Houseboats on palm-lined backwaters, tea hills and spice markets in southern India. Here's what Kerala is like with the family, when to go and how long to stay.
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December to February is the best time, warm and dry with green countryside. March and April get very hot and humid. The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain from June to September, and more rain falls in October and November. The hills around Munnar stay cooler all year.
Spend a night on a kettuvallam rice boat near Alleppey, watching village life drift by.
Walk past Chinese fishing nets, old churches and spice warehouses in the historic port.
A colourful dance-drama with elaborate make-up. Arrive early to watch the performers get ready.
Cool hills covered in tea bushes, with a tea museum and easy walks.
Boat trips and guided walks in Thekkady to spot elephants, bison and birds.
A clifftop town above a sandy beach, good for a few days of rest at the end of a trip.
Yes. It is one of the gentlest introductions to India, with calm backwaters, cooler hills and beaches. Food can be mild or spicy, and hotels are used to cooking for children.
Ten to fourteen nights. A classic route is Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, a night on a houseboat, then a beach to finish.
Most families fly to Kochi via the Gulf, changing in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. British passport holders need an Indian eVisa, applied for online before travel.
Most families hire a car and driver for the trip, which is good value and avoids driving on busy roads. Trains are an option for longer hops.
Put Kerala on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.