A highlight of Kerala, the legendary backwaters have become a byword for relaxation. Travelling on a local ferry boat as you call into the canal-side communities that lie between Alappuzha (Aleppey) and Kollam (Quilon), or sitting back on a beautiful houseboat is a highlight of any south India trip.

The network of rivers canals and lakes that dot the Malabar Coast have given the region its name, the ‘Venice of the East’. An area of immense natural beauty and skirted by the Arabian Sea in the west this vast network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers shelter some unique animal and bird life, along with countless fairly isolated communities.

This area is famous for its boat races, beaches and coir, and is a land of paddy fields and palm trees. Exploring by boat is a great way to explore and allows a glimpse at a very different lifestyle to the rest of the region. Unmissable!