10 OF THE BEST AUTHENTIC TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN KERALA

Of course Kerala is a place that thousands of people flock to each year in search of the well known lush green landscapes, flowing backwaters, beaches and hill stations. Travellers are not just keen to see existing attractions but also travel experiences that focus on immersion into local cultures and adding value to local communities. 

Here are a few things to think about when looking at authentic things to do in the state

• Delve into local culture and heritage – authentic tours and activities in Kerala will do a deep dive into traditional customs such as visiting temples, opting for Homestay accommodation.
• Communicating with locals – this is the best way to learn about particular insights of the way of life of those communities that live in Kerala, such as the fishing families of Marari Beach and the Alleppey backwaters.
• Off the beaten path locations – the aim of this is primarily to stay away from the touristy spots but also discover hidden gems in more visited locations like seeing more local scenes of Munnar or Fort Kochi.
• Responsible & sustainable tourism – preserving the local environment is a priority and travellers should not disrupt to make a negative impact on their livelihoods.

How to Find Authentic Tours and Activities in Kerala

From our experience, this takes some work in the travel planning stage but it can be extremely rewarding.

• Research local traditions and heritage – Online searches, books and documentaries can all help with demystifying the custom of Kerala. Hopefully this article can be a starting point.
• Connect with local communities, Tour operators and private guides – try to connect with local community initiatives, search for tour agencies that work with local communities and are based in Kerala or ones in your country of residence that may have a onground team in Kerala.

Be-lavie Tip: Where possible try and find a local guide in each destination who knows the area inside out. You can search for guides online or go through a local tour operator who use local guides. Our top recommendation for Fort Kochi is Mr Lalan, who can be contacted at lamonca201@yahoo.com. He is excellent at tailoring trips to lesser explored areas and activities based on your preferences. 

• Ask locals and others who have travelled to Kerala for their recommendations – Join facebook groups and forums where members have also lived and worked here or are natives.
• Opt for non-touristy activities – mix up the tourist sights with  visits to local markets, cultural shows, like the Kathakali dance performances and Kalari martial arts insights. Head to local festivals and partake in Onam if you are in Kerala in September. Find out what is on at your destination and try and experience if it it is possible and safe.
• Look at accommodation options – Kerala is full of great places to stay which are definitely a lot more authentic than staying at the usual international hotel chains. Explore homestays, guest houses, locally owned hotels , eco-lodges and resorts. Experiences are more immersive and staff are generally recruited from the local communities. 

Tips to Help Plan Things to Do in Kerala

• Customs – Try and make yourself aware of local customs and traditions. For example, in Kerala before entering someone’s house, you should take off your shoes at the front door. Also dress appropriately, Kerala is quite a conservative state don’t wear hot pants and string vests, cover shoulders and knees at temples. 

• Language – You can learn a few phrases in Malayalam (the local language of Kerala) which will impress the locals for sure. It also shows you have a genuine interest in their language and culture.

• Respectful – Take clothing which is suitable to wear to things like temples and places of culture and heritage to be respectful. Pack shawls, long skirts or dresses and trousers.

Related Article: A Guide on What to pack for Kerala

• Research – Communicate with the local Tourist Board. Kerala has a very good tourism board who have a great website packed full of lots of resources and suggestions. The have a priority to introduce a lot of sustainability in the state too as they have a dedicated programme to deliver on responsible tourism. 

Related Article: What Makes Kerala One of India’s Most Eco-Friendly States

10 Authentic Tours and Activities in Kerala: Things to Do

#1. Hire a Local Guide

This is the best advice we can give you for locating and taking part in authentic experiences in Kerala. Either go through a travel agency/tour operator or search on social media or online for private tour guides in whichever destinations in Kerala you are headed to. 

Make sure to read reviews and if you can get personal recommendations that’s even better. Guides who have lived their lives in a certain place will have the best knowledge of the hidden gems and local spots.

Our guide in Fort Kochi, Lalan was booked to give us a city tour but as well as the usual hotspots we asked if he could take us to some places where the locals hung out. Places like local factories and spice mills that are usually pretty difficult to  locate. He allowed us to have real interaction and conversations with locals who were working and allowed us to get an insight into their survival in this tourist hub of Kerala. 

This is truly something that meant so much and the photography that we were kindly allowed to capture is raw and real and what we remember about our 48 hours in Fort Kochi.

Contact Lalan: lalmonca207@yahoo.com

Related Article: How to spend 48 Hours in Fort Kochi

#2. Attend a Cultural show in either Kochi or Thekkady 

Although you will see many tourists at the Kathakali and Kalari shows, traditional Keralan dance form and Keralan ancient martial arts respectively. These are great for supporting the local economy. They are a big part of the culture in Kerala and each show has a commentary that explains what is happening.

Be-lavie Tip: A great tip is to go to the Kathakali show early and get an insight into how the a makeup application process is done. The dancers apply their own makeup on the stage. Ask if you can arrive an hour early to watch this.

Try to go to Kathakali and Kalari shows at the cultural centres which also teach about the local customs. There are a number of them in Fort Kochi but the Mudra Centre in Thekkady is the one we visited.

Related Article: The Best Things to do in Thekkady: A Travel Guide

#3. Experience a Keralan Cookery Class

 Cookery classes are such a great activity. They allow you to work with a local chef or host and try making traditional Keralan dishes. There are lots of experiences you can book via tour operators as well as many homestays that run classes for 2-3 hours on  daily basis. All dietary requirements will be noted at the time of booking to ensure that menus are suitable.

A great one we can recommend in Fort Kochi is Sheba’s Homestay. As well as running her Homestay, Sheba is one of the most patient and accomplished cooks. We spent three hours with her as she taught us all bout Keralan food, we could participate as much or as little as we wanted and afterwards we could enjoy the food for lunch. 

The experience felt very authentic as we were in her kitchen where she cooks daily, the techniques that she has learnt from her family.

• Contact via telephone: +91 0378 90621
• Find it Here: Map Location

Recommended cookery classes & food tours in locations across Kerala

#4 Canoeing on the Kerala Backwaters

If you would like to experience the Alleppey backwaters in a more authentic, as well as sustainable way, why not try a full or half day canoeing tour of the area. Its quite a personal experience and you also get to see more of the local community and initiatives as well as livelihoods around the area.

You can also stay in a Homestay on the backwaters, which will allow you to walk through the side walks along the canals and get a real taste for local life here and the fishing community.

Additionally look for sustainable houseboat companies for an unforgettable overnight cruise of the Kerala backwaters. 

The backwaters are a wonderful place to discover nature and a variety of wildlife such as birds at the Kumarakom bird sanctuary.

Canoe, Kayaking and Shikara Rides in the Kerala Backwaters

Related Article: Cruising the Kerala backwaters on a houseboat + sustainability 

#5. Dosa and Idli for Breakfast

If you don’t get to try Dosa and Idli for breakfast then have you even been to Kerala? A dosa is a paper thin, savoury crepe or pancake made from a fermented batter of ground white gram and rice. Dosas are served hot, often with chutney and sambar, a is a lentil-based vegetable stew, cooked with pigeon pea and tamarind broth. 

Idli is a type of spongy round savoury cake made from rice flour also served with sambar. 

These are must try foods and if you can’t get them at your hotel for breakfast, then head to a local restaurants. They are delicious. 

#6. Watch a Snake Boat Race

It is quite an honour to watch the snake boat race, also known as the Vallam Kali. It usually occurs in the monsoon season or close to Onam in the months of August/September. The snake boat race originated in Alleppey and if you spend time on the backwaters, you will most probably see teams of men practicing early morning on the wider backwaters.

Around a hundred men will pull their oars in perfect synchronisation with the beat of drums as hundreds of thousands of spectators line the banks of the Alleppey backwaters to watch.

With the Snake boat races, each team has 110 players. The wooden boats they row are nearly 140 ft (42.6m) long with the stern rising 15 ft above the surface of the water. Each race has at least 20 teams. Those who are watching the race, will end up seeing 2,200 players competing at the same time.

#7. Visit a Local Temple

Hinduism is still the predominant religion of Kerala, followed by Christianity and Islam, so there  are many temples that you can visit in Kerala. You may well attend some as part of a heritage and culture tour with local guides. 

If you do plan to visit one solo, please bear in mind to respect the local culture and dress modesty. Wear trousers, long dress or skirt and be sure to cover arms with a shawl if you have a vest on. Always take your shoes off outside as a sign of respect and don’t disturb the priests and the other members of the congregation who are praying. Be discrete and observe from a distance. Try and leave a donation which is often used for the up keep of the temples.

 #8 Take a Full Day or Half Day Tour to Visit Back2Village in Viakom

This truly is one of the best local tours that there is and definitely worth experiencing.

This is best booked from Kochi or the Alleppey area. Back2Village is an initiative that has brought together, people from different walks of life for achieving one common goal, ‘addition to the quality of life of rural people, especially farmers, through integrated ways of farming’. The initiative had taken shape with the view to achieving overall rural development by making the villages prosperous and self reliant.

This initiative was set up by Mr. Suresh, one of the pioneer tour co-ordinators in Kerala since 1997, and has been helping visitors discover a more authentic experience in Kerala. 

Back 2 village run a number of tours but we opted for the half day village tours which commences with a welcome drink at Mr Suresh’s house where you can meet his family. Next we boarded a small shikha or canoe style boat and glided through the narrow deserted canals of the area and watched as the locals went about their daily business. There is quite a lot of wildlife to spot along this route also.

After floating through the small canals you arrive at the local villages where you can see how the locals live and how they earn a living. These are not staged activities, they are real jobs and the villagers do them in between household chores and tending to other responsibilities. 

Village activities include: Coir Making, Straw Mat Weaving, Copra Processing as well as arrowroot powder making.

After spending time with the locals getting a glimpse of their trades, you head back to the main house house. Here Suresh showed us around his herbal and spices garden where he has more than 50 species of plants. Many are used in Ayurvedic medicine. You get the opportunity to see Papaya, Ginger, Turmeric, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Jackfruits, Mango, Pineapple, Basil, Giant Milkweed, Wild Kurkuma, Worm killer, Scarier, Dhurb grass, Kaemferia, Spreading Hogweed, Mimosa etc.

We ended the experience with a traditional Keralan vegetarian lunch which is served at weddings as well as the festival of Onam. Lunch concludes the trip. 

Mr Suresh also runs a homestay at his house as well as a number of other tours.

Booking: Back 2 Village website

#9. Take a 4WD Jeep Ride in Eravikulam National Park 

It is possible to see a lot of Munnar in a car but the way to get to the lush green jungle, access the stunning views, spot wildlife and see sites like the Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point are by taking a 4WD jeep, its possible to reach the more remote spots like tea plantations and small farms.

It is a bit of a thrilling ride on the bumpy roads in Munnar but it is definitely a lot of fun and a great way to see the area from a different perspective.

We booked our trip through Idukki Riders Jeep Tours located in Chithirapuram, Idukki and can be contacted via their numbers 9496822212 or 9847843533. It’s best to book these once you are in Kerala, or even Munnar – best done from your accommodation so you don’t incur call charges. 

Highly recommended 4WD jeep Safari in the Munnar Mountains

Related Article: A 3 Day Guide to Things To Do In Munnar

#10. Stay in an Eco-resort, Homestay or Tree house

Staying in an eco-friendly hotel or lodge is a wonderful experience in Kerala, But staying in a tree house in the Munnar hills is incredible. You will be literally in line with nature and this is one memorable experiences. Eco-resorts work closely with the local communities and allow guests to partake in many activities to ensure that they  are supported. We stayed at Nature Zone Tree House Jungle Resort, Munnar.

It’s easy to see why Nature Zone Jungle Resoort is one of Kerala’s most sustainable places to stay. It’s  location is 5,700 feet above sea level. Elephants are often seen on the narrow winding roads leading up to the property together with wild boar. 

Guests can opt for safari style tents of tree houses and we’d definitely recommend these, and it does feel like you’re there amongst the clouds. There are only 15 residences at the resort in total.

There is a dining area where food is served at breakfast and dinner, these are on a buffet style basis and food is only replenished as and when required. 

Nature Zone is a very special location and has 180 and 360 degree views over Munnar – it’s a beautiful view once the mist lifts.

Activities at Nature Zone Jungle resort include jungle trekking, lush tea plantation walks, hiking to the Pulippara view point, bird watching, sunrise and sunset viewpoints as well as plantation viewpoints. There’s even a view of the city lights beneath in Munnar. 

Nature Zone Jungle resort’s remote location, is only accessible by private jeep and takes around 30 minutes from  a specified pick up and drop off point in Munnar.Resort Rating: three Star Tree Houses and safari tents.

• Details: Check-in time: 12:00. Check-out time: 11:00.
• Booking Packages Includes: Breakfast and dinner are all included due to the remote location of the resort.
• Perfect For: Couples, Solo travellers, families who may prefer safari tents if they have babies.

• Location: Pulippara, Near KSRTC Bus Stand, Nullatanni, Munnar, Kerala 685612 I Tel, +91 9745433330. Map Location 

Related Article: Eco-friendly Hotels in Kerala & Their Sustainability Practices

Authentic Activities In Kerala FAQs

Are guided Tours Authentic Experiences?

Yes especially if they have a strong focus on showing travellers local culture and traditions. Look out for one which take you to hidden gems and lesser known parts of Kerala.

What are budget friendly authentic travel experiences in Kerala?

They would include staying in budget friendly guesthouses, hostels as well as homestays. You could also check out the street food scene, visit places that are virtually free, like temples, 

How safe is it to go and explore off the beaten path locations in Kerala?

The key here is to do your research and get advice. Make sure you have travel insurance but primarily never put yourself at risk, safety is paramount and you must be aware of local customs. If in doubt. Always take a guide from a tour operator with you to help with communication as well as local knowledge.

What is the best way to support local communities in Kerala?

Pick locally owned hotels, guesthouses, homestays and hostels as well as restaurants and tour companies in Kerala. 

When visiting markets and local stalls purchase artisan or locally made products to pour money back into the local community.

Is it possible to have authentic travel experiences even in the more touristy parts of  Kerala?

Absolutely yes, Even in the more tourist spots like Munnar, there are lesser known areas and activities which your guides would have great knowledge and insight about. 

How much should you budget for tours and tourist attractions in Kerala?

Many tours such as jeep safaris and cultural shows are prices at around 200 INR per person. Plan out all your activities in advance to help with budget

Authentic Tours & Activities in Kerala Round-Up

This article serves as a useful resource to aid with choosing authentic things to do in Kerala. The take aways are to engage with locals, communities as well as tour operators and guides. Local guides have a wealth of knowledge and are very familiar with the lay of their land. 

Travellers should do their research before heading to Kerala and have as many things booked in advance as possible to avoid disappointment in terms of accommodation and tours. Kerala’s government puts a huge amount of effort into promoting eco-friendly and sustainable tourism which is one of the reasons that it is one of India’s most eco-friendly states.  

Related Articles

• How To Plan The Best 10 day Kerala Itinerary
• Beautiful Eco-friendly Hotels in Kerala & Their Sustainability Practices
• What Makes Kerala One of India’s Most Eco-Friendly States
• How to spend 48 Hours in Fort Kochi
• A 3 Day Guide to Things To Do In Munnar
• The Best Things to do in Thekkady: A Travel Guide
• Cruise the Kerala Backwaters on a Houseboat + sustainability tips
• A guide to the best things to do on beautiful Marari Beach  
• A Guide on What to pack for Kerala 

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