Kerala has more than backwaters and houseboats. The places most people miss are up in the hills, on narrow roads that barely fit two cars, in villages that still feel like they belong to someone else's decade. Weekends and peak season months, December and January, turn even lesser-known spots into traffic jams. Go on a weekday if you can.
1. Vattavada
Vattavada is a village above Munnar at around 2,100 metres. Most people go for the strawberry farms and carrot fields. What does not get talked about enough is the road.
The drive from Munnar takes you through sharp switchbacks with Eravikulam National Park on one side and open valley drops on the other. Bikers say this road holds its own against Himalayan routes. Not because of altitude but because of the tightness of the turns. Round a corner on a clear morning and you have nothing but sky ahead and mist sitting low in the valley below. That is the moment.
Getting there: 40 km from Munnar town, 1.5 to 2 hours. Taxi runs approximately Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,900 one way depending on operator and vehicle type. No petrol pump on this route. Fill up in Munnar.
Stay: Several homestays operate in the village. Sahari Mariental Jungle Resorts and Wild Campers Cottages are in the Rs 1,750 to Rs 1,800 range. Nature Sign Vattavada starts around Rs 1,350. Prices fluctuate by season so confirm directly before booking.
Best time: October to February. Avoid June to August.
!Vattavada village above Munnar at 2,100 metres, Kerala
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2. Vagamon
Vagamon sits on the Idukki-Kottayam border at 1,100 metres. Lower than Munnar, greener, and far less visited. Rolling meadows, pine forests, a few rock formations that look placed deliberately. Para Valley, Thangal Para, the pine forest walk near town, these are slow morning activities. The light before 8 AM makes everything look like an older photograph.
Paragliding is available at approximately Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per person. Rock climbing at Thangal Para. Murugan Hill has a temple at the top with views across the meadows.
Getting there: 4 hours from Kochi, 3 hours from Kottayam. Taxi from Kottayam starts around Rs 3,300 one way.
Weekend warning: Heavy tourist traffic on weekends November to January. Go Monday to Thursday.
!Vagamon rolling meadows and pine forest at 1,100 metres, Kerala
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3. Suryanelli
Suryanelli is set up for adventure, not sightseeing. Eagle's Flight, one of India's longest ziplines, runs over a river gorge here. Weekday pricing runs around Rs 3,250 plus GST, weekends around Rs 3,750 plus GST. Beyond that: river camping at approximately Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500 per person with a minimum group of 8, kayaking on Periyar tributaries, and rappelling. The operators are local, the experience is functional rather than resort-polished.
Getting there: Day trip from Munnar. Limited accommodation on site, most people base in Munnar.
Signal: BSNL works in most spots. Jio and Airtel patchy beyond the main road.
!Suryanelli zipline and river adventure Kerala
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4. Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
Most people do the Munnar tea estates on the main road. Kolukkumalai is different. Sitting at around 7,900 feet above sea level, it is among the world's highest tea estates. The estate has a small factory where you can watch orthodox tea processing. No crowds, no souvenir shops, no tour buses. The jeep track up is steep enough that most regular cars cannot manage it.
Getting there: Shared jeeps depart from Suryanelli. Fare is approximately Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per jeep for 5 people. The drive from Munnar takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on road conditions.
Best time: October to May.
!Kolukkumalai tea estate among the world's highest, Kerala
If you are planning a road trip through these hills, our South India Motorcycle Tour covers the best routes through Kerala's high ranges.
5. Gavi
Gavi is inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, 55 km from Thekkady. No private vehicles allowed. You take a Kerala Forest Development Corporation jeep or trek in. The forest here is different from the Thekkady boat ride circuit. Denser, quieter, actual wildlife sightings possible. Gaur, sambar, elephants, sometimes Nilgiri tahr.
Entry at the forest check post at Vallakkadavu is Rs 25 per person, Rs 50 per vehicle, Rs 25 for a camera. Staying overnight at the basic KFDC eco-tourism camp changes the experience entirely. Early morning and late evening are when the forest is active.
Booking: Through the KFDC website or the Thekkady eco-tourism centre. Book weeks in advance for weekends.
Signal: No mobile network in Gavi.
!Gavi forest trail inside Periyar Tiger Reserve Thekkady
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6. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Most Kerala itineraries skip this entirely. Thattekad is in Ernakulam district on the banks of the Periyar river, about 50 km from Kochi, and has recorded over 300 bird species. The Sri Lanka Frogmouth, rare across India and a key draw for birders, is one of Thattekad's most sought-after sightings. Best visited at dawn with a local guide.
Entry is approximately Rs 20 to Rs 60 for Indians, Rs 200 for foreign visitors. Timings are generally 7 AM to 5 PM. No crowds even on weekends.
!Thattekad Bird Sanctuary on the Periyar river, 300 species recorded
7. Krishnapuram Palace and Kayamkulam
Alleppey for most visitors means houseboat. Two things nearby that most people skip entirely.
Krishnapuram Palace is a 200-year-old Kerala-style palace in Kayamkulam, 35 km south of Alleppey. It houses the Gajendramoksham mural, one of the largest in Kerala at around 154 square feet. Usually empty on weekday mornings.
Kayamkulam Lake next to the palace is a large backwater with almost no tourist infrastructure. Local fishermen go out in the early morning. If you want backwaters without a houseboat package and other tourists in frame, this is where to go.
Getting there: State buses run from Alleppey to Kayamkulam. Takes about 45 minutes.
!Krishnapuram Palace Kayamkulam Kerala, 200-year-old Kerala-style palace
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8. Pathiramanal Island
Most Alleppey houseboat routes do not stop here. Pathiramanal is a small island in Vembanad Lake accessible only by boat. It is a bird sanctuary with no permanent residents. Around 50 migratory species and 91 local species have been recorded here. Basic walking trails and a watchpost on the island.
Private boats from Alleppey can take you there. Best visited October to February during migration season. No food or water on the island. Carry your own.
!Pathiramanal Island in Vembanad Lake, Kerala bird sanctuary
See our Offbeat Kerala Tour for a group trip that includes lesser-known backwater routes like these.
9. Edava and Thiruvambadi Beach
Varkala's cliff beach is well known. Two km north, Edava and Thiruvambadi beaches are not. No restaurants, no guesthouses on the beach itself, no parasailing operators. The fishing community here still uses traditional catamaran boats. Thiruvambadi has a small Shiva temple on the beach that gets crowded one day a year for the temple festival and is empty the rest of the time.
Walk from Varkala cliff along the shore takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Do it at low tide.
!Edava Thiruvambadi beach north of Varkala, no tourist infrastructure
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10. Anjengo Fort
Anjengo is 20 km south of Varkala. It has one of the oldest British forts in Kerala, a lighthouse, and a Dutch cemetery nearby. The village around it is a working fishing village with almost no tourist infrastructure. The fort sits directly on the beach. Worth a half day if you are already in Varkala.
Getting there: State bus from Varkala or autorickshaw. Ask at Varkala cliff for current fares.
11. Ponmudi
Ponmudi is Kerala's least visited hill station. It sits at 1,100 metres, 61 km from Trivandrum, and the road up has 22 hairpin bends. The government-run KTDC resort at the top is functional and cheap. The surrounding forest has trekking routes through tea estates and a waterfall at Golden Valley. Most visitors are locals. Foreign tourists and Bangalore travelers almost never include this on a Kerala itinerary, which is exactly why it belongs on this list.
Getting there: State buses run from Trivandrum. Taxi is also an option. Ask at Trivandrum bus stand for current timings and fares.
!Ponmudi hill station Kerala, 22 hairpin bends from Trivandrum
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12. Neyyar Dam and Agasthya Peak Trek
Neyyar is 32 km from Trivandrum. The dam creates a large reservoir with the Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve on the western bank. The forest department runs a wildlife complex with a crocodile rehabilitation centre and deer park. Entry fees apply at the gate.
The trek to Agasthya Peak starts from here. It is a 2-day trek requiring a forest department permit and a guide. The peak is one of the highest points in the Western Ghats south of Munnar. Permits must be arranged through the forest department in advance and cannot be obtained on the spot.
Getting there: KSRTC buses from Trivandrum to Neyyar. Taxi also available from the city.
!Neyyar Dam and Agasthya Peak Trek, Western Ghats Kerala
Best overall time: October to February. November and December give you clear skies and waterfalls still running post-monsoon.
Avoid: Christmas week, New Year, and school holidays in April.
Mobile network: BSNL is the most reliable across hill regions and forest zones. Carry a BSNL SIM if you plan to go off the main roads.
ATMs: Kalpetta, Kottayam, Alleppey town, Varkala cliff, and Trivandrum have ATMs. Roads to waterfalls, forest zones, and small villages mostly do not. Carry cash.
Permits: Gavi, Agasthya Peak, and some Wayanad treks require forest department permits booked in advance. These cannot be obtained on the spot.
All prices listed are approximate and based on information available at the time of writing. Prices change frequently. Wildfloc does not guarantee the accuracy of any fare, entry fee, or activity cost mentioned here. Confirm directly with operators before booking.
Explore our Kerala group tours or contact us for custom Kerala itineraries built around offbeat destinations.
