Kerala itinerary for 2 weeks - realistic?

bertine · Apr 13th, 2008, 19:39

Hello,
My partner and I are planning a trip to Kerala in Dec/ Jan. We plan to arrive on 27th December for approx 16 days.

We are thinking to flying into Trivandrum, spending a day ot two in the city before perhaps travelling south to Poovar, then to Ponmudi & Peppara wildlife sanctuary. We would like to spend a few days in Varaka before heading to Kollam, travelling by boat to Alleppey and then onto Coichin for a few days- where we would fly back to the UK.

We are looking for a good mix of both sightseeing/ culture and relaxation and don't want to spend the whole time travelling or rushing from one place to the other.

We are both fairly inexperienced travellers and this will be our first trip out of Europe.

Does this sound like a realistic time frame for this itinerary? or would it make more sense to fly both in and out of Trivandrum and focus our holiday on a smaller area?

I also wondered - given that we are travelling over the new year period - is this something that is likely to have an impact on out travel plans? will transport be as normal?

Any help would be much appreciated - I don't want to book our flights until I'm sure that we are not being over ambitious.

Many thanks

machadinha · Apr 13th, 2008, 23:21

Hi, and welcome to IndiaMike.

Looks like an OK plan to me. Kerala is fairly laidback and probably a nice destination for a first visit, and it's fairly easy to get around in on the fly I think. I'm not sure about tourism and the holidays there these days, but those tend to interfere more with the major stretches and destinations, I don't think it should give you much trouble. But I may be overly optimistic here. The main rush should also be over after say Jan. 1st I believe.

I think you can just go there with your plan, then work it out on the ground. If it turns out too much, you can just drop some destinations. It's not a giant state, so should be alright.

pmvelu · Apr 14th, 2008, 21:30

Bertine,

First thing , Dec 15th - Jan 10th is the peak Season for Kerala and room rents will be at it's peak.

Ponmudi is just a small hill station with a Beer parlour & Few rooms but nothing to see as such. Only the Mist covered peak and We visited Ponmudi as a day trip from Trivandrum and we just spent 2 to 3 hours at the top. On the way , Kallar River is there. It's dangerous to trek but we did that on the rocky terrain and we saw a small waterfall!.

You could add Padmanapuram Palace & Suchindram temple + Kanniyakumari (Sun Rise / Vivekandar Rock & Tiruvalluvar statue)-This could again be done as a one day trip from Trivandrum with ease.

From Cochin, you could add a 2 day trip to Munnar (scenic / Acres and acres of Tea gardens) which will be at it's best around Dec-end - Jan !Munnar is around 130 kms (3 1/2 hours by car). If you prefer bus, Numerous buses are there from Cochin to Munnar.

You could also make a day trip to Kaladi (birth Place of Adi Sankaracharya). This place is good with a Big river and calm/ Scenic. This is around 35 kms from cochin via Angamali .

All of the above-mentioned places I visited some time back with my wife & 3 year kid and we enjoyed a lot !.

Hope this helps.

CliveG · Apr 15th, 2008, 01:58

Agree with pmvelu - 2 days in Munnar -visit the town, Top Station, tea plantations and spice gardens -worth the trip.

machadinha · Apr 15th, 2008, 02:02

Do you guys reckon it could get difficult to get around that time of year, transportation- (and hotel-) wise? Much pre-booking required or advised?

CliveG · Apr 15th, 2008, 02:20

I have never had any trouble with transport at this time of year although I would advise pre-booking trains as popular routes will be busy. With accommodation you might have to be flexible if you do not pre-book. In my experience the top end of the hotel market gets heavily booked over Christmas and New Year but I have always found somewhere by asking around.

machadinha · Apr 15th, 2008, 02:30

Thanks, that's kind of what I figured. Am I right thinking buses make for good back-up (if not for best transport, period, on many routes) most anywhere in Kerala? (And that they would suffer far less from overbooking?) Just trying to help OP along, and it's handy for me to check my advice against the current situation.

I hear places like Kochi get pretty crowded (or absolutely overrun) by tourists both international and domestic these days. Is it that bad? (I think it was mentioned here just recently that even Ernakulam is much more laid-back still though, touristically speaking.) Would the same issue (over-tourism) hold up for some of the lesser destinations mentioned? Even Trivandrum doesn't see many foreigners right, let alone who stay there? Does it and some other of those destinations get swamped by Indian (or foreign) holidaymakers? You'd think they'd stick to roughly Kovalam-Varkala-Alleppey-Cochin(-Munnar, Periyar maybe), or is that too optimistic?

bertine · Apr 15th, 2008, 02:31

Hello,
Thank you so much for the help and advice. I think that we will prebook some of the accommodation (particulary around 31st Dec/ 1st Jan) and play some of it by ear. Will definitely look into Munnar and the other places.

I'm aware that it will be peak tourist season but due to work committments and so on- it is the only time we can go.

I was worried that we were packing too much into a short time - so thanks for the reassurance!

Best wishes

tdmc · Apr 15th, 2008, 04:07

We stayed at Palm Grove Lake Resort n Alleppey last week - off season, but a great place, helpful owners and cheap. good location on a canal.
It's in Lonely Planet, but that time of year pre-book

CliveG · Apr 15th, 2008, 05:44

Yes buses are a good back up but you have to ask for help unless you understand Malayalam as the destinations are written in that language.
We spent 5 months in Kochi/Ernakulam last year and I wouldn't say it was overrun by tourists. In Ernakulam where we were based it was rare to see tourists. The only time it might be overrun is if a large liner arrives in the port but they usually only stay a day or two. If you go to the large hotels (Taj Malabar/ Casino etc) then it will be full of tourists but they tend to eat there so the small restaurants are usually filled with locals.

Apr 13th, 2008, 19:39	#1
bertine Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: uk Posts: 2	Kerala itinerary for 2 weeks - realistic? Hello, My partner and I are planning a trip to Kerala in Dec/ Jan. We plan to arrive on 27th December for approx 16 days. We are thinking to flying into Trivandrum, spending a day ot two in the city before perhaps travelling south to Poovar, then to Ponmudi & Peppara wildlife sanctuary. We would like to spend a few days in Varaka before heading to Kollam, travelling by boat to Alleppey and then onto Coichin for a few days- where we would fly back to the UK. We are looking for a good mix of both sightseeing/ culture and relaxation and don't want to spend the whole time travelling or rushing from one place to the other. We are both fairly inexperienced travellers and this will be our first trip out of Europe. Does this sound like a realistic time frame for this itinerary? or would it make more sense to fly both in and out of Trivandrum and focus our holiday on a smaller area? I also wondered - given that we are travelling over the new year period - is this something that is likely to have an impact on out travel plans? will transport be as normal? Any help would be much appreciated - I don't want to book our flights until I'm sure that we are not being over ambitious. Many thanks

Apr 13th, 2008, 23:21	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,147	Hi, and welcome to IndiaMike. Looks like an OK plan to me. Kerala is fairly laidback and probably a nice destination for a first visit, and it's fairly easy to get around in on the fly I think. I'm not sure about tourism and the holidays there these days, but those tend to interfere more with the major stretches and destinations, I don't think it should give you much trouble. But I may be overly optimistic here. The main rush should also be over after say Jan. 1st I believe. I think you can just go there with your plan, then work it out on the ground. If it turns out too much, you can just drop some destinations. It's not a giant state, so should be alright. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Apr 15th, 2008, 02:31	#8
bertine Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: uk Posts: 2	Thank you Hello, Thank you so much for the help and advice. I think that we will prebook some of the accommodation (particulary around 31st Dec/ 1st Jan) and play some of it by ear. Will definitely look into Munnar and the other places. I'm aware that it will be peak tourist season but due to work committments and so on- it is the only time we can go. I was worried that we were packing too much into a short time - so thanks for the reassurance! Best wishes

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Apr 14th, 2008, 21:30	#3
pmvelu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 441	Bertine, First thing , Dec 15th - Jan 10th is the peak Season for Kerala and room rents will be at it's peak. Ponmudi is just a small hill station with a Beer parlour & Few rooms but nothing to see as such. Only the Mist covered peak and We visited Ponmudi as a day trip from Trivandrum and we just spent 2 to 3 hours at the top. On the way , Kallar River is there. It's dangerous to trek but we did that on the rocky terrain and we saw a small waterfall!. You could add Padmanapuram Palace & Suchindram temple + Kanniyakumari (Sun Rise / Vivekandar Rock & Tiruvalluvar statue)-This could again be done as a one day trip from Trivandrum with ease. From Cochin, you could add a 2 day trip to Munnar (scenic / Acres and acres of Tea gardens) which will be at it's best around Dec-end - Jan !Munnar is around 130 kms (3 1/2 hours by car). If you prefer bus, Numerous buses are there from Cochin to Munnar. You could also make a day trip to Kaladi (birth Place of Adi Sankaracharya). This place is good with a Big river and calm/ Scenic. This is around 35 kms from cochin via Angamali . All of the above-mentioned places I visited some time back with my wife & 3 year kid and we enjoyed a lot !. Hope this helps.

Apr 15th, 2008, 01:58	#4
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 642	Agree with pmvelu - 2 days in Munnar -visit the town, Top Station, tea plantations and spice gardens -worth the trip.

Apr 15th, 2008, 02:02	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,147	Do you guys reckon it could get difficult to get around that time of year, transportation- (and hotel-) wise? Much pre-booking required or advised?

Apr 15th, 2008, 02:20	#6
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 642	I have never had any trouble with transport at this time of year although I would advise pre-booking trains as popular routes will be busy. With accommodation you might have to be flexible if you do not pre-book. In my experience the top end of the hotel market gets heavily booked over Christmas and New Year but I have always found somewhere by asking around.

Apr 15th, 2008, 02:30	#7
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,147	Thanks, that's kind of what I figured. Am I right thinking buses make for good back-up (if not for best transport, period, on many routes) most anywhere in Kerala? (And that they would suffer far less from overbooking?) Just trying to help OP along, and it's handy for me to check my advice against the current situation. I hear places like Kochi get pretty crowded (or absolutely overrun) by tourists both international and domestic these days. Is it that bad? (I think it was mentioned here just recently that even Ernakulam is much more laid-back still though, touristically speaking.) Would the same issue (over-tourism) hold up for some of the lesser destinations mentioned? Even Trivandrum doesn't see many foreigners right, let alone who stay there? Does it and some other of those destinations get swamped by Indian (or foreign) holidaymakers? You'd think they'd stick to roughly Kovalam-Varkala-Alleppey-Cochin(-Munnar, Periyar maybe), or is that too optimistic?

Apr 15th, 2008, 04:07	#9
tdmc Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 21	We stayed at Palm Grove Lake Resort n Alleppey last week - off season, but a great place, helpful owners and cheap. good location on a canal. It's in Lonely Planet, but that time of year pre-book

Apr 15th, 2008, 05:44	#10
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 642	Yes buses are a good back up but you have to ask for help unless you understand Malayalam as the destinations are written in that language. We spent 5 months in Kochi/Ernakulam last year and I wouldn't say it was overrun by tourists. In Ernakulam where we were based it was rare to see tourists. The only time it might be overrun is if a large liner arrives in the port but they usually only stay a day or two. If you go to the large hotels (Taj Malabar/ Casino etc) then it will be full of tourists but they tend to eat there so the small restaurants are usually filled with locals.

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