Kerala Backwaters (India)

~After kilometers and kilometers of tarmac or railway, it's time get off dry land and take advantage of the backwaters of Kerala for a few days of relaxation, ideally as a romantic break for two. Onceonboard the boat, all that remains to do is let yourself be overtaken by the flow of the water and observe the expanses of coconut palms that line the banks as your meal is served.

I selected the day's activities – boating along the canals and massages in the huts – in very limited numbers for an excellent reason: the backwaters are the ideal place in which to relax and laze around, read in the sun, or enjoy an aperitif at dusk, when birds in their thousands flock to spend the night in the surrounding trees.

My tip: ask your local guide to get you away from the crowds: you've come to the backwaters to relax; it would be a shame to have to put up with neighbors who have different ideas. Furthermore, the groups of houseboats are especially impressive viewed from afar, which is a good reason to put some distance between them and yourself.