The Best Road Trips to Take in Kerala, India

This highly scenic route takes you through lush greenery, from the wild forests of Thekkady to the hill town of Munnar, in around three hours. Animal sightings along the way and plenty of tea stalls lining the highway make this a pleasurable 100 kilometer ride. Take this trip earlier in the day to ensure a smoother ride through the hills of Munnar.

Driving parallel to the coastline and passing through lush green fields lined with coconut trees, small towns and landmark beaches, this route will take up to three hours and spans 100 kilometers. At both ends of the route are historic cities – Kannur and Kasargod – with plenty of significant historic attractions.

Passing through the picturesque paddy fields of Kuttanad as well as the backwaters of Vembanad, State Highway 11 — or AC Road (Alappuzha Changanassery Road) as it is known locally — is 24 kilometers long. It also runs parallel to an artificial canal of the same name, built to reduce flooding during the monsoon.

Starting from Kerala’s most vibrant city and ending at its most scenic hill station, this scenic route will take up to 2.5 hours, and covers about 80 kilometers. The landscape spans small towns, villages, green fields, coconut tree groves, backwaters, hills and more. The waterfalls at Athirapilly are particularly striking.

Starting at the historic town of Kozhikode, this 90 kilometer route covers winding hills, densely forested highways and plenty of small, picturesque villages. It takes 2.5 hours. Wayanad is home to a wildlife sanctuary, caves with prehistoric inscriptions and more interesting sites.

This half-hour long road trip through the Western Ghats is just as lovely as longer road trips. Passing through lush tea plantations, hazy forests and surrounded by hills with plenty of opportunities for animal sightings, this 12 kilometer road trip is mesmerizing.

For a thorough tour of Kerala’s famous backwaters, this 1.5 hour road trip is a good bet. Paddy fields, water channels with all sorts of traditional boats, coconut trees and small villages dot this 53 kilometer stretch. Alappuzha is among India’s most popular tourist destinations, with a delightful blend of historic, cultural and natural sites of attraction.