Kerala Backwaters

Our trip starts in Kochi, a port city on India's Malabar Coast. Also known as Cochin, it's been a port since 1341 when it was used by Arab, Chinese and European merchants. Built across several islands with criss-crossing waterways, the city has a relaxed feel that speaks to artists and artisans from across the globe. Explore the colourful streets or head to the harbour for sunset to see the fishermen bringing in their catch.

There are no planned activities today, so you're free to arrive at any time. Our tour leader will hold a welcome meeting in the hotel reception at 5pm and there'll be the chance to go for dinner afterwards. If you arrive later, they'll catch you up in the morning.

If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to arrive into Cochin International Airport (COK), which is 40km/1.5 hours from the airport.

Today we'll dive into Kochi's eclectic past with a tour by boat and on foot. First, we'll visit the Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Extensive renovations by the Dutch hundreds of years later earned it the name the Dutch Palace, and it's home to some of the best murals in India, depicting scenes from the Ramayan. We'll also pay a visit to the Jewish town synagogue and to see the famous cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets that line the harbour.

In the early evening, we'll settle in for a traditional Kathakali performance. Combining dance, mime, ballet and opera, Kathakali portrays stories from great Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dance takes years of dedication to master and is characterised by distinct eye movements and facial expressions, enhanced by dramatic, theatrical makeup.

This morning, we'll drive to Munnar. The journey takes around five hours, leading us through tea and spice plantations. Kerala has been renowned for its spices for more than 2,000 years and the coast was frequently visited by the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Chinese. 'Black gold' (pepper) became highly valuable and was sent to Europe by Arab and Jewish traders, who, in return, brought copper, brass and gold coins to Kerala. It was this trading link that brought Christianity and Islam to Kerala, making it the first place in India to host both faiths.

Munnar itself is a small town in the Western Ghats Mountain range. Formerly a resort for the British Raj, it's a tranquil place surrounded by green tropical forests and neat tea plantations. This afternoon is free to explore it at your own pace.

Today we'll start with a visit to the tea museum, where we'll learn about how the leaves are processed. Traditionally, women pick the tea leaves, their brightly coloured clothing creating a beautiful contrast with the greenery of the plantations.

Leaving the museum, we'll drive for four hours to Thekkady, where we'll take a nature walk through the countryside and visit a spice garden.

Our route this morning takes us past rubber plantations and spice gardens to Periyar National Park, close to the border of Tamil Nadu. Whilst Periyar is known as one of the 16 tiger reserves in India, it's probably better known for its elephants. Just 40 tigers live in the 777sq km park and, as they are solitary creatures, seeing them is rare.

We'll set out on a walk in search of other wildlife such as wild boar, giant malabar, porcupine and flying squirrels. The park itself hosts a variety of habitats with open grasslands and semi-even and tropical forests. The ecosystem in this jungle is diverse - trees grow up to 40 metres high, creating a canopy that blocks the sun, so species such as ferns, orchids and airplants flourish.

Leaving the park, we'll head back to the coast to our homestay for the next two nights. We'll stay with local families in a small village and your tour leader will brief you on local customs and traditions. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Keralan way of life - and, of course, try some delicious home cooking like spicy coconut curry.

Our rooms are in traditional Keralan style. All are twin share and the majority have their own bathroom attached, however some have a private bathroom allocated in the corridor. Bathrooms are basic with a toilet and shower and hot water can be limited at times. Bedding and towels are provided.

Today is free to explore the village and get to know our host families. Take a walk through the surrounding villages or simply unwind and relax. There'll also be the chance to take part in a cooking lesson to get closer to the local cuisine.

This morning, we'll begin our tour of Kerala's famous backwaters. We'll board a simple, traditional houseboat to begin our journey into the network of waterways.

Taking a relaxed pace, we'll meander past riverside village life, spotting locals tending to animals and cultivating vegetables on narrow spits of land. Watch as we pass gardens flourishing with brightly coloured flowers, sharply contrasting the tropical greenery.

After our tour through the network of waters, we'll moor up alongside other houseboats for the night. This means we can hook up to an electricity point and turn on the aircon. The houseboats bring us back to basics with simple, en-suite twin rooms - a unique way to spend a night on the famous waters.

After a busy week exploring Kerala, today is free to uncover more of Kochi or relax before heading home.

Our tour of Kerala ends at our hotel in Kochi.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Cochin International Airport (COK).