Explore the beautiful beaches of Kerala, discover the quieter undeveloped beaches of Northern Kerala or travel the short distance from Fort Cochin to Marari Beach for much-deserved relaxation after a touring holiday. For those seeking Ayurvedic Wellness and Holistic Holidays, which Kerala is famous for, head further south again towards Kovalam. The yoga-goers normally check themselves into Somatheeram Ayurveda Village,  or the Niraamaya Retreats, Surya Samudra.

Northern Kerala is perfect for those wishing to escape the crowds; it’s a fantastic alternative to more classic beach stays in South Kerala.  Here you can find Neeleshwar, a beautiful stretch of coastline that’s home to a wonderful boutique hotel, and Bekul, home to the largest fort in Kerala, and a comfortable five-star hotel offering from Taj.

The Keralan coastline runs just shy of 600km in length, so there is ample choice of beachfront hotel, however, do not expect pristine beaches and squeaky sand.

The local fishing community ventures into the sea daily as fishing is still their primary source of income. The beaches are a focal point early morning when the boats return with the catch. It is worth getting out of bed to witness the colourful boats and watch the arduous task of pulling nets to shore by hand.

Kerala is not a fly-and-flop destination but lends itself well to a few days of relaxing at the end of a busy touring itinerary. If a beach paradise is what you are looking for, head east to the Andaman Islands, (Indian owned but bordering Myanmar) or  consider a two centre holiday, with four nights on a Maldivian island. The Maldives are easy to reach from Kerala, just over an hour connection time from Cochin.