Kerala
Tea hills, backwaters and quiet beaches — the easiest first big holiday for a Gujarati family.
Kerala is the destination we recommend most often to families travelling together for the first time. Distances are short, roads are good, hotels are dependable, and the three landscapes — the tea hills of Munnar, the spice forests around Thekkady, and the backwaters of Alleppey — are each a comfortable half-day's drive apart.
For Gujarati travellers the practical worries are small. Kochi is a direct 2½-hour flight from Ahmedabad, Gujarati and Jain food is easy to find in Munnar and on the houseboats, and the pace suits three generations travelling together. Our groups have been going since 2010 and Kerala remains our most repeated destination.
What to see in Kerala
Munnar tea estates
Rolling hills of tea at 1,500 m; visit the Tea Museum, drive to Top Station, and see Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam National Park.
Alleppey houseboat
One night on a private kettuvallam through the backwaters, with a cook on board who will prepare pure-veg meals.
Thekkady and Periyar
Spice plantations, a boat ride on Periyar Lake inside the tiger reserve, and a Kalaripayattu martial-arts show in the evening.
Fort Kochi
Chinese fishing nets, the 16th-century St Francis Church, Jew Town and Mattancherry Palace — a compact evening walk.
Kovalam and Varkala beaches
Calm, clean beaches in the far south; Kovalam suits resort stays, Varkala has a dramatic cliff and a quieter feel.
Athirappilly Falls
Kerala's largest waterfall, 60 km from Kochi — an easy stop on the way to or from the airport.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The great Vishnu temple of Thiruvananthapuram; dhoti and saree dress code applies and we arrange it.
Kathakali performance
Watch the make-up being applied before the show — the best part — at the Kerala Kathakali Centre in Fort Kochi.
Three ways to do Kerala
Every plan is customised. These are the shapes most families start from — each has a full day-by-day page and a PDF you can keep.
Classic Kerala
The route almost every first-time visitor takes, and for good reason: hills, forest and water in five nights with no drive longer than four hours.
Relaxed Kerala
Fewer hotel changes and a beach finish. Designed for families with senior parents or small children: three nights in Munnar, one on the water, three by the sea.
Munnar & Backwaters Short Break
A long-weekend version for couples or working families: one night each in the hills, on the water and in Kochi. Leave Friday morning, back Monday night.
Getting there from Ahmedabad
Fly: IndiGo and Air India Express fly Ahmedabad–Kochi non-stop daily, about 2 h 30 m. Kochi (COK) is the right airport for Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey. Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) is better for Kovalam and Varkala and usually needs one stop.
Train: The Ahmedabad–Thiruvananthapuram route takes 36–40 hours (e.g. 16336 Gandhidham–Nagercoil Express). Only sensible for those who enjoy long train journeys.
Within Kerala: a private car with driver is the norm. Roads are narrow but good; average speed is 35–40 km/h, so a 130 km drive takes about 4 hours.
Getting around. Everything in this guide is done by private car with an English- and Hindi-speaking driver who stays with you for the whole trip. Auto-rickshaws work well for short hops within Fort Kochi. Kerala's KSRTC buses are reliable but not practical with luggage and elders.
When to go
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | December – February | Dry, 22–30°C on the plains, 10–18°C in Munnar. Best weather; book 6–8 weeks ahead for Christmas and New Year. |
| Good | October – November, March | Occasional showers in October; March is warm on the coast but pleasant in the hills. Better prices than peak. |
| Hot | April – May | Humid on the coast (33–35°C); Munnar remains pleasant. Kerala schools are on holiday, so hill stations are busy. |
| Monsoon | June – September | Heavy rain, lush green, lowest prices. Houseboats run but may be cancelled in very rough weather. Good for Ayurveda stays, not for sightseeing-heavy trips. |
Permits, rules and packing
No permits needed anywhere in Kerala. Eravikulam National Park is closed roughly February to early April for the tahr calving season — check before booking if it matters to you. Padmanabhaswamy Temple admits Hindus only and requires dhoti for men and saree or dhoti over trousers for women.
What to pack
- Light woollen or fleece for Munnar evenings (12–15°C in winter)
- Comfortable walking shoes for estate walks
- Umbrella or light raincoat in any month — Kerala rains without warning
- Mosquito repellent for the houseboat
- Swimwear for Kovalam
- Modest clothing for temples; dhoti is provided at Padmanabhaswamy but carry a shawl
- Motion-sickness tablets for the winding Munnar road
Veg and Jain food in Kerala
- Munnar town has several Gujarati and North Indian restaurants; hotels serve Gujarati thali for groups on request.
- Houseboat cooks prepare pure-veg and Jain meals when told in advance — we confirm this in writing for every booking.
- Kerala vegetarian food is excellent: try avial, sadya (banana-leaf feast), appam with vegetable stew, and puttu for breakfast.
- Filter coffee and fresh coconut water are everywhere. Tap water is not for drinking; hotels provide bottled water.
What it costs
Indicative per-person costs on twin sharing for a 5–6 night trip including flights from Ahmedabad, private car, hotels, breakfast and dinner. Actual quotes depend on dates, hotel choice and group size; a group of 6+ brings the car cost down noticeably.
3★ hotels, standard houseboat, economy flights booked 6+ weeks ahead
4★ hotels or resorts, premium houseboat with AC bedrooms, flexible flights
5★ resorts (Kumarakom Lake Resort, Windermere, Leela Kovalam), luxury houseboat, business-class option
Where the money goes
- Flights are 35–45% of the trip: an Ahmedabad–Kochi return runs ₹8,000–14,000 booked early, ₹18,000+ in Diwali week.
- Houseboat: ₹9,000–14,000 per night for a 2-bedroom standard boat, ₹18,000–30,000 for premium; the price is per boat, so a family of 4–6 shares it.
- Car: an Innova with driver is roughly ₹4,500–5,500 per day including fuel and driver allowance.
- Hotels: 3★ ₹3,000–5,000 per room per night, 4★ ₹6,000–10,000, 5★ resorts ₹15,000–35,000.
Prices are indicative for 2026 and change with dates, group size and hotel choice. We confirm every price in writing before you pay anything.
Travelling with parents and children
- Munnar's road has 30 km of hairpin bends; seat anyone prone to car sickness in front and carry Avomine.
- Houseboats have one step down to the bedrooms and no lifts — fine for most seniors, but tell us about mobility needs so we pick a boat with a ground-level bedroom.
- Book Eravikulam early morning; the queue for the shuttle bus builds after 9:30 am and the walk is 1 km uphill on a paved path.
- Children love the Kathakali make-up session more than the performance itself — arrive an hour early.
- Kerala hotels rarely include a fourth bed; families of five need two rooms. Say so at quote time.
- Carry a photocopy of Aadhaar for every traveller; hotels and houseboats ask for ID at check-in.
Questions families ask us about Kerala
Is Gujarati or Jain food really available in Kerala?
Yes. Munnar and Thekkady have Gujarati restaurants that cater to groups from Gujarat and Rajasthan; Alleppey houseboat cooks handle Jain meals (no onion, garlic or root vegetables) when informed at booking, and we confirm it in writing. Fort Kochi has fewer options, so we choose a hotel with a good vegetarian kitchen.
Which month is best?
October to March. December to mid-January has the best weather and the highest prices; late January to early March is the sweet spot for weather and value. Avoid the June–August monsoon for a first visit.
Is a houseboat safe for children and seniors?
Yes. Boats move slowly on calm inland water, life jackets are on board, and the crew is used to families. The bedrooms are AC, with attached bathrooms. Choose a 2-bedroom boat for a family of four to six.
How long are the drives?
Between 3 and 5 hours on the main route, with stops. Kochi–Munnar 4 hours, Munnar–Thekkady 3½ hours, Thekkady–Alleppey 4 hours, Alleppey–Kochi 1½ hours. Roads are good but winding in the hills.
Can we add Kanyakumari or Rameswaram?
Yes — the Relaxed itinerary extends naturally: Kovalam to Kanyakumari is 90 km (2½ hours), and Rameswaram is a further day's drive into Tamil Nadu. Ask for a Kerala + Tamil Nadu pilgrimage version.
How far in advance should we book?
For December, Diwali or a group of 8+, two months. For other months, 3–4 weeks is enough to get good flight fares. Houseboats and Munnar hotels fill up first.
Ready to plan Kerala?
Send us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a day-by-day plan, hotel names and a price — usually within 24 hours.