The Best Road Trips To Take In Kerala India

Rich with beaches, hills, forests and backwaters, Kerala is ideal for road trips throughout the year. We have compiled this list of the best road trip routes around this blissfully beautiful state.

Thekkady to Munnar

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.

Kannur to Kasargod

Alappuzha to Changanassery

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.

Cochin to Athirapilly

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.

Kozhikode to Wayanad

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.

Devikulam to Munnar

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.

Cochin to Alappuzha

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.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.