Kerala Holidays, India

Cruise the secluded Valiyamparamba Backwaters in high style on the Lotus, a beautifully converted ‘kettu vallam’ rice barge. Looked after by an attentive crew, you can sit back, relax and watch the dreamy Malabar landscape glide past. Our favourite feature of the boat is its rooftop terrace, which has a couple of cotton parasols and cushions to recline on – perfect if you wish to catch some rays. Equally lovely views are to be had from the large picture windows of your comfortable en suite cabin. Sometime in the afternoon, the crew will close these and switch on the aircon to ensure a blissfully cool night. The trip includes gourmet meals, drinks and regular stops at points of interest along the way. A real selling point of this cruise is the tranquillity of the backwater area itself, which is much less crowded than Vembanand Lake and the Kuttinad region of central Kerala. Service, design and decor are all maintained to the high standards of the Neeleshwar Hermitage, which owns and runs the vessel.