Kumarakom, Kerala Holidays, India

It’s hard to imagine a more serene location than Coconut Lagoon. Only reachable by launch, the resort rests on the remote northeastern shore of Vembanad Lake – a vast expanse of water that can look like a mirror of polished metal or choppy inland sea depending on the wind.

Accommodation is offered in luxury antique Keralan houses, made of oiled wood and stone. Each has its own secluded al fresco bathroom. The traditional Ayurveda treatment shala opens directly on to the water, and there’s even an old-style earth-floored gymnasium for demonstrations of Keralan martial arts.

Our opinion

One of the premier resorts on the backwaters, the Coconut Lagoon is a haven of calm on the edge of the Vembanad Lake offering an authentic Keralan experience.