Flight: EK530 Dubai - Kochi 02.45 - 08.05

Meet & greet: Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival in Kochi by a local representative, and introduced to your private driver. Together they will take you to your hotel in Fort Kochi to check in. This will be a journey of around 1.5 hours.

Time to recover: Once arrived and checked in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight. The atmospheric streets of Fort Kochi are just a few steps away, should you wish to explore independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xandari Harbour (Spice Room)

Guided tour of Cochin: After breakfast, you will set out to explore Kochi. Start at Mattancherry Palace which was built by the Portuguese in 1555 for the Maharaja of Kochi. Later renovated by the Dutch, it came to be known as the Dutch Palace. It has a large central courtyard and a temple depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other legends. The little museum at the palace has a collection of costumes, palanquins and other articles from the royalty. Adjacent to the palace is the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568. This simple building has marvellously rich interiors with clusters of coloured glass lamps hanging from the ceiling, and a floor of blue willow-patterned tiles, none of which are identical.

Although 'Jew Town', as the area around the synagogue is known, has lost much of its earlier glory, it has retained its status as an important centre of the spice trade. An exotic odour of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper - also known as black gold - emanates from the spice warehouses lining the street. From here move on to St. Francis Church, which was built in 1503 at Fort Kochin, making it one of the oldest churches in the subcontinent. It was built by the Portuguese, but became a Protestant church with the arrival of the Dutch and an Anglican church after the British occupation. Vasco da Gama – perhaps the father of the spice trade – is buried in its churchyard. After visiting St Francis Church take a short walk to see the Chinese fishing nets along the shoreline, then return to your hotel to relax.

Afternoon at leisure: In the afternoon, you are at leisure to relax at the hotel, or potter around Fort Kochin independently. An evening visit to see Kerala’s famous Kathakali Dance Drama can be arranged through your guide.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xandari Harbour (Spice Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kochi to Munnar: After a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and driven up to Munnar, a journey of around 3-4 hours. On arrival, you will check into your secluded hill hotel. You have the rest of the day free to relax and get acquainted, perhaps taking a short walk in the surrounding plantations. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tall Trees (Cinnamon Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast 

Walk in the Letchmi Hills: This morning, you would be taken on a day’s walk into the Letchmi hills. The day will start with a drive out to a starting point at around 1,420 metres above sea level. From here you will walk through tea plantations for about 30 to 40 minutes, eventually reaching a hilltop rest point. The rest of the trek will then continue along the ridge of the hill, offering staggering views on all sides. You will continue walking for around 2-3 hours, covering the grasslands and rocky mountain slopes on one side and tea plantations on the other, with views across to the vegetation of the Shola forest and in the distance the majestic Anaimudi, the highest peak in South India. Return to the lodge in the early afternoon for some well-earned r&r.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tall Trees (Cinnamon Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Dewalokam homestay: In the morning, you will be met at the hotel and descend out of the hills by road, heading for the Dewalokam homestay. This will be a journey of approximately 2.5 hours. On arrival, check into your homestay to enjoy the lush surrounds.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Dewalokam (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure to relax and enjoy your verdant surroundings. There are numerous activities on offer at the homestay, including walks into the surrounding forest or nearby villages. The homestay’s surroundings also offer excellent opportunities for birding and spotting butterflies. Learning more about Keralan cuisine with one of the homestay’s cooking demonstrations is highly recommended.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Dewalokam (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey to the Vembanad Backwaters: In the morning, you will be met at the hotel and hit the road for Allepey, gateway to the backwaters. This will be a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Cruise through the backwaters of Kerala: After boarding, you will set off from Allepey to enjoy a cruise through the backwaters of Kerala. Around an hour later, lunch will be served - a spread of delicious local cuisine - and after lunch your houseboat will continue meandering slowly through the tranquil network of water canals, dotted with busy hamlets and lush green paddy fields. A houseboat ride through these placid backwaters is a wonderfully relaxing experience, a perfect opportunity to put your feet up and watch the world glide silently by. Towards the end of the afternoon you will have the option of transferring to smaller rowboat, which will take you deeper into the narrow canals which are unnavigable for larger houseboats. Taking this route allows you to get deeper into the lush, bucolic scenes, passing through tranquil hamlets and observing the rural lifestyles.

You will return to the houseboat for another hour or so cruising, and as the sun falls you will draw over to the water's edge and moor up for the night. Dinner will be served on board, after which you will have an evening to relax on-board.

Please note: All Keralan houseboats must dock at night, so as not to disturb local fishing practices. Once night falls you will find yourself on the water in a rural, tropical environment; midges and mosquitos will be attracted to the lights of the houseboat, so we recommend retiring early to the comfort of your air-conditioned cabin and dining area.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on a Private Houseboat (1-Cabin Deluxe houseboat)

The Deluxe houseboats offer high levels of comfort and service in the backwaters. From the outside each vessel is of the standard Keralan style, the interior however is a mix of modern amenities and traditional design. Rooms have ensuite bathrooms and large windows for drinking in the views. The front opens up into a semi-outdoor lounge area, and in between there is a cooled dining area for indulging in hearty local fare. Boats are available in a range of categories and sizes, all of which are booked and staffed on a private basis.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning backwaters cruise: Early this morning, you will wake for a further hours' cruising, heading back to the dock at Alleppey. Breakfast will be served on the way (the boat staff will discuss local or international options with you the previous evening), and you will arrive back in Alleppey to disembark around 9.30am.

Transfer from Alleppey to your homestay: On reaching the jetty in Alleppey, you will disembark and be met by your driver-guide. You will then transfer to your homestay in the backwaters around Vembanad Lake. The drive will take around 45 minutes and on arrival you will have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Nelpura Heritage Home (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure to relax and enjoy your sumptuous surrounds. There are numerous activities on offer at the homestay, including walks and tours of surrounding villages, farms, and markets. This can be ably done on foot or by bike - your hosts will be happy to help map out a day with you. A demonstration of toddy tapping - the process of drawing palm wine from surrounding trees - can also be demonstrated and, should you wish, sampled! We would also strongly recommend joining your hosts for a cooking demonstration if they are available - a fine way to learn more about local cuisine, and take some skills home with you!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Nelpura Heritage Home (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey to Marari: After a leisurely morning, you will check out from your homestay, reunite with your driver-guide, and depart for Marari. This will be a journey around 45 minutes. On arrival at the beach, you will check in and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xandari Pearl (Green Pearl Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to relax at the hotel and reflect on your adventures. The hotel has numerous activities which can be arranged locally, and a range of facilities to aid your relaxation.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Xandari Pearl (Green Pearl Room)

Meals: Breakfast