South India from Bangalore - 19 days available year round with car and driver

$3,850 - Oct to Mar, per person,  land only

$3,500 - Apr to Sep, per person, land Only

DAY 1 – BANGALORE:  Arrive at Bangalore Airport and our representative will meet you.  Transfer to hotel.  A very cosmopolitan city, full of parks and green spaces, peoplewatching and culture.  Bangalore’s MG Road has shops, cinemas, restaurants, and glitzy watering holes.  This is the place to be if you are an up-and-coming cyber-executive. Dinner and evening walk around the big city lights.

DAY 2 - BANGALORE / MYSORE:  Morning, journey to Mysore – the palace city of South India.  Famed for its silk, sandalwood, oils and incense.  The tour includes a visit to Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hill to visit the Sri Chamnundeswari Temple.  On arrival at Mysore, sightseeing tour of Mysore, visiting the Famous “Palace of Mysore”. Built in 1912, in the Indo-Saracenic style, this palace exudes a grandeur that is unmatched.  Later, drive to hotel and check in.  Overnight at Sandesh Prince (executive superior).

DAY 3 – MYSORE:  From Mysore we take a day excursion to Somnathpur and Srirangapattinum.  At Somnathpur , one need not search far for its history, the greatest example of Hoysala temple carving in India.  Later, we drive to Srirangapattinam, a fortress town on the bank of Cauvery River.  Visit the Srirengapatnam Fort and the summer palace of Tippu Sultan.  Break for lunch at a nice resort in same town.  After lunch, we visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary at a 3km distance on one of the three islands in the Cauvery River.  It’s a good place to see storks, ibis, egrets, darters, spoonbills and cormorants year-round.   We return to hotel and refresh/relax.  Overnight at Sandesh Prince (executive superior).

DAY 4 - MYSORE / MUDUMALAI:  Mudumalai is one of South India’s largest wildlife reserves.  Situated in the foothills of Nilgiris, Bandipur is a large reserve with 3000 square kms, and ranges in vegetation from semi-evergreen forests to swamps and grasslands.  In Mudumalai the mostly dense forest is home to spotted deer, Indian bison, tiger, panther, wild boars and sloth bear.  The wild elephant population, estimated at around 600, is one of the largest in the country. On arrival, check-in and free afternoon for own activities.  In the evening visit the surprising attraction of Mudumalai, the Elephant Pooja Ceremony.  Overnight at Mudumalai Jungle Retreat (cottage).

DAY 5 – MUDUMALAI:  Wake up with the roar of the jungle - at 7.00 a.m., we go on an Elephant safari.  The forest department arranges an  elephant ride. Return to hotel and rest.  At 1.00 p.m., we proceed to a 4-hour bush trek.  An approved jungle guide well-versed in the ways of nature and providing insight into the realm of this forest trek will accompany you on this tour, where nature is left to itself, undisturbed by outside influences.  This trekking will give you many photo opportunities.  Later, return to the hotel and leisure.

DAY 6 - MUDUMALAI / VYTHIRI:  Drive to Wayanad, set in the picturesque Western Ghats and mountains.   Littered with tropical rain forests, dense hills, rolling paddy fields, spice plantations and valleys, Wayanad is a hitherto undiscovered location offering breathtaking views. Check into a rainforest resort.  Discover the enchanting rainforests. Visit the pre-historical Edakkal Caves.

DAY 7 – CALICUT:  Morning drive to Calicut, a port city located amidst the lush green spice plantations.   Kozhikode takes you on a momentous journey through beautiful backwaters, picturesque beaches and ancient palaces. Check in to the hotel.  Proceed for a short sightseeing tour, which includes the beach, Beyapore. 

DAY 8 – KOCHI:  Morning drive to Cochin, a port town since early centuries and colonized many times. Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, has attracted traders and invaders from the world over.  Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating glimpses of history and culture.  Relax and unwind at the hotel.  In the evening, enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise.

DAY 9 – KOCHI:  Sightseeing exploration tour of the many fascinating highlights of Fort Cochin which include the Jewish synagogue in what is locally called the Jew Town, St. Francis Church, which is the oldest European Church in India, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1557 by the Portuguese, the Dutch Palace, the spice market and the 15th century Chinese fishing nets believed to have been brought by Chinese traders.  In the evening, enjoy the famous dance drama of Kerala, Kathakali.  This dance is characterized by some great storytelling, amazing costumes and extensive make-up.

DAY 10 – HOUSEBOAT:  Morning, drive to Kumarakom and embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the backwaters, a tropical paradise full of canals, lakes and coves.  Your houseboats, or 'Kettuvalloms', are luxurious boats with well-appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms.  You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm-fringed landscape from your cabins.  Apart from the surroundings, it's the life along the backwaters that makes this a fascinating experience. The locals travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods door-to-door in small wooden boats.  As you cruise along the backwaters, you can ask your captain to stop at villages. 

DAY 11 – KOLLAM:  Drive to Kollam.  On arrival, check in to the backwater resort.  Rest of the day, free to relax.

DAY 12 – KOLLAM:  Full day free to relax and enjoy fishing, biking, walking the paddies, boating, sunbathing and exploring Kerala's backwater heritage.

DAY 13 – KOVALAM: Morning Drive to Kovalam, one of the most popular beach destinations in Kerala and check into your hotel. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches separated by rocky headlands. Day at leisure on the beach.

DAY 14 – KOVALAM:  Go on a day excursion to Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Horse Palace, Napier Museum and Art Gallery.  Or, you could simply choose to spend your day at leisure on the beach.

DAY 15 - KOVALAM  / KANYAKUMARI:  Morning, drive to Kanyakumari.  On the way you can visit Padmanabhapuram Palace and Sucheendram Temple.  Afternoon, reach Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the peninsular India, and the confluence of three seas.  Here we see Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue (133 ft) and Kanyakumari Temple.  This village was devastated in the tsunami of 2004.

DAY 16 – MADURAI:  Drive to Madurai in Tamil Nadu, one of South India's greatest temple towns.  Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era which is more than 2500 years old.  In the evening, visit the Meenasha Temple to attend the popular evening ceremony where the Hindu God Siva is taken in a palanquin.

DAY 17 – MADURAI:  Go on a sightseeing tour of Madurai to explore the many fascinating temples and structures of this city.  Visit the famous Meenakshi temple.  The 1000-pillared hall contains beautiful sculptures, showcasing stories from ancient Hindu Epics.  We also visit other places of interest, such as the Palace of King Thirumalai Nayak, built in 1636.

DAY 18 – CHENNAI:  Morning, drive to Chennai. On arrival, check in to the hotel. City sightseeing.

DAY 19 – DEPARTURE:  Morning, departure transfer to Chennai Airport for your onward journey.