Marari Beach Resort
Mararikulam

Marari Beach Resort is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Beach Hotels

Hidden away between two fishing villages on a beautiful golden beach, this 30-acre resort is a firm Ampersand favourite that successfully combines a warm, rustic feel with modern comforts.

Scattered throughout the tropical coconut grove are 62 deceptively modest thatch-roof villas, which are spacious and comfortable with open-air bathrooms. Effort has been made to use local materials wherever possible and both the architecture and interiors have been designed with an authentic Keralan aesthetic in mind, echoed in the eco-friendly wooden structures and soothing neutral colour palate. We highly recommend the garden pool villas for those seeking privacy and tranquillity.

At the heart of the resort lies a large swimming pool, which is an ideal spot to relax in and take a cooling dip when needed, alongside an excellent restaurant serving local Kerala delicacies - from Chemeen Manga Curry to Kozhi Kurumulagu roast - as well as Western dishes. A few steps away by the serene beach, there is a smaller restaurant that specialises in fresh seafood directly from the Arabian Sea - dine here while gazing out onto a spectacular seaside sunset, for this it is bound to be a highlight during a stay here.

Close to the Backwaters and an hour's drive from Cochin, this well-run and friendly resort with its vast palm-fringed beach and first-rate Ayurvedic spa centre, packs a lot of Kerala into one bundle. If you are seeking a romantic retreat away from the crowds and general hustle and bustle of India, then Marari Beach Resort is for you. The resort is also especially family-friendly and works well as an addition to a wildlife adventure holiday. Make sure to take part in the activities and excursions offered by this hotel while here, especially the organic farm-kitchen cookery classes and naturalist led walks.

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney and relax in this idyll of a beach side resort to embrace the peaceful pace of life here and completely switch off; we can't think of much better than gently swinging on a hammock under the warmth of sun surrounded by cheerful hibiscuses while listening to the gentle hum of South India around you - and here, you can do it in style!

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson