Our Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks
Last updated: October 24, 2026
We spent the end of 2018-2019 in Kerala and our itinerary was focused on beach and culture. It was a child-friendly holiday since we were traveling with our 2-year-old son. This itinerary was a combination of public transport especially trains, taxi rides, and a domestic flight. We stayed at quaint guesthouses and homestays all over the state and ate at local places. Our day attractions and trips were mostly very relaxing and child-friendly and there were some spice farm visits, elephant rides, and visiting tea gardens. We also kayaked and canoed a bit, went to a few museums, and tried unsuccessfully twice to participate in cooking classes. Presenting our 2 weeks Kerala itinerary with a brief visit to Madurai. This one is for keeps, especially if you are traveling with children.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Route | Kochi → Munroe Island → Kumily (Thekkady) → Madurai → Kannur → Kochi |
| Duration | 10–14 days |
| Best time | October to March |
| Getting around | Hired car with driver for Kerala–Tamil Nadu hops; trains for long legs |
| Approx. budget | Mid-range family trip: roughly Rs 6,000–12,000 per day for a family (stay, car and food) – varies widely |
| Good for | Families, culture, backwaters, wildlife and beaches |
Highlights of our Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary
- Arrival into Kochi (overnight stay at Fort Kochi at The Traveller’s Inn)….1N
- Train to Munroe Island (4 hrs train journey from Ernakulam, stay at Munroe Island Backwaters Homestay)…..2N
- Relaxing day at Munroe Island
- Backwaters Canoeing and Ashtamudi Lake visit
- Taxi Ride from Munroe Island to Kumily in Thekkady (4 h 20 min (149.2 km) via NH 183A, stay at Mickey Homestay)..3N
- Spice Garden Tour and Kathakali Dance Show
- Elephant Ride, Periyar Reserve Hike, and Kalaripattu Show
- Connemara Tea Garden Tour and Spice Shopping
- Taxi Ride from Kumily to Madurai (2 h 44 min (137.4 km) via NH183 and NH85, overnight stay at Moskva Hotel in Madurai)…1N
- Meenakshi Amman Temple Visit and eating at famous Chettinadu cuisine restaurants in the city
- Flight to Kozhikode from Madurai by Spicejet via Bangalore (4 hrs with transit, we could not find any tickets to Kannur, hence the long day)
- Taxi from Kozhikode to Kannur (2 h 8 min (92.0 km) via NH 66, stay at Kannur at Kannur Beach House)…4N
- Relaxing by the beach
- Swimming in the lagoon
- Visiting the Kannur Fort and Museum
- Theyyam Show
- Train Back to Kochi from Kannur (Around 6 hours, stay at The Traveller’s Inn in Kochi)…3N
- Relaxing
- Shopping
- Visiting the local sights like Mattancherry Palace
- Return Home
Kannur golden beaches
Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary Travel Facts
- Start Point – Kochi, Kerala
- Finish Point – Kochi, Kerala
- States Covered – Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- Duration – 10 – 14 Days
- Theme – Family friendly, Culture, Beach, Backwaters
- Suitability – For all ages as well as for travelers with restricted mobility
- Optional Add-ons – Camping and hiking at Periyar, Trip to Gavi, Cooking Classes, Ayurvedic Treatments
Kerala with kids
Overnight Stay Points on this Kerala Itinerary
Kochi, Munroe Island, Kumily, Madurai, Kannur
Follow the rest of the Kerala series
- SAT DARSHAN: ASHRAM TRAVEL FOR THE SOUL
- KERALA TRAVEL MEMORIES
- A KERALA HOLIDAY
- A PERFECT COCHIN STAY
- KOCHI ITINERARY AND TRAVEL GUIDE
- LIFE ALONG THE KERALA BACKWATERS
- KOLLAM, LESSER-KNOWN SIDE OF KERALA
- VALLAM KALI, THE FAMOUS KERALA BOAT RACE
- MUNROE ISLAND, THE QUIET BACKWATER GETAWAY
- COMPLETE KERALA BACKWATERS GUIDE
- PULIKALI TIGER DANCE OF KERALA
- KUMILY, THE LAND OF SPICES AND TEA
- PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
- KANNUR, THE LAND OF SPICE TRADE
- THEYYAM, WHEN GODS COME DOWN TO EARTH
- NELLIYAMPATHY HILLS
- A RETREAT INTO PALAKKAD IN KERALA
- 2016 CULTURAL KERALA TRIP ITINERARY FOR 1 WEEK
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELING-BECAUSE I CARE
Day-by-Day Route with Travel Times
Travel times are approximate and depend on traffic and train schedules.
| Days | Stop | Getting there | Approx. travel time | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Kochi | Arrive Cochin airport | 45 min to Fort Kochi | Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry, Kathakali show |
| 3–4 | Munroe Island | Car from Kochi | About 3–3.5 hrs | Canoe through village canals, Ashtamudi Lake |
| 5–6 | Kumily / Thekkady | Car from Munroe Island | About 4–5 hrs | Periyar boat safari, spice plantations |
| 7–8 | Madurai | Car from Kumily | About 3.5–4 hrs | Meenakshi Temple, palace, flower market |
| 9–12 | Kannur | Train/flight connection from Madurai | Long travel day (overnight train is easiest) | Theyyam (Dec–Apr), beaches, forts |
| 13–14 | Kochi | Train or car from Kannur | About 5–6 hrs | Shopping, departure |
Map tip: plot the loop in your maps app – the Madurai to Kannur leg is the longest, so many travellers swap Kannur for Alleppey or Varkala to shorten it.
Approximate Costs for This Itinerary
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Car with driver (per day) | Rs 3,000–4,500 incl. fuel, driver allowance extra |
| Mid-range hotels/homestays | Rs 2,500–6,000 per room per night |
| Periyar boat safari | A few hundred rupees per person plus entry |
| Kathakali show in Kochi | Around Rs 300–500 per person |
| Munroe Island canoe trip | Around Rs 500–1,000 per person |
| Meals | Rs 800–2,000 per day for a family at local restaurants |
FAQs
What is a good itinerary for Kerala?
This family itinerary loops Kochi (1 night) to Munroe Island (2 nights, canoeing and Ashtamudi Lake) to Kumily/Thekkady (3 nights, spice gardens, Kathakali, an elephant ride, Periyar hiking, and a tea garden tour) across into Madurai in Tamil Nadu (1 night, Meenakshi Amman Temple), then Kannur (4 nights, beach, lagoon swimming, and a Theyyam show), before heading back toward Kochi.
How many days should you plan for Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks?
The article’s own travel facts recommend 10 to 14 days for this route.
What is the best route for Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks?
It’s a loop starting and ending in Kochi: Kochi to Munroe Island, on to Kumily, across into Tamil Nadu for Madurai, then up to Kozhikode and Kannur, before returning toward Kochi.
Can Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks be done independently, without a guide or tour operator?
Yes — the family built it themselves using a mix of trains, taxis, and one domestic flight, staying at homestays and guesthouses they booked directly, without a tour operator.
What is the ideal trip length for Kerala?
For this particular route, 10 to 14 days is the stated ideal, giving enough time for both activity-heavy stops and pure beach relaxation.
Can you help me plan a realistic version of Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks that balances sightseeing with rest days?
Follow the itinerary’s own rhythm: pair activity-dense stretches, like the spice tours, elephant ride, and shows around Kumily, with longer, low-key stays like the 2 nights at Munroe Island and 4 nights at the Kannur beach house for genuine downtime.
What would a day-by-day breakdown of Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks look like for a first-time traveler?
Arrive in Kochi (1 night), train to Munroe Island (2 nights) for canoeing and a lake visit, taxi to Kumily (3 nights) for spice gardens, an elephant ride, Periyar hiking, and cultural shows, taxi to Madurai (1 night) for the Meenakshi Amman Temple and Chettinadu food, fly and taxi to Kannur (4 nights) for the beach, lagoon, fort, and a Theyyam performance, then train back toward Kochi.
What are the biggest planning mistakes people make when putting together Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks?
The family themselves note they ‘tried unsuccessfully twice to participate in cooking classes,’ a reminder to book such activities well ahead; they also found there were no direct flights to Kannur, forcing a long multi-leg flight via Bangalore plus a taxi, so it’s worth checking flight connectivity before locking in the route.
How should I sequence my stops if I’m following Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks?
Start in Kochi, move south and inland to Munroe Island and then Kumily, cross into Tamil Nadu for Madurai, fly north to Kozhikode and taxi to Kannur, and finish with a train back toward Kochi.
What’s a flexible way to adapt Our 2018 Tamil Nadu Kerala Itinerary for 2 Weeks if I have a few extra or fewer days?
With extra time, add the itinerary’s own suggested extensions — camping or hiking at Periyar, a side trip to Gavi, cooking classes, or Ayurvedic treatments; if you’re shorter on time, trim a night or two from the Kumily or Kannur stays.
How many days do you need for Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
Two weeks is ideal to cover Kochi, the backwaters, Thekkady, Madurai and a beach stop at a relaxed pace; 10 days works for a faster trip.
What is the best route for a Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip?
A practical loop is Kochi, Munroe Island, Thekkady, Madurai and then Kannur or another Kerala beach before returning to Kochi.
How do I travel between Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
A hired car with driver is easiest for Kochi–Thekkady–Madurai, while trains work well for longer legs such as Madurai to Kannur.
What is the best time for a Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip?
October to March has the most comfortable weather for sightseeing in both states.
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