Day 1 & 2Upon arriving at Cochin International Airport, you will be met by a Red Dot representative and transferred to Fort Cochin, an old trading post on the ancient Malabar Coast. The journey from the airport will take about one hour. Check-in for your two night’s stay at Hotel Arches, a colonial-style property located in the heart of Fort Cochin across from St Francis Church and the Parade Grounds. This is an ideal base from which to explore Fort Cochin’s cultural heritage. Stroll down to the Vasco da Gama square, a narrow promenade that parallels the beach where huge Chinese fishing nets are tended by fisherman. These large contraptions are built out of teak wood and bamboo poles, almost in the shape of a preying-mantis, and date back to the 14th century. Traditional Kathakali and Bharathanatyam dance performances are held at the Greenix Village down Kalvathy Road. Go early and catch the intriguing ritual of the Kathakali dancers putting on their make-up before their performance. Visit the Mattancherry Palace, once occupied by the local Verma Kings and now a museum that tells of their lifestyle. Explore Jewish Town with its narrow cobbled stone walkways where wayside shops overflow with antiques and silk shawls; the 16C synagogue with intricate chandeliers and porcelain tiled floors; the Santa Cruz Basilica; the Dutch Palace and St Francis Church.

Day 3 & 4Journey two hours to the tea covered hills of Munnar and the lush green forests of the Western Ghats. Check into Tall Trees, an eco-friendly holiday resort situated 1500m above sea-level a short drive from Munnar. Stay two nights here. Explore the 66-acre estate of Tall Trees, home to numerous exotic birds and butterflies as well as small mammals such as the Malabar giant squirrel, barking deer, sambar deer, and wild rabbits. Exotic flora ranging from wild flowers and orchids to aromatic spices is found in plenty within the estate. Explore the hill station of Munnar, once the summer resort of the British during the colonial period. Sprawling tea plantations, gushing waterfalls and untouched wilderness with exotic flora and fauna make this an adventurous holiday destination. Munnar is surrounded by rows of jagged peaks, including the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which stands at 2695m. With spectacular scenery, reservoirs, and tea-covered hills, Munnar is perfect for trekking, mountain climbing, birdwatching, boating, trout fishing, and cycling. Rich in bio-diversity, the surrounding forests are home to more than 300 species of birds, wild elephants and sambar. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park which is home to the famous Nilgiri Tahr, a rare species of mountain goat, is worth a visit.

Day 5 & 6Today you travel to the spice-growing foothills of the Western Ghats, an area dubbed Cardamom Hills after its legendary spice plantations. Your destination is Vanilla County, a homestay in the rural village of Vagamon near to the picturesque Periyar National Park. Vanilla County is an eco-agri tourism project, and has much to offer those interested in eco-friendly agriculture methods including sustainable organic farming methods and rainwater harvesting. Interesting excursions include a trek to the tranquil Meenachl River, Marmala waterfalls, Illickal Peak, and the Ayyampara rocks. Visit the Periyar National Park which is situated around a reservoir. The park was first declared a forest reserve by the Maharaja of Travencore over a century ago and was incorporated into Project Tiger in 1973. You are likely to see elephant grazing by the lakeside, bison, sambar, wild boar, barking deer and numerous birds. But the tigers are shy and are usually heard not seen, especially during the nights as they prowl the jungle for their prey. The forest department have successfully co-opted the support of the indigenous Mannan community who now conserve the reserve in exchange for money from eco-tourism. This lakeside wildlife sanctuary is best explored by boat or on foot with a trekking guide.

Day 7, 8 & 9Journey to Kumarakom, an island in the backwaters of the magnificent Vembanad Lake. You will stay three nights at Philipkutty’s Farm, a homestay with a difference -- although you share your meals and lifestyle with the host family, you stay in one of three separate waterfront villas located on the banks of the Vembanad. Sit out on your private verandah and watch as life moves by ever so slowly in these quite backwaters: villagers rowing by in their canoes loaded with coconut husks or vegetables on their way to the market, children going to school or women washing clothes at the edge of the waters. Set sail yourself and visit the village across the waters, stop by at an ancient church or Hindu Kovil, or just stay home and learn to cook a traditional local meal.

Day 10Today you board a Kettuvalam house boat from Kumarakom and journey through Kuttanad country to Kovallam. The Backwaters of Kerala, consisting of lagoons, lakes, canals and a network of up to 41 rivers, meet at specific estuaries leading to the Arabian Sea. More than 900kms of this massive water body can be explored by boat. Views change constantly as you move along: lush green paddy fields and coconut groves, tranquil waters momentarily disturbed by cormorants and brahmini kites diving down in search of their catch, fisherman tending to their Chinese nets, and villages passing by in canoes filled with coir and vegetables. Stop enroute and explore rural villages, Hindu kovils and churches. At 6pm the houseboat will moor up and the staff will cook a sumptuous traditional feast. Dine on the helm under a starlit sky with the sound of crickets in the background. Sleep contentedly in your cabin overnight and meander on to Kollam the next morning.

Day 11, 12, & 13Once you arrive in the south west coastal town of Kovalam, check into Coconut Bay Beach Resort is, a small mid-range hotel with a high and enviable view over Nellikunnu Beach in Vizhinjam. Relax for four nights on the sun-kissed beaches of the Arabian Sea. Rejuvenate at the in-house Ayurveda centre. Visit the Napier Museum and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery in Trivandrum, Kerala’s capital city situated 15 kms away.