Weekend Getaways Near Major Cities in Kochi, Kerala, India

1. Munnar

A hill station located in the Western Ghats, known for its tea plantations and picturesque landscapes.

Natural Beauty: Offers breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, and waterfalls.
Tea Gardens: Visitors can explore the sprawling tea plantations and learn about tea processing.
Eco-Tourism: Home to various endangered species such as the Nilgiri Tahr and Neelakurinji.

Famous for its backwaters, houseboat stays, and coastal beauty.

Houseboats: Experience a romantic cruise through the serene backwaters in traditional houseboats.
Coastal Town: Offers beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and boat races.
Fishing Villages: Visit traditional fishing villages for an insight into local life and culture.

A wildlife sanctuary in Kerala famous for its elephant sightings.

Elephants: Spot elephants, tigers, and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Periyar Lake: Enjoy a boat ride on Periyar Lake to spot wildlife from close quarters.
Spice Plantations: Explore the spice plantations and learn about various spices grown in the region.

A hill station known for its meadows, pine forests, and picturesque valleys.

Meadows: Stroll through the beautiful meadows surrounded by blooming flowers.
Pine Forests: Enjoy treks through the lush pine forests offering panoramic views.
Paragliding: Experience an adrenaline rush with paragliding over the scenic valleys.

A village on the Vembanad Lake famous for its backwaters, bird sanctuary, and houseboats.

Bird Sanctuary: Home to various migratory birds like Siberian storks, egrets, herons, and teals.
Backwaters: Explore the serene backwaters in traditional houseboats.
Fishing Villages: Visit traditional fishing villages for an insight into local life and culture.

A hill station in Kerala known for its coffee plantations, Chembra Peak, and wildlife sanctuary.

Coffee Plantations: Visit the sprawling coffee plantations and learn about coffee cultivation.
Chembra Peak: Trek to Chembra Peak for stunning views of the valley below.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Spot elephants, tigers, and other wildlife in their natural habitat.

A village near Ernakulam famous for its elephant training center.

Elephant Training Center: Watch elephants being trained for cultural events and festivals.
Traditional Keralan Village: Experience the local culture, cuisine, and lifestyle of a traditional Keralan village.
Adventure Activities: Enjoy adventure activities like trekking, rock climbing, and zip-lining.

The capital city of Kerala known for its historic monuments, museums, and beaches.

Historic Monuments: Visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, and Zoological Park.
Beaches: Relax on beautiful beaches like Kovalam and Varkala.
Backwaters: Experience the serenity of the backwaters with a boat ride.

Known for its dams, hills, tea plantations, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Dams: Visit the Arch Dam, one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
Tea Plantations: Explore the beautiful tea plantations and learn about tea cultivation.
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Spot elephants, tigers, and other wildlife in the Eravikulam National Park and Periyar Tiger Reserve.

A coastal village known for its beautiful beaches and lighthouse.

Beaches: Relax on the pristine beaches of Mararikkulam.
Lighthouse: Climb the lighthouse for panoramic views of the coastline.
Fishing Villages: Visit traditional fishing villages for an insight into local life and culture.

A port city in Kerala known for its historic sites, beaches, and spice markets.

Historic Sites: Visit the Kappad Beach where Vasco da Gama first set foot in India.
Beaches: Relax on beautiful beaches like Kozhikode and Varkala.
Spice Markets: Shop for fresh spices and traditional handicrafts in the local markets.

A picturesque island located near Thiruvananthapuram known for its backwaters and wildlife.

Backwaters: Explore the serene backwaters with a boat ride.
Wildlife: Spot various species of birds, marine life, and even dolphins.
Beach and Spa: Relax on the private beach or enjoy a rejuvenating spa treatment.

A hill station in Palakkad district known for its coffee and cardamom plantations.

Coffee and Cardamom Plantations: Visit the sprawling coffee and cardamom plantations and learn about cultivation.
Scenic Viewpoints: Enjoy panoramic views of the Western Ghats from various scenic viewpoints.
Trekking: Explore the forests and hills with guided treks.

A hill station in Thiruvananthapuram known for its golden valley, tea plantations, and wildlife sanctuary.

Golden Valley: Stroll through the beautiful Golden Valley surrounded by tea plantations.
Tea Plantations: Explore the sprawling tea plantations and learn about tea cultivation.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Spot elephants, tigers, and other wildlife in the Ponmudi Wildlife Sanctuary.

A coastal town known for its cliff beach, spice plantations, and yoga ashrams.

Cliff Beach: Relax on the beautiful cliff beach and enjoy the sunset.
Spice Plantations: Visit the nearby spice plantations and learn about various spices grown in the region.
Yoga Ashrams: Practice yoga and meditation at one of the many ashrams in Varkala.