The natural beauty, rich colourful temples, exotic cultural, sound and smells are captured on this superb fitness holiday, combined with fine day walks in Western Ghats and glorious beach retreat stay in unknown Malabar for mind, body and soul.

Programme at a glance: Mumbai- Mudurai- Munnar- Kumarakom- Allepe (Backwaters)- Kochi-Neeleshwar-Mumbai.

Grade: Gentle- Fitness Holiday.
Duration: 17 days, including two day trekking.
Best time: Mid October to Mid March.
Focus: Temples, walking though Western Ghats, wildlife, backwaters, cultural and fine beach retreat.

Itinerary

DAY 01 Leave your country
Fly from your home country to Mumbai.

Day 2: Arrive Mumbai,
Assistance and transfer to the hotel for immediate check-in, Breakfast and time free. Afternoon we take a sea-voyage to Elephanta Island. This is one of the most celebrated rock - cut cave sanctuaries in the world, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the God of Transformation, and dating from the 8th century A.D. Breakfast and overnight in hotel.

Day 3: Mumbai - Madurai,
Today we fly to Madurai, the famed city of the Mother Goddess in Tamil Nadu by Indian airlines departing Mumbai at 9.40 am arriving at 13.00 hrs. Transfer to hotel, with a late afternoon evening visit to the atmospheric Subrahmaniyam Temple, carved out of living rock. Breakfast and overnight in hotel

Day 4: Madurai,
All day to explore the town and the vast Meenakshi Temple, a veritable cathedral, largely built in the 17th century, but housing two much older shrines, dedicated to the mother goddess Meenakshi and her consort Sundarishvara, a form of Shiva…. Breakfast and overnight in hotel.

Day 5: Madurai - Munnar,
Today we drive about 130kms/ 4 hrs through small villages, dense forest and the rolling tea gardens to Munnar and to our hotel with fines views of the surrounding hills. Breakfast, dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 6: Munnar- Silent valley (1600mts/ 25kms drive)- Trek to Rhododendron valley 5/6hrs (2150mts).
After early breakfast transfer to silent valley about 1 hour drive, we set off for our 2 days trek through the tea gardens where you will see people picking tea, after about 30min walk we come to a wide path where we turn right and follow the tea gardens on one side and the forest on the other, we pass through the small forest rest house, nice place for refreshment break, also has few toilets, we then trek on will defined path through the mixed forest, today's trek is a gradual ascend until we reach a small ridge from hear we take about 20mins gradual descent to the waterfall a perfect place for lunch. After lunch we trek on a narrow path for about 30min to our camp, which offers fine views of the surroundings hills, the campsite is surrounded by Rhododendron bushes and trees. Dinner and overnight in Tents

Day 7: Rhododendron valley - Meesapuli Peak- Yellapatty valley, 7/8hrs (2050mts).
A longish day start with very early breakfast and trek on a well marked path for about 20 min and then turn left through the rolling grass land followed by a steep climb for about 100mts to the meadow with several types of grass and flowers, great chances of sighting Elephants and the Nilgiri Thar. We continue with descending through the grass land and then another ascent to the 2nd highest peak in South India- Messapuli (2675mts), the views are splendid on one side of Kerala and the distance hills and on the other side of Tamil Nadu. After having lunch just below the peak we begin out trek on a well marked path used by villagers and forest department, we make a long descent through the grass land, mixed forest and the through the tea gardens to our camp offering commanding views of Tamilnadu, and the valley below. Dinner and overnight camp

Day 8: Munnar - Kumarakom,
After breakfast we drive about 120kms/3 hrs through tea garden and spice plantation to Kumarakom set on a beautiful lake and backwaters, stay overnight in Delightful Resort, afternoon enjoy a village walk or just relax by the pool. Breakfast and overnight in hotel

Day 9: Embark on a delightful journey through backwaters on deluxe houseboat. All meals and overnight in houseboat

Day 10: Allepy- Cochin,
After breakfast we take a 60kms/2 hours drive to the coastal strip and the old trading capital of central Kerala, Fort Cochin (Kochi). Afternoon we enjoy gentle sightseeing of the atmospheric Fort Cochin, with its St. Francis Church, San Sebastian Cathedral, Chinese fishing nets and colonial architecture. Breakfast and overnight in hotel

Day 11 :Cochin,
In the morning we visit Mattancherry, with its Dutch Royal Palace housing some of the best early mural painting in Kerala and the old trading area of Jew town, with its spice warehouses , ancient synagogue and antique shops. evening Kathakali dance performance. Breakfast and overnight in hotel

Day 12: Cochin- Neeleshwar,
After breakfast transfer to the railway station for a day train leaving around 10am and Arriving Neeleshwar at 1800hrs, Arrive Neeleshwar and transfer 4kms to delightful Neeleshwar Hermitage set in 12 areas of landscape garden with superb beach and infinity pool. A perfect place to rejuvenate and take care of body, mind and Soul through various packages on offer including lectures on Indian Art and Cultural by Alistair Shearer who has authored many books on India, Breakfast in Hotel, packed lunch on board, Overnight in Neeleshwar Hermitage

Day 13: Neeleshwar,
Over the next three days there will be the opportunity to engage in the wide range of activities on offer in the hotel including yoga sessions, the many and varied spa and Ayurvada treatments, cycle rides, cooking classes etc, There is also the chance of local sightseeing: to ashrams and temples, Or you can just spend the time hanging out at leisure around the hotel and pool or take long walks on one of India's finest beaches. Breakfast, afternoon tea and overnight in hotel

Day 14/ 15: Enjoy Neeleshwar Hermitage.

Day 16: Neeleshwar - Mumbai
Morning free; Early afternoon transfer to Mangalore airport about 95kms/2 hours to board the afternoon flight to Mumbai. On arrival, assistance and transfer to our hotel located near to the airport.

Day 17: Departure,
Early morning transfer to international airport to board flight to your onward destination.