Welcome to enchanting Kerala - God's own country.

For the past three years, our trips to India have been centered around Kolkata, whether for our wedding planning or visiting family. Kolkata will always be our homebase, but we knew we wanted to see more of India. After much research and debate on where we should explore, we landed on Kerala. And it did not dissapoint. With so many landscapes in one state, Kerala had us completely in awe at every stop in our jouney. To help us curate our Kerala experience, we worked with Sanguine Holidays who not only booked our stays but also our amazing driver, Anil, who also served as our local guide. The trip was completely customizable so we could choose our own hotels, destinations, and side adventures to raftthe vacation of our dreams. Jump to the bottom for our takeaways and packing list!

Munnar - Day 1 & 2

As we touched down in Kochi, our driver and guide Anil was waiting for us. We immediately set off for our first destination in Kerala - Munnar. Munnar, a hill station and former resort town from the times of British India, is surrounded by rolling hills covered with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. It's about 1600 meters above sea level and, while we were there, often shrouded in a light veil of mist.

Munnar was about a 4 hour drive from the Kochi airport, but this included a few stops along the way like a temple in Kalady and a local restaurant where we grabbed an amazing South Indian lunch with Kerala rice and fried fish. We also saw some amazing waterfalls and a whole lot of monkeys along the way. We also stopped by a spice garden in Idukki where we saw how the different famous spices of the region are grown.

We stayed at the Gokulam Park in a room with an amazing view over looking the surrounding tea fields that wrapped around the rolling hillsides. We were debating over this lodge and Misty Mountains (which also had a great location!) but in the end went with Gokulam Park as the reviews for the food were great - and we agree! Eating breakfast with a coffee and your choice from a generous buffet while watching the mist lift from the tea lined mountainside was incredible. We also really enjoyed chatting with our waiters and waitresses who shared about their life in Munnar and the surrounding towns.

While in Munnar, we visited the tea museum to get a bit more history on this cultivated landscape, but our favorite part - and what we would recommend - was going to Lockhart Gap. We hiked though the hillsides and were surrounded by the geometric patterns of winding tea paths. You can walk into the tea fields and experience the landscape up close. While hiking, you will come across workers clipping the tea bushes - they only harvest the top few leaves - as well as women carrying giant bags of tea leaves on their heads, all offer a smile and hello.

We weren't the onlyones drawn into Munnar's beauty - we also saw wild elephants enjoying a midday munch when driving the winding roads! There are lots of things to do in Munnar, but for us, the hikes through the tea plantations were the most memorable.

Thekkady - Day 3

From Munnar, we journeyed to Thekkady, a tiny town nestled on the hillside that is known for its proximity to Periyar National Park and spice plantations. Here, we stayed at Merryweather Resorts where we had a room that looked out over the hillside and tropical garden. In Thekkady, our main destination was the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected reserve for elephants and tigers. But it was actually a stop on the way to the Park that ended up being most memorable - a small local bee farm! We learned about a special itty bitty local bee that is native to Kerala called Stingless Honey Bees (Dwarf Honey bee). Carly got to hold a comb from these native bees and we tasted their unique honey. Unfortunately, like many bees around the world, their populations are declinging and the small bee farm is working to protect and grow the local colonies.

At Periyar National Park, we took a boat out on a small lake where we could view wildlife from the unique vantagepoint on the water. We recomend booking the 3pm tour through their official website in advance, since during this time theres a maximam chance of viewing wildlife. We spotted wild boar, beautiful birds, turtles, and deer. And, of course, mischievous monkeys gave us an amusing send-off! But beware they are agressive - we saw one steal a child's backpack (causing the child to cry), open the backpack and steal the child's lunch. We enjoyed our time in Thekkady, but if you are short on time, this is the part of the trip we would cut short or skip.

Alleppey - Day 4

The drive from Thekkady to Alleppey was about 4 hours, where we watched the landscape change from mountains and hilly spice planatations to tropical greenery and a maze of rivers and waterways. Alleppey or Alappauzah (the current name) is known for its backwaters and canals, where life unfolds around the water. Sometimes called the Venice of India, we got to experience life on the water up close as we boarded a houseboat that would also be our home for the night.

We stayed on the Riverine Cruise houseboat with a great 2-person crew that acted as our captain, local guide and chefs. The food they cooked for us was probably the best food we ate during our Kerala trip. The boat had an open front, with air conditioned sleeping quarters in the middle (very much needed during the hot and humid summer days) with low windows and a kitchen at the back. We read books on the boat deck with the sun in our face and the breeze keeping us cool. Around mid-day the boat stopped at a local fishermn's hut where we bought fresh fish for lunch and dinner.

While the color at the horizon changed around late evening, we hopped on a smaller boat for a short cruise through the smaller canals. This is highly recommended since the bigger houseboats cannot really get into the narrower backwaters where the villagers live. We wafted through the waters watching people fishing or playing cards by the water, while they sky lit up in brilliant colors. With silhouettes of coconut trees and reflections on the water, the sunset was truely spectacular. If you want to do this trip, just ask your boat crew - they will sort you out. Shouldn't cost more that Rs 1000 for over an hour of sunset tour. After the smaller boat tour, we got back on the houseboat for a night's sleep on the water.

After a hearty breakast and much to Arya's dismay (he could have spent the entire trip in Alleppey!), we deboarded at the dock and hopped back in the car with Anil. Up until this point, the trip was largely organized by the tour company, but Arya arranged the rest of our Kerala adventure starting in our next stop- Varkala.

Varkala - Day 5 & 6

Varkala was not on our radar, but was recommended by Arya's colleague. Its a lesser known beach side resort, and reminded us of a chiller and calmer Goa if you swap the clubs for beachside bars and restaurants. Varkala has dramatic cliffs that drop off into the Indian ocean with really intense waves. We stayed 2 nights in Varkala and spent most of the days walking by the beach and reading in the different cafes. Varkala was quite hot (up to 30 degrees C or 86 F) during the day but cooled off a bit in the evenings.

We particularly loved grabbing evening chai (tea) at Cafe Sarwaa and enjoying the amazing seaside views. We accessed this cafe from the beach after walking up some very steep rocks, alternatively one can also take an uber or scooty to the cafe location. We highly recommend walking along the beach during sunsets, and going up to the cafe for some mesmerizing colors in the sky.

One early morning, we walked to the other side of the beach crossing the cliff looking for a place to grab breakfast, and we came across the Sandy Bay Cafe, this is recommended for a quieter cafe experience. The cafe is hidden from the hustle of the cliff side. We tried the uttapams (savory rice pancakes with tomatoes on them) and liked them so much that ordered another plate. Plus there is a friendly cat who won't hesitate to let you know that she would like a piece of your pancake!

Kochi - Day 7 & 8

We took a train from Varkala to Kochi that took about 2 hours. Arya booked us in a sitting air-conditioned coach (beware the AC car is VERY cold) and there were vendors selling snacks, tea and coffee all through the train. Kochi, being a big city is a hub-bub of activites. This was a bit of a shock after spending some quiet days amidst tea plantations and back-waters. Getting off at Kochi, we took an uber to our Airbnb.

We stayed at Riverside Heritage Bungalow hosted by Mr. Basil . This is a beautiful home stay in the southern part of Kochi. The home stay is by the banks of Lake Vembanad, where you could see fishing boats or various birds. We honestly wanted to stay all day in this quiet heaven, however we also were curious to explore Kochi. Nicknamed the 'Queen of Arabian Sea', Kochi has historical significance of being an important spice trading center on the West coast of India. Kochi is also a vibrant melting pot of different cultures and religions, home to a significant Jewish population.

We really loved the Jewish quarter in Kochi, specifically for its colorful shopping district. If you are in search of beautiful block-printed fabrics or antiques to take back home, this is the place to find them. The 16th century Paradesi synagogue is also a must visit, while there take note of the floor of the synagogue, which is made of hand-made chinese tiles.

Another attraction of Kochi is the Chinese fishing nets, we walked around quite a lot for some good pictures, however couldn't find a suitable spot. We came across a beautiful point of view, sort-of by accident while taking the metro from across the bay after a visit with a friend. If you are looking to catch a glimpse of the Chinese fishing nets, we highly recommend taking the water-metro from Vypeen-Jankar Jetty and have your camera ready as you approach the Fort Kochi stop.

On our last night in Kochi, we went to see a classical dance performance, Kathakali. It is comprised of intricate make-up, vibrant costumes, and stylized acting. It tells stories, primarily from Hindu epics, through dance, music, and acting, with actors conveying emotions and narratives through detailed hand gestures and facial expressions. We got tickets to the Great V Kathakali Centre for about Rs. 600 each (about 6 Eur/ $7) and it was a great time. At the end of the performance its also possible to take pictures with the performers, which definitely makes for a great travel story.

We absolutely loved our Kerala trip - it is still at the top of Carly's travel adventures. The state has so much to offer and such a diversity of experiences. Cancel all your other travel plans and book a trip to Kerala instead - we promise you won't be dissapointed!

A Few of our Highlights and Recommendations:

Things we’d do again:

•  Lockhart Gap

• Eating at all the local restaurants - try a traditional thali with Kerala rice

• Evening tour on a small boat in Alleppey

• Kathakali in Kochi

Things we’d do differently:

• Skip Thekkady and stay 1 more night in Munnar

• Booked a room in Varkala on the cliffside and with a back-up generator (no AC during load shedding was intense!)

Packing Recommendations:

We visited Kerala in late September/early October, so it was quite hot in Varkala and Kochi but in the mountains in Munnar, the evenings and early mornings were still a bit chilly. This trip can easily be done with just a carry-on bag, here are some must haves to keep in mind while packing:

• Odomos (or some type of bug repellant, but as a person that gets devoured by mosquitoes, Carly swears by Odomos)- especially for the houseboat

• Lightweight breathable clothing - I brought lots of cotton kurtas or long button-up tops that protected me from the sun but also were great layers for those chilly Munnar mornings. I also brough a couple pairs of cotton pants

• Shawl - if you forget one, India is the epicenter of beatiful shawls! Also a great and useful souvenir.

• Walking or hiking shoes - something to get around in the city and through the tea plantation paths. I have Teva hiking sandals that I love and work well for wilderness and city life!

• Sunblock - We always bring ours from Germany as it can be pricey in India and Carly needs that high SPF!

One thing that I packed but didn't use, was a bathing suit. The ocean waters in Varkala were very rough, so swimming wasn't very practical. Plus, many people in India swim in clothes - not swimsuits. If you do want to swim or sunbathe, you might feel more comfortable in a onepiece rather than a revealing bikinin, but if you don't mind a few looks and stares - you do you!