The Tropical South

Travel by private air-conditioned bus Additional travel by houseboat Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs 11 nights hotels, 1 night homestay and 1 night houseboat All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners included

The places we stay on this South India adventure showcase the varied accommodations available in the region. The properties typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary; however, below are a few of the notable accommodations on this trip. Thekkady: Peppervine Hotel The Peppervine is a short walk from Kumily (the local name of Thekkady), where you’ll find plenty of shopping opportunities, including locally grown spices and an eclectic assortment of souvenirs. Surrounded by woodland, the hotel offers comfort and peace, with spacious bedrooms, an outdoor swimming pool and open-air restaurant. So close to wildlife, you won’t find it hard to spot the monkeys swinging in the trees as you relax. Erattupetta: Planters Homestay Please note: For 2025 departures, the homestay will no longer be included. See Day 9 on the 2025 itinerary for the updated itinerary. Enjoy true Keralan hospitality at your homestay. The main homestay, where all meals and activities take place, is a cosy mansion from the 1930s. On arrival, we are greeted with a warm welcome by Mrs Grace, the family matriarch, who opens her home and kitchen to you. Due to the limited number of rooms at her home, we also use a second family home as needed, a five-minute walk down the path. All rooms are equipped with a wet room-style private bathroom and come with a fan (a few have air conditioning). You won’t find any porter service here, so you may wish to pack a smaller overnight bag for this stay. Alleppey: Keralan houseboat No trip to Kerala is complete without a houseboat stay. Typically, the boats are converted barges (known locally as kettuvallam), once used to transport rice from farm to market. All cabins have private bathrooms and the staff keep you well fed. The houseboats have a deck and dining area, although the style/layout varies between boats. There is a cook, driver and assistants for each boat and the food is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. Houseboats have two to five twin-bedded rooms. Larger groups may be split over several boats; however, the group reunites at riverside stops and the overnight anchor point where your leader will be available. Worth knowing Indian hotels usually do not have heating. However, you can request more blankets or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room (subject to availability). Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter. The electrical sockets at the homestay are the older-style Indian sockets so European/US plugs do not fit here. Be sure to charge devices/powerpacks fully before you arrive. Please note, single rooms are very limited at the homestay and houseboat so cannot be guaranteed and you may be required to twin share on these two nights.