Kerala | Activity holidays in India with Authentic Adventures

Kerala is a very large region of contrasting landscapes, religions and cultures. Inevitably it is not possible to visit everywhere in a fortnight. However, we believe we have struck the right balance between visiting different regions and having sufficient time to explore and relax in each region.

Our colours and culture tour takes us to the dreamy Backwaters, or the Venice of the east, via the lands of spices and on to the high peaks of The Western Ghats. We complete the tour with a couple of restful days in the old colonial settlement of Fort Cochin.

Our shorter Life around the lagoon is based solely on the backwaters and hence we only stay at the Coco Bay hotel and the Fort House hotel.

Throughout the trip our drivers will be with us. We can therefore ensure that our locations are not only the best, but that we are able to respond to events around us and ensure we make the most of the regions in which we stay.

Where we stay

We stay in four different hotels in the four different regions. Not all the hotels are of exactly the same standard and inevitably those at the coast are of a higher standard than those inland. We make great efforts to choose hotels that offer authenticity, quality, service, and proximity to our locations. However, we would ask guests to recognise that these holidays are magical because of the places we visit and occasionally, on such adventures, the accommodation will not come up to the standards of Northern Europe.

Cocobay Hotel, Kumarakom - The Backwaters

Cocobay hotel sits right on the edge of the lagoon. It is accessed only by water and provides a wonderful sense of calm. The rooms are large, the food is good; there is a lovely swimming pool and the staff all very kind. Behind the hotel lies a labyrinth of canals and the exciting village and busy temple of Kumarakom. You can sit on the water's edge in an evening and watch the canoes come home with their catch.

Hotel Treetop, Thekaddy, Periyar

Hotel Treetop consists of a collection of cottages with tiled roofs, and granite walls, reminiscent of colonial bungalows. The rooms are spacious and each cottage has its own area to sit out giving good opportunities for wildlife sightings. It is conveniently close to the buzzing town centre (don't miss the wonderful bookshop), the food is good and the service is excellent.

Hotel Eastend, Munnar

This good small hotel is right in the heart of the hill station town of Munnar. The rooms are large, the buffet style meals are good and offer considerable choice and the service is usually very good.

The artfully landscaped gardens and the cool mist covered hills make the ambience soothing.

Fort House Hotel, Fort Cochin

Hotel Fort House is a lovely charming family-run hotel. It is located by the waterfront and in the very heart of historical Fort Cochin. The rooms are clean and airy and the garden with its abundant trees and tropical plants creates a small oasis of calm. Beyond the gardens lies the pier that reaches out into the estuary. You can sit here and watch everything from canoes to giant container vessels pass by. On some evenings excellent dinners are served on the jetty.