Kerala, India · for visitors from abroad
Visiting Kerala from abroad: hire a vehicle with a driver
Fly into Kochi (COK), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) or Kozhikode (CCJ) and post your trip once on Yippigo: verified operators quote a car, tempo traveller or Urbania with a driver for your whole stay. Compare itemised quotes and pay the operator you choose directly. Munnar is 125 km (78 miles) from Kochi by road.
This site is in English. Prices are in Indian rupees (₹).
- Free to post
- Compare quotes
- 25% advance only after you choose
Photo: Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- Fly into
- Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram
- Kochi to Munnar
- 125 km (78 miles)
- 2–6 people
- Car (SUV) or 12-seat tempo traveller with driver
- Best season
- September to March
- Prices
- In Indian rupees (₹); pay the operator directly
How many are travelling?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, with its day fare and the fare from Kochi to the main sights.
Fits your group
SUV / Innova
6–7 seats
₹4,700–6,300 for a full day (250 km)
Kochi → Munnar
₹9,800–12,900
SUV / Innova · 125 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Where to land
- Kochi (COK): Cochin International Airport: Kerala's busiest, with many flights from the Gulf, Singapore and beyond; the easiest start for Munnar, Thekkady and the backwaters.
- Thiruvananthapuram (TRV): The capital's international airport, best for Kovalam, Varkala and Kanyakumari.
- Kozhikode (CCJ) and Kannur (CNN): International flights, mostly from the Gulf: good for Wayanad and North Malabar.
From Kochi by road
One way, by road, from our route catalog. Plan 8–10 hours of driving a day at most.
| To | Distance | Drive, with stops |
|---|---|---|
| Munnar | 125 km (78 miles) | 4–5 h |
| Thekkady (Periyar) | 153 km (95 miles) | 4–5 h |
| Alappuzha (Alleppey) | 55 km (34 miles) | 1–2 h |
| Kumarakom | 50 km (31 miles) | 1–2 h |
| Guruvayur | 87 km (54 miles) | 2–3 h |
| Athirappilly & Vazhachal Falls | 72 km (45 miles) | 3–4 h |
| Kodungallur & Muziris | 39 km (24 miles) | 1–2 h |
| Vagamon | 102 km (63 miles) | 3–4 h |
How it works
1. Post your trip
Arrival airport and date, the places you want to see, how many people and how much luggage. In English; it takes two minutes and costs nothing.
2. Verified operators quote
Operators near your pickup send itemised quotes: the vehicle, the driver's daily allowance, night halts, tolls and any state entry taxes, each on its own line.
3. Compare and ask
Ask each operator about the vehicle's model and age, whether the driver speaks English, and how they take payment.
4. Book and pay the operator
Accept the quote you prefer and pay the operator's advance directly, by a method you agree with them.
Is it safe to hire a driver?
- An operator sends a quote only with a vehicle whose papers (registration, insurance, permit and fitness certificate) our team has checked and approved.
- Every quote names the operator, so you can ask for the vehicle number and the driver's name and phone before the trip.
- Hill roads to Munnar, Thekkady and Wayanad are narrow and winding: ask for an experienced hill driver and plan days of 6–8 hours.
Travelling with a driver: what is usual
- Drivers on multi-day trips stay where you stay or in drivers' rooms; the quote shows the driver allowance and night halts.
- Tipping the driver at the end of a trip is common but optional.
- Many Kerala drivers speak Malayalam, Tamil and some English or Hindi: ask in your request.
Paying
- You pay the operator directly; the quote says how much advance the operator asks.
- Payment methods depend on the operator: many take UPI and bank transfer, which may not work with a foreign card or bank. Agree on payment before you accept the quote.
- Prices on this site are in Indian rupees (₹).
Words you will hear
- Tempo traveller :
- a 12 to 26-seat van with a driver, the usual vehicle for groups of 10 to 25
- Houseboat (kettuvallam) :
- a covered rice barge turned into a floating stay with bedrooms and a cook
- Darshan :
- seeing and praying before the deity in a temple
- Yatra :
- a pilgrimage, often a circuit of several temples
- Mundu :
- the white cloth men wrap at the waist; many Kerala temples ask men to wear one
- Theyyam :
- a ritual dance of North Malabar's temples
- Driver allowance (bata) :
- a daily amount for the driver's food, paid on top of the vehicle hire and listed on the quote
Questions groups ask
Can I book a vehicle with a driver from Kochi airport?
Yes. Post the trip with Kochi airport (COK) as the pickup and your arrival date; operators quote the airport pickup and the whole tour.
Do I need an international driving licence?
Not for this: every vehicle comes with a local driver, so you do not drive yourself.
Is a houseboat safe for a family?
Choose a houseboat with Kerala Tourism's approval, life jackets on board and a crew; the vehicle operator can suggest one, but the houseboat is a separate booking.
How far are the main sights from Kochi?
Munnar 125 km (78 miles); Thekkady (Periyar) 153 km (95 miles); Alappuzha (Alleppey) 55 km (34 miles); Kumarakom 50 km (31 miles); Guruvayur 87 km (54 miles); Athirappilly & Vazhachal Falls 72 km (45 miles); Kodungallur & Muziris 39 km (24 miles); Vagamon 102 km (63 miles). Measured by road.
Which vehicle for my group?
2 people: AC Coach 50–56 seater; 4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater.
How much advance do operators ask?
25% of the quote, paid to the operator to confirm. Payment methods depend on the operator; agree them before you accept. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved