Kochi to Thekkady Cab Fare
Prices from 4 sites, the drive, and what to see in Thekkady.
A one-way sedan from Kochi to Thekkady costs ₹4,263 to ₹4,615. A cab takes about 5 hours, climbing into the Cardamom Hills after Thodupuzha and running through Kattappana to Kumily, where the hotels are. Most people stay two days in Thekkady.
Kochi to Thekkady cab fare
The price Savaari, EaseMyTrip, Bharat Taxi and Kera Cabs each showed us for the same trip. Lowest price in each row is highlighted.
One way
Drop at Thekkady. You pay for one side only. Every price is for the 164 km drive.
| Car | Savaari | EaseMyTrip |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchback | ₹4,528 | ₹4,253 |
| Sedan | ₹4,615 | ₹4,263 |
| SUV (Ertiga) | ₹5,710 | ₹5,348 |
| Innova | ₹9,068 | ₹7,237 |
- Savaari: includes toll and state tax, driver allowance, fuel, GST. Not included: expressway toll.
- EaseMyTrip: includes taxes and charges. Not stated: driver allowance.
Round trip, 2 days
The same car and driver stay with you and bring you back to Kochi. Every price is for 328 km, the drive there and back.
| Car | Savaari | Bharat Taxi | Kera Cabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchback | ₹6,754 | No price | No price |
| Sedan | ₹6,886 | ₹8,610 | ₹6,576 |
| SUV (Ertiga) | ₹8,630 | ₹11,021 | ₹7,760 |
| Innova | ₹12,390 | ₹13,087 | ₹9,816 |
| Tempo Traveller | ₹20,043 | No price | No price |
- Driving around Thekkady adds about 37 km (our 1 day plan), at each site's rate per extra km.
- Savaari: includes driver allowance, fuel, GST. Not included: toll and state tax.
- Bharat Taxi: includes GST, driver allowance. Not included: toll, parking, state tax.
- Kera Cabs: includes driver allowance, parking. Not included: toll, state tax.
We checked each site on 20 Oct 2026 for a pickup on 3 Nov 2026. Where a site's price covers fewer km than the trip, we added the extra km at its own rate, plus 5% GST if applicable. Prices change with the date, the season and demand, so check the site before you book. Cabsguru does not sell these trips.
- Distance 164 km
- Drive time ~5h
- Highway NH85, NH185
Road distance from Ernakulam Junction station to the Kumily bus stand. About 100 km of it is winding hill road after Thodupuzha, so allow up to 6 hours with stops.
What to see in Thekkady
A boat on Periyar Lake, spice gardens and viewpoints over Tamil Nadu. Two days covers the main sights.
Periyar Lake boat ride
A 90 minute boat trip on the lake inside the tiger reserve, where elephants, gaur and sambar deer are often seen at the water's edge. Boats leave from about 07:30; the first two of the morning are the best for animals.
A spice plantation walk
Guided walks through gardens of cardamom, pepper, cinnamon and coffee along the Kumily road. Most open about 09:00 to 17:00.
Ottakathalamedu viewpoint
A hilltop with a watchtower just north of Kumily, looking over the lake, the forest and the plains of Tamil Nadu. Go late afternoon or early morning for the mist.
Chellarkovil viewpoint
A village about 15 km north of Kumily where the Western Ghats drop to the coconut groves of Tamil Nadu. In the monsoon a waterfall runs down the edge.
Parunthumpara
A grassy hilltop near Peermade named after a rock shaped like an eagle's head, with views across the forests. Go before the afternoon mist.
Kalaripayattu show
A one-hour show of Kerala's old martial art in Kumily every evening at about 18:00: sword and shield fights, staff work and high kicks.
The drive: which way to go
There are two roads up into the hills: the shorter one through Thodupuzha, and the wider one through Kottayam.
Through Thodupuzha and Kattappana
~164 km · about 5 h · via Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha & Kattappana
The shortest way. NH85 to Muvattupuzha, then up into the hills after Thodupuzha and along NH185 through Kattappana to Kumily. Most of the climb is on narrow, winding road, so leave Kochi by 08:00.
Through Kottayam and Peermade
~173 km · about 5 h · via Kottayam, Mundakayam & Peermade
About 9 km longer, on NH183, a wider national highway. It passes Peermade, so you can stop at Parunthumpara or Pattumala Church on the way up.
Cab from Kochi to Thekkady
Call or message a local Kochi operator. Tell them your pickup point, dates and whether you need a one-way drop or a round trip, and they send a price for the car and driver.
Kera Cabs
Visit website ↗Pickup from Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Varkala, Kollam, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Guruvayur, Triprayar, Cherai, Calicut
Cabs
Pickup from Kochi · based in Ernakulam
Common questions
How much is a cab from Kochi to Thekkady?
A one-way sedan costs ₹4,263 to ₹4,615 on Savaari and EaseMyTrip, and a 2-day round trip in a sedan costs ₹6,576 to ₹8,610 for the drive there and back. Check the date you travel, as prices move with demand.
What does an SUV or Innova cost from Kochi to Thekkady?
An Ertiga-type SUV one way costs ₹5,348 to ₹5,710. An Innova one way costs ₹7,237 to ₹9,068. Both seat 6 to 7 people with luggage.
How long is the drive from Kochi to Thekkady?
About 164 km and 5 hours through Thodupuzha and Kattappana. Allow up to 6 hours with stops, as most of the road after Thodupuzha is hill road.
Can the cab pick me up at Kochi airport?
Yes. The airport is north-east of the city, so the ride to Thekkady is about 151 km, a little shorter than from Ernakulam.
Can I go from Kochi to Munnar and then Thekkady?
Yes, it is the usual Kerala hill loop. Munnar to Thekkady is about 103 km on NH185, about 4 hours. Book it as a round trip from Kochi with the operator, so the car stays with you.
Can the cab drive to the Periyar boat landing?
No. Cars stop at the reserve entrance near Kumily, and forest buses run the last 4 km to the landing. The cab waits at the entrance while you take the boat.
When is the best time to go?
September to March, when the weather is cool and the forest is green. From June to August the rain is heavy and the hill roads are slower, though the Chellarkovil waterfall runs from June to November.