Kerala is located in the southwestern tip of India. Above all, it is known for its tropical beaches, palm-fringed backwaters and hills of the Western Ghats. Historically, Kerala was the hub of the spice trade. Cochin (now Kochi) was and is a thriving port that has always been a melting pot of cultures and people. Kerala saw great interest from European traders, and the Portuguese, Dutch and British were all lured to this part of India, leaving a lasting impression. To the south, you find Cochin, and for many a starting point for a holiday to Kerala. A walk through Fort Cochin is a delight, as you see historic Portuguese churches, Dutch mansions and spice markets in abundance.
The backwaters surround Lake Vembanad to the south. Here, you can stay on a traditional houseboat floating through remote villages, seeing a way of life unchanged in centuries. All along the Arabian coast, you find gorgeous beaches such as Kovalam to the south and Mararikulam. To the east, you have the popular wildlife sanctuary of Periyar. As you enter the Western Ghats you find tea plantations and stunning views, best seen by a visit to Munnar. Further north explores the untouched delights of Wayanad. Furthermore, along the northern coastlines, you have even more unspoiled beaches in Bekal and Kasaragod.
Above all, Kerala is perfect for a first-time holiday to India. This is due to its relaxed way of life and shorter drives than Rajasthan. It isn’t a destination packed with things to see such as temples or forts. However, it is more about a relaxing insight into local life. This is experienced best when you take your time to slowly immerse yourself in Kerala’s distinct charms. The cuisine is a delight, and it is possibly the best place in India to experience Indian cooking. Kerala combines perfectly with the Maldives if you want a beach stay at the end, or you can easily include Tamil Nadu or Karnataka to the north if you want a longer tour in India.
This is just a selection of suggested itineraries that are there to help you with your ideas and to start the conversation with us about planning your tailor-made holiday. All our holidays are private for you and your party, and can depart on any day you like. We can adapt and change any element of these journeys, or design an itinerary from scratch around your travelling plans.
Kerala is exceptionally laid-back, and a leisurely private tour allows you to see the markets and history of Cochin, tea estates, wildlife, spice plantations, backwaters and end on the Indian Ocean.
Take a leisurely private tour through Kerala, exploring the Cochin, the tea plantations and sleepy villages in the rural heartlands, Lake Vembenad and the backwaters before ending on the beach.
Combine the bustling and colourful markets of Cochin, wander through tea plantations and cruise the backwaters of Kerala before kicking back on the turquoise blue lagoons of the Maldives on an ultimate twin-centre holiday.
You might well feel India is a once-only holiday, and as such a combination of the highlights of north and south India might be what you are looking for.
Spices, elephants, backwaters and beaches await you on a family holiday to Kerala, packed with fascinating experiences and a tropical climate, perfect for a winter-sun family adventure.
Northern Kerala and southern Karnataka are fast becoming the destinations to visit, a blend of history, culture, coffee hills, wildlife and fantastic beaches.
This classic route takes you from Chennai (Madras) in Tamil Nadu, through the hills and into the Kerala to see the tea estates, backwaters and ending on the beach.
This is just an overview of the hotels and lodges we feature, from characterful boutique lodges to luxury hotels. We do have a range of other hotels that we use, so if you don't see from our portfolio what you are looking for, we almost certainly know about it and can help plan an itinerary using it.
This is a selection of experiences that allow you to see the destination in new and interesting ways. Almost all our experiences include a private guide, and can be then tailored to your particular interests. Indeed, many of the experiences we offer are created individually for our guests, so this list is by no means conclusive. In fact, we leave a couple of our best ideas up our sleeves for when you enquire with us.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.