Kerala in December: Christmas, New Year, Weather & 6-Day Itinerary

Quick answer: December is one of the best months to visit Kerala. The monsoon is over, hill stations like Munnar are cool and green, the backwaters are calm, and Fort Kochi celebrates New Year with the Cochin Carnival. It is also peak season, so book houseboats, stays and transport early. Five to six days is enough for Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey and Varkala.

If you want to end the year somewhere warm, green and relaxed, Kerala is hard to beat. In December, mist drifts over the tea estates of Munnar in the morning, houseboats glide through the backwaters of Alleppey under clear skies, and the cliffs of Varkala glow orange at sunset. Christmas is celebrated with real warmth across the state, and Fort Kochi welcomes the New Year with one of the most colourful street festivals in South India.

This guide covers the weather, where to go, how to celebrate Christmas and New Year, a six-day route, costs, booking tips and what to pack.

Kerala weather in December

December falls just after the north-east monsoon, so the landscape is at its greenest while rain is usually light and short. The coast and the backwaters are warm and pleasant in the day, with cooler evenings. Munnar and Thekkady, in the Western Ghats, are noticeably colder, especially early in the morning and at night, so carry a jacket and a warm layer. Humidity on the coast is lower than in summer, which makes long days of sightseeing much easier.

Where to go in Kerala in December

Munnar: tea gardens and cool hills

Munnar sits high in the Western Ghats, surrounded by rolling tea estates. Visit Eravikulam National Park for a chance to see the endangered Nilgiri tahr, though note that the park usually closes for a few weeks in February and March for the calving season. Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point and Top Station are classic viewpoints, and the tea museum explains how leaves become tea. December mornings are often misty, so the views are best by late morning.

Thekkady: spice plantations and Periyar

Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar Tiger Reserve. The boat ride on Periyar Lake is the most popular activity, with chances to spot elephants, bison and birds along the banks. Guided nature walks, bamboo rafting and spice plantation tours, where you see cardamom, pepper and cinnamon growing, round off a day here. Kathakali and Kalaripayattu shows in the evening are a great introduction to Kerala's performing arts.

Alleppey: houseboats on the backwaters

No Kerala trip is complete without the backwaters. In Alleppey, also called Alappuzha, traditional kettuvallam houseboats cruise through narrow canals, past paddy fields, coconut groves and village life. An overnight houseboat with meals cooked on board is the classic experience, while a day cruise or a shikara ride works on a tighter budget. December is peak season, so this is the one thing you must book early.

Varkala: cliffs and sunsets

Varkala is unusual for India: a beach backed by tall red laterite cliffs. Cafes and small shops line the cliff path, and the sunset from the North Cliff is the highlight of the day. The Janardhana Swamy Temple, around 2,000 years old by tradition, draws pilgrims, and Papanasam Beach below the cliff is considered holy. It is a calmer, younger alternative to Goa for the New Year.

Fort Kochi: Christmas and New Year

Fort Kochi is the most festive place in Kerala at the end of the year. Its old churches, including St. Francis Church and Santa Cruz Basilica, hold Christmas services, and the streets fill with stars and lights. The Cochin Carnival runs in the last week of December and ends on New Year's Eve with the burning of the Pappanji, a giant effigy of an old man, on the beach at midnight. It is a huge, joyful crowd, so plan transport and stays well in advance.

Beyond the festival, Fort Kochi is lovely for walking: the Chinese fishing nets at the waterfront, Jew Town and the Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, art cafes and old Dutch and Portuguese buildings.

How to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Kerala

For Christmas, Fort Kochi and the old churches of central Kerala give the most traditional experience: midnight mass, carol groups and homes decorated with paper stars. Try plum cake from a local bakery, and appam with stew, the classic Kerala Christmas breakfast.

For New Year, choose your mood. Fort Kochi offers the big carnival and the Pappanji at midnight. Varkala has cliff-top cafes, music and a younger crowd. An Alleppey houseboat gives you a quiet, private night on the backwaters. Munnar suits travellers who want a cosy stay in the hills with a bonfire.

Sample 6-day Kerala itinerary for December

1. Day 1, Kochi to Munnar: Arrive at Kochi and drive to Munnar, stopping at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls. Evening at leisure.

2. Day 2, Munnar: Eravikulam National Park, tea museum, Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point.

3. Day 3, Munnar to Thekkady: Drive through spice country. Spice plantation tour and an evening cultural show.

4. Day 4, Thekkady to Alleppey: Morning Periyar boat ride or nature walk, then drive to Alleppey and board a houseboat.

5. Day 5, Alleppey to Varkala: Wake up on the backwaters, then drive to Varkala for sunset on the cliff.

6. Day 6, Varkala to Trivandrum or Kochi: A slow morning on the beach, then depart.

If you are in Kerala for New Year's Eve, rearrange the route so that you end in Fort Kochi on 31 December, or stay in Varkala or on a houseboat that night.

What to eat in Kerala in December

Kerala food is reason enough to visit. On the coast, try karimeen pollichathu, pearl spot fish cooked in banana leaf, along with prawn and fish curries in coconut and kokum. In Kochi and central Kerala, appam with vegetable or chicken stew and puttu with kadala curry are everyday breakfasts. Vegetarians are well looked after too: a traditional sadya, served on a banana leaf with a dozen dishes, rice and payasam, is a meal you will remember.

Christmas brings its own treats. Bakeries across the state sell plum cake and rich fruit cake through December, and many homes make wine and special rice dishes for the season. In the hills, end the day with hot tea or coffee grown just outside your window. Food on houseboats is cooked fresh on board, so tell the crew in advance if you prefer vegetarian or less spicy meals.

How to reach Kerala

Kochi (Cochin International Airport) is the most convenient entry point for Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey, with direct flights from most major Indian cities. Thiruvananthapuram is closer to Varkala and Kovalam. Ernakulam Junction and Thiruvananthapuram Central are the main railway stations. From Indore, travellers usually fly via Mumbai, Bengaluru or Delhi, or take a long-distance train to Ernakulam. Inside Kerala, a private cab or tempo traveller is the most comfortable way to cover the hill and backwater route.

Kerala trip cost in December

December prices are higher than the rest of the year, especially for houseboats, hill resorts and anything in Fort Kochi around New Year. Your main costs are flights or trains to Kerala, stays, the houseboat and a cab for the route. Booking two to three months ahead makes a big difference. A group trip spreads transport costs across travellers and keeps the budget predictable: TravelTech's Kerala Backpacking NY & Xmas Edition starts from ₹16,500 and the Kerala Backpacking: Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Varkala starts from ₹16,999. Check the trip pages for current inclusions and dates.

Booking tips for peak season

Book your houseboat first, then build the rest of the route around that date. Ask whether the houseboat is air-conditioned at night only or all day, how many bedrooms it has and whether meals are included. In Munnar, choose a stay with heating or good blankets, as nights are cold. For New Year's Eve in Fort Kochi, stay within walking distance of the beach, since roads close and taxis are scarce close to midnight. Keep a buffer day if you are flying in, because December fog in north India can delay connecting flights.

What to pack

• Light cotton clothes for the coast and backwaters.

• A warm jacket or fleece for Munnar and Thekkady mornings.

• A light rain jacket or umbrella for the odd shower.

• Comfortable walking shoes and sandals.

• Sunscreen, a cap and insect repellent for the backwaters.

• Modest clothing for temples and churches.

Kerala for couples, friends and solo travellers

Kerala works for almost every kind of traveller. Couples love the houseboats and quiet hill resorts, and many choose it for a winter honeymoon. Friends enjoy the mix of hills, wildlife, backwaters and beach in one trip. Solo travellers find Kerala safe and well connected, and a group trip adds company, pre-booked stays and a captain who handles the logistics. For more planning help, read our Kerala travel guide, Kerala trip from Indore and places to visit in December.

Plan your Kerala trip with TravelTech

If you would rather travel with a group of like-minded people, look at the Kerala Backpacking NY & Xmas Edition (from ₹16,500), the Kerala Backpacking: Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Varkala (from ₹16,999) or the shorter Kerala Munnar & Alleppey Trip (from ₹12,499).

TravelTech also plans customised private trips, including honeymoon packages with houseboat stays. Browse all tour packages or share your dates for a custom plan.