The Serai, Chikmagalur India, Karnataka

With a name that denotes ‘The Palace of a Sultan’, The Serai offers a luxurious experience for guests. It is the perfect place to gently introduce you to your new environment, a resort ensconced in the lush, green plantations which stretch for miles around you.

The area of Chikmagalur is known for its pleasant climate and is particularly celebrated for coffee as one of the first existing coffee plantations in India. As such The Serai resort offers walks through the plantations and reveals how the coffee bean is treated to become the drink we now know and love. For the more active guests there are wonderful excursions to be made by bicycle and activities such as archery. If you would prefer more of a relaxing itinerary to get over the flight or as a break from the sites, there is a spacious pool to delve into and spa treatments to be enjoyed. You can also opt for rooms with a generous private pool and or Jacuzzi.

The Estate Terrace Villas are especially great for families, with good facilities and the space to relax together.

The only reservation about this lovely resort is that there is not a huge range of activities to entice the more intrepid of travellers. Situated a good few hours away from the bustling city of Bangalore you should visit with the primary aim to relax.