Day 1 & 2Upon arriving at Cochin International Airport, transfer to the Old Harbour Hotel situated in the heart of Fort Cochin. Stay two nights in this refurbished colonial-style mansion. Experience Fort Cochin’s cultural and architectural heritage. Visit the Mattancherry Palace, once occupied by the local Verma Kings and now a museum. Verma Kings of Malabar were tolerant of other faiths including the Jewish and Syrian Christians that arrived on this coast in the 15C. Explore the Jewish Town with its narrow cobbled stone walkways where wayside shops overflow with antiques, silk shawls and Kurtas. The beautiful 16C synagogue with intricate chandeliers and porcelain tiled floors stands in a corner of Jewish Town. The Santa Cruz Basilica built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, the Dutch Palace and the St. Francis Church are all well worth a visit. Stroll down to the Vasco da Gama square, a narrow promenade that parallels the beach where huge Chinese fishing nets are tended by fisherman. Traditional Kathakali and Bharathanatyam dance performances are held at the Greenix Village down Kalvathy Road.

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 exotic birds and butterflies as well as small mammals such as the Malabar Giant Squirrel, barking deer, sambar deer, and wild rabbits. Wwild flowers, orchids and aromatic spices are also plentiful. Explore the hill station of Munnar, 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. 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 spice plantations. Your destination is the picturesque Periyar National Park where you will stay two nights at Lake Palace, a former Maharajah’s game lodge situated on a peninsular within the park. Periyar National Park is one of the most popular in India, and is situated around a reservoir. It 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. Relax on your island, cruising around the lake and trekking through the jungle. We can also organise a spice plantation tour, a night trek, elephant rides and even a bullock cart ride (an innovative idea to prevent unsustainable sandalwood logging) if you can tear yourself away from your island home.

Day 7 & 8Journey to Alleppey, in Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, and check into the Punnamada Serena Spa Resort perched at the edge of the tranquil Vembanad Lake. This region of Kuttanad is known as the `rice bowl of Kerala’ and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Explore rural villages, paddy fields, village bazaars and ancient temples. Alleppey, referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, is surrounded by a large network of inter-connecting canals and has now become another major centre for backwater tours. It has a rich history, having been an important trading port for centuries and is famous for its coir industry, manufacturing of boats, and the traditional snake boat races which takes place annually in August and September. One of the most anticipated events is the Nehru Trophy Snake boat races where magnificent chundum vallam (longboats) with raised rears designed to resemble the hood of a cobra, is propelled by over 100 oarsmen who row to the rhythm of the Vanchipattu (Song of the Boatman) sung by the 25 singers on board, compete for the prized trophy.

Day 9From Alleppey, you board a traditional Kettuvallum houseboat (reconverted rice barges) at noon for one of the highlights of your holiday – an overnight water journey through Kuttanad country, a land of shimmering waterways, dense tropical greenery and age-old village livelihoods so vividly described in Arundhati Roy’s remarkable novel `The God of Small Things’. Your comfortable houseboat, fully staffed with a friendly and attentive crew, will chug slowly through the tributaries, lakes and creeks allowing you to relax and unwind. The Backwaters of Kerala consisting of lagoons, lakes, canals and a network of 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 night, once your houseboat is anchored in the waters, dine on the helm under a starlit sky with the sound of crickets in the background.

Day 10, 11, 12 & 13Head towards the south west coastal town of Kovalam. Check into Travancore Heritage, one of Red Dot's favourite beach properties in Kerala, offering comfortable accommodation in individual Kerala heritage cottages and traditional Kerala hospitality. Relax for four nights on the sunkissed beaches of the Arabian Sea. Several recreational activities are offered by the beachside especially during the season when the stretch of beach in front of the Beach Grove extends almost 7 kms. Rest and rejuvenate at the in-house Ayurveda centre which is well known for its relaxing and curative therapies. Enjoy traditional dance and music performances including Bharathanatyam and Kathakali dance held regularly by the poolside. Visit the Napier Museum and the Sree Chithra Art Gallery in Trivandrum, Kerala’s capital city situated 15kms away.