Kerala in 5 Nights 6 Days: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey
A 5 nights 6 days Kerala itinerary: Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey day by day, with drive times, pacing and what to leave out on a 6-day trip.
Six days is a comfortable length for Kerala. It lets you see the hills, the spice country and the backwaters without long hours in the car, with one rest day built in.
This plan has four bases and keeps every drive under about four and a half hours.
The tea hills above Munnar.
Day | Base | Highlights | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kochi | Arrive, Fort Kochi, fishing nets at sunset | Airport to the fort, about 1 hour |
2 | Munnar | Drive up through spice country, tea estates | About 4 to 4.5 hours |
3 | Munnar | Eravikulam, Top Station, tea museum | Local |
4 | Thekkady | Over the ghats, spice garden, evening in the forest | About 3 to 3.5 hours |
5 | Alleppey | Periyar boat in the morning, drive to the backwaters, houseboat | About 4 hours |
6 | Kochi | Backwater morning, return, depart | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
Drive times are guides and vary with traffic.
Day 1: Kochi
Land and settle into Fort Kochi. Walk the old streets and watch the fishing nets as the light goes. See our Fort Kochi guide and Jew Town guide.
Day 2: Kochi to Munnar
Leave early. The road climbs through rubber and spice country into the tea. See the Kochi to Munnar guide for the best stops.
Day 3: Munnar
Spend the day on the estates and viewpoints. See the Eravikulam guide and the Top Station guide.
Day 4: Munnar to Thekkady
Descend into the cardamom hills. A spice garden walk is the natural afternoon stop. See the spice plantation guide.
Day 5: Thekkady to Alleppey
Take a morning boat on Periyar Lake, then drive to the backwaters and board a houseboat in the afternoon. See the Periyar guide and the houseboat guide.
Day 6: back to Kochi
A relaxed morning on the water, then the drive to Kochi for your flight. Book a flight in the afternoon or evening to keep a buffer.
What a 6-day plan leaves out
Varkala and Kovalam: a beach add-on that needs two more days. See the Varkala guide.
Wayanad: better as a separate trip. See the Wayanad guide.
Athirappilly: a day trip from Kochi. See the Athirappilly guide.
Shorter and longer options
See the 5-day itinerary, the 7-day itinerary and the 10-day itinerary. For all distances see the driving guide.
Best season
October to March. See the month-by-month guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 6 days enough for Kerala?
Yes, for four bases at a comfortable pace.
What is the best order?
Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, then back to Kochi.
Can I add a beach?
Yes, with two more days.
How many drives are long?
Two: Kochi to Munnar and Thekkady to Alleppey.
When should I go?
October to March.
Plan your Kerala days with us
We book the drivers, the hill and backwater stays and the houseboat. Explore the Kerala destination page or talk to a trip designer.
Photo credits
Photo reused from our Munnar guides. The credit is listed there, via Wikimedia Commons.
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