Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey make the classic first Kerala trip. This guide shows a 5-day loop by car and what it may cost for two people, using the CostMyTrip planning model.
The route
| Day | Drive | Distance (about) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kochi | — | Fort Kochi, Mattancherry |
| 2 | Kochi → Munnar | 130 km | Ghat road; tea estates |
| 3 | Munnar → Thekkady | 90 km | Hill road via Kumily side |
| 4 | Thekkady → Alleppey | 140 km | Down to the backwaters |
| 5 | Alleppey → Kochi | 55 km | Fly or train home |
Distances are approximate; hill roads are slow, so allow extra time.
Estimated cost for two people (5 days, 4 nights)
| Item | Budget style | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel (about 415 km, hilly) | ₹3,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Toll allowance | ₹500 | ₹500 |
| Stay, 4 nights (1 room) | ₹4,800 | ₹10,000 |
| Food (2 people × 5 days) | ₹3,500 | ₹7,000 |
| Sightseeing allowance | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
| Buffer (8%) | ₹1,200 | ₹1,900 |
| Total | about ₹16,500 | about ₹25,900 |
| Per person | about ₹8,250 | about ₹12,950 |
Room and food figures are CostMyTrip planning rates (budget ≈ ₹1,200/night and ₹350 per person per day; mid-range ≈ ₹2,500/night and ₹700 per person per day). For this illustrative aggregate budget, fuel is rounded to ₹3,500 from 415 ÷ (15 × 0.85) × ₹107 = about ₹3,483. It applies the hilly-mileage assumption to the whole loop; the multi-leg planner can differ where leg terrain varies. Toll and hotel amounts here are separate illustrative allowances, not verified charges. Excludes flights or trains to Kochi.
Houseboat in Alleppey?
Many people swap the Alleppey hotel night for an overnight houseboat. Rates vary a lot with the season, the boat and what is included, so check current prices directly and add the difference to the stay line above.
Best time to go
October to March is the most comfortable season. June to September is the monsoon: the hills are green and prices are lower, but expect heavy rain and slower roads.
Plan this exact loop with your own dates and travellers in the planner, or check fuel for your car with the fuel cost calculator.
Common questions
How much does a 5-day Kerala trip cost for two?
Using CostMyTrip planning rates, a 5-day Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey loop by car costs about ₹16,500 in budget style or about ₹25,900 mid-range for two people, excluding travel to Kochi.
How many km is the Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey loop?
About 415 km in total: roughly 130 km Kochi–Munnar, 90 km Munnar–Thekkady, 140 km Thekkady–Alleppey and 55 km back to Kochi.
Is a houseboat included?
No. Houseboat prices vary widely by season and boat, so check current rates and add them to the stay budget.
Choose where to spend the nights before booking transfers
A five-day loop can have four nights but several separate transfers. Keep each night against the place where you will actually sleep. An overnight houseboat that replaces a hotel night should replace that room cost, not be added as a second stay on the same night.
Compare the boat experience on equal terms
Ask for the boat identity, boarding jetty, cruising hours, overnight mooring, meals, air-conditioning hours and cancellation terms in writing. A day cruise plus a hotel and an overnight boat are different products. Kerala Tourism’s accredited-houseboat directory ↗ is a starting point for checking an operator; the listing does not guarantee your dates or package inclusions.
Reprice a hired vehicle instead of adding it twice
The driving line is an own-car model. For a hired car, enter the complete quotation as transport, with the itinerary, waiting and driver costs agreed. Keep any separately hired local vehicle outside that quotation only if it is genuinely excluded.
If the first or last day is constrained by a flight, compare the actual airport transfer with the city-centre route. Keep enough time for check-in and any disruption. CostMyTrip has no live closure, weather-delay or operator-availability feed.
Worked examples and planning analysis by CostMyTrip Team · 24 October 2026. Hypothetical amounts explain the method; they are not available fares, room quotes or activity prices.
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