Kerala stretches 600 km along the Malabar coast with three international airports and a railway spine linking every hub — you'll usually fly into one end and weave between hills, backwaters and beaches by road.
Three international gateways: Cochin (COK) — the busiest, ideal for Munnar, Alleppey and Thekkady; Trivandrum (TRV) for Kovalam, Varkala and Poovar; and Calicut (CCJ) for Wayanad and the north. All receive direct flights from Indian metros and the Gulf.
The Konkan/West-coast line threads the state: Ernakulam (ERS/ERN) for Kochi, Alleppey (ALLP) right beside the backwaters, Trivandrum Central, and Kozhikode for the north. Overnight trains from Bangalore and Chennai are comfortable and scenic.
NH66 runs the coast while NH85 climbs to Munnar. Typical hops: Kochi–Munnar 110 km (4 h of hairpins and tea), Munnar–Thekkady 90 km (3 h), Thekkady–Alleppey 140 km (4 h), Alleppey–Kovalam 160 km (4 h) — which is why the classic Kerala circuit flows in exactly that order.
Chauffeur-driven cars are the default for circuits (self-driving the ghat roads is tiring); backwater ferries, Kochi metro + water metro, and autos handle the local scale. Houseboats board at Alleppey/Kumarakom around noon.
| From | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kochi (COK) | 110 km NH85 to Munnar | 4 h |
| Munnar | 90 km to Thekkady | 3 h |
| Thekkady | 140 km to Alleppey | 4 h |
| Alleppey | 160 km to Kovalam | 4 h |
Cochin (COK) for the classic Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey circuit; Trivandrum (TRV) if your trip centres on Kovalam/Varkala beaches. Multi-city open-jaw flights save a full day of driving.
Alleppey has its own railway station 3 km from the boarding jetties, and is 80 km (2 h) by road from Cochin airport. Board by 12–1 pm to enjoy the full cruising afternoon.
The classic Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey–Kovalam run needs 6–8 days to feel unhurried. With Wayanad or Bekal added, plan 9–10.
