Thirteen days across Kerala, end to end: the colonial harbor of Cochin, the tea estates of the Western Ghats, a private night on the backwaters, and three on the empty sands of the Arabian Sea coast.
13 days
|From £3,910 pp
Thirteen days across Kerala, end to end: the colonial harbor of Cochin, the tea estates of the Western Ghats, a private night on the backwaters, and three on the empty sands of the Arabian Sea coast.
This itinerary moves from the colonial port of Cochin into the spice country of the foothills, up to the tea estates of Munnar at 1,600 meters, across to Periyar’s wildlife reserves, then down to sea level for a private night on the backwaters and three nights on the Arabian Sea coast.
Each stop earns its place. The pace is unhurried, the driving distances are manageable (rarely more than four hours), and the route ends where Kerala is at its quietest, on the empty sands of Marari Beach.
A private driver stays with you for the full thirteen days. International flights, all accommodation, and the listed experiences are included throughout.
You land in Cochin and are met by your driver, who takes you to Fort Kochi, the historic peninsula where the city’s Portuguese, Dutch, and British layers are still visible. The Old Harbour Hotel, set in an eighteenth-century Dutch trading house, is your base for two nights.
A private half-day tour with a local guide covers St Francis’ Church, where Vasco da Gama was originally buried, and Santa Cruz Basilica. The route is tailored to your interests; if you want to spend longer in the spice markets or the Mattancherry Palace district, your guide can build the day around that.
The evening of day two is given over to a cooking class in a Keralan family home. You learn the basics of regional dishes (fish moilee, appam, beef ularthiyathu) and eat what you cook with your hosts.
A three-hour drive inland takes you to Dewalokam, a working spice farm run by Jose and Sinta Joseph as a homestay.
The property sits beside a river you can swim in, and the days are unstructured: a guided spice plantation walk, cycling through neighboring villages, a visit to the local temple, sessions on honey extraction and dairy farming if you want them. The cooking here is among the best you will eat on the trip.
From Kodikulam, another three-hour drive climbs into the Western Ghats to Munnar, where the landscape becomes tea. Windermere Estate is the right base: a working plantation property with views that justify the elevation gain. A private guided trek through the Letchmi Hills the following morning is timed for the cool early hours; the pace is adjustable.
A four-hour drive east brings you to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s most established tiger reserves.
You stay one night at Spice Village, a CGH Earth property built around a working garden, with an afternoon 4×4 expedition through the surrounding villages and a family-run spice farm at Kumily.
The following day is the trip’s pivot. After brunch, a three to four-hour transfer takes you to the Alleppey backwaters, where you board a private rice barge for a single night.
The boat moves slowly along the canals through paddy fields and waterfront villages, with a chef on board and the afternoon and evening entirely your own. By any measure, this is the most distinctive night of the trip.
You disembark after breakfast and your driver takes you to Marari, a fishing village on the Arabian Sea about an hour north of Alleppey.
Marari Beach Resort is the right choice here: thatched cottages set in coconut groves, an Ayurvedic centre that is taken seriously rather than added on, and a stretch of sand that remains, even in season, largely empty.
Three nights gives you time to actually slow down. The hotel arranges bicycle hire for the surrounding lanes, fishing trips with local crews, and a full Ayurvedic programme if you want it.
On day thirteen, the drive back to Cochin takes around ninety minutes and is timed to your return flight.
A physician-led Ayurvedic programme in Kerala combines classical diagnostics, tailored treatments, and daily routines within a heritage wellness retreat set along the region’s backwaters. This is a structured reset grounded in medical tradition, guided by licensed practitioners, and shaped by place.
Experience a private safari in Ranthambore National Park with expert guides and agile Gypsy vehicles, maximizing your chances of close-range Bengal tiger sightings in daylight.
A luxury Taj Mahal tour with private arrival, expert guidance, and seamless access, curated by Do Not Disturb for depth, ease, and cultural understanding.
Tell us how you want to feel, we’ll take it from there.
“Our trip was truly magical and full of core memories that will last us a lifetime.”
Michael • Bora Bora Honeymoon
“We just returned from an incredible journey through Ireland, and we couldn’t have had a better experience”
Brad • Ireland Adventure
“This was a flawless experience right from the beginning, we had so many thoughts and ideas flowing around and they took all of them and perfectly curated the most beautiful honeymoon for us.”
Kris • Sicily Honeymoon
5 min read
Discover Anguilla and St. Barths in one seamless journey. Pristine beaches, private villas, exceptional dining, and effortless island-hopping curated by Do Not Disturb.
6 min read
St Lucia has quietly become one of the Caribbean’s most compelling destinations for wellness travel, where volcanic terrain, dense rainforest, and a slower pace of island life create conditions that few other places can replicate. From luxury spa resorts anchored beneath the Pitons to thermal springs hidden in the interior, the island rewards travellers who […]
5 min read
St Lucia packs more variety into a single island than almost anywhere else in the Caribbean. Over the course of a week, it is possible to move between yacht-filled bays, volcanic peaks, rainforest-covered mountains, hidden beaches, and some of the region’s most sought-after hotels, all without ever feeling rushed.
3 min read
Although firmly Caribbean, St. Barts feels distinctly French. You’ll notice it in the bakeries, the restaurants, the wine lists and the attention to detail found throughout the island. It is this combination of French culture and Caribbean scenery that has helped establish St. Barts as one of the world’s most sought-after honeymoon destinations.
Planning your trip should feel effortless.
You share what matters, whether it’s a destination, a feeling, or a moment worth celebrating.
Your dedicated expert shapes a thoughtful, private itinerary tailored entirely around you.
Every detail handled. Every moment considered. Support before, during, and after your journey.
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll craft a journey as unique as your state of mind.
Ask us anything.
