ESSENTIAL SOUTHERN INDIA

Day 1 Arrive Cochin

Arrive in Cochin and meet your private driver who will transfer you to your hotel in the heart of Fort Cochin. Brunton Boatyard is a small boutique hotel situated right on the harbour front and resurrected from the remains of a Victorian shipyard. A sensitive restoration respects the materials of the era, and the lobby still possesses the scale of a boatyard, a vault of sunlight and air, framed by arches and overhung with punkah fans. All of the hotel's 22 rooms overlook the sea, and many are furnished with original, colonial era artefacts. The hotel swimming pool overlooks the harbour, and the restaurant serves dishes which reflect the rich, cultural influences of Cochin.

Overnight: Brunton Boatyard

Day 2 Exploring Cochin

Today you be accompanied by your private guide on a heritage walking tour of Cochin. Formerly a princely state which beckoned travellers from distant shores, Cochin is also known as "The Queen of the Arabian Sea". You will pass the ubiquitous Chinese fishing nets, the Mattancherry Dutch Palace built by Portuguese, the famous Jew Street and St. Francis Church where Vasco da Gama was buried.

Option. This evening witness a performance of Kerala's spectacular Kathakali Dance. This sacred dance has evolved over the last 400 years and is themed around the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The performers possess an enormous amount of athletic and dramatic skill. We suggest arriving early to be able to witness them preparing their elaborate makeup.

Overnight: Brunton Boatyard

Day 3 Cochin by Bike

Rise early and meet your guide who will have your bicycles at the ready. Together you will explore the backstreets of Cochin and see the city come to life. Ride down the narrow lanes and past spice markets as they open for the day. The architecture along the quiet streets is quite clearly European with fine houses that were built by the wealthy British traders. Stop for refreshment at a local store before you make your way to the hotel. After your tour you are free to spend the afternoon relaxing at Brunton Boatyard, or further exploring Cochin at you own leisure. This evening you will set out on a relaxing sunset cruise.

Option. This afternoon join TV Chef Nimmy Paul for a private cookery class, and learn the art of creating delicious South Indian Cuisine. Nimmy Paul has been a highly-regarded chef for over 20 years, and she is a consultant to many well-known chefs, writers and magazines, so this is an excellent opportunity to learn some cookery skills from one of the region's best chefs.

Overnight: Brunton Boatyard

Day 4 Munnar

Leave Cochin with your private driver on a scenic journey east to Munnar. A stop can be made en route to visit a supplier of Ayurvedic products where you can purchase India's renowned plant-based medicines and cosmetics, before you continue inland towards the Western Ghats. In Munnar, your hotel is set on a working cardamom and coffee plantation, six miles outside of the city. The Windermere Estate includes 55 acres of undulating hills covered with aromatic cardamom & and coffee plants, where spacious guest accommodation is set in butterfly-filled gardens with wonderful views of the surrounding hills. After time to relax and settle in to your surroundings you will set out on an evening visit to a local tea factory that dates to 1879, where you can learn about the cultivation work carried out here and taste the blends of tea.

Overnight: Windermere Estate

Day 5 Madurai

Continue your journey east by road to the magnificent city of Madurai in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, a scenic journey of around four hours passing remote villages, waterfalls and vast tea plantations. On arrival, check in to the Taj Pasumalai, set in leafy gardens just outside Madurai's bustling centre. This evening prepare to witness one of India's most intriguing ceremonies, the 'Putting to Bed Ceremony', which takes place each night at sunset at Madurai's spectacular Meenakshi Temple. Watch as the image of Shiva is carried from his shrine to join Parvati, his consort, and marvel at the twelve intricate pyramid towers that are wildly decorated with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colours. The ceremony itself is a truly fascinating spiritual display, and a must-see when in Madurai.

Overnight: The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai

Day 6 Exploring Madurai

Join your private guide for a morning of sightseeing in Madurai. The city is over 2,500 years old and is sometimes known as 'the other city that never sleeps'! Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, it is a place of incredible architecture and home to the Sree Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the most renowned in southern India. Other highlights include Thiruparankundram, a cave temple and one of the six places chosen by the God Murugan as one of his abodes. Visit the Gandhi Museum, constructed after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948 which houses a gallery depicting key moments in his life. Your final stop will be at the ancient Koodal Azhagar Temple, before you return to the Taj in time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai

Day 7 Thekkady

Travel west back to Kerala and the town of Thekkady, to stay at the Spice Village, set in the heart of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Bungalows with elephant grass roofs and a delightful pool are set in vast gardens of pepper vines and cardamom plants, and this is a great place to appreciate the rich wildlife of the region. This afternoon you will visit a local spice plantation. Spice trading in Kerala dates back over three thousand years and pepper still reigns as the king of the spices, closely followed by cardamom, nutmeg, ginger and turmeric. You will explore the plantations with a head planter to learn about the history of the spice trade in the region and how modern cultivation accounts for three quarters of all of India's spice exports.

Overnight: The Spice Village

Day 8 Carnoustie Wellness Retreat

Today represents the final leg of your Southern India adventure as you meander back towards the coast to stay at the award-winning Carnoustie, one of the region's most luxurious retreats, which sits on a beautiful white sand beach. Forty thatched huts are dotted around the property, some with private pools, and a number of pampering treatments can be taken at the hotel's superb spa.

Overnight: Carnoustie

Day 9 Beach Relaxation

Today is completely free for you to relax on the beautiful beach or by the pool in the blissful surroundings of Carnoustie. Close by there are village walks, or you could hire bicycles for further explorations. You might also enjoy early morning yoga, fishing or archery, as well as the hotel's renowned Ayurvedic spa which offers a great range of holistic treatments.

Overnight: Carnoustie

Day 10 The Backwaters

Spend the day aboard a houseboat, cruising the Keralan backwaters. The houseboat is a true reflection of traditional life in the region and is the most wonderful way to explore the interconnecting rivers, lakes and canals that eventually meet the Arabian Sea. Sail gently past small villages and down through quiet waterways, looked after by your attentive crew. The Keralan wildlife is in abundant and the tranquillity you will find is in sharp contrast to the usual chaos and noise that one comes to expect whilst travelling in India.

Overnight: Carnoustie

Day 11 Fly Home

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to Cochin Airport to check in for your flight home.