South India: slow beauty in Kerala

Your adventure begins in Kochi, a colorful port-city that’s been attracting traders and travelers for over 600 years. A private transfer will greet you at the airport, ready to whisk you to your boutique hotel. After time to freshen up, you’ll meet your group before heading out together to explore the charming streets of this intriguing thumb-shaped peninsula. You’ll discover an eclectic blend of crumbling colonial relics, ancient mosques and Jewish synagogues, breathing history at every turn. Stroll along the natural harbor, where you’ll see fishermen casting giant Chinese nets out to sea, and weave through alleyways lined with galleries, boutiques and trendy cafes. You’ll enjoy a few sundowner drinks with your group, before making your way to a local restaurant for dinner.

Sunrise in Kochi is the most fascinating time of day, and you’ll catch an early-morning ferry to Ernakulam as the city comes to life. After a delicious South Indian breakfast, you’ll set off to explore some of the city’s famous sites including the oldest European church in India. For lunch, you’ll be immersed in the spicy world of authentic Indian curries, with a bespoke cooking demo at the plantation home of locally renowned chef Nimmy Paul. Later, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Kerala’s unique art form, Kathakali, as you watch the performers prepare their elaborate make-up and costumes. These ‘story plays’ are a fusion of Indian theatre and indigenous folk-dance, and you’ll witness a highly dramatic show, illuminated by towering brass oil lamps.

Begin your day with a private yoga session. This ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Feeling zen but energized, you’ll leave city life behind and set off for the terraced tea hills of Munnar. South India’s largest tea-producing region was a favourite summer resort of the British colonial government, its elevated climate providing relief from the heat of the plains. The journey here is incredibly scenic, winding through the emerald-green hills of the Western Ghats, dotted with waterfalls and sparkling lakes. High up in the mist-clad mountains, your beautiful hotel awaits. After checking in, you’ll have the rest of the evening to relax.

Rise at dawn to admire the highlands glowing with sunrise through the morning mists. You’ll start the day with a bike ride along the relatively flat road leading to the Letchmi Tea Estate. This is one of the most picturesque plantations in Munnar and the landscape as you cycle is a visual treat. Passing through the village, you’ll see everyday life playing out, with domestic animals on the side of the road, neatly lined homes of plantation workers and vibrantly colored temples. After breakfast, you’ll travel by minibus to the Lockhart Estate, a tea plantation dating back to 1879. Here, you’ll follow a trail out to where the tea pickers are working, join them in picking the leaves before learning how the leaves are weighed and processed. To round off your visit, you’ll visit the home of one of the pickers and enjoy a special tea tasting before a relaxing evening back at the resort.

After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to continue your journey. The aroma of spices will fill the air as you cross the countryside towards Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary – one of the premier reserves of Southern India, home to wild elephant, bison, antelope, langur and sambar. After settling into your new hotel, you’ll spend the afternoon at a spice plantation in the Cardamom Hills, learning how the plants are grown, harvested and processed, including the painstaking peeling and drying of cinnamon and the hand pollinating vanilla. This evening, you’ll have a ringside seat at a Kalaripayattu performance. Dating back to the 12th century, this flamboyant martial art is fascinating to watch as the graceful masters perform acrobatic rolls, jumps and dives to defeat their opponents.

This morning is all about wildlife and you’ll start your day with a nature walk accompanied by a local expert. As you explore the diverse habitats of the Periyar reserve, you’ll learn about the birds, butterflies and other exotic species inhabiting the hills while listening to the sounds of the forest. Next, you’ll take to the river on a raft made from bamboo. Jungle animals often come down to the water to drink and there’s a high chance of spotting giant squirrels, nilgiri langurs, elephants, gaur and sambar as you glide silently across the lake. Many of the guides are former poachers who now earn a living by protecting the wildlife they once hunted. This afternoon, you’ll catch your transfer to the sleepy backwater town of Kumarakom.

Work up an appetite for breakfast with an early-morning yoga session. Today, you’ll be embarking on a kayaking adventure through Kerala’s glistening backwaters – a vast network of canals, rivers and lakes extending hundreds of miles across the state. You’ll encounter peaceful scenes here, secluded from the outside world: groups of school children flying kites, crab fishermen reeling in their catch, women in vibrant saris spinning reels on the riverbanks. From here, you’ll travel to Alleppey where you’ll board your next accommodation: an ultra-luxury houseboat. Late afternoon, you’ll embark on a memorable sunset cruise before mooring up for a freshwater feast and a peaceful night on board.

Wake up to perfect stillness, the beautiful landscape reflected in the silent waters of Vembanad Lake. After breakfast on board, it’s back to dry land and onwards to the coast. The beach town of Kovalam gained notoriety as a 1970s hippy hangout – and it’s easy to see why. With its azure sea and endless white crescents of sand backed by cascading palms, this is Southern India at its most stunning. You’ll be staying just out of town in the fishing hamlet of Chowara – a luxurious beachside retreat nestled in 15 acres of lush tropical gardens. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the day is yours to spend however you please.

Another sun-soaked day lies ahead. There’s plenty to be savored here, from volleyball and nature walks to poolside drinks and beachcombing. If you still have energy left for sightseeing, you might want to take the optional day trip to Kanyakumari at the southernmost tip of India. The meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, it’s one of the few places in the world where you can watch the sunrise and the sunset simultaneously over the ocean. In the evening, gather with your group for a farewell candlelit feast, with a spread of fragrant curries and seafood dishes to tuck into. Raise a toast to your new-found friends and an incredible nine-day adventure.

After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, you might have time for a last dip in the pool before arranging your transfer back to the airport. Want to see more of India? Enjoy a prequel to this trip with our longer adventure in Rajasthan, Kerala’s majestic northern neighbor.