Kerala - A Tropical Paradise

Take the overnight flight from London Heathrow, or selected other UK airports, to Cochin in South India.

On arrival at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the charming seaside town of Cochin. Meet your driver who will be with you for your whole holiday. Then put your feet up and get ready for the adventure ahead. Your first experience of traditional Indian culture will be a good one, as in the evening we will take you out for a performance of the local dance, the Kathakali.

Enjoy a private guided tour of Cochin and explore this fascinating historical town with its European churches, Jewish synagogues, Indian palaces and Chinese fishing nets. This has been a cosmopolitan place for thousands of years.

The day starts with a scenic 4-hour drive away from the coast and up into the lush green mountains of Kerala. Your destination is the old British hill station of Munnar, surrounded by tea plantations and stunning scenery.

Relax and spend the day exploring Munnar and its surroundings with your car and driver at your disposal – some options are the town and churches, Tea Museum or the nearby Eravikulam National Park to spot the Nilgiri Ibex.

This morning’s drive further east will descend from the hills of Kerala down to Madurai in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Madurai is home to one of India’s most remarkable temples, a huge colourful complex dedicated to the fish-eyed goddess Meenakshi. Your guide will take you there for the daily evening spectacle - a ritual wedding of the goddess with the great Hindu god Shiva.

Visit the temple again in the early morning if you feel like it, as later on we will drive you out for a day trip (about 2 hours each way) to Chettinad to see the traders’ bungalows unique to this town, and sample the world famous Chettinad cuisine for lunch.

Today start the return drive west to the coast of Kerala, this time crossing the hills by a different route, and stopping for a couple of nights in the Paradisa Plantation Retreat to relax and rejuvenate amidst plantations of coffee, cardamom, cloves and pepper.

It’s about a 3-hour drive to the backwaters of Kerala for your stay at Philip Kutty’s farm, a traditional Keralan homestay on a farm island in the backwaters. Experience the slow pace of life in this unique location and explore the area.

Board your houseboat and spend the day cruising around the waterways and lagoons of Kerala’s backwaters. The houseboat is also your accommodation for the night so relax and enjoy.

Hopping off your houseboat, it’s a short drive to spend the last few days of your holiday winding down on Marari Beach, one of the best beaches in Kerala, with a good variety of accommodation.

Enjoy the beach, take a dip in the sea, work on your tan, sip a fresh coconut and finish that book.

It’s a 2-hour drive from your hotel to the solar-powered Cochin International Airport for your flight home.