Family Holiday to India & The Maldives

Culture & Coast In The Indian Ocean

Kerala & Karnataka, Maldives

Duration: 12 nights

Price: From $3,450 per person in low season based on two adults and two children under 12 travelling together and including accommodation, some meals, all internal flights, private transfers, experiences as stated and taxes

South India is a fantastic destination for families, with peaceful, tropical Kerala a serene alternative to the chaos of India’s northern cities – not to mention the sumptuous food, beautiful backwaters and fascinating local culture. On this luxury family holiday, you’ll begin in the cultural melting pot of Cochin, before heading into the Keralan countryside and the calm backwaters. Your trip ends in ultimate indulgent style, with 5 nights in the Maldives at the beautiful Anantara Dighu desert island resort.
Perfect forEnergetic families looking to combine India’s tropical south with desert island indulgence.
In the knowBeginning your trip in Mumbai, to experience life in India’s glitziest city.

Best for

  • Beach
  • Family-friendly
  • First-timers
  • Multi-country

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All itineraries on our website are designed as a starting point. Tell us your budget/wishlist/preferred length of stay and we'll help you select the best hotels and experiences, so your holiday is totally personalised.

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Itinerary details

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3 nightsCOCHIN

Your journey begins in one of India’s most charming and unique coastal cities, Cochin. Shaped by centuries of interaction between Indians and visiting merchants and traders, particularly from Europe and China, Cochin has a unique cultural flavour. Huge Chinese fishing nets line the waterfront and make for a scenic backdrop to a sunset walk, while the Jewish quarter is fascinating. The Pardesi Synagogue perhaps represents Cochin’s melting pot past better than anywhere else, built in the medieval era by Spanish Jews, destroyed by the Portuguese colonisers and then rebuilt by their Dutch successors. There are also numerous Catholic churches, courtesy of the Portuguese, as is the case throughout Kerala; St Francis Church dates way back to 1503. Your home for 3 nights is Malabar House, a luxurious boutique hotel in a restored 18th-century Dutch colonial house.
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2 nightsKANAM

The next stop on your trip is Kanam, a small, traditional Keralan village. You’ll stay at Malabar House’s sister property, the aptly-named Serenity. A converted 1920s estate, the house has a beautifully peaceful setting surrounded by papaya, pepper and rubber plants, and lovely views over the Blue Mountains. One of Kerala’s prime attractions lies at nearby Thekkady: the Periyar National Park, one of the country’s most important tiger reserves, where other inhabitants include Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears and wild pigs. This is a great place to experience rich, traditional Keralan culture, with a stunning Shiva temple at Ettumanur and 16th-century Christian churches at Kottayam. If you don’t fancy doing much, Serenity is perfect – the Ayurvedic spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments, there’s delicious authentic Keralan cuisine, and cooking classes so you can learn to cook it at home. There’s even a resident elephant, Lakshmi, who loves to play with guests.
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Vembanad Lake

2 nightsVEMBANAD LAKE

The final stop on the Keralan leg of your trip is Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes in India and a great base from which to explore Kerala’s famous backwaters. Here, you’ll stay in yet another one-of-a-kind hotel, Philipkutty’s Farm: a collection of luxurious cottages on a self-contained farm island, where pepper, coconuts, beans and bananas are the main crops. It’ll come as no surprise that the food is fantastic here: sumptuous Keralan feasts are shared with your fellow guests around a round table, with all meals included in your stay. Celebrity chef Rick Stein even came here to whip up a fish molee (coconut curry) for his TV show about India. Tours on the serene backwaters are the main draw of this area, with a sundown cruise on a traditional wooden rowing boat an unforgettable experience.
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5 nightsMALDIVES

The second half of your luxury family holiday will see you leave Kerala and India behind, as you head for that stereotypical island paradise, the Maldives. Your home for the next 5 nights will be Anantara Dighu, a beautiful resort where you can enjoy the white sands and azure ocean for which the Maldives are famous. You’ll stay in luxurious thatched villas, eat fantastic cuisine from across the globe at the range of restaurants, and indulge yourself in the Anantara Spa. A range of water sports are on offer, from windsurfing and parasailing to fishing, snorkelling and diving. The resort is fantastic for younger kids, too, with babysitting services available and games and activities on offer at the Dhoni Club. After 5 nights of relaxation at Anantara Dighu, your holiday reaches its end, and you’ll fly home.
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