The watery world of Kerala’s coastal plain understandably exerts a great fascination for visitors, particularly the area between Alleppey and Kochi, known in Malayali as ‘Kuttinad’ – and to the rest of us as simply the backwaters.

Formed by a tangle of winding waterways and lakes, the region is irrepressibly abundant, supporting a unique way of life based on farming and fishing. Whether you choose to explore the area by luxury rice boat or canoe, count on extraordinary spectacles around every corner: floating duck farms; white-bearded Orthodox priests travelling to mass in speedboats; todi tappers dangling from giant coconut palms; and boys fishing for crab by torchlight. Rich in local seafood, Kuttinadi cuisine is also one of the most succulent in India.

You can add this experience to any tailor-made itinerary to Kerala.