India
When
Nov to Feb
Price
From 2 500€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
Kerala, nicknamed "God's Own Country" for the lushness of its landscapes, is explored largely from the water: over nine hundred kilometres of canals, lakes, and lagoons connecting fishing villages and rice paddies, navigated aboard a kettuvallam, a traditional rice barge converted into a crewed floating hotel. Far from the frenetic pace of northern India, Kerala naturally imposes a welcome slowness.
The kettuvallam, literally "boat with tied planks," was once used to transport rice along the backwaters before being converted into tourist accommodation starting in the 1990s. Sailing aboard one, generally at a pace barely faster than walking, allows visitors to observe the daily life of riverside villages, between laundry done at the water's edge and traditional net fishing.
Kerala claims one of India's oldest and best-preserved Ayurvedic traditions, with specialised centres offering hot-oil massages and personalised treatments based on the principles of this ancient traditional medicine. The local cuisine, generous with coconut, tamarind, and fresh fish, is traditionally eaten off a banana leaf during a sadhya, a festive meal made up of numerous small dishes.
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Private Kettuvallam on the Backwaters
A traditional barge fully privatised for two nights, an air-conditioned cabin on board, a dedicated crew including a cook preparing meals along the way.
Kumarakom Lake Resort
A cluster of traditional Kerala-style wooden villas on the shore of Lake Vembanad, tropical gardens and an on-site Ayurvedic spa.
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