BengaluruOn arrival at Bangalore airport assistance and transfer to hotel. (Hotels check in time 1200hrs afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability, confirm early check in can be pre-booked at additional cost)Half day city tour visiting Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha and Bangalore Palace & Fort.Overnight at hotel.
India · Heritage Walks
Sandalwood, Backwater & Spice Route
The journey
- 01 Explore Bengaluru’s landmarks including Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha, and Bangalore Palace & Fort
- 02 Join a heritage walk through Mysore ending at Jaganmohan Palace
- 03 Visit Chamundi Hills, Somnathpur, and Srirangapatnam
- 04 Enjoy multiple safaris in Nagarhole National Park with a naturalist
- 05 Experience the spice-growing landscapes of Wayanad
- 06 Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway through scenic hill country
- 07 Discover Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, and the Chinese fishing nets
- 08 Cruise Kerala’s backwaters on a private overnight houseboat
Discover the rich contrasts of South India on this 15-day journey through vibrant cities, royal heritage, wildlife reserves, hill stations, spice-growing landscapes, and Kerala’s serene backwaters. From Bengaluru and Mysore to Nagarhole, Wayanad, Ooty, Kochi, Alleppey, and Mararikulam, the itinerary blends cultural sightseeing with nature, relaxation, and immersive local experiences.
Explore palace cities and temple sites, enjoy a heritage walk through Mysore, head out on safaris in Nagarhole National Park, and travel into the cool Nilgiri hills of Ooty. In Kerala, wander historic Fort Kochi, cruise the backwaters on a private houseboat, and unwind with time by the beach in Mararikulam for a well-paced finale.
Discover the rich contrasts of South India on this 15-day journey through vibrant cities, royal heritage, wildlife reserves, hill stations, spice-growing landscapes, and Kerala’s serene backwaters.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Day by day
The itinerary
Bengaluru - Mysore (150kms/ 3hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel drive to Mysore check in at hotel. Afternoon two-hour heritage walk in the city, which starts at the bustling town hall, visits the colorful devaraja market and ends at the magnificent jagan mohan palace. During the walk you will uncover secrets and stories of Mysore and why it holds such a special place in our hearts.Overnight at hotel.
MysoreBreakfast at hotel. City tour of Mysore which has a lot to offer. First stop the Chamundi Hills, site of the Chamundeswari Temple and Nandi Bull as well as the vast City Palace, which was re-built by Henry Irwin during 1897 in an indo-saracenic style. The palace contains astonishing wall paintings, authentic stained glass work and ornamented doors. Excursion to visit the temple complex at Somnathpur and the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple, one of the finest in India, along with Srirangapatnam where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.Overnight at hotel.
Mysore - Kabini/ Nagarhole (90Kms/ 2hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel drive to Nagarhole National Park. Southern India’s finest reserve, Nagarhole is home to the tiger, bison, elephant, panther and sloth bear and has over 250 diverse species of birds. Check in at resort followed by lunch.Afternoon safari in the national park. Dinner & overnight in resort.Overnight in resort.
Kabini/ NagarholeBreakfast at resort. Explore Nagarhole with an early morning and an evening game safari in the company of an expert naturalist. Established in 1955, Nagarhole is a beautiful reserve and predominately consists of lush deciduous forests covering a large area to the north of the Kabini River. lunch, dinner & overnight in resort.Overnight in resort.
Kabini/ Nagarhole - Sultans Battery/ Wayanad (80Kms/ 2hrs approx)Breakfast at resort drive to Sultan’s Battery, a small town at the Western Ghats and at the centre of a region, which produces some of India’s premium coffee, cardamom and vanilla. Arrive & check in at resort. Enjoy the local essence of Tranquil and the surrounding area. If feeling superbly energetic, you can opt for exploring the area with numerous walking trails through the grounds including a challenging hill trek to Look Out Rock. Dinner & overnight at resort.Overnight at resort.
Sultans Battery/ Wayanad - Ooty (135Kms/ 3hrs approx)Breakfast at resort proceed to the hill station of Ooty. The capital of the Nilgiri ‘Blue Mountain’ district, Ooty boasts a temperate climate that once enticed the British to escape the summer heat of plains. Here they whiled away their time with endless socialising, bridge parties and Tiffin, which gave the town the catchy nickname of ‘Snooty Ooty’. Check in at hotel and rest time to relax.Overnight at hotel.
OotyBreakfast at hotel. Enjoy the town and visit the well-maintained botanical gardens, which have over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. also take a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway that winds its way down through spectacular scenery and breathtaking views to the nearby town of Coonoor.Overnight at hotel.
Ooty - Kochi (300Kms/ 6hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kochi check in at hotel. Founded by Vasco-da-Gama in 1502, Kochi quickly developed into a principle port and the centre of the spice trade on the Malabar Coast. A picturesque town of dilapidated buildings, vibrant bougainvillea and a languid palm-fringed harbour, Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers have all influenced this charming city.Overnight at hotel.
KochiBreakfast at hotel. Smell of the seawater and fish, hung over nets and locals on the beach – today we explore the Fort Kochi. Starting on foot, begin the day at the church of St Francis, the oldest European church in India, then walk to the town’s waterfront – site of the iconic Chinese fishing nets and the many fish stalls. Later visit Mattancherry Palace, which was built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the Raja of Kochi, and the town’s fine synagogue. The area here is also known for its many antique and souvenir shops. End the day with a mesmeric sunset cruise around the bustling harbour.Overnight at hotel.
Kochi - Alleppey (60Kms/ 1.3hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel, drive to Alleppey the Kerala backwaters to join a private houseboat for a night cruise. Authentic and comfortable, all meals are cooked on board and the boat is staffed with a captain, a deck hand and a cook. Spend the remainder of day cruising the picturesque and peaceful backwaters.Explore the backwaters that entails a network of lakes, coconut shaded canals and estuaries – tiled and thatched cottages bright with hibiscus dot the embankments and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets hung over the water’s edge. Witness local life with children swimming and playing in the water, women attending to their daily chores and men fishing from their canoes. Lunch, dinner & overnight in houseboat.Overnight in houseboat.
Alleppey - Mararikulam (20kms/ 30min approx)After breakfast disembark houseboat and drive to Marari and check in at a Beach Resort for a three-night stay. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.Overnight at beach resort.
MararikulamBreakfast at hotel, day free and easy to relax on the beach and connect with yourself.Overnight at beach resort.
MararikulamBreakfast at hotel, day free and easy to relax on the beach and connect with yourself.Overnight at beach resort.
Mararikulam - Kochi (75kms/ 2hrs approx)Breakfast at hotel. As per your flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Assistance on arrival at the airport.
- 14 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
- Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
- English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per the program
- 3 Time jeep safari in Nagarhole National Parks with a forest department naturalist.
- NOTE: Jeep safaris are subject to availability and once booked, they cannot be amended or canceled.
- Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.itinerary. Activity
- Bottled drinking water in the car.
- Government taxes.
What's Not Included
- Any flight ticket.
- Camera charges at monuments if any.
- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
- Gratuities and optional activities.
Know before you go
- STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not suitable for pets
- No public transportation nearby
- Infants must not sit on laps
- Infant seats unavailable
Hotels used or similar
Bangalore x 1 nights
3* - Ramada/ The Rialto
4* - Fortune Select JP Cosmos/ Lemon Tree Premier Ulsoor Lake
5* - ITC Gardenia, a Luxury Collection/ ITC Windsor a Luxury CollectionMysore x 2 nights
3* - Southern Star/Sandesh The Prince
4* - Fortune Park JP Palace/ Grand Mercure
5* - Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden/The Windflower Resort & SpaKabini / Nagarhole x 2 nights
3* - Kabini Lake View Resort / Kabini Springs Resort
4* - Red Earth / The Peepal Tree
5* - The Serai Kabini/ Waterwoods Lodges & ResortsVythiri x 1 nights
3* - Thejas Resorts / Grassroot
4* - Abad Brookside Lakkidi / The Woods Resorts
5* - Vythiri Village Resort/ The Windflower Resort & SpaOoty x 2 nights
3* - Monarch Hotel/ Hotel Darshan
4* - Fortune Resort Sullivan Court/ Sinclairs Retreat
5* - Savoy - IHCL SeleQtionsKochi/Cochin x 2 nights
3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le MeridienAlleppey x 1 night
3* - Deluxe Houseboat
4* - Premium Houseboat
5* - Luxury HouseboatMararikulam x 3 nights
3* - EL Oceano Beach Villas/ La Plage Marari
4* - Abad Turtle Beach Resort/ Marari Sands Beach Resort
5* - Xandari Pearl/ Marari Beach Resort
Logistics
Meeting & route
Your 15 days finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Bengaluru..
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