Backwaters, Beaches & Idyllic Islands: A Honeymoon in India & the Maldives

When you arrive, your private chauffeur will be waiting to drive you to your first night’s accommodation in Fort Cochin. This charming boutique hotel has a pretty, white façade, pleasant rooms, a swimming pool to help you transition to holiday mode, and babysitting services for those travelling with little ones. Once you feel suitably settled, meet your private driver who will accompany you for the next four days as you explore Kerala at your leisure. To help you get your bearings, start with a private tour of Cochin, a coastal town with a rich colonial history. Perfect for newlyweds, Cochin seduces visitors with its intimate atmosphere and fascinating mix of influences including Portuguese, English, Dutch and French. Explore the town’s highlights such as St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and the Dutch Palace, which houses an impressive collection of murals and artifacts. Then wander the cobbled streets of the Jewish Quarter, home to the oldest synagogue in the country, as well as a host of bustling markets and bazaars bursting with souvenirs and local handicrafts. There’s also the option to discover the area’s vibrant café culture, or to tour Fort Cochin in a classic car.

Prepare for a dramatic change of scenery, as a long and winding road transports you to the beautiful green landscapes of the Periyar region. Allowing for traffic, the journey takes around four hours, after which you’ll check in to another charming accommodation. Set amid lush nature, your hotel has a terrific spa and a lovely swimming pool. Enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in this romantic hillside spot.

Nestled in the leafy Cumbum Valley, a scenic 15-minute drive from Thekkady, you’ll find an organic fruit, poultry and livestock farm. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a friendly face and hop aboard an oxcart for a private tour of the estate, learning about different organic farming techniques en route. You can also participate in activities such as planting, harvesting and cooking. Enjoy a romantic picnic lunch or a traditional Indian dinner prepared using farm-fresh ingredients and take in the breathtaking views of the lush valley flanked by green mountains. In addition, you have the option of a night visit to stunning Periyar National Park, to spot its incredible flora and fauna by the light of the moon.

Get set for a three-and-a-half-hour scenic drive through mountainous landscapes, tea farms and rubber plantations. Your destination is Vembanad Lake in the heart of the backwaters, where a pretty, colonial house surrounded by palm trees awaits you. The atmosphere is intimate and arty and there’s a superb swimming pool overlooking the lake, as well as a fantastic spa offering a range of blissful treatments.

After a restful night, it’s time to explore your stunning surroundings. Dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey (now Alappuzha) is a true paradise. Adorned with picture-perfect scenery, sparkling rivers, lush greenery and freshwater lakes, it’s home to immense natural beauty and the perfect destination for happy honeymooners. The surrounding paddy fields, coconut groves, authentic villages and temples provide an enchanting backdrop for romantic strolls and picturesque boat rides. Spend time at your leisure or choose a two-night private cruise aboard a traditional houseboat, drifting peacefully through the beautiful backwaters.

Following the serenity of Alleppey, you’ll return to Cochin – a one-and-a-half-hour drive away – and spend the night in a comfortable contemporary hotel near the airport. It’s ideally located for a stopover before your morning flight to the honeymoon haven of the Maldives.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for the one-hour-and-40-minute flight to Malé. On arrival, hop aboard a speedboat for a 25-minute ride to your luxury accommodation. Home for the next three nights, the resort is intimate, secluded and utterly romantic, set beside glistening water and dazzling white sand. Choose between beach bungalows a few steps from the sea and over-water villas offering stunning views of the lagoon. All are built using natural materials such as teak, stone and thatch, and have minimalist, modern interiors. There are also several options for families, as well as babysitting available on request. In short, it’s honeymoon heaven.

Enjoy two full days of pure escapism beside the turquoise lagoon and perfect the art of doing nothing. With a complimentary bottle of champagne, tapas tasting, a beauty box and credit to use at the spa, you can start your tropical stay as you mean to go on. Dip into a good book (if you can tear your eyes away from the view), indulge in a divine massage, discover the underwater world during a guided snorkelling trip, feel the wind in your hair aboard a catamaran, try kayaking on the tranquil water, take a nap in the shade of coconut trees, and sail into the sunset on an evening cruise. In addition, the resort offers a host of activities to enhance your stay such as underwater photography, a beach barbecue for two, or a bucket-list dolphin discovery experience.