They call Kerala ‘God’s Own Country’, and it is easy to see why. So coconut palms lean over slow green waterways, tea hills roll into the mist and the food is among India’s finest. The pace here is gentler than the north, which makes it perfect for unwinding. We know the backwaters and hills intimately, from the quietest moorings to the loveliest plantation homes. Every one of our tailor-made holidays is private and built around you. As a result, Kerala restores like nowhere else in India.
Kerala is the soft landing of Indian travel. So the distances are short, the welcome is warm and the scenery soothes from day one. Meanwhile, the culture runs deep, from Kathakali dance to spice-trade history. Families, honeymooners and food lovers all thrive here. As a result, it anchors most journeys through south India.
Most journeys begin in Cochin, magnet of Portuguese, Dutch and British traders. So a heritage walking tour passes the Chinese fishing nets, the old synagogue and pastel merchant houses. The fort quarter of Kochi is made for slow wandering. You might stay at the waterfront Brunton Boatyard or the boutique Malabar House. As a result, history opens the trip in style.
The backwaters are Kerala’s signature. So you drift palm-lined canals on a private houseboat, the cook serving fresh fish curry as villages slide by. The lagoons of the backwaters hum with kingfishers and canoe traffic. Ashore, lakeside hideaways like Purity and Coconut Lagoon sit right on Vembanad. For a family-run gem, Philipkutty’s Farm is hard to beat.
Climbing inland, the air cools among emerald tea gardens. So you walk plantation paths and tour a working tea factory around Munnar. The Top Station valley trek earns the finest views in the high ranges. You might stay at the indulgent Aanavilasam plantation house. As a result, the hills add freshness to the coast’s languor.
Around Thekkady, cardamom and pepper scent the hills. So a walking safari in Periyar tracks elephant and gaur through the forest. The colonial-style cottages of Spice Village sit amid the plantations. Meanwhile, cookery demonstrations turn the spice harvest into dinner. As a result, this is Kerala at its most aromatic.
Every Kerala journey deserves a barefoot finale. So the sands of Marari offer hammocks and fishing-village calm at Marari Beach. Further north, the serene Neeleshwar Hermitage graces the quiet Malabar Coast. For something stylish near Kovalam, try Ahilya by the Sea. As a result, the trip ends to the sound of surf.
There is a journey here for every pace. So Classic Kerala gathers port, hills and backwaters in one graceful loop. For pure unwinding, Slow Kerala lingers longest. Families love our Kerala Family Holiday, while Kerala and the Maldives adds an over-water finale. Equally, Southern Trader and Northern Kerala and Karnataka widen the canvas.
Generally, October to March is dry, sunny and ideal. By contrast, the monsoon drenches June to September, though Ayurveda devotees prize it. The hills, meanwhile, stay fresh year-round. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
Kerala pairs beautifully with Tamil Nadu’s temples or Rajasthan’s palaces. So one trip can run from forts to backwaters. When you are ready, simply get in touch with our specialists. We will then craft a private itinerary around your interests. As ever, every detail is arranged for you.
Kerala is the home of Ayurveda. So treatments here are authentic, prescribed and deeply restorative rather than merely indulgent. Many of our favourite stays weave massage, yoga and herbal cuisine into the day. Meanwhile, the climate itself seems designed for recovery. As a result, guests fly home looking years younger.
Keralan cooking deserves its devoted following. So coconut, curry leaf and pepper perfume everything from appam breakfasts to toddy-shop fish curries. Cookery demonstrations at the plantation stays turn lunch into a lesson. Meanwhile, the seafood arrives hours from the nets. In short, come hungry and leave converted.
Everything we arrange in Kerala is private and hand-built. So you travel with your own car and driver, staying in homes and hideaways we know personally. We choose the quieter moorings and the family hosts who make the difference. Meanwhile, our partners in Cochin are on call throughout. As a result, God’s Own Country lives up to its name.
Kerala’s arts are as lush as its landscape. So masked Kathakali dancers perform epics in slow, painted grandeur. Temple festivals parade caparisoned elephants beneath drumming that shakes the palms. Meanwhile, snake-boat races churn the backwaters each harvest season. As a result, the culture rivals the scenery.
In the end, Kerala lingers like the scent of cardamom. So the slow water and the kind welcome follow you home. Many of our travellers return simply to do less, better. Meanwhile, the hills keep a cooler season in reserve. As a result, one visit is rarely enough.
One night is the classic taste. So lakeside hotels then continue the watery mood in more space. We will balance boat and shore for you.
Wonderful. Boats, beaches, wildlife and gentle distances suit all ages. So our family itinerary is a firm favourite.
Entirely. Every itinerary is private and shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
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.
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.