£1299pp—India: private 10-night tour of laid-back Kerala

Explore Kerala's spice markets, go wildlife spotting, relax on golden-sand beaches, and more on this private 10-night tour. For £1299 per person, you’ll travel at the best time of year for the region, when temperatures are comfortable and there's less humidity—including some dates later this month’ . 

What's included

• Outbound flight to Kochi and return flight from Trivandrum, with 20kg checked baggage
• Private transfers with an English-speaking chauffeur in an air-conditioned car
• The services of an English-speaking guide throughout
• Two nights at the 4-star No.18 Hotel, Kochi, in a Deluxe Room
• Two nights at Tea Harvester in Munnar, in a Superior Tea Plantation View room 
• Two nights at Pepper County Home Stay, Thekkady, in a Deluxe Room
• An overnight stay on an air-conditioned houseboat in Alleppey, with all meals and a bottle of wine
• Three nights at Isola Di Cocco Beach Resort in Poovar, in a Heritage Room
• A 60-minute full-body Ayurvedic massage
• Excursions throughout, with all entry fees
• Daily breakfast and dinner throughout

When
Fly from London on select dates 21, 25 September, 2024; 29 January–12 March, 2025.

Travel on select dates 2 October–4 December, 2024; 6, 19 April, 2025, from £1399 per person.

Depart from Birmingham, Bristol, or Manchester from £1499 per person.

For more information, see our partner's website.

Itinerary
The tour starts in Kochi, one the oldest ports in India and known for its blend of Chinese, European, and Indian cultures. Crumbling spice warehouses line its narrow streets, spider-like Chinese fishing nets loom over the shoreline, and bustling markets display curiosities from centuries past. You'll take a sightseeing tour to explore sights including Santa Cruz Basilica, the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, and Mattancherry Palace. 

On day three, you'll drive to Munnar, the largest tea-growing region in southern India. You'll call at a traditional tea plantation, cloaked in low-hanging clouds in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where you'll have a tea-tasting session before departing for the town centre for a 2-night stay. 

Take a trip to the Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary during your stay and visit Mattupetty for the chance to see herds of wild elephants. Next, you'll delve into history with a tour of the Tea Museum.

It's then on to Thekkady, where you'll spend two nights with a local family in a homestay. This leg includes a wildlife-spotting boat cruise in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, time at the Tribal Heritage Museum, and traditional Kathakali dance and martial arts performances.

Continuing to Alleppey, you'll have two days aboard a traditional houseboat to discover the region's glistening backwaters. Locally called a kettuvallam and held together entirely by coconut ropes, these vessels give a real insight into Keralan life. Marvel at beautiful scenery as you sail—you'll pass by ancient temples, rustic buildings, paddy fields, and swaying coconut.

The trip finishes with a 3-night stay in Poovar, a fishing village with pristine beaches. Isola Di Cocco is a quiet resort set in a riverside coconut grove that is protected from the Arabian Sea by a golden sandbar. There's a shuttle service by boat to the beach throughout the day, as well as an outdoor pool with lagoon views, a spa, and a restaurant.

Other options

• Add a 5-night private tour of India's Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra), with flights and daily breakfast, from an extra £599 per person
• Solo travellers can book this tour from £1699

Transfers & baggage
Private chauffeured transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle are included throughout. There is a checked-baggage allowance of 20kg per person.