DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: UK to Fort Kochi
Fly overnight from the UK to Cochin (via Doha). On arrival you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred approx. 1 1/2 hrs in your private vehicle to Fort Cochin where you will spend 2 nights at the Brunton Boatyard. This restored period building is a five-star hotel whose interiors reflect an eclectic, but tasteful blend of English, Portuguese and Dutch influences as seen in its high ceilings, hanging fans and a plethora of artifacts and curios from a great mercantile age known for its pomp and glamour. Settle in this afternoon. Welcome to India!

Day 2: Fort Kochi
You have the full day to explore Fort Kochi at your leisure! Wander through the streets stopping at the famous sites including St Francis Church, the Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace and the Chinese fishing nets. Our guides are extremely knowledgeable. Call us to find out more. 

Day 3: Fort Kochi to Lake Vembanad 
Today you will be driven to where you will board your Spice Coast Houseboat for 1 night. This is the perfect way to get intimate with the bewitching waterways of the lake in the heart of Kerala! You get to journey upon a ‘Kettuvalam’, a traditional houseboat, which was once used to carry cargoes of rice and spices up and down these same waterways for centuries. Start on Vembanad Lake (the longest in India) before heading to small tributaries in a loop. After a day of cruising along and bird-spotting, you’ll moor up on an ‘island’ alongside other houseboats. 

Day 4: Backwaters
After a delicious, authentic Indian breakfast, you will head back to dry land to continue your backwaters adventure with 3 nights at Coconut Lagoon – located in a sheltered and enchanting cove in Kumarakom, Coconut Lagoon is an interplay of coconut groves and backwater canals, with old wooden Keralan homes transplanted, preserved and cherished. Enjoy a dip in the pool this afternoon as you look out on to Vembanad Lake. 

Days 5 & 6: Backwaters
Two full days in the heart of the Keralan Backwaters to spend at your leisure. Head out in a canoe and cruise along the backwater canals at your own pace, wander through the butterfly garden, take one of the e-bikes from the hotel and explore the area that surrounds Coconut Lagoon, enjoy a massage at the Ayurveda Centre, or simply sit by the pool and enjoy the views. 

Day 7: Backwaters to Marari Beach
Today you will be driven approx. 1 hr to the stunning Kerala coast and to the sleepy fishing villages of Marari Beach, spending 4 nights at the Marari Beach Resort. Marari Beach Resort is a tribute to the fishermen of the village and the guest cottages echo their dwellings in style and character. Want some more time on the beach? Talk to us about adding in a night or two for some more time by the sea. 

Days 8 – 10: Marari Beach
Three full days to relax on one of the best beaches in India. The main order of the day at Marari is hammocks, swimming in the ocean, long beach walks, and more hammocks. And for the nature lovers, enjoy a walk through the butterfly garden, and head out on a morning stroll with one of the naturalists in tow to introduce yourself to the coast’s unique ecosystem.

Day 11: Marari Beach to Mumbai
Today you will be collected and transferred approx. 2 1/2 hrs to Cochin Airport to catch your short domestic flight to Mumbai. On arrival, you will be met and transferred approx. 40 mins to the Oberoi Mumbai where your Indian adventure ends with 2 nights. The Oberoi, Mumbai is a striking example of modern architecture that lifts you up over Marine Drive to enjoy magnificent views of the ocean and ‘Queen’s Necklace’ lights along the shoreline. 

Day 12: Mumbai
This morning you will be collected for a Dharavi Tour. Explore this window into Mumbai’s working neighbourhood and explore the area that 1 million inhabitants call home. The rest of the day will be at your leisure – explore temples, markets, and head to the Gateway of India. Or simply, head back to the hotel, and enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool before you head home.

Day 13: Mumbai to the UK
Early this morning you will be transferred back to Mumbai Airport for your flight back to the UK. Not sure if 13 days will be enough time to explore India? Call us on 01273 923100 if you want to add in some extra stops before you head home. 

Welcome home…(don’t worry, there are lots more India adventures!).