Flight: UL167 Colombo - Kochi 14.10 - 15.20

Meet & greet, transfer to hotel: Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival in Cochin by a local representative and introduced to your private driver. Together they will take you to your hotel in Fort Cochin to check in. This will be a journey of just over an hour.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Old Harbour Hotel (Suite)

Guided tour of Kochi: 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 Cochin. 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 Cochin, 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.

Evening performance of the Kathakali Dance Drama: This evening you will be collected from your hotel and taken to witness the spectacular Kathakali Dance Drama. Kathakali is Kerala’s very own classical dance-drama form which combines facets of ballet, opera, masque and pantomime. Kathakali illuminates ideas and stories from the Indian epics and other story books. Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls, Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu, or the beating of drums, which is accompanied by the Chengila (gong). The rich blend of colour, expressions, music, drama and dance are unparalleled in any other art form. If you are interested you can arrive a little early so as to see the artistes being made up, which is considered to be a full-blown art in itself and regarded as important as the dance-drama.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Old Harbour Hotel (Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kochi to Thekkady: After a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and driven up in the Western Ghats. You will be heading for Thekkady, a centre of spice plantations and wildlife activities. This will be a journey of around 4-5 hours depending on local traffic On arrival you will check into your hotel and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Spice Village (Spice Garden Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning nature walk: Early this morning you will be taken out for a guided walk in the buffer zone of the Periyar Reserve. These forest walks are conducted in small groups, led by trained tribal guides, taking you along various nature trails through a diverse terrain of evergreen forests and moist, deciduous forests, interspersed with marshy grasslands. The trees are dense here so spotting larger mammals is extremely rare, however you will definitely get to see varieties of birds and butterflies, as well as enjoying an upclose view of life in the forest. The walk will last around three hours, after which you return to the hotel to relax.

Afternoon spice plantation visit: Later in the afternoon your driver will take you back out to visit a local spice plantation, where you can walk through the site and learn about the process of cultivating local produce such as pepper, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, cinnamon or cardamom and turmeric. Stroll amid lush, terraced farms and sprawling estates while listening to bird songs and the murmuring of mountain streams. Make stops along the way to take pictures of the verdant surroundings, and enjoy some of the most picturesque vantage points in Kerala.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Spice Village (Spice Garden Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to the Vembanad Backwaters: In the morning, you will be met at the hotel and descend out of the hills by road, heading for Alleppey, gateway to the backwaters. This will be a journey of approximately 3-4 hours, depending on local traffic.

Cruise through the backwaters of Kerala: After boarding, you will set off from Alleppey 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 Deluxe Houseboat (Private single-cabin houseboat)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning backwater 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 09.30am.

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 Philip Kutty's Farm (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day at leisure at Philip Kutty’s: 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 a tour of the surrounding farm, or a walk further afield into the local markets and villages. A demonstration of toddy tapping - the process of drawing palm wine from surrounding trees - can also be demonstrated and, should you wish, sampled! Bicycles can be hired and are also a good way to get around. We would also strongly recommend joining the elder Mrs Kutty for one of her infamous cooking demonstrations - note however that these are extremely popular and anyone interested should enquire about this in advance.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Philip Kutty's Farm (Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private transfer to Kochi Airport: After a leisurely morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Kochi International Airport. The drive will take around 2 hours and on arrival you will transfer to the airport in time to check in for your onward flight.

Flight: UL168 Kochi - Colombo 16.10 - 17.25

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Colombo, you will be welcomed to Sri Lanka by your local guide and transferred to the Galle Face Hotel in a chauffeur driven car for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Galle Face Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning Colombo city tour: This morning, drive through the commercial and city centre area known as the “Fort”, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside the huge modern office structures of this fast moving city. Drive past the Town Hall and the Independence Square. Visit the famous Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple and a Hindu Kovil to experience the diversity of religion, ethnicity and customs of the people. Finish your morning with a visit to the National Museum, home to a large collection of important Sri Lankan regalia.

Road journey from Colombo to Dambulla: After the sightseeing, you will hit the road and drive up to Sigiriya in the heart of the Cultural Triangle. This is a journey of approximately 4 hours. On arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure relaxing after your journey.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sigiriya Jungles Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning climb of Sigiriya Rock: Early this morning you will be driven to the bottom of the Sigiriya rock, one of Sri Lanka's most famous and striking attractions. The rock is best climbed early in the morning and depending on your time of departure, you may wish to arrange for a packed breakfast to be taken with you, this can be arranged at your hotel the night before. On arrival at the rock you will commence the climb with an expert local guide who will explain the ancient history of this unique rock fortress. Walk through the extensive gardens, ringed by an intimidating moat, and up the steep steps, passing through the famous Lion's Paw to the summit where you will enjoy the jaw-dropping views out over the Sri Lankan countryside. After some time to rest, descend the rock and meet up with your driver who will take you for lunch at a local restaurant (payable locally). Visitors should be aware that sections of the climb are steep and the upmost care should be taken when ascending and descending the rock. The last section up to the summit is on a narrow metal staircase and to reach the summit requires a good level of fitness. Many people decide to stop by the Lion's Paw, about two-thirds of the way up and enjoy the view from there.

Afternoon Hiriwadunna Village Trek: This afternoon, transfer to Habarana, where you will be taken on a bullock cart ride to Hiriwadunna Village, a small farming village where you will experience the simple lifestyle of the native culture. At the end of the track you will arrive at a lotus-clad lake. Board a local catamaran to cross the lake to arrive at a small farm on the opposite bank. Here you can enjoy a cup of ginger tea and learn about the crops that are grown by the farmers there. Please be aware that the bullock cart and the catamaran are both simple and comfort levels will not be what you are used to in Western modes of transport. After your excursion, return to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sigiriya Jungles Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Sigiriya to Kegalle, via Dambulla: After breakfast, head south by road to your scenic hotel near the towns of Kegalle and Pinnawala, not far from Kandy. On the way you will stop in Dambulla for a tour of the famous Golden Rock Cave Temple complex. The caves are located at the top of a hill and the only access is on a pathway and stairs carved into the hillside. The path is steep in sections and the walk from the bottom to the summit is quite tough, however, it is possible to drive up to a point about half way up for those who don't fancy walking all the way from the bottom. The walk from halfway up will still require a good level of fitness, but at the top you will be rewarded with 5 magical and dimly lit caves crammed with Buddhist statues and murals. Dating back over 2,000 years the caves are of huge significance to Sri Lanka's Buddhists. After exploring the caves, and taking in the impressive views from the top (on a clear day you will get a very good view of Sigiriya Rock), descend the hill, back to the comfort of your air-conditioned car. Please be aware that those visiting the cave temples at the summit will be required to remove your shoes before entering the site. After visiting the caves you will be driven on to Kegalle and check into your hotel. Driving time today will be around 3-4 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Rosyth Estate House (Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Train ride to Kandy: This morning your guide will drop you off at Polgahawella Railway Station, just 20 minutes from the Estate House, where you will board the local train to Kandy. The 1½ hour journey will show you another side to Sri Lankan life as the line winds up into the hill country. You will have 2nd class seats so that you can join the locals and get an authentic feel for life on the railways.

Please note that train tickets are only available to book around 2 weeks prior to your journey and so cannot be guaranteed and if we are unable to secure tickets for you this journey will be done with your driver by road.

City tour of Kandy: When you arrive in Kandy your driver-guide will be waiting for you, and will then take you for a guided tour of the city. First, head up the hill to the south of the lake to a special vista point, where you can get a bird's eye view of this remarkable city. The famous Kandy Lake was built in 1807 and forms an attractive centre-piece for the town. Return to the city centre, where your guide will take you on a walking tour around the famous shopping streets and to points of interest such as the central market and the historic railway station. Later in the morning, you will be taken to visit the famous Temple of the Tooth, one of the most revered sights for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. If you wish, there will be an opportunity for you to have lunch before heading back to your hotel (payable locally - speak to your guide to arrange this).

Return to your hotel and then spend the rest of the day relaxing. Enjoy the spa or the pool, or perhaps take in an activity such as a cooking class or a short hike around the estate.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Rosyth Estate House (Classic Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kegalle to Bentota: At an agreed time (you can discuss preference with locally with your driver-guide), you will leave the hills behind and drop down to the coast by road, heading to the beach resort of Bentota. This journey will take around 3 hours, depending on local transport.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Taru Rock Villa (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: These days are at leisure to relax at your hotel, on the beach or explore independently.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Taru Rock Villa (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast