Kerala – Bespoke India Itineraries

Defined by its glorious Arabian Sea coast, a maze of glistening backwaters, and the scented breezes of spice- and tea-covered hills, Kerala is an entirely different world.

This exceptionally tolerant socialist district is home to Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities and is the home of Ayurvedic treatments and diet. We recommend exploring both Kochi (or Cochin) and Kumarakom which hit all the notes of a tropical symphony. Direct flights from Mumbai or New Delhi will connect you South in a few short hours, and we suggest setting aside anywhere from 3-5 days to explore.

A wooden houseboat drifts slowly along a calm palm-lined backwater canal in Kerala, India.

A thatched houseboat rests on calm Kerala backwaters, with palm trees and soft morning mist drifting above the shore.

A vibrant purple flower blooms in close focus against a blurred lush green tropical background.

Why visit Kerala?

From giant Chinese fishing nets and Dutch palaces to Portuguese churches, a 400-year-old synagogue, and the white sails of Arabic dhows, Kerala's port town of Kochi is a living museum of the spice trade's global reach. Highlights include St Francis Church, the oldest European-built church in India, and Mattancherry Palace, which dates back to 1557.

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From giant Chinese fishing nets and Dutch palaces to Portuguese churches, a 400-year-old synagogue, and the white sails of Arabic dhows, Kerala's port town of Kochi is a living museum of the spice trade's global reach. Highlights include St Francis Church, the oldest European-built church in India, and Mattancherry Palace, which dates back to 1557.
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Kumarakom (one of Kerala’s most alluring backwaters) is a paradise best explored from the vantage of an overnight houseboat journey. Silently glide past the bucolic scenes of rural countryside, along mangrove forests mingling with rice paddies, coconut palms, and bursts of lilies. Along the banks you’ll see people tending their fields, washing clothes, and socializing.
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Kerala is the heartland of Ayurveda, and whether you're easing into a poolside treatment at a backwater resort or practicing yoga beneath swaying palms, the pace of life here is genuinely restorative. After the bustle and buzz of a journey through India, Kerala feels like a long, slow exhale.

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