Kerala Tour Packages from Bangalore
Drive to Wayanad by lunch, ride the day train to Ernakulam or hop an hour from Kempegowda – Kerala trips for Bengaluru families and long-weekend planners, private from start to finish.
Bangalore is the one big Indian city from which Kerala is a road trip. Wayanad's forests and coffee estates start about 280 km away through Mysuru, so a family leaving the city at dawn on a Friday can be at a plantation stay by lunchtime. Kochi and the backwaters are further – a long day's drive or a daytime train across the Palakkad Gap – and for them a one-hour flight from Kempegowda International Airport usually wins. Because every mode works, the real question for Bengaluru travellers is which mix suits the number of days they have.
This page answers that. It covers indicative package costs (including road-trip versions), the flight, train, bus and road options with a distance table, the two driving corridors into Kerala and the Bandipur night closure, three itineraries that start in Bangalore – a Wayanad-first loop among them – a long-weekend calendar for Karnataka, a month-by-month table that includes road conditions, and food notes. Vibrant Holidays plans every trip from our office in Ahmedabad and books it on WhatsApp or phone; we have no Bangalore office. Trips are private, with your own car and driver, and the packages below carry live prices.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
Kerala packages you can book now
Our latest Kerala packages on Vibrant Holidays — 3 to 13 nights. Every package can be customised for departure from Bangalore.
Kerala package prices for Bengaluru travellers (2026)
We have 24 Kerala packages on sale, the lowest at ₹15,500 per person. The grid gives indicative per-person ranges on twin sharing for hotels or plantation stays with breakfast, a private AC vehicle with driver, the houseboat night with meals where included, and GST. For the road-trip rows, the car and driver start and finish at your door in Bangalore; for the others, the car meets you in Kerala and your flight or train is extra.
| Trip | Economy | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights Wayanad by road from Bangalore (car included) | ₹11,000 – 15,000 | ₹16,500 – 23,000 | ₹28,000 – 42,000 |
| 4 nights Munnar and Alleppey houseboat (meet in Kochi) | ₹14,500 – 19,000 | ₹20,500 – 27,000 | ₹33,000 – 48,000 |
| 5 nights Munnar, Thekkady, backwaters, Kochi | ₹18,000 – 23,500 | ₹25,000 – 33,000 | ₹41,000 – 61,000 |
| 6 nights Wayanad to the backwaters by road (car included) | ₹23,000 – 30,000 | ₹31,500 – 41,500 | ₹52,000 – 79,000 |
Flight cost from Bangalore: KIA–Kochi is a busy, competitive route, and a return ticket booked three to four weeks out often costs only ₹4,500 to ₹9,000 per person. KIA–Thiruvananthapuram is slightly higher. Long weekends, Onam and Christmas push fares to ₹11,000–16,000.
Train and bus: a chair-car or 3AC seat to Ernakulam costs well under ₹1,500 one way; overnight sleeper buses run ₹1,000–2,200 depending on operator and season.
Not included: forest and park entry fees, the Edakkal Caves ticket, Banasura boating, jeep trips in Munnar, show tickets, extra treatments, meals beyond those listed, tolls and parking on your own car, and tips. Each appears on the quote with an estimate.
Bengaluru to Kerala by air, rail, bus and road
Flights from Kempegowda International (BLR)
- To Kochi (COK): many non-stops a day, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. The airport road from the city can take longer than the flight in peak traffic, so leave a buffer.
- To Thiruvananthapuram (TRV): daily non-stops, about 1¼ hours – useful for Kovalam, Varkala and Poovar.
- To Kozhikode (CCJ): several non-stops, about 1 hour 10 minutes, with airlines such as IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa. Handy for the Malabar coast, though for Wayanad driving is usually as quick door to door.
Trains
- KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Intercity (12677): the most useful train. It leaves KSR Bengaluru (Majestic) at about 6.10 am daily and reaches Ernakulam Junction at about 5.10 pm, running via Salem, Coimbatore, Palakkad and Thrissur. A day on the train with views of the Western Ghats at the Palakkad Gap.
- Overnight trains: several evening departures from KSR Bengaluru, Yesvantpur and SMVT Bengaluru reach Ernakulam, Kottayam or Thiruvananthapuram the next morning. Good if you want to start sightseeing on arrival.
Buses
Both state transport corporations – Karnataka's KSRTC and Kerala's KSRTC (including its Swift service) – run overnight AC sleeper and multi-axle buses from Bangalore to Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram, alongside private operators. They leave Bangalore in the evening and arrive early morning. Fine for young travellers; for families we usually suggest the train.
Road distances from Bangalore
| To | Route | Distance (about) | Driving time (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalpetta, Wayanad | Mysuru – Gundlupet – Bandipur – Muthanga | 280 km | 6–7 hours |
| Kannur | Mysuru – Hunsur – Virajpet (Coorg) – Iritty | 310 km | 7–8 hours |
| Kozhikode | Via Wayanad and the Thamarassery ghat | 350 km | 8–9 hours |
| Munnar | Hosur – Salem – Udumalpet – Chinnar | 470 km | 9–10 hours |
| Kochi | Hosur – Salem – Coimbatore – Palakkad – Thrissur | 550 km | 10–11 hours |
| Alleppey | As Kochi, then the coastal highway south | 600 km | 11–12 hours |
Driving from Bengaluru: the two corridors into Kerala
The Mysuru–Wayanad corridor (north Kerala)
This is the classic Bengaluru road trip. The highway to Mysuru is fast; beyond Gundlupet the road enters Bandipur Tiger Reserve and then Kerala's Muthanga sanctuary, where you may see elephants and deer from the car. The forest stretch through Bandipur on NH 766 is closed to most traffic at night – the ban has been in force since 2009, currently from about 8.30–9 pm to 6 am – so plan to cross it in daylight. Leaving Bangalore by 6 am puts you through the forest by late morning. The Coorg route to Kannur avoids Bandipur and makes a good return leg.
The Salem–Coimbatore–Palakkad corridor (central Kerala)
For Kochi, Thrissur, Guruvayur or Alleppey, the four-lane highway through Krishnagiri, Salem and Coimbatore crosses into Kerala at Walayar and runs down through Palakkad and Thrissur. It is a long but straightforward day. Munnar branches off before Coimbatore via Udumalpet and the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary; the last 60 km are hill roads, so allow time.
Practical points for the drive
- Your car or ours: a Bengaluru car with an interstate permit works for the whole trip; we arrange one with a driver who knows both corridors. If you take your own car, carry all papers and expect Kerala border checks.
- Breaks: plan a stop every two hours; Mysuru and Salem have good highway restaurants.
- Monsoon: the Thamarassery and Munnar ghats see landslides in heavy rain; we watch the forecasts and reroute when needed.
- Mix and match: many Bangalore families drive to Wayanad and fly home from Kochi, with our driver returning the car.
Three Kerala itineraries that begin in Bangalore
Wayanad long weekend – 3 nights by road
- Friday: leave Bangalore at 6 am; breakfast in Mysuru; through Bandipur and Muthanga by noon; check in to a coffee-estate resort near Vythiri. Evening plantation walk.
- Saturday: Edakkal Caves and their carvings (a steep climb; closed on Mondays), Phantom Rock, lunch, and boating at Pookode Lake.
- Sunday: Banasura Sagar Dam and its islands; optional zip line or Chembra Peak lower trail with a forest permit; bonfire night.
- Monday: early breakfast; Thirunelli Temple or Kuruva island if open; cross Bandipur before dusk and reach Bangalore by evening.
Wayanad first, then the backwaters – 6 nights
- Night 1–2, Wayanad: drive from Bangalore; Edakkal, Banasura and a tea-and-spice estate.
- Night 3, Kozhikode: down the Thamarassery ghat to the coast (about 2½ hours); Kappad beach, halwa street (SM Street) and a Malabar biryani dinner.
- Night 4, Fort Kochi: drive south via Guruvayur temple for a darshan stop; arrive in Kochi for an evening by the fishing nets.
- Night 5, Alleppey: private houseboat on Vembanad Lake.
- Night 6, Kumarakom: lake resort, bird sanctuary at dawn.
- Day 7: fly Kochi–Bangalore (about an hour); our driver takes the car back.
Hills and houseboat by Intercity – 4 nights
- Day 1: board the 6.10 am Intercity at KSR Bengaluru; reach Ernakulam by evening; night in Kochi.
- Day 2: drive to Munnar; afternoon at the Tata tea museum and Lockhart Gap viewpoint.
- Day 3: Eravikulam (outside the February–March calving closure), Mattupetty, Echo Point.
- Day 4: down to Alleppey; private houseboat night.
- Day 5: evening flight Kochi–Bangalore, or the overnight train home.
All three are templates. Join two families in a Tempo Traveller, swap Kozhikode for Kannur and Coorg, or add Munnar to the Wayanad loop – you set the order.
Long weekends from Bengaluru, and when to use them
For many Bangalore professionals, Kerala is a long-weekend habit. The 2026–27 calendar offers several useful breaks:
- Christmas, Friday 25 December 2026: a three-day weekend; Wayanad is cool and dry. Book early – Bangalore cars fill the Mysuru road.
- New Year, Friday 1 January 2027: another three-day weekend; good for Munnar or a houseboat if you fly.
- Sankranti and Republic Day in January: Sankranti falls mid-month and Republic Day on Tuesday 26 January, so one day of leave on the Monday gives four days.
- Ugadi and the April–May vacation: Karnataka schools close from around April to late May. Wayanad and Munnar stay pleasant while the coast is hot.
- Dasara holidays: Karnataka schools usually break from late September into October; Kerala is post-monsoon green with full waterfalls, and rates are moderate.
- Onam: many Bengaluru Malayali colleagues go home, so trains, buses and flights to Kerala fill around Onam in August–September. Avoid those dates unless you want the festival.
Rule of thumb: for road trips, book hotels three to four weeks ahead; for long weekends with flights, five to six weeks.
Kerala month by month, with road conditions from Bangalore
| Month | Kerala weather | Roads from Bangalore | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, cool hills | Clear | Wayanad, Munnar, houseboats |
| February | Dry | Clear | Couples, quieter weekends |
| March | Warm | Clear; forest-fire season in Bandipur | Hills |
| April | Hot coast, showers | Clear | Wayanad and Munnar in vacation |
| May | Hot, pre-monsoon | Mostly clear | Family hill trips |
| June | Monsoon onset | Ghat delays possible | Rain, Ayurveda |
| July | Heaviest rain | Landslide risk on ghats | Fly, not drive |
| August | Easing; Onam season | Improving | Boat races, festival |
| September | Clearing, lush | Good | Waterfalls, Dasara break |
| October | Afternoon showers | Good | Value trips |
| November | Drying out | Good | All routes |
| December | Dry, pleasant | Busy at weekends | Christmas long weekend |
Food and practical tips for Bangalore travellers
Food
Kerala food will not feel foreign to most Bangalore residents – the city has a large Malayali population and Kerala restaurants in every neighbourhood from Koramangala to Indiranagar. Still, each region has its own table. Wayanad and Kozhikode are Malabar country: biryani cooked with short-grain kaima rice, pathiri, and seafood on the coast. Central Kerala and the backwaters are about fish curry, appam and the vegetarian sadya. Munnar and Thekkady have many Tamil-run vegetarian eateries.
- Vegetarian Kannadiga families: rice, sambar, rasam and dosa are everywhere. Kerala's red matta rice is the default; ask for white rice if preferred.
- Jain and pure-veg: manageable with notice; we put it in writing for every hotel and the houseboat.
- Road snacks: Mysuru and Salem highway restaurants cover the drive; carry water and fruit for the Bandipur stretch, where stopping is not allowed.
Practical tips
- Do not stop, get out or feed animals inside Bandipur and Muthanga; forest staff fine offenders.
- Wayanad nights are cool from November to February – a fleece is enough.
- Edakkal Caves involve a steep climb and limited daily entries; arrive early and skip it with small children or knee problems.
- Kerala's fuel prices are usually a little higher than Karnataka's; fill up before the border.
- Mobile signal is weak in parts of Wayanad and on the backwaters.
Why Bengaluru families plan Kerala with Vibrant Holidays
- Road, rail and air in one plan: we combine a Bangalore car for Wayanad with a flight home from Kochi, or the Intercity with a Kerala car – whatever saves you time.
- Remote planning that works: our team in Ahmedabad plans and books on WhatsApp and phone; there is no Bangalore office. You get the itinerary, vouchers and invoice as PDFs.
- Private trips only: your car, your driver, your dates. Friends and extended families travel together as a private group.
- Transparent pricing: live package prices here, extras estimated in advance.
- Established in 2015: IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. 24x7 on-trip support; office open Monday to Saturday.
See all Kerala packages, all trips from Bangalore, or compare beaches on Goa from Bangalore and Andaman from Bangalore.
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Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Kerala tour from Bangalore: FAQs
How much does a Kerala tour package from Bangalore cost?
Our Kerala packages currently start at ₹15,500 per person for 3 nights. Most of our Kerala packages fall between ₹23,500 and ₹40,000 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from {$from} are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
What is the best way to reach Kerala from Bangalore?
It depends on where in Kerala. For Wayanad or Kannur, drive: about six to eight hours via Mysuru or Coorg. For Kochi, Munnar or the backwaters, fly from KIA in about an hour, or take the daily Intercity from KSR Bengaluru, about eleven hours. Overnight trains and sleeper buses suit those who want to arrive in the morning.
How far is Wayanad from Bangalore by road?
About 280 km to Kalpetta via Mysuru, Gundlupet and the Bandipur and Muthanga forests, which takes six to seven hours with a breakfast stop. Leave early, because the Bandipur stretch closes to most vehicles at night. The Coorg route to north Wayanad and Kannur is a good alternative for the return.
What are the Bandipur night traffic ban timings?
Most vehicles are not allowed through the Bandipur forest on the Mysuru–Wayanad highway at night, currently from about 8.30 or 9 pm to 6 am; the rule has been in force since 2009. Plan to cross in daylight. Forest officials enforce it strictly, and there is nowhere convenient to wait.
Is there a day train from Bangalore to Kochi?
Yes. The KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Intercity leaves Majestic at about 6.10 am daily and reaches Ernakulam Junction at about 5.10 pm, via Salem, Coimbatore and Palakkad. It is comfortable, cheap and scenic at the Palakkad Gap. Times shift with timetable revisions, so we check them when booking.
Can I do Kerala as a 3-day weekend trip from Bangalore?
Yes. Wayanad by road is the easiest: three nights with Edakkal Caves, Banasura dam and Pookode Lake. Alternatively, fly to Kochi on Friday for a houseboat night and Fort Kochi, returning on Monday. Munnar needs at least four nights from Bangalore unless you fly.
Can we use our own car from Bangalore for a Kerala trip?
Yes. Many families do. Carry registration, insurance and pollution papers, and expect checks at the Kerala border. We plan the route, book hotels with parking and suggest daylight driving on the ghats. If you would rather relax, we arrange a car with an interstate permit and a driver.
Which is better from Bangalore, Wayanad or Munnar?
Wayanad is closer, easier by road and good for a long weekend with forests, caves and dams. Munnar is higher and cooler, with sweeping tea estates, but it is a nine to ten hour drive, so it suits a trip of five nights or more, ideally combined with Thekkady and a houseboat.
Are KSRTC buses from Bangalore to Kerala comfortable?
The AC sleeper and multi-axle services run by both Karnataka KSRTC and Kerala KSRTC are reasonably comfortable for an overnight trip and cost less than flying. They arrive in Kochi or Kozhikode early in the morning. For families with children or senior citizens, the train or a flight is usually easier.
When is Kerala crowded with Bangalore travellers?
On long weekends – Christmas and New Year, which both fall on Fridays this season, the Republic Day weekend and Dasara – and around Onam, when many Malayalis travel home. Wayanad resorts and the Mysuru road get busy. Book three to four weeks ahead, or travel midweek.
How long is the flight from Bangalore to Kochi?
About one hour to one hour ten minutes non-stop from Kempegowda International. Flights run throughout the day. Allow at least an hour for the drive to KIA from central Bangalore. Non-stop flights also go to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, each a little over an hour.
Is Kerala in the monsoon a good idea from Bangalore?
For a flying trip, yes: it is green, quiet and cheap, and ideal for Ayurveda. For a road trip, be careful in July and early August, when heavy rain can cause landslides on the Wayanad and Munnar ghats. We monitor warnings and change routes or dates when needed.
