We loved the time spent on the backwaters, just gliding through the emerald green waterways, with glimpses of timeless village life - women washing clothes, children swimming and men shepherding ducks across the water or collecting sand from the depths. Everyone smiled and waved as we went by. We were impressed by the facilities on the boat - we even had our own en suite! We also enjoyed the homestay on the backwaters - the family were very welcoming - the two grown-up children spoke excellent English and taught us to play a typical Indian board game - we lost, of course! The house was on the edge of a rice field, with goats and chickens running around the garden. It was a real village atmosphere.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
He had a great sense of humour and always had a smile for us.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
We are a retired couple who are not particularly fit and we found this to be a very relaxing tour - perfect for soaking up the calm and tranquility of Kerala. An added bonus was that we didn't need malaria tablets for Kerala. Don't forget to bring back some of the famous spices of the region, including black pepper, cardamon and nutmeg, which you can see growing up in the hills.
Do you have anything else to add?
If you have never been to India this would be a perfect introduction to the country. The people are very friendly and live life in the slow lane. The whole experience is much calmer than in some other parts of India - perfect for chilling out and just enjoying this beautiful country.
