The ghat road is slow and can be tiring, particularly in rain. Aim to arrive in daylight.

Taxi, bus or train

Private car with a driver: the most comfortable option, and the simplest after a houseboat night.
Bus: buses run via Kottayam and Adimali, but they are slow and may need a change.
Train: no direct line. The nearest railheads are Kottayam and Aluva, so you still need a road transfer.

Where it fits

If you are going from the backwaters up to the hills, this is the reverse of the usual order. See our Kerala 6-day itinerary for the more common route, and the driving distances guide for all the main legs. For what to do in Munnar, see the 2-day Munnar itinerary.