Continue your holiday to Kerala by driving into the Western Ghats and to the tea-producing region of Munnar, again about a two-hour drive. These are some of the highest altitude tea estates in the world, and the views are superb (weather permitting). Take a walk through the plantations the following day, and a visit to a local Tea Factory. For the more active, we can arrange longer day-hikes, such as Top-Valley trek, a 5-hour trek. We always tailor the day to how much you want to stretch your legs!

Drive south along the spine of the Western Ghats (the drive in incredible) to Thekkady close to Periyar National Park, a drive of about four hours. This again allows you to breathe in the fresh air in the foothills, and to explore the park the following day by a hugely interesting morning nature walk. You might well see wild elephant, but its all about variety at Periyar so expect to see monkeys, a host of bird species and other small mammals.

Drive back from the hills and down to the shores of Lake Vembenad, a drive of four hours. The following day, head off the local community experience (for many a highlight of their holiday to Kerala), where you first take a small boat and explore the backwater canals around Pulincunnu. You then arrive at a local home where your host will cook specialities like rice puttu or appam, served with some chicken or duck curry on a banana leaf. Using ingredients from her kitchen garden she will show you the ways of using different masala. After lunch you walk to the coconut farm and see the art of toddy tapping high up on the coconut trees.

Drive the short distance to Alleppey, just 30 minutes way, and take a private air-conditioned houseboat out on the backwaters. Your boat will be fully staffed with a cook who will serve up the freshest of fish curries as you sip a glass of wine, just watching the world go by. You’ll moor up at night in a remote location, just feeling totally away from it all.

You are just a short drive away from the beaches of Marari, about 45 minutes from your houseboat, and you’ll conclude your holiday to Kerala by spending three days with your feet up, overlooking the Indian Ocean next to a palm-fringed beach.

Say a fond farewell to India, with a drive of about two hours to Cochin Airport. You can of course extend your time in India, possibly fly to Delhi and explore some of the Golden Triangle, or catch a flight to the Maldives for more beach time.