About Kerala
Kerala stretches along India's lush southwestern coast like a green ribbon, woven through with palm-fringed canals, misty tea plantations in the Western Ghats, and beaches where fishing nets still rise and fall with the tides. Known locally as 'God's Own Country,' it is one of the few places where you can cruise languid backwaters in the morning and hike through a cardamom plantation by afternoon.
Things to Do
Cruise the Alleppey Backwaters
Glide through a network of canals, lagoons, and lakes aboard a traditional kettuvallam houseboat as village life unfolds on the banks.
Tour a Spice Plantation in Thekkady
Walk among rows of pepper vines, cardamom bushes, and cinnamon trees while a local guide explains traditional harvesting methods.
Sip Tea in the Munnar Highlands
Drive winding roads through carpets of bright green tea bushes and visit a working factory to see leaves go from field to cup.
Experience an Ayurvedic Retreat
Check into a riverside wellness center for treatments developed over thousands of years, including oil massages, herbal steam baths, and dietary consultations.
Watch a Kathakali Performance
See actors in elaborate face paint and towering headdresses bring ancient Hindu epics to life through precise gesture and expression.
Local Tips
Monsoon season (June-August) brings heavy rains but also lush scenery and deeply discounted hotel rates for adventurous travelers.
Book houseboat trips for weekdays -- weekend rates are higher and the waterways get noticeably more crowded.
Kerala's cuisine is rice-and-coconut-centric; try a traditional sadya feast served on a banana leaf for the full experience.
Auto-rickshaws are the most practical way to get around towns -- agree on the fare before departure or insist on the meter.
Plan Your Trip
Browse 1 curated trip to Kerala. Each includes a 7-day itinerary you can customize.
