Kerala & the Maldives

 Arrive in Cochin and transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or exploring the local area. Your hotel is a short walk from some interesting local restaurants and shops.

 Explore Cochin today with your local guide. Fort Cochin is the home to some of the oldest European architecture in India and has been a significant settlement ever since Cochin Harbour was discovered. This evening you will visit a family home where you can interact with the family, learn some secrets of mouth-watering Keralan recipes and enjoy the fruits of your labour in an authentic atmosphere.

 As you cross Cochin's many islands and rolling countryside, a three-hour drive will bring you to Muvattupuzha. Enjoy a relaxed two-night stay at a family-run hotel in the beautiful countryside with many on-site activities on offer if you wish to explore the surroundings.

 If you can peel yourself away from the enchanting grounds and swimming pool of Indian Summer House, then you will find an abundance of activities available to book and pay for locally; all can be arranged upon arrival. Market tours, a local temple visit, traditional Keralan martial arts displays or a canoe ride, the list is endless.

Drive onward to Munnar through changing landscapes as you head up to the hill plantations, passing en route rubber, pineapple and coconut plantations. Check in to your hotel — you might have time to wander through the hotel's gardens.

Enjoy a tour that takes you back in time to the early 1800s, to learn about the houses, bungalows and dams of this area that date back to the British era, and the machinery that is still used today. After a walk through some plantations, you will end the tour with a high tea, served just as it was centuries ago.

Head back toward the coast and spend your afternoon and evening cruising along the backwaters on a traditional rice barge. A private chef on board will provide you with a freshly cooked dinner made from local ingredients.

After breakfast on board your houseboat, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to Cochin Airport for your flight to Malé. On arrival, you will be transferred to Velassaru for the next four nights at your leisure.

Day free to enjoy the Maldives. You might like to try the resort's spa, which offers a huge range of treatments as well as private yoga tuition. Treatments can also be arranged in your bungalow.

You may like to book a boat trip today to visit some nearby reefs. Bring your snorkelling equipment and enjoy the opportunity to spot a variety of vibrant fish and, hopefully, a few manta rays.

Make your last day in the Maldives special by booking a private dining experience. You can enjoy a picnic on a nearby private sandbar, or a candlelit dinner on the beach.

You will be transferred by speedboat back to Malé in time for your flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.