Your journey begins amid the cacophony and chaos of one of the most charming cities in southern India: Mysore. Vibrant without being overwhelming, Mysore makes a wonderful introduction to India, with its lovely old buildings, its rich history stretching back to the days of the Hindu epics, and its laid-back atmosphere that wins over virtually all visitors. You’ll have a local guide with you on day two to help you get to grips with the local culture – adding depth and dimensionality to what would otherwise simply be beautiful relics. Mysore Palace, one of the grandest and most impressive of all India’s royal palaces, is bound to be a highlight.

Setting out into the jungle before dusk or dawn, surrounded by the hoots and calls of birds and monkeys, eyes darting about the undergrowth for a glimpse of tough elephant hide or a flash of tigers’ stripes: a safari in southern India will take you beyond history and culture, into a timeless world that existed long before civilisation. The forest here is dense, lush and tropical (as opposed to the dry scrub forest of the north), and on its fringes you can cycle between villages where traditional tribal lifestyles survive alongside mainstream Malayalam culture. It’s wonderfully atmospheric and – if you’re lucky enough to see one of the region’s big mammals – a goosebump-inducing experience.

After another mist-cloaked morning safari at Kabini, it’s off to a completely different Keralan landscape, at the colonial hill station of Wayanad. High in the foothills of the Western Ghats, the climate here is fresh and cool, perfect for growing tea, coffee, pepper, cardamom and cocoa. You’ll be staying at a family-run plantation, from which you can go out hiking in the fields and forests, take boat trips on the property’s reservoir, or just chill out, listen to birdsong, and enjoy an ayurvedic massage. Wayanad is far less visited than Kerala’s more famous hill stations (despite being every bit as luscious). It makes for a wonderfully relaxing couple of days.

On India’s golden Malabar coast, it’s all change again. An unassuming little fishing town, Tellicherry doesn’t attract many visitors, but it’s quite lovely: think British-era churches, a red-and-white lighthouse, and a rowdy fish market full of the sounds of vendors advertising their day’s catch. Though the town’s laid-back, seaside atmosphere is easy to love, the real highlight of a visit to this region lies out of town, in villages where the locals celebrate Theyyam. Without a doubt one of our favourite festival experiences anywhere in the world, it’s full-on immersion in a living tradition, and totally unforgettable.

The backwaters – mile upon mile of rivers, canals, lakes and lagoons – are one of Kerala’s biggest attractions, but further south they tend to be buzzing with tourists. Around Neeleshwar, it’s a different story. As you board a converted rice barge and drift along the waterways, you’ll experience Kerala’s quintessential landscape of paddy fields, village churches, coconut groves and put-putting vallam boats in luxurious seclusion. The Lotus’ private balconies and sun deck offer the perfect vantage point from which to watch the landscape drift by, waving at kids playing in the water or watching vendors drift by with boats piled with bananas, coconuts and freshly caught fish.

After disembarking your houseboat cruise, it’s only ten minutes to the Neeleshwar Hermitage, where you’ll conclude your Keralan adventure. And what a way to finish! This luxury retreat on the Arabian Sea, with its infinity pool looking out over gardens of hibiscus and frangipani to the golden sands beyond, is heaven in a hotel. Not only is this a stunningly beautiful setting in which to relax (with yoga classes and ayurvedic spa treatments, naturally), the Hermitage also offers a carefully curated programme of optional activities, including excursions to temples, backwater boat trips, hiking and more. With four nights here to enjoy it, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and explore.