Munnar day trip from Kochi: Tea plantations and waterfalls

The drive itself is half the tour: three waterfalls appear before you reach the hills.

A full-day tour from Kochi to Munnar in the Western Ghats, traveling by private car with a driver-guide and stopping at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls on the way up. You'll walk through tea plantations, visit the Munnar Tea Museum to learn how tea is made and buy fresh leaves, see the KFDC Flower Garden, take a boat on Mattupetty Dam, and return via the old British church in Munnar town. The tour runs 10 to 13 hours and includes pickup from your Kochi hotel, Indian Kerala breakfast and bottled water. Entry fees to the spice garden and flower garden are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day trip from Cochin to Munnar

• Pick up from Cochin
• Explore waterfall on the way
• Pass old famous bridge
• Visit Valara waterfall
• View tea gardens in Munnar
• Tour description by Munnar info
• Visit tea museum and buy tea
• Pass tea plantation view to Top Station
• Visit flower garden
• Boating and view at Mattupetty Dam
• Visit old British church

The experience

The route from Kochi climbs into the hills of Munnar, a region that sits between 1500 and 2695 meters above sea level. Your driver-guide picks you up from your hotel in Kochi and the journey itself becomes the first part of the experience: you'll stop at Neryamanagalam forest view, then at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, both on the approach road before you reach Munnar proper. This means the waterfalls come early, not as an afterthought at the end of a long drive.

Once in Munnar, the tour centers on the tea estates and what grows there. You walk through the plantations to see how the landscape is shaped by cultivation, visit the Munnar Tea Museum where staff show you how tea is processed and you can buy fresh leaves directly, and stop at a photo point with a view across the planted slopes. The KFDC Flower Garden is a separate stop. Entry is not included but costs 50 rupees per person. A handmade paper and linen workshop called Srishti, run by people from the local community, is also on the itinerary if you want to see the work. Mattupetty Dam, the largest named stop, includes a short boat ride on the water.

The return to Kochi passes through Munnar's old market and a British-era church before the long descent back to the coast. You'll have Kerala breakfast early in the day and bottled water throughout. Lunch is not included. The tour works with three vehicle options (a Toyota Innova, a 5-seater car, or a sedan) all private to your group, and your guide speaks English and can answer questions about the region as you travel.

What’s included

• Private transportation in your choice of vehicle.
• pickup from your Kochi hotel.
• a driver-guide who speaks English.
• Indian Kerala breakfast.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• stops at Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, tea plantation views, the Munnar Tea Museum with fresh tea available to buy, Mattupetty Dam with a short boat ride, the KFDC Flower Garden, and the old British church in Munnar town on the return.

Options for this experience

3 options

With sedan carsUp to 2 people · Guide in English · 06:00, 06:15 and 06:30Good sedan

With 5 SeaterUp to 4 people · Guide in English · 06:00, 06:15 and 06:30Marathi Ertica

With Toyota innovaUp to 6 people · Guide in English · 06:00, 06:15, 06:30 and 07:00Toyota Innova; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 06:15, 06:30 and 07:00

Book up toStart time

GroupUp to 25 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 8.43

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Munnar Info

Is this one for you?Choose the vehicle size that fits your group (the Innova seats more passengers with luggage, while the 5-seater and sedan work for smaller parties), so you travel comfortably without paying for empty seats. The private transport means you set the pace at each stop and don't wait for other groups to board.

Traveler reviews

4.73★★★★★★★★★★

60 verified traveler reviews

5 ★47

4 ★10

3 ★3

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What are the waterfalls like on this Munnar day trip from Kochi?

Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls both sit on the road between Kochi and Munnar, so you stop at them early in the journey before reaching the hills. They are part of the climb up, not a separate detour, which means you see them while you still have energy for the rest of the day.

Can I buy tea at the Munnar Tea Museum?

Yes. The museum shows you how tea is made and processed, and you can buy fresh tea leaves directly there to take home.

Is lunch included in this day trip?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Kerala breakfast is provided early in the day, and bottled water is available throughout, but you'll need to arrange or purchase lunch separately in Munnar.

What vehicle will I travel in?

You choose at checkout: a Toyota Innova, a 5-seater car, or a sedan. All are private to your group and include your driver-guide for the full day.

How long does the whole day take?

The tour runs between 10 and 13 hours from pickup at your Kochi hotel to return, depending on how long you spend at each stop and traffic on the mountain roads.

Do I need to pay extra for any of the attractions?

Entry to the homemade spices garden costs 100 rupees and is not included. The KFDC Flower Garden costs 50 rupees per person and is also separate. All other stops (the waterfalls, tea plantations, museum, dam and church) are included.