Kerala in December is beautiful, and everyone knows it. The usual Munnar, Alleppey and Kovalam circuit fills up fast, and it can feel more like a checklist than a holiday. The good news is that the crowds stick to a handful of places. Move one valley over, start your day earlier, or pick a village instead of a resort town, and Kerala in December gets quiet again. These are the places to visit in Kerala in December that we would pick ourselves.
For a quieter December in Kerala, look at Maravanthuruthu, Vagamon and Uluppuni, Calvary Mount in Idukki, Ramakkalmedu, Kolukkumalai, Munroe Island, Kumbalangi, Marari, Ranipuram, Valiyaparamba, Nelliyampathy and Thenmala.
None of these are empty. December is peak season across the whole state. But they give you a slower day than the headline circuit, especially on weekdays and before 9 AM.
The first five are the stops on our own Offbeat Kerala route. The rest are worth knowing if you are planning a longer trip or a different part of the state.
| Trip detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Weather | December to February are Kerala's cooler, more pleasant months. The coast stays warm and humid. The hills get properly cold at night. |
| Crowds | Highest in the year, peaking around Christmas and New Year week |
| Ideal trip length | 6 to 7 days for one region. 10 to 14 days if you want both north and south Kerala |
| Best for | Village canals, ridge walks, tea hills, quiet beaches, birding, Theyyam |
| Main gateways | Kochi for central Kerala and the hills, Thiruvananthapuram for the south, Kozhikode or Kannur for the north |
| Pack | Cotton for the coast, a warm layer for the hills, mosquito repellent, a light rain layer |
December comes after Kerala's two monsoon periods, so most days are dry and clear. Short showers can still happen. For a month by month view of the whole state, see our guide on the best time to visit Kerala.
This is the route our Offbeat Kerala Tour follows: seven days from Kochi, through the canals near Kumarakom, up into Vagamon and Idukki, and over to the tea country near Suryanelli. It avoids the busiest stretches of Munnar and Alleppey on purpose, while still giving you backwaters, hills and tea.
1. Maravanthuruthu, near Vembanad Lake
Most people see Kerala's backwaters from a large houseboat on the main Alleppey channels. Maravanthuruthu, near Vembanad Lake, is the other version. Narrow village canals, small boats, coconut palms close enough to touch, and families going about their day along the banks.
Go by kayak or country boat with a local guide, eat a simple village meal or snack, and finish with sunset over Vembanad Lake.
Crowd smart tip: Do the canals in the late morning or around sunset. The light is softer and the water is calmer.
2. Vagamon and Uluppuni
Vagamon is the hill station people pick when they want Munnar's green without Munnar's traffic. Pine slopes, tea, open meadows and long ridgelines.
Uluppuni is the part most visitors never reach. It is a ridge near Vagamon, usually reached by local jeep, with views over the Kulamavu reservoir. On a clear December morning, a ridge walk here with breakfast packed for the top is the quietest start to a day you will find in central Kerala. Kurisumala and Thangalpara are close by for the afternoon.
Crowd smart tip: Stay two nights. Day trippers come and go by lunch, and Vagamon is at its best early and late.
3. Calvary Mount, Idukki
Idukki is where the hills, the forest and the big reservoirs meet. Calvary Mount is a ridge with long views over the Idukki reservoir, best in the late afternoon when the water catches the light.
Pair it with stops at Cheruthoni and the Idukki Dam viewpoints on the way in. Walking on the dam itself is only allowed during officially notified periods, so do not plan your day around it.
Crowd smart tip: Stay the night at Calvary Mount instead of passing through. Evenings here are quiet.
4. Ramakkalmedu and the spice country
The drive from Idukki towards Suryanelli runs through Kattappana's spice country, with cardamom and pepper growing on the slopes. Cross the Ayyappan Kovil hanging bridge near Mattukatta, stop at a family spice farm, then walk the Ramakkalmedu ridge. Ramakkalmedu is known for its powerful winds, the Kuravan Kurathi statue and sweeping views across the Tamil Nadu plains.
Crowd smart tip: Spice farm visits work best when arranged in advance with the family who runs it. Walking in unannounced is not the same experience.
5. Kolukkumalai, near Suryanelli
If you want tea country without Munnar's crowds, this is the one. Kolukkumalai is reached by an early jeep ride from Suryanelli, and the reason to go is the sunrise over the tea rows and the clouds sitting below you.
Walk through the estate after sunrise and be back in Suryanelli for breakfast. The tea factory visit is separate from the estate and depends on the factory's production schedule and weekly closing day. On the way out towards Kochi, stop at Gap Road for the view down the valley.
Crowd smart tip: The jeep ride starts well before dawn. It is worth it.
The route ends in Fort Kochi with a dawn walk past the Chinese fishing nets and through Mattancherry's spice warehouses, before most visitors are out.
Activities on this route are planned for December, but each one is subject to weather, trail and water conditions, local permissions and operator availability.
If you have more time, or you are planning a different part of the state, these are the best places to visit in Kerala in December beyond our route.
6. Munroe Island, Kollam
Munroe Island is a cluster of eight islands where Ashtamudi Lake meets the Kallada River. The thing to do here is a small canoe through narrow canals, not a big houseboat. It is about 27 km from Kollam, and Munroe Island railway station is around 3 km from the canals.
Tip: Book an early canoe and pick an operator who keeps it quiet. These are people's homes.
7. Kumbalangi, near Kochi
About 15 km from Kochi, Kumbalangi is a backwater village known as one of India's first ecotourism villages. Mangroves, Chinese fishing nets, canoe rides and seafood cooked in someone's home.
Tip: Stay overnight. Day visitors leave by evening and the village slows right down.
8. Marari, Alappuzha
Marari is the beach for people who do not want a beach strip. Fishing village, palms, long walks, and no row of shacks and water sports. That absence is the whole point.
Tip: Walk at sunrise. Swim only when local conditions are safe; currents change even when the sea looks calm.
9. Ranipuram, Kasaragod
Up near the Karnataka border, Ranipuram is a grassland and forest hill at about 750 metres. The walk to the top is roughly 2.5 km each way, through shola forest to open ridges. It is about 43 km from Kanhangad, with buses to Panathady and a jeep for the last stretch.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning and give the ridge time. Visibility changes fast.
10. Valiyaparamba backwaters and Theyyam country
Valiyaparamba, in Kasaragod, is the coconut and canal Kerala people picture, but in the far north and far less commercial. Four rivers feed it, and cruises pass fishing settlements and arecanut groves. Kottappuram near Nileshwaram is the easiest starting point.
December is also the start of Theyyam season in Kannur and Kasaragod, with performances running roughly December to April. Theyyam is a sacred ritual at local shrines, not a show. Dates follow the Malayalam calendar and local custom, so confirm with a local host or the shrine a day or two before. Dress modestly, never use flash without permission, and remember that worshippers come first.
11. Nelliyampathy, Palakkad
For plantation hills without Munnar, try Nelliyampathy. Orange, cardamom, coffee and tea plantations, and a road that climbs through 23 hairpin bends to get there. Stop at Pothundy Dam on the way up.
Tip: Drive in daylight only and check road conditions before you go up.
12. Thenmala, Kollam
Thenmala is a forest and reservoir stop east of Kollam, known as India's first planned ecotourism destination and a gateway to Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. Official nature walks run seasonally from October to May, so December works well. It is about 66 km from Kollam.
Tip: Contact the ecotourism office before you go. Timings and access can change.
For more places like these across the year, see our list of offbeat places in Kerala.
| If you want | Choose | Allow |
|---|---|---|
| Village canals, ridges and tea hills in one trip | Maravanthuruthu, Vagamon, Idukki, Kolukkumalai | 7 days |
| Backwaters without the houseboat crowd | Munroe Island, Kumbalangi | 2 to 3 days |
| A quiet beach | Marari | 2 days |
| Hills and Theyyam in the north | Ranipuram, Valiyaparamba, Nileshwaram | 4 to 5 days |
| Plantation hills away from Munnar | Nelliyampathy | 2 to 3 days |
| Forest walks in the south | Thenmala, Munroe Island | 3 to 4 days |
The quietest Kerala in December is not about finding a place nobody has heard of. It is about picking the right valley, staying the night where others day trip, and being out early.
If you want this done for you, our Offbeat Kerala Tour runs the canals to tea route above in seven days, with a local Malayali guide the whole way. Planning to travel in December? The seven day route is fixed and shared by the group. Departure dates are not listed on the trip page yet, so message us on WhatsApp at +91 8867269090 to check December availability.