Kerala India Travel – Tips to Plan Your Trip (Part 1)

These Kerala India Travel Tips should help you plan your trip to Kerala. Here are some commonly asked questions from first time visitors. Part 1 covers when to visit, and what to take and wear. Part 2 focuses on visas and whether it’s necessary to book in advance, while Part 3 discusses transport, money and malaria.

When is the best time to visit Kerala?
The best time to travel to Kerala is during the winter months (December – February), when the weather is hot, sunny and dry with average 30 degree celsius (86 F) temperatures. You’ll find the biggest crowds then though, especially from end December to mid January.

From March the temperature and humidity increases in the build up to the monsoon, which arrives with heavy rains in June.

It isn’t impossible to travel during the monsoon though – it doesn’t rain all day, and you’ll find lower prices and fewer crowds. This is considered the best time for Ayurvedic treatments, but not for beach holidays.

What should I take?
As little as possible, especially if you are travelling by public transport, which is very cheap but can be crowded. You’ll only need light cotton clothes for the warm weather, with a jumper for the cooler climate in the hills (such as around Munnar).

You can buy clothes very cheaply in India, and even have them custom made for you at reasonable prices.

Suncream is expensive so it’s best to bring your own. Locally made insect repellant (such as Odomos) is cheap and seems to work better than the foreign stuff. You can even pick up malaria pills such as the antibiotic doxycycline without a prescription at any pharmacy, and at much lower prices than abroad.

A small torch (flashlight) is a good idea as power cuts are quite common in India.

What should women wear?
All visitors, but particularly women should dress modestly when travelling in Kerala. It is fine to wear bikinis at the beach resorts, but away from there you must wear loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees to avoid stares and offence. On remote beaches and in backwater rivers it’s best to cover up to swim by wearing a tshirt and sarong or long shorts.

Men and women should both wear long trousers or skirts when visiting temples and churches.

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9 Responses to “Kerala India Travel – Tips to Plan Your Trip (Part 1)”

  1. jessimica says:

    Hi there,

    I’m looking into spending some time in Kerala at the beginning of April. What do you reckon the average temperature will be? And do you think we will be at risk of hitting-monsoon season?

    Cheers!

  2. Erin says:

    Hi,
    It will be hot- probably in the low 30s, but you can always escape to the hills (Munnar, Periyar, Wayanad etc) if it gets too hot for you. You may see some showers but it shouldn’t be too bad at that time, and it never rains all day. On the plus side there will be less crowds and you’ll get cheaper prices.
    Have a great trip, Erin

  3. Jack says:

    I will be including this to my listing of book marks.

  4. Erin says:

    Thanks Jack, glad you found it useful.

  5. ankur says:

    we are planing to visit kerala at the end of july,wil it be safer to travel in this season,will monsoon affect our holiday in such season?

  6. Erin says:

    It will be safe and although it will rain heavily if you are not going to the beaches it should be OK.

  7. Ritika says:

    HI, I am plaaning to visit Kerala with my family in oct last week for 6-7days.Please suggest suitable itenary so that we dont miss out anything in God own country :)

  8. sameep garg says:

    i will be visiting kerala from oct 28th to nov 3rd, i just want to know how will be weather there at this particular time,

  9. […] 10) Kerala India Travel – Tips to Plan your Trip Answers to commonly asked questions such as when to visit Kerala, what to take and what to wear. Part 2 of this guide covers visas and whether to book in advance, while Part 3 looks at transport, money and malaria. […]