"How much will a Kerala trip cost us?" is the first question most families ask us. The honest answer is that it depends on three things: the car you choose, where you stay, and how many days you travel.
To make it simple, we've worked out the full Kerala trip cost for the most popular family itinerary — 5 days, 4 nights: Munnar, Thekkady and an Alleppey houseboat — for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children), at three budget levels. The taxi prices are our actual 2026 Kerala Taxis rates. Hotel and houseboat prices are typical ranges for the regular season.
Quick answer: 5-day Kerala trip cost for a family of 4
Includes taxi with driver, hotels, one houseboat night, food and sightseeing. Excludes flights or train tickets to Kochi.
The 5-day family itinerary we used
- Day 1: Kochi Airport → Munnar, with stops at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls on the way
- Day 2: Munnar sightseeing — Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Tea Museum, Echo Point
- Day 3: Munnar → Thekkady — spice plantation visit and an evening cultural show
- Day 4: Thekkady → Alleppey — board the houseboat at noon and stay overnight on the backwaters
- Day 5: Alleppey → Kochi Airport, with time for Fort Kochi or shopping if your flight is late
Our 4 Nights & 5 Days taxi package includes 500 km from airport to airport. In practice this route, with sightseeing, often comes to about 600 km, so plan for some extra kilometres (see below).
1. Taxi cost (same car and driver for all 5 days)
The taxi is the biggest fixed part of your Kerala trip cost. For a family of 4, a sedan is too small once you add luggage, so we recommend an Ertiga for budget trips or an Innova Crysta for more comfort and luggage space. Most of our families now choose the Crysta.
| Vehicle | 4N / 5D (500 km) | 5N / 6D (600 km) | 6N / 7D (700 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | ₹13,000 | ₹15,600 | ₹18,200 |
| Innova Crysta | ₹18,000 | ₹21,600 | ₹25,200 |
Extra kilometres are charged at ₹17/km (Sedan), ₹19/km (Ertiga) and ₹24/km (Crysta), counted from Cochin Airport back to Cochin Airport. Rates are valid until 31 March 2027, except on festival days. See our full Kerala taxi rates and Kerala taxi packages.
Why one car for the whole trip? Booking separate one-way taxis for each leg usually costs more, because every one-way driver has to return empty. We explain the maths in our Kochi Airport to Munnar taxi fare guide.
Plan for extra kilometres on every package. Each package price covers only the kilometres shown (500, 600 or 700 km). The real distance depends on your route and sightseeing, so most trips go a little over: a 5-day Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey trip often comes to around 600 km, and longer trips that add Kovalam, Varkala or Kanyakumari usually need extra kilometres too. Every 100 extra km costs about ₹1,900 in an Ertiga or ₹2,400 in a Crysta. Send us your route and we'll calculate the full kilometres and give you an all-inclusive estimate before you book.
2. Hotel cost (3 nights: 2 in Munnar, 1 in Thekkady)
The fourth night is on the houseboat, so you only need hotels for 3 nights. Typical prices for one family room per night in the regular season:
| Hotel type | Per night | 3 nights |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / basic hotel | ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 – ₹9,000 |
| Mid-range 3-star hotel | ₹3,000 – ₹4,000 | ₹9,000 – ₹12,000 |
| Premium 4-star resort | ₹5,500 – ₹8,000 | ₹16,500 – ₹24,000 |
Most Munnar and Thekkady hotels include breakfast. Families with two children often fit in one room with an extra bed, which keeps the cost down.
3. Houseboat cost (1 night in Alleppey)
An overnight houseboat is one of the best-value parts of a Kerala trip, because meals are included. Typical regular-season prices for a private boat:
| Houseboat type | Price per night (with meals) |
|---|---|
| Deluxe private (AC at night only) | ₹10,000 – ₹11,000 |
| Premium (AC all day) | ₹13,000 – ₹16,000 |
| Luxury | ₹24,000 – ₹30,000 |
What's included:
- Lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and breakfast, cooked on board
- A private boat with a crew of three: navigator, chef and guide
- AC bedroom (9 pm to 6 am on deluxe boats, all day on premium and luxury)
With two young children, a 1-bedroom boat is usually enough. With older children, choose a 2-bedroom boat. Read more on our Kerala houseboat page.
4. Food cost
Kerala food is good value. For a family of 4, excluding hotel breakfasts and houseboat meals:
- Budget (local restaurants, meals on banana leaf): about ₹1,500 per day
- Mid-range (good restaurants, hotel dinners): about ₹1,800 per day
- Premium (resort restaurants): about ₹2,200 per day
Don't miss a Kerala sadhya, karimeen pollichathu in Alleppey, and the fruit stalls on the Munnar road. Our guides to Kerala snacks and Kerala desserts have more ideas.
5. Entry fees and activities
Approximate fees for Indian visitors (they change from time to time, so check before you go):
- Eravikulam National Park, Munnar: around ₹200 per adult, less for children. Book online in the busy season. The park closes for a few weeks in February–March during the Nilgiri tahr calving season.
- Periyar Lake boating, Thekkady: around ₹255 per adult through the Forest Department, or about ₹450 through KTDC, plus a small entry and shuttle bus fee. You can book on the official Periyar Tiger Reserve website. The first boat in the morning and the last one in the afternoon are the most popular, so book early.
- Kathakali or Kalaripayattu show, Thekkady: a few hundred rupees per person
- Spice plantation tour, Kumily: a few hundred rupees per person
- Tea Museum and Mattupetty Dam, Munnar: small entry fees
For a family of 4, plan for ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 on entry fees and activities, depending on how many shows and extras you choose.
Full Kerala trip cost breakdown for a family of 4 (5 days, 4 nights)
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi with driver (5 days) | ₹13,000 (Ertiga) | ₹18,000 (Crysta) | ₹18,000 (Crysta) |
| Hotels (3 nights) | ₹7,500 | ₹10,500 | ₹19,500 |
| Houseboat (1 night, meals incl.) | ₹10,500 | ₹13,500 | ₹25,000 |
| Food | ₹7,500 | ₹9,000 | ₹11,000 |
| Entry fees & activities | ₹3,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Total | ₹41,500 | ₹54,500 | ₹78,500 |
That works out to roughly ₹10,500, ₹13,500 or ₹19,500 per person for the full trip. Taxi costs here are package prices for 500 km; add extra kilometres for your actual route (about ₹1,900–₹2,400 per 100 km).
How the Kerala trip cost changes with trip length
- 3 days (2 nights), Munnar only: Ertiga taxi ₹7,800 — roughly ₹20,000–₹25,000 in total on a budget
- 5 days (4 nights), Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey: as above
- 7 days (6 nights), adding Kovalam or Varkala: Ertiga taxi around ₹23,000 (the route is longer than 700 km) — roughly ₹60,000–₹65,000 in total on a budget
For every trip length, extra kilometres beyond the package limit are added at ₹19/km (Ertiga) or ₹24/km (Crysta), depending on your route. Not sure how long to stay? See how many days are enough for a Kerala tour.
When does a Kerala trip cost more?
- Christmas and New Year (20 Dec – 5 Jan): hotels and houseboats can cost much more, and festival-day taxi rates apply. Book early.
- Onam and long weekends: busy with domestic travellers, so prices rise.
- Monsoon (June to September): often the cheapest time, with discounts on resorts and houseboats — and Kerala is beautifully green. See the best time to visit Kerala.
6 ways to reduce your Kerala trip cost
- Keep one car and driver for the whole trip instead of booking a new taxi in each town.
- Travel between September and early December, or in February and March. Good weather, lower prices than Christmas week.
- Choose a clean budget hotel in Munnar. Ask us — we know good, family-friendly budget hotels that include breakfast.
- Let the houseboat cover a day of meals. Lunch, dinner and breakfast are included.
- Book Eravikulam and Periyar boating online to avoid long queues and wasted taxi time.
- Ask your driver where locals eat. You'll eat better and pay less.
More ideas: Kerala on a budget and budget travel tips for Kerala. Travelling with young children? Read our family-friendly guide to Kerala.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kerala trip cost for a family of 4 for 5 days?
Roughly ₹38,000–₹42,000 on a budget, ₹50,000–₹55,000 for a mid-range trip and around ₹70,000–₹80,000 for a premium trip, excluding flights.
Which car is best for a family of 4 in Kerala?
An Ertiga is the best value. An Innova Crysta gives more legroom and luggage space for long hill drives, and is the car most of our families choose.
What is the taxi cost for a 5-day Kerala trip?
With Kerala Taxis, a 4 Nights & 5 Days package (500 km) costs ₹13,000 in an Ertiga and ₹18,000 in an Innova Crysta (2026 rates). Extra kilometres beyond 500 km are charged at ₹19/km (Ertiga) or ₹24/km (Crysta) — most 5-day trips need around 100 extra km.
Is a houseboat worth it for a family?
Yes. Children love it, and since meals are included it is better value than it first looks. One night is enough for most families.
What is the cheapest time to visit Kerala with family?
The monsoon months (June to September) are usually the cheapest. Between October and March, avoid Christmas and New Year week if you want lower prices.
Does the taxi price include fuel and the driver's food?
Our package rates include the car, the driver and fuel for the kilometres in the package. Contact us for the full list of what is included and excluded.
Planning a Kerala trip with your family?
Tell us your dates and number of travellers, and we'll send you a clear, all-inclusive taxi quote — the easiest way to fix your Kerala trip cost before you travel. Kerala Taxis has been driving families around Kerala since 2010.
