Backwaters & Blue Waters
South India and
the Maldives
March 30–April 9, 2026
Backwaters & Blue Waters
South India and the Maldives
March 30–April 9, 2026
Take a lesson in relaxation and restoration on this small-group journey through South India’s backwaters and the iconic islands of the Maldives. We’ll float beneath palm-fringed banks along Kerala’s canals before heading south to the turquoise waters of Dhigurah Island in the Maldives. We’ll spend our time split between the warm clear waters and the long white sand beach!
Spaces are limited for this 2026 adventure–is the water calling you?
Trip at a Glance
- March 30–April 9, 2026
- Escorted by BJ & Lauren, owners of RetreaTours
- Spend 2 nights on a houseboat on the iconic backwaters of Kerala in South India
- Explore Kochi, where old-world meets coastal cool
- Relax for 5 nights on a local island in the Maldives
- Enjoy snorkel excursions to see manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles & more
- Maximum of 14-16 guests, depending on room configuration
- Enjoy an online photo album after the journey
- This journey is double carbon offset
Click to Jump to…
- Daily Itinerary Details
- Price & What is Included
- Payment Details
- Cancellation Policy
- Our Carbon Offset Commitment
- Vaccines & How to Stay Healthy
- Suggested Fitness Guidelines
- Travel Insurance
- Passport & Visa Requirements
- Temperatures & Packing List
- About our Accommodations
- Wifi & Electricity
- International Flights
- Contact
- About BJ & Lauren
This journey is currently SOLD OUT.
We invite you to join the waitlist for 2026 and the interest list for future trips by clicking on the yellow button. Once on that form, you can check your interest in the “Maldives & Kerala Backwaters” trip under “Journeys in Asia.”
Kochi
Backwaters of Kerala
Dhigurah, Maldive
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
– Loren Eiseley
Itinerary at a Glance
March 30 You’ll arrive in Kochi, India, Kerala’s coastal cultural capital, and we’ll spend two nights at a centrally located waterfront hotel near Old Town.
March 31 Today we’ll explore Kochi’s rich history with an expert local guide. From the spice markets of Jew Town to Chinese fishing nets and Portuguese churches, it’s a walk through centuries of global exchange.
April 1–2 We’ll transfer to a private houseboat and cruise through the iconic backwaters of Alleppey for 2 nights. This is your time to unwind as we float past rice paddies and villages dotting the palm-lined banks.
April 3 We’ll return to Kochi today for some free time–opt for an Ayurvedic treatment, explore on your own, or sip a spiced chai and watch the world go by. Tonight we’ll enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance.
April 4 This morning we’ll fly from Kochi to the capital of the Maldives, Malé. We’ll transfer by speedboat ferry to our home for the next five nights: Dhigurah, a stunning local island in South Ari Atoll, known for its resident manta rays, whale sharks, and laid-back beauty.
April 5–8 We’ll spend our leisurely island days split between the long white sand beaches and the warm aquamarine waters. With luck, we’ll spot whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and more. We’ll enjoy beach walks, epic sunsets, and delicious meals together! Please note, April 5, 2026 is Easter.
April 9 This morning you’ll take the speedboat back to Malé. From here, you can catch your international flight home or stay a little longer on a nearby resort island–we’re happy to help you extend the magic!
Daily Itinerary and Highlights
South India
Kochi & the Kerala Backwaters
March 30–April 3
Hotels
Destination Highlights
- Cruise the iconic palm-lined backwaters of Alleppey on a private houseboat
- Explore Kochi, once a major hub in the global spice trade
- Visit Fort Kochi’s iconic Chinese fishing nets
- Wander through Jew Town and see India’s oldest functioning synagogue, but in 1568
- Enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance
- Spot kingfishers, herons, and cormorants from your boat deck
- Soak up South India’s famously warm hospitality and rich flavors
Kochi
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Namaskaram! Our tropical adventure begins on March 30th in Kochi, a coastal city in Kerala known for its rich history, spice trade roots, and mix of cultural influences. You’ll arrive here independently on a direct flight, or from Mumbai or New Delhi; and we’re happy to connect you with local partners if you want to explore either city before the main event. (Kochi is the world’s first 100% solar-powered airport!) Our home base will be Fragrant Nature Cochin, a cozy hotel near the historic heart of the city, complete with a rooftop restaurant, spa, and pool.
Fun fact: Kochi and Cochin are the same place. “Cochin” is the anglicized version used during colonial times, while “Kochi” is the original Malayalam name that was officially reinstated in the 1990s.
The Indian state of Kerala is often called “God’s Own Country,” and it lives up to the name with its lush landscapes, rich traditions, and deep cultural roots. From palm-fringed backwaters and Ayurvedic healing practices to classical dance, spice markets, and a proud history of religious tolerance, Kerala offers a slower, softer side of India.
Kerala is also politically unique: it’s one of the only places in the world where a communist party has been repeatedly elected through democratic means. That influence shows up in its strong public health system, high literacy rates, and an emphasis on education and social welfare, making it one of India’s most progressive and literate states.
On March 31st, we’ll get to know Kochi with an expert local guide. For centuries, Kochi was the center of the global spice trade, drawing Portuguese explorers, Dutch merchants, British colonizers, and Chinese traders, all of whom left their mark. We’ll walk through Jew Town, a neighborhood once home to the oldest Jewish community in India. We’ll explore the waterfront near Vasco da Gama Square and see the iconic Chinese fishing nets still in use today. It’s a city where colonial mansions rub shoulders with spice warehouses and synagogues, and where history is less of a museum and more of a living, breathing presence.
Front Row to the Backwaters
On April 1st, we’ll transfer to our private houseboat (2-hour drive) to begin our drift through the backwaters of Alleppey (Alappuzha) for two nights. The backwaters of Kerala are a vast, interconnected network of canals, rivers, lakes, and lagoons that run parallel to the Arabian Sea coast.
Lined with palm trees and dotted with villages, they’ve served for centuries as vital waterways for transportation, farming, trade, and daily life–and now, the fine art of complete relaxation. Today is Lauren’s birthday, so there may or may not be cake involved, as well.
Each room on our houseboat features air conditioning and a private bathroom, and there’s plenty of common space to hang out and watch the world go by. Depending on the final size of our group, we’ll be in one or two boats as we float lazily through the backwaters. Bring a book, a deck of cards, and your favorite napping PJs–this is your time to remember how to relax.
Back to landlubber life on April 3rd! We’ll return to Kochi with time to explore on your own: pop into a boutique, book an Ayurvedic treatment, or just sip a perfectly spiced chai and watch the city do its thing. That evening, we’ll take in a Kathakali dance performance, a vibrant storytelling tradition using stylized movement, dramatic makeup, and centuries-old flair.
The Maldives
Blue Waters of the South Ari Atoll
April 4–9
Hotel
- Bliss Dhigurah, where everyone has a private room and couples are upgraded to a larger room (as available)
Destination Highlights
- Snorkel safari in South Ari Atoll, world-famous for manta rays and whale sharks (don’t worry, they only eat plankton!)
- Swim alongside sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks, and vibrant reef fish
- Enjoy 3 guided boat excursions to prime snorkeling sites
- Relax on Dhigurah’s long, stunning white-sand beaches
- Stay on a local island for a more authentic, community-based experience
- Watch epic sunsets from the beach (or the water!)
- Visit Vaavu Atoll, home to gentle nurse sharks
- Downtime to relax, wander, rejuvenate
Dhigurah
Vaavu Nurse Sharks
Check out this 60-second video we shot in the same places we’ll be bringing you in 2026! We used a GoPro 10, iPhone 15, and Insta360 to capture some of the magic. If you click “full screen” after you click play, you’ll have a better viewing experience.
On the morning of April 4th, we will take a 90-minute flight to the Maldives–the stuff that vacation dreams are made of! The Maldives is one of the most unique and fragile ecosystems on Earth: a nation made up of around 1,200 coral islands scattered like pearls across the Indian Ocean. But these islands aren’t built on rock–they’re built on ancient coral reefs that formed atop submerged volcanic mountains. Over millions of years, those volcanoes gradually sank beneath the sea, and the living corals kept growing upward, eventually forming “atolls,” ring-shaped coral reefs that encircle a central lagoon, often with tiny islands along the rim.
The Maldives is made up of 26 of these atolls, stretching over 550 miles north to south. Its land barely rises above sea level, making it the lowest-lying country in the world and particularly vulnerable to climate change. Despite this fragility, its surrounding waters teem with life: whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, reef sharks, and fish in every color of the crayon box call this place home. The coral reefs act like underwater rainforests–complex, vibrant, and vital. Every snorkel or swim here is a chance to witness a rare and beautiful ecosystem up close
From the capital Malé, we’ll take a speedboat ferry 90 minutes to Dhigurah, our island home in South Ari Atoll. This is one of the Maldives’ most famous marine regions, particularly for its whale sharks and manta rays.
Local Island Life
Resort islands may get all the press (and influencers), but local islands like Dhigurah are where the real magic happens. You’ll find stunning beaches, great food, and modern comforts without the cultural isolation or inflated prices. You can stroll into a local café and see daily life unfold around you. Most importantly, your stay directly benefits the local economy and helps preserve the very culture and environment you came to experience. It’s a smarter, more sustainable way to do the Maldives.
We’re staying at Bliss Dhigurah, a thoughtfully designed guesthouse steps away from a sunset-facing beach. Everyone will have a private room (perfect for post-snorkeling naps), and couples will be upgraded to premium rooms as available. Bliss offers all the essentials: great food, warm hospitality, and an ideal location steps from the ocean. Bliss’s rooftop is a perfect place to relax and watch the adorable flying foxes as they start to stir at sunset!
Dhigurah island itself is a stunner: a long, narrow stretch of white sand, surrounded by impossibly clear blue water with an equatorial forest running down the middle. There’s a sandbank that stretches forever during low tide, a calm lagoon for swimming, and a rich reef ecosystem just offshore for snorkeling. Sunset on the beach is a nightly ritual here, and the stars here are no joke. Since we are just 3.5° north of the equator, the South Cross and other southern hemisphere constellations peek above the horizon.
The Maldives: Resorts vs Local Islands
Choosing to stay on a local island like Dhigurah is one of the best ways to experience the Maldives–not just as a luxury postcard, but as a living, breathing place. Instead of isolating yourself at a high-end resort where most of your money disappears offshore, staying local means your travel dollars support the actual community: the guesthouse staff, the chefs, the boat crews, the shopkeepers. It’s a more responsible, more rewarding way to travel–and quite frankly, more fun! You get to taste real Maldivian food, connect with locals, and see what daily life looks like in this island nation.
Local islands come with cultural considerations–alcohol isn’t served, and you’ll want to dress more modestly when walking through town. Swimsuits are absolutely welcome on excursions and the designated “bikini beaches,” and Dhigurah has one of the longest and most beautiful bikini beaches in the country.
You’ll still snorkel the same reefs, spot the same manta rays, and swim in the same turquoise water as the resort guests–just without the $1,000/night price tag. Same ocean, same magic, more heart.
Under the Sea
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for–getting into that deliciously warm water (80 to 85°F). Underwater safari, here we come!
Over the next few days, we’ve included three major boat excursions to snorkel in some of the region’s most biodiverse spots. This is the prime season to try to see whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and plenty of other reef life.
Swimming alongside a whale shark–the world’s largest fish–is an unforgettable thrill, made even better by the fact that these gentle giants are completely harmless. Those big mouths were built for plankton! While sightings aren’t guaranteed (it’s a safari, after all!), the Maldives offers some of the best chances anywhere to experience this underwater encounter.
Reef manta rays glide through the waters of South Ari Atoll with otherworldly grace, their wingspans stretching up to 15 feet. Despite their size, they’re completely harmless–no stingers, no teeth, just gentle, curious giants cruising through some of the calmest, clearest waters around.
We’ll visit nearby Vaavu Atoll, famous for its nurse shark population. These docile cuties know they’re Instagram darlings and they love to pose! It’s an underwater ballet of nurse sharks, remora, unicorn fish, pilot fish, and more.
Each day there will be plenty of downtime to relax, walk the island, swim, nap, and just hang out together (or do your own thing!) All meals are included at Bliss’s delicious restaurant, Hermit’s (named after the busy crabs keeping the shore clean). Flavors are big, and portions are even bigger. But hey, you’ve worked up an appetite on our adventures!
Our last full day is free for you to explore the island, indulge in a spa treatment, or go on another snorkeling excursion. You can rent kayaks, clear canoes, stand-up paddle boards, and even jet skis from a nearby kiosk.
Are you a diver? Let’s talk! You can always opt to dive in lieu of our excursions–diving rates are quite affordable on Dhigurah!
On the morning of April 9th, you’ll bid farewell to Dhigurah and head back by speed boat ferry to Malé. From there, you can catch your international flight home, or extend your stay for a bit more pampering at a nearby resort or adventure. You tell us what you’re in the mood for and we can point you in the right direction, whether it is ultimate luxury at Maldivian-owned resort Baros or flying down to the southern Maldives to dive with the tiger sharks of Fulvahmulah. Please click on the blue box below for some starter suggestions!
Want to stay longer in the Maldives? Click here for some ideas!
If you’d like to extend your time in the Maldives, we have some ideas!
Resort Time
Although we advocate for spending time on local islands, there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of luxury!
There are no lack of resort islands in the Maldives, but we recommend Baros.
We are quite fond of Baros for a few reasons: it’s Maldivian-owned (a rarity!); its proximity to the Malé airport; its stunning house reef and top-notch dive center; and we can vouch for its over-the-top luxury firsthand!
Unlike local islands, resorts have special permits to serve alcohol, and you needn’t worry about covering your knees and shoulders in public.
You may also be interested in these resorts, all perfectly located and the height of luxury:
Diving with Tiger Sharks
If you love diving and you want to spend time with some striped beauties, we can recommend flying to Fuvahmulah Island. Pelagic Divers is a fantastic, safe, ethical outfitter.
More Time on Local Islands
You can extend you stay on Dhigurah or we can suggest other local islands, depending on what you want to do (beach vs snorkel vs dive).
“I’m a little nervous in the water–will I still enjoy this trip?
The Maldives is one of the most beginner-friendly places on the planet to get comfortable in the water–it’s warm, calm, and so clear it’s like swimming in a giant infinity pool. You’ll always be with us and our expert guides, and there’s zero pressure to do anything that doesn’t feel good. Plenty of folks wear life jackets when snorkeling (seriously, it’s very normal), and we’ll help you ease in at your own pace. There is nice snorkeling directly out from the beach, and it’s a great place to get your feet wet, literally and figuratively!
Think of it less like “snorkeling” and more like floating with fish, with friends cheering you on. People often surprise themselves out there–I sure did! I was not a fan of the water until I snorkeled in truly amazing conditions…now I’m the first one in the water and the last one in the boat!
The Need to Knows
Click each box to expand the information
Price & What is Included
Stay tuned for the pricing for our next journey!
Price Includes
- Airport pick up in Kochi, India
- All lodging starting the night of March 30 through the morning of April 9, including 2 nights on a houseboat in Kerala
- Flight from Kochi, India to Malé, Maldives
- All meals*, starting with lunch on March 30 and ending with breakfast on April 9 (*except for lunch at the airport on April 4th).
- Water at all meals
- Three group snorkeling excursions on Dhigurah Island
- All tips to guides, hotels, and restaurants
- Online photo album after the trip
- Double carbon-offsetting
Price does not include
- Flight to Kochi, India
- Flight from Malé, Maldives
- India visa ($25)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Alcohol* (Alcohol is not allowed in the Maldives but is available in India)
- Drinks (coffee, smoothies, juices, soft drinks) on Dhigurah
- All meals on Dhigurah are provided at our hotel. If you wish to eat elsewhere, you can use cash or a credit card.
- Laundry
- Spa treatments
- Additional activities from Kerala houseboat, in Kochi, or on Dhigurah
Payments
Please refer to the Price tab for specific information about price & what is included on your journey.
The private room supplement will be added to the final balance.
For our American guests, we accept payments via check, credit, or debit card (via PayPal), Zelle, or Venmo. Lauren will send you these details after receiving your registration form.
For our guests outside the U.S., Lauren will connect with you about the best ways to transfer money.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation by our guests
The cancellation charges are as follows unless otherwise indicated on the detailed itinerary for each trip. All cancellations must be received via e-mail or US mail.
- Cancellations prior to 150 days to departure, money will be refunded minus the non-refundable deposit.
- Cancellations received 75-149 days prior to departure are subject to a penalty of 50% of the total cost of the trip.
- Cancellations received 75 days or fewer prior to trip departure will forfeit the entire cost of the trip.
If a trip is cancelled by RetreaTours
When a tour is cancelled in the case of force majeure, the Tour Participant will receive a refund minus any funds that we are unable to recover from any supplier.
You can see the full cancellation policy in our contract here.
Our Carbon Negative Commitment
RetreaTours is Climate Positive!
We purchase double carbon offsets for your travels with us—that’s from your home, through the entire tour, and back to your home again, times two!
RetreaTours is officially a Carbonfree® Partner with Carbonfund.org, as well as a partner with Cool Effect.
You may have heard the term “carbon neutral,” which means that a company offsets as much carbon as it produces. With this 200% offset, RetreaTours is actually offsetting more carbon than we produce each year, making us “carbon negative” (or “climate positive,” which has a nicer ring to it!)
Since 2012 we’ve focused on making travel safe and easy for our guests; with our double carbon offset tours, we’re pleased to make our trips as sustainable as they are memorable.
Please see more at RetreaTours.com/CarbonNegative
Vaccines & Staying Healthy on Tour
Vaccines
No vaccines are required to enter India or the Maldives.
You can see the CDC recommendations for India here and NHS recommendations for India here.
You can see the CDC recommendations for the Maldives here and NHS recommendations for the Maldives here.
Malaria & Other Mosquito-borne Illnesses
There is no malaria in the Maldives and Kerala is considered no-to-low risk for Malaria.
However, other mosquito-borne illnesses are still a possibility, including dengue. Plus, who wants to be itchy on vacation? For that reason, you are advised to bring personal mosquito-repellant and/or wear clothes that cover your arms and legs during dusk and dawn.
Staying Healthy on Tour
Please visit our comprehensive article, “How to Stay Healthy While Traveling…Naturally,” which addresses all of the most common travel ailments.
Suggested Fitness Requirements
For the Kochi portion, we suggest you are comfortable walking 1-2 miles at a time on even ground.
For the Maldives portion, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:
You’ll be entering and exiting the excursion boat either on a short plank of wood or directly onto the boat from the dock. Depending on the tide, it could be a significant step down.
When returning to the boat from the snorkeling excursions, you must be able to climb a ladder back into the boat.
If you suffer from moderate to severe motion sickness on boats, you’ll want to come prepared (although this time of year the seas are traditionally very calm). We’ll advise you on motion sickness remedies.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but we would recommend that you are comfortable in the water if you choose to snorkel. You can wear a lifejacket in the water on the snorkel excursions if you wish; you may even wish to bring your own (we will suggest one in the packing list).
Travel Insurance
Required Coverage
RetreaTours requires that each guest carries travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation and repatriation. Please send Lauren your policy information as soon as you have it.
Suggested Coverage
We suggest trip cancellation insurance, as well, as you never know what obstacles life can toss at you leading up to a trip. However, we do not require this coverage, we only suggest it highly.
Please familiarize yourself with RetreaTours’ guest cancellation policy in your journey’s contract. Please read this article to understand a bit more about trip cancellation insurance and what it may or may not cover. “Cancel For Any Reason” policies do exist, as well, although do check to see what percentage of the trip cost they actually reimburse.
When to purchase your policy
Please purchase this insurance as soon as we tell you the trip has reached its minimum. Please do not wait until the last minute, should you need to use your (optional) cancellation coverage before then.
Where to search for policies
Below you will find some options to start your search for trip insurance. However, we ask that you carefully consider your choice in travel insurance. What works for some people may not work for others, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions. Please do take the time to consider the best policy for your individual needs.
Squaremouth.com and InsureMyTrip.com are two sites where you can see and compare many policies at once, and you can refine the options by what coverage you would like. Squaremouth’s interface is very easy and intuitive to use, and you can easily opt out of trip cancellation coverage.
It may also be a good idea to check with your credit card companies, especially American Express, to see if they offer any medical coverage for travel.
Temperature & Suggested Packing List
The expected temperatures in Kerala are between 80° and 90° F, with a 20% chance of rain.
The expected temperatures in the Maldives at 83° to 88°F, with a 20% chance of rain. The rain in the Maldives this time of year happens mostly at night or in short bursts throughout the day and is not disruptive to activities. The sea temperature is between 80° and 85°F.
All accommodations will have air conditioning.
A suggested packing list will come in the Fall of 2025. The main takeaway will be lightweight, breathable clothes, as you’ll want to have your knees and shoulders covered in both India and the Maldives (except on the beaches, of course!)
We will recommend bringing your own snorkel and mask so you know it’s just right for you. We’ll even recommend some lightweight, inexpensive travel fins. It’s always nice to have your own equipment that you know fits you perfectly & functions well.
If you desire, you will be able to store any unneeded luggage at the Malé airport on our April 4th arrival. They will store it for $7/day and you can pick it up when you return to the airport on April 9th.
Passport & Visa
Passport Requirements
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of this journey and have three empty pages in it.
Visa Requirements
You’ll apply for your India visa 30 days before this journey using our in-depth application guide. This will cost $25 USD.
You will receive a free 30-day visa on arrival at the airport in the Maldives.
About our Accommodations
In Kochi, we will be staying near old town at Fragrant Nature Cochin on March 30, 31, and April 3.
For our backwaters cruise, we will be staying on boats provided by Spice Routes Luxury Cruises. The size of our group will determine which boat(s) we stay on.
On Dhigurah Island in the Maldives, we will be staying at Bliss Dhigurah. Because they have very few rooms with twin beds, we are including a private room for every guest. Couples wishing to share a bed (or those OK with very close mattresses, like this) will be upgraded to a larger “loft” room (limited availability).
This trip is a logistical labor of love, and we’ve structured it as thoughtfully as possible. Priority will go to guests willing to share a room during the India portion, and eight spots are reserved for those happy to share a bed. These accommodations (in every sense) help us offer this rare opportunity to as many people as possible.
We have reserved 9 deluxe rooms, 2 compact rooms, and 4 lofts, which will be assigned according to
WiFi, SIM Cards & Electricity
Wifi
Wifi is accessible throughout most of this journey, although it may be strongest in the common areas of our hotels, depending on your room location.
Our houseboat may not have wifi; BJ and Lauren will have their phones as a hot spot you can connect to so you can check in with loved ones and check email.
We recommend staying connected with your loved ones via WhatsApp (which we will also use on the tour to communicate the schedule and updates).
SIM Cards
You would be able to use your provider’s international phone in India, or purchase an eSIM online or a physical SIM at your arrival airport.
Currently, AT&T and Verizon do not support international phone plans in the Maldives. If you wish to stay connected to the internet when you are away from wifi, you can either purchase an eSIM or you can purchase a physical SIM card at the Maldives airport if you phone has a slot for a SIM card. You can learn more about that here or you can ask us for advice!
Electrical Outlets and Adaptors
We highly recommend a Universal Adaptor such as this (for its Type G adaptor), which also has USB and USB-C outlets so you can charge multiple devices at once.
About your International Flights
We are more than happy to recommend international flights, but ultimately you will make the purchase yourself. Here is some important information if you would like to research flights yourself:
When must I arrive in Kochi?
We advise arriving in Kochi on March 30. (This spring departure makes weather delays from the U.S. slightly less likely!)
You can reach Kochi directly via Doha, Abu Dhabi, or New Delhi. If you wish to fly from home to New Delhi or Mumbai directly and then onward to Kochi, we can help advise on flights.
If you wish to arrive early, we can help you with hotel reservations in Kochi or you can make arrangements yourself.
Read more about Flight Options in a special note from BJ below.
What time should I book my departing flight from Malé?
You can book your outgoing flight from Malé any time after 12 noon on April 9, to allow time for the 6:30 AM ferry to take you back to the airport.
What if I am continuing on within the Maldives?
Your best bet is to get back to Malé on the speedboat ferry and have your next accommodation help arrange transport to their island.
More from BJ on Flights…
There are so many options to get to Kochi (COK). It depends on if you want to visit another city on the way. You may choose to stop in a city and explore before heading to Kochi. Note: some airlines (Qatar, Emirates, Singapore) sometimes have extra-long layovers (up to 3-7 nights) whereby they subsidize your hotel room for an extended stay/layover. Otherwise, you can book a number of options to get to Kochi all the way from the USA (or wherever you’re coming from).
Two separate one-way flights: The other way of doing it will be to do two one-way flights. In that case, it opens up beyond those airlines mentioned above. This option can cost more or less than the multi-destination option above.
Round-trip to a place in India where one would then get flights to Kochi and then back from Male (Delhi or Mumbai are the best examples). I’d only choose this option if someone wanted to extend their time in India and visit sites in North India (near-ish Delhi) [Rajasthan or such] or in South India [near-ish Mumbai or greater South India].
Non-stop flights into Kochi (COK) exist from the following cities:
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Dubai
- Doha (Qatar)
- Abu Dhabi
- Bangkok
- Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur
…and more
You’d book yourself a one-way flight into Kochi as you’d then be flying home from Malé. Alternatively, there would be some airlines where you can book a multi-destination flight. That would be into COK and out from MLE back to your home airport. That might cost a little less, but the options of airlines will be more limited.
Flights from MLE (Velana International) back to the USA will go through:
- Dubai
- Colombo
- Bangkok
- Doha
- Istanbul
- Singapore
- London
- Paris
…and more
You can start the process of looking for flights on a site like Kayak or Google Flights. But ultimately, we strongly suggest buying the flights at the airline website because it allows for more flexibility in seat selections and refunds should you require.
Contact RetreaTours
Please write Lauren@RetreaTours.com for any questions you may have about this journey. If you have not received a reply within 48 hours, please do check your spam folder.
About BJ and Lauren of RetreaTours
You’ll be joined on this journey by BJ & Lauren, owners of RetreaTours, and we are so excited to be on the water with you!
Husband-and-wife team BJ Graf and Lauren Rathvon left the U.S. and have traveled the globe year-round since January 2013, researching, designing, and leading impactful journeys.
We are committed not only to our guests but to our host destinations and the planet at large. We engage with local businesses and guides to keep money within the community, and we double-carbon offset each of our tours.
We invite you to visit our Testimonials page to see what other people have to say about us! You can head to our About Us page to learn more about our story.
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