3 days in Kerala

Day by day

1. Day 1: Backwater houseboat cruise and Chinese fishing nets

   Backwater houseboat cruise, Chinese fishing nets and Mattancherry Palace, then Kathakali performance in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Backwater houseboat cruise

      Converted kettuvallam rice barges with bedrooms, a deck and a cook sail from Alappuzha across Vembanad Lake and along the canals of Kuttanad, where paddy fields lie below water level.

   2. Late morning

      Chinese fishing nets

      Come at sunset when the nets are silhouetted, and ask the fishermen before you join them on the platform.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Appam and stew

      Homestays in Fort Kochi and local restaurants across central Kerala.

   4. Afternoon

      Mattancherry Palace

      Built by the Portuguese in the 16th century as a gift to the Raja of Kochi and later renovated by the Dutch, hence its nickname the Dutch Palace.

   5. Evening

      Kathakali performance

      Arrive an hour early to watch the performers apply their make-up, which is as fascinating as the show.

2. Day 2: Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town and St Francis Church

   Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town, St Francis Church and Eravikulam National Park, then Varkala Cliff in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town

      Visit in the morning, then browse the antique and spice shops along Jew Town Road towards Mattancherry Palace.

   2. Late morning

      St Francis Church

      Founded by the Portuguese in 1503, this is one of the oldest European-built churches in India.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Puttu and kadala curry

      Local breakfast places all over Kerala, usually from early morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Eravikulam National Park

      Go early to beat the queue for park buses; the park usually closes for several weeks during the tahr calving season around February and March.

   5. Evening

      Varkala Cliff

      Walk the cliff path at sunset and stay for dinner at a cliff-top restaurant; carry a torch, as the path is unfenced in places.

3. Day 3: Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum and Top Station

   Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum, Top Station and Periyar Tiger Reserve, then Private houseboat night in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum

      Tea has been grown on Munnar's hills since the late 19th century.

   2. Late morning

      Top Station

      Go early in the day; clouds often roll in and hide the view by late morning.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sadya

      Vegetarian restaurants serve sadya-style 'meals' at lunch; full sadyas are offered around Onam.

   4. Afternoon

      Periyar Tiger Reserve

      A forest reserve of about 925 sq km around an artificial lake created in 1895.

   5. Evening

      Private houseboat night

      Book a one-bedroom houseboat from Alappuzha and watch village life drift by from the deck at sunset.

Before you go

• Backwater houseboat cruise: Book a reputable operator a few weeks ahead for December, January, Christmas and Onam; avoid deals offered by touts at the jetty.
• Periyar Tiger Reserve: Boat and activity places are limited each day; book through the official Periyar eco-tourism channels in advance in peak season.

If it rains

• Swap in Napier Museum (Thiruvananthapuram): Combine it with the Sree Chitra Art Gallery next door for paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.
• Swap in Kerala Folklore Museum (Ernakulam): It is in Thevara, south of central Ernakulam; combine it with a ferry ride to Fort Kochi.
• Swap in Ayurveda treatment (Kovalam): Choose centres with qualified Ayurvedic doctors who consult before treatment, especially for multi-day programmes.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Fort Kochi keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ernakulam ($$) suits shopping, budget and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 20–26 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.5 hours in December to 12.8 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Kerala
• 2 days in Kerala
• 5 days in Kerala

Questions travellers ask