Kerala Backwaters & Beaches

Arrive at Cochin International Airport. Transfer to Fort Kochi — a charming colonial peninsula with Dutch, Portuguese and British heritage. Evening stroll past the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset. Dinner at a heritage restaurant in an old Dutch mansion overlooking the harbour.

Morning guided walk through Fort Kochi: St. Francis Church, Dutch Palace, and the Jewish Synagogue. Explore Princess Street's antique shops and spice markets. Evening: Kerala Kathakali classical dance performance with elaborate makeup and costume.

Drive up into the Western Ghats to Munnar (130km, ~4 hours). India's most beautiful hill station — sweeping tea estates at 1,600m. Evening walk through a working tea estate as the mist rolls in. Dinner of traditional Kerala sadya on banana leaf.

Drive to Thekkady — gateway to Periyar Tiger Reserve. Morning boat ride on Periyar Lake — spot wild elephants, bison, and abundant birdlife. Afternoon: guided spice garden walk through cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon plantations. Evening: Kalaripayattu martial arts demonstration.

Board your private luxury houseboat at Alleppey — a renovated traditional kettuvallam. Cruise through Kerala's legendary backwater network: canals, lagoons, and rivers fringed with coconut palms. Watch village life unfold on the banks. Overnight on the water under the stars.

Disembark and drive to Kovalam (3 hours) — Kerala's most beautiful crescent beach. A final swim in the Arabian Sea, an Ayurvedic massage, and seafood lunch before transfer to Trivandrum Airport for departure.