Alappuzha district
Alappuzha
The heart of Kerala's backwaters, where canals, paddy and village life meet.
Explore Alappuzha
Explore Southside · Kerala
Not just places. Experiences.
Discover the Kerala that locals know and travellers rarely find.
Discover Kerala
Eight places to begin
From tea country to the backwaters and the far north, each region has its own landscape, food and way of life.
Kannur district
Kannur
Theyyam rituals, handloom heritage and long, uncrowded beaches in North Kerala.
Explore Kannur
Ernakulam district
Kochi
A port city layered with Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and British history.
Explore Kochi
Kottayam district
Kumarakom
Lakeside villages on the shores of Vembanad, Kerala's largest lake.
Explore Kumarakom
Idukki district
Munnar
Tea-covered hills, cool mornings and high-altitude walks in the Western Ghats.
Explore Munnar
Thiruvananthapuram district
Varkala
Laterite cliffs over the Arabian Sea, with a pilgrimage town behind them.
Explore Varkala
Wayanad district
Wayanad
Forested highlands of coffee, pepper, ancient caves and quiet trails.
Explore Wayanad
Experiences worth travelling for
What will you remember?
Choose by what moves you, not by checklist.
Beyond the usual tourist trail
Quieter corners, and why they're worth it
Places that see fewer visitors than Kerala's best-known stops, each with a specific reason to go.
Ernakulam district
Chendamangalam
Its heritage sites and weaving tradition are often overlooked by travellers heading to Fort Kochi.
Explore Chendamangalam
Pathanamthitta district
Gavi
Controlled access keeps visitor numbers low, so the forest drive feels remote.
Explore Gavi
Alappuzha district
Mararikulam
The beach remains part of a working fishing village rather than a resort strip.
Explore Mararikulam
Idukki district
Vagamon
Its meadows and pine forests offer hill-country walks with fewer visitors than the larger hill stations.
Explore Vagamon
Stay somewhere special
Homestays, heritage houses and lakeside cottages
Small places with character, chosen for their sense of place.
We're visiting and reviewing our first stays now. Subscribe below to hear when they're listed, or let us suggest places to stay for your dates.
Plan my tripMeet the locals
Hosted by the people who live here
Guides, cooks, farmers and artisans who share their own corner of Kerala.
We're still visiting and reviewing hosts. Tell us what you'd like to do and we'll plan it with local hosts we know.
Plan my tripWhy Southside?
Fewer listings. Better information.
We would rather show you twelve things worth your time than a thousand you have to sift through.
Thoughtfully curated
Every place and experience is chosen by people who know Kerala, with a clear reason for being here.
Transparent information
What's included, what isn't and what we haven't yet confirmed is stated plainly on every listing.
Local knowledge
Recommendations come from residents, guides and hosts, not from paid placement.
Clear booking policies
You send an enquiry first. Nothing is charged until availability, price and cancellation terms are confirmed with you.
Honest verification
The “Verified” mark appears only when we have actually checked a provider. Demo and unverified listings are labelled as such.
Plan your Kerala trip
Build your itinerary, day by day
Save places and experiences as you browse, then arrange them into days. When you are ready, send enquiries for the parts you want to book.
The Explore Southside letter
Travel inspiration, practical guides and new experiences
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