From Munnar’s Tea Hills to Kovalam’s Beaches: Abhoy Singh’s Kerala Family Escape with Thrillophilia

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKD64L8P8P6
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Abhoy Singh, Archana Chaudhary Singh, Surendra Singh, Ragini Singh
Trip Duration: 7 Days | 6 Nights
Date of Travel: 15 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025
Destination: Kerala
Package Booked: Kerala Family Getaway | From Munnar Hills to Coastal Kovalam

Kerala has a way of making a family holiday feel wonderfully unhurried. One moment you are surrounded by misty tea gardens in the hills, and a few days later you are watching the Arabian Sea stretch endlessly towards the horizon. Add quiet backwaters, traditional performances, waterfalls and plenty of good food, and you have a trip with something for everyone.

For Abhoy Singh and his family, that was exactly the idea behind their Kerala holiday. Their seven-day journey moved through Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Varkala, Kovalam and Trivandrum, bringing together some of the most memorable sides of the state.

Looking back at the experience, Abhoy summed it up simply: “We had a superb experience, as the travel was planned superbly.”

Munnar Began the Holiday on a High Note

The first stretch of the journey introduced the family to the lush landscapes of Munnar. The route into the hills came with plenty of reasons to stop and admire the scenery, including the Neriamangalam Bridge, Valara Waterfalls and the impressive seven-tiered Cheeyappara Waterfalls.

Pottas Fun Farm added a playful break to the sightseeing. The family could explore experiences such as ziplining, giant swings and a fish spa, making the journey into Munnar feel like part of the holiday itself rather than simply a route between two destinations.

The evening brought a completely different side of Kerala. A traditional Kathakali performance filled the atmosphere with expressive movements, elaborate costumes and storytelling, followed by a Kalaripayattu martial arts show. The fire show and sword-fighting sequences added plenty of energy to an otherwise cultural evening.

Tea Gardens, Chocolate and the Munnar Hills

Munnar’s landscapes deserved an entire day of their own. At the Kanan Devan Hill Plantation Tea Estate, endless rows of tea plants covered the slopes, creating the classic green scenery that makes Munnar so recognisable.

The family then moved from tea to chocolate at the Macofa Chocolate Factory, where they could see how chocolate is made and enjoy a tasting experience. It was the kind of stop that gives everyone a little something to look forward to, especially after spending the morning among the tea gardens.

The day continued through Blossom Park, Pullu Medu Elephant View Point, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point. At Mattupetty, the itinerary even included the option of jet skiing, while Kundala Lake offered a quieter finish with a peaceful boat ride.

Thekkady Brought Wildlife and Adventure Together

The scenery changed again as the family made their way towards Thekkady. Waterfalls and viewpoints continued to appear along the way, with Chunayammakkal Waterfall and Aruvikkuzhi Viewpoint adding more scenic stops.

The highlight here was the chance to experience Kerala’s wildlife side around the Periyar region. A visit to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary brought the family closer to the natural surroundings, while Elephant Junction offered an especially memorable experience with elephants, including opportunities to ride or bathe them.

Thekkady also brought out Kerala’s spice-rich personality. A visit to a spice garden introduced the family to the plantations and aromas associated with the region. Later, a food experience gave them another way to discover the local flavours of Thekkady.

Alleppey Was the Slow, Scenic Break

After the hills and wildlife, Alleppey changed the pace completely. The famous Kerala backwaters offered a chance to simply sit back and watch the landscape move slowly around them.

The family stayed aboard a houseboat, surrounded by calm canals, lagoons and stretches of greenery. One of the more unusual experiences was getting behind the wheel for five minutes with the captain’s guidance. It was a small moment, but exactly the sort of experience that can become a favourite story from a family holiday.

With breakfast, lunch and dinner included on the houseboat, the evening was made for relaxing, watching the backwaters pass by and enjoying Kerala at its most peaceful.

Varkala and Kovalam Put the Coastline in the Spotlight

The coastal stretch of the trip brought a completely different mood. In Varkala, the dramatic cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea created an ideal setting for taking in the coastline. Varkala Beach offered the classic sea views, while Kappil Beach presented a beautiful contrast, with the Arabian Sea on one side and Edava Lake on the other.

The family also visited the historic Janardhana Swami Temple, an ancient shrine set on a hill overlooking the sea. It added another layer to the coastal experience, blending Kerala’s spiritual heritage with its natural scenery.

Kovalam continued the beachside experience with Hawa Beach, Lighthouse Beach and Samudra Beach. A visit to the Vizhinjam Lighthouse added sweeping views across the Arabian Sea, making this final stretch of the holiday especially scenic.

A Memorable Finish at Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The final stop was the magnificent Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum. Known for its intricate architecture, detailed carvings and rich history, the temple brought a cultural and spiritual finish to the journey.

By this point, the family had experienced several different sides of Kerala. They had walked through tea plantations, watched traditional performances, encountered elephants, travelled across backwaters and spent time along the coast.

Why Abhoy Chose Thrillophilia for His Kerala Family Holiday

For a family of four travelling across several destinations, having the journey planned made it easier to focus on the experiences themselves. The itinerary brought together Kerala’s major highlights while keeping the journey varied, with nature, culture, adventure, wildlife, beaches and backwaters all finding a place.

Abhoy also appreciated the support provided throughout the journey, particularly from the cab driver, whom he described as “very nice and also a superb guide". That personal touch added to the overall experience and helped the family explore Kerala with greater ease.

For Abhoy and his family, Kerala became a holiday filled with changing landscapes and memorable experiences. From the cool hills of Munnar to the calm waters of Alleppey and the beaches of the southern coast, every destination brought something different to the journey.

Also Read: Ketan Shah’s Kerala Family Holiday