The Tropical South

The adventure starts in Cochin (Kochi) on the Malabar (or Pepper) Coast. It's believed to have been the first European settlement in the country and retains a relaxed atmosphere, despite recent growth. You can arrive at the hotel at any time, but check-in is normally from 2pm. After, we have free time to explore or relax after your travels. Alternatively, for those arriving in time, join an afternoon harbour cruise around Fort Cochin (please arrive at the hotel by 1pm to join the cruise). Stay: Abad Atrium Hotel (or similar).

Today we take a sightseeing tour of Cochin, taking in the adjacent historic neighbourhoods of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. In Fort Cochin, we'll visit St Francis Church, where Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama died in 1524; see Santa Cruz Cathedral, originally used as a warehouse by the British; and wander past fishing nets lining the harbour entrance, which were introduced by the Chinese in the late-14th century.

In Mattancherry, we visit Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in the mid-1500s in a traditional Keralan style, and Jew Town, once home to a Jewish community and now a great place to peruse antique shops and warehouses. Those interested can visit Thomas Chettan in the Little Queen Embroidery shop to learn about hand lace work, a dying art using bobbin lace. There is the option in the late afternoon to see a Kathakali dance performance. Please note, a similar show is also available in Periyar on Day 8. Stay: Abad Atrium (or similar) (B).

After breakfast, we drive away from the coastal plain to Munnar, which is set among the highest mountains in Kerala. The drive is 100mi (160km) and should take approximately five to six hours. Munnar is a beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats, once a summer resort for the British government. It is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams (Mudrapauzha, Naliathanii and Kundala) and is surrounded by lakes, reservoirs, forests and several tea estates. Anamudi, the highest peak in southern India at 9,725ft (2,695m), dominates the skyline and the many smaller peaks are a walker's paradise.

In the afternoon, we visit Srishti, a charitable trust aiming to improve life for disabled people from the tea planter families of Munnar. They are trained for three industries – deli (bakery), aranya (cloth dyeing) and atulya (paper making). It's wonderful to see their work and learn about the organic products used for dyeing and making paper. Please note that Srishti organisation will be closed on public/religious holidays and may also close at short notice due to operational reasons. Your Leader will update you on any changes to the program in these instances. Stay: Eastend hotel (or similar) (B).

After an early breakfast, we take a short drive through old Munnar and travel down to the tiny village of Nagarmudi, where we start our trek accompanied by a local guide. It begins with a long, gradual ascent winding through tea plantations and then climbs into Seven Malai Hills.

Our hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views over Chittrapuram Dam, Changulam Lake, Anamudi, Munnar and other villages (weather dependent). We then descend back to our vehicle. Please note, there are a couple of steep ascents and descents on this trek, but the pace is slow and steady with plenty of rest stops along the way.

In the afternoon, there is also an optional visit to a tea museum followed by an optional tea-tasting session. Stay: Eastend hotel (or similar) (B).

Leaving Kerala, we drive 100mi (165km) through the hills to the colourful temple town of Madurai, in Tamil Nadu. The drive should take approximately six to seven hours, arriving mid-afternoon. After an early dinner, you can join an optional tour to witness the nightly closing ceremony at the Meenakshi Amman temple.

You will be whisked into the city centre in a tuk tuk convoy, led by your local guide, to a historic Hindu temple on the bank of the River Vaigai dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareshwara. The ceremony can happen at any time after the temple closes for the night (approximately 9:30pm), so you may need to wait for an hour or so to witness the extraordinary procession but it's well worth it.

Your local guide will walk you through the temple explaining the purpose of the ceremony and bringing the temple history and culture to life. We recommend applying mosquito repellent before leaving for the temple (including feet as you will be barefoot inside). You will likely be back at the hotel, depending on the ceremony time, between 10:30pm and 11pm. Stay: Germanus hotel (or similar) (B).

We rise early morning for what many consider a highlight of this trip! Walking in small groups through Madurai as the sunrises and the city wakes, we'll observe the community going about their everyday life: milking cows, creating kolams (intricate artworks on the floor) and preparing breakfast at roadside food stalls.

Along the way you can try some local drinks and a snack to keep you going. Ending the morning walk at the city's most famous landmark, we visit the Meenakshi Temple, an outstanding example of Vijayanagar temple architecture, built between the 16th and 18th century. It‘s a hive of activity and the scene of an almost continuous religious festival. You'll arrive back at the hotel this morning in time to catch a late breakfast and relax.

This afternoon we delve back into the city, this time taking in the Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, built in 1636 in the Indo-Mughal style by the Nayak dynasty, and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, where you can see a visual biography of Gandhi containing photos, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and copies of his letters. After the Memorial visit we will stop by at the local flower market before returning to the hotel.

In the evening, there are many restaurants to visit; some of the best are on rooftops with fantastic city views. Stay: Germanus hotel (or similar) (B).

Leaving Madurai in the morning, we drive to the small bustling village of Thekkady. The drive is spectacular as the road climbs through the Western Ghats and we have fantastic views across Tamil Nadu (driving time approximately four to five hours).

In the afternoon, we have free time to explore the village and bazaar, where we can visit shops selling cardamom, vanilla, peppercorns, turmeric and other spices. The whole area is a centre for spice growing, and this evening there will be a short walk around a spice garden, where we see many different spices growing. We then have a special dinner and a cooking demonstration with a local family in their home. Stay: Peppervine hotel (or similar) (B/D).

In the morning, before breakfast, we join our local guide for a nature walk in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest parks in India (approximately two to three hours) and return to our hotel for breakfast.

In the afternoon, there is the option to join a boat cruise on the lake. This is an ideal way to get close to the animals and we may spot elephants, otters, wild pigs and buffalos. There is also an abundance of bird life – kingfishers, storks and hornbills are the most commonly spotted. Tickets can be purchased online in advance (approximately 900 rupees/US$10. 90 per person, minimum four people).

We recommend doing this to avoid possible long queues at the ticket office. Please inform your leader on Day 1 if you wish to book this in advance as it's also popular with domestic tourists and last-minute booking requests may lead to disappointment. Other optional activities today include an Ayurvedic massage, Kathakali dance show, and a martial arts performance. Stay: Peppervine hotel (or similar) (B).

Leaving the hills, we head to the ecofriendly Erattupetta Planters Homestay, a 1930s home, where polished concrete walls, antique radios, gramophones and telephones offer a glimpse into a bygone era. This is a family home at heart, but you are a welcomed guest, greeted by Grace, the family matriarch who resides here with her son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.

Surrounded by tall rubber trees and tropical fruit trees, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore rural life in Kerala with an afternoon village walk and visit to a rubber plantation to see rubber-tapping techniques. With the bird songs, cool breeze and rustle of trees, this is also a great place to relax. Optional yoga activities can be arranged locally on request (cost subject to group size). Stay: Erattupetta Planters Homestay (Please note, single rooms are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. ) (B/D).

Today we head to Kumarakom, a cluster of small, picturesque islands around the Vembanad Lake. After checking into our hotel, we head out for the Kumarakom Village Walk. Championed by Responsible Tourist mission of Kerala, this Village Walk aims to benefit the local communities we visit through introducing them to the economic and social benefits of tourism, educating and offering their products and services to visitors.

It also provides locals with the opportunity to interact with tourists giving the local communities exposure to new ideas and cultures, and also a platform for showcasing their talents. The village we visit is well acclaimed for its backwaters, delicious cuisines and greenery.

Your journey begins in a Shikhara boat, cruising over the lake flanked by lush green foliage and birds flying overhead as we arrive at the banks of Manjira village. Through our local village Guide and the community, we learn about many of their local practices and products. Experts demonstrate ways of climbing a coconut tree, the laborious traditional way using a thalappu and the modern way using latest instruments.

You'll watch the fascinating process of coir-making and the art of weaving coconut leaves with a chance to try your hand at both crafts. Watch in awe as a skilled fisherman casts his net and catches a few fish with ease and enjoy a stroll by the lush green paddy fields. For some light refreshments, try a freshly cut coconut from their own grove before learning about the famed Kerala toddy, a specialty of the area.

See how Toddy is made and taste it fresh from the pot. Throughout the walk we'll learn about the unique plants and spices surrounding the village and be invited into their homes to see more traditional and unique crafts. Stay: Renai Greenfields hotel (or similar) (B).

Before breakfast in the cool morning air, we have the chance to explore the surrounding villages by foot and gain an insight into traditional life finishing at a local Hindu temple. After breakfast, we start our journey at the Coir Museum, learning how coconut husks were historically manufactured and how so many products we use on a daily basis are created. We board our houseboat at midday and begin our cruise along the Kerala backwaters.

The houseboat cruise is one of the trip highlights – these enchanting boats, built of anjili (wild jack) wood and bamboo, transported goods for hundreds of years. Now they have been decorated and made into comfortable cruise boats. As our boat meanders through tropical vegetation, we can see prolific bird life and gain a different perspective on village life. The cruise takes us along shallow, palm-fringed canals where coconut fibre, coconut meat, and cashews are loaded onto dugout canoes.

In the evening, the boat is anchored by a bank and we watch the sun set over the paddy fields. Stay: Houseboat Please note, single rooms are very limited and can't be guaranteed (B/L/D).

After breakfast, we leave our houseboat in Alleppey and drive (approximately four to five hours) along the scenic Malabar Coast to the beach town of Kovalam. We visit Mannarasala temple en route, which is decorated with more than 100,000 images of snakes. Couples seeking fertility come here and your Leader will explain the origin of snake worshiping.

Continuing, we pass through Quilon for a tea break before arriving at our destination. Once a relaxing hideaway on the old hippie trail, Kovalam has now been discovered, but the influx of tourism has not diminished this beautiful setting. The hotel is within walking distance to Lighthouse Beach, and we'll have time to explore the waterfront shops and restaurants this afternoon. Stay: Soma Palmshore (or similar) (B).

Today is free to unwind on the soft, sandy beach or visit the shops for last-minute souvenirs. This is a great chance to enjoy fresh seafood from one of the many small beach restaurants. Try tandoori dishes – the clay ovens add an exquisite taste to bread and curries. You could also join an optional day's sightseeing from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, the end point of India where three oceans meet: the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

If it's open, the trip can also take in the old wooden palace at Padmanabhapuram (extra cost), a marvellous building with fantastic wood carvings, and the Hindu temple at Suchindran, with amazing stone carvings. This trip can be booked and paid for locally. Please note, it is a long day (approximately 8am-6pm) and roads can be prone to traffic delays, but it's always a popular activity. Stay: Soma Palmshore (or similar) (B).

The adventure ends today. Begin your return journey home or, if you'd like a bit more time to explore Kovalam, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Please note, airport security does not permit any spices/pepper to be carried in hand luggage so please pack these in your main luggage. Electronic devices and batteries should be packed in hand luggage as these are not permitted in your hold/main luggage (B).