Kerala Highlights Tour

Kerala moves at its own pace, and this nine-day route takes you through the best of its contrasts, from colonial-era streets to misty tea hills to slow water. It's a good fit if you want variety without constant rushing.

You start in Fort Kochi, with its old trading-post streets and Chinese fishing nets, before heading up into the hills around Munnar, where tea plantations roll out in every direction. A night on a houseboat lets the backwaters set the pace for a while, and you'll also spend time in Periyar and Eravikulam National Park looking for wildlife rather than ticking off sights.

It suits couples, families or small groups who want a mix of culture, nature and a genuine change of scenery every couple of days, without needing to plan the logistics themselves.

What you'll do

• Wander the old streets and fishing nets of Fort Kochi
• Walk through the tea plantations around Munnar
• Spend a night aboard a houseboat on the backwaters
• Look for wildlife in Periyar National Park
• Visit Eravikulam National Park in the hills