Day 1 & 2Upon arriving at Cochin International Airport, you will be met by a Red Dot representative and transferred by car 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 a two-night stay at the Brunton Boatyard, a boutique hotel situated at the edge of an estuary where the vast Vembanad Lake meets the waters of the Arabian Sea. Experience the fascinating sites and sounds of Fort Cochin. Stroll down to the Vasco da Gama square, a narrow beach promenade 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 16th century synagogue with intricate chandeliers and porcelain tiled floors; the Santa Cruz Basilica; the Dutch Palace and the 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 Windermere Estate for two nights. At 1600m above sea level, this hill station was once the summer resort of the British during the colonial period. Sprawling tea plantations, gushing waterfalls, untouched wilderness with exotic flora and fauna, makes 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. Munnar is perfect for trekking, mountain climbing, bird watching, 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 & 6Leave the hills, travelling south across dramatic ridges and through thick forests to the spice-growing foothills of the Western Ghats, an area dubbed Cardamom Hills after its most important crop. Head to Thekkady and stay two nights at the Elephant Court situated at the border of Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Visit a spice plantation and learn of aromatic spices such as cardamom, cloves, pepper, and vanilla. Kumily, located nearby is the hub of the spice trade where fresh herbs, spices and essential oils can be purchased. Explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the most popular in India. The park was first declared a forest reserve by the Maharaja of Travencore over a century ago. Tigers are rarely seen here, but they can occasionally be heard hunting at night. Elephants are seen wading in the cool waters. Other animals include bison, sambar, barking deer, Malabar Giant Squirrel, gaur, wild boar as well as over 323 species of birds and 112 species of butterfly. As an eco-tourism initiative, the Forest Department recruits villagers from the Mannan tribe to conduct nature walks for guests within the fringes of the sanctuary. Guests can accompany a Mannan warden at night on his `Jungle Patrol’ or join him by day on a full-day `Border Hiking’ tour which takes you into the jungle on foot. The `Periyar Tiger Trail’ is a two-day adventure for serious trekkers where armed guards take you into the thick of the jungle in search of the elusive tiger. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from September to May when the dry season draws the park's animals out of the forest to the lake.

Day 7 & 8Leave the jungles of Periyar and travel south to Kumarakom for an experience of Kerala’s tranquil backwaters. Stay two nights at Kumarakom Lake Resort, a magnificent heritage-style hotel set amidst 25 acres of landscaped garden on the banks of the serene Vembanad Lake. Relax by the hotel’s 250m swimming pool which meanders around the property. Try your hand at making traditional handicrafts at the hotel’s garden huts where villagers are busy making pottery and baskets. Indulge in a rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage and complete mind & body wellness at the Resort’s award-winning Ayurvedic spa, housed in a 200-year-old heritage building overlooking a lotus-filled pond. Go on a sunset cruise on Kumarkom Lake Resort’s owns luxurious houseboat.

Day 9Today you board a Kettuvalam house boat from Kumarakom and journey through Kuttanad country to Kovllam. The Backwaters of Kerala consisting of lagoons, lakes, canals and a network of 41 rivers leading to the Arabian Sea. Over 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 10, 11, 12 & 13After an interesting journey along the backwaters you arrive today in Kovalam on the south coast and check into the luxurious Sea View Wing at The Leela, a magnificent five-star hotel with sweeping views of the Kovalam coastline. Along with Goa in the North and Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, Kovalam has a reputation for some of South India’s finest beaches. Take in the tropical sun and surf on Kovalam’s beaches or rejuvenate with a relaxing massage at the spa. For those interested in traditional arts and heritage, visit the Napier Museum and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery located in the capital city of Trivandrum located 15 kms away.